DOE Launches New K-12 Energy Curriculum Web Site

October 17, 2007

DOE announced on October 10th the launch of a new educational Web site that provides more than 350 lesson plans and activities on energy efficiency and renewable energy for grades K-12. DOE's new "Get Smart About Energy!" Web site includes hands-on activities that address energy fundamentals, energy efficiency, sources of energy, and the environmental impacts of energy use, and all the activities and lesson plans are aligned with the National Science Education Standards. Teacher guides are included with many of the lessons, and all the materials are free and reproducible. The Web site will help to equip today's students with the knowledge and resources to develop cutting-edge energy technologies in the future. See the DOE press release and the "Get Smart About Energy!" Web site.

The new Web site is part of DOE's EnergySmart Schools Program, which also promotes energy efficient schools. K-12 schools spend more than $8 billion annually on energy, making energy the second highest operating expenditure for these schools after personnel costs. To help lower those costs, the EnergySmart Schools program promotes the building of new schools that exceed code by 50% or more, as well as retrofits to existing schools that improve energy efficiency by 30% or more. The program is endorsed by the National School Boards Association and offers tools and resources to assist school decision makers in planning and financing energy-efficient high-performance schools. The program also offers education and training for building industry professionals. See the newly updated EnergySmart Schools Web site.