Fact Sheet: Schools, Lighting and Daylight
Remember that some areas of your school may be off-limits without permission from your teacher or principal, and some projects should be done with at least one partner. Check with your teacher before beginning any of the activities or projects listed here.
Why It Matters
In most schools, lighting is the biggest user of energy -- sometimes accounting for half of all energy use.
Flicking on a light switch is a simple action, but it can have a big impact. The energy that makes lights shine comes largely from coal, gas and oil, which are known as fossil fuels. When these fuels are burned to make energy, they release carbon dioxide, the main gas that's causing temperatures to rise through global warming. They also contribute to smog, the ugly haze you might sometimes see in the air. Smog also makes it hard to breathe, and is especially bad for anyone with asthma. Emissions from power plants also lead to acid rain, which pollutes water and kills fish and other animals.
Wait, there's more. All those lightbulbs used in school eventually burn out. That adds up to a lot of waste to be disposed of, especially if they must be replaced frequently. And fluorescent lights -- the kind used in most schools -- contain small amounts of mercury, a metal that can enter the soil or water when the bulbs are thrown out, harming humans and wildlife.
What Kids Can Do
You can save a lot of energy at your school by using light wisely. The tips below can get you started. The next section provides advice for school officials on buying the right kinds of lights and installing them properly. For more ideas, check out SERT's (School Eco-Response Team)
energy handbook.
Don't forget to use what you learn here at home, too. For instance, replace standard (incandescent) lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lights. They use 75 percent less energy, and they last up to 10 times longer. The average home has 35 to 50 light sockets, so the energy savings of compact fluorescents can really add up.
- Turn off lights: It really makes a difference. If you're not using a light, turn it off. If you leave a room, turn the lights off behind you. You may have heard that you should leave lights on if you're only gone a short while, because turning them back on uses a lot of energy. That's not true with today's lights. Always turn them off when they're not being used.
- Use fewer electric lights: If your classroom has several wall switches, experiment with leaving some of them off -- you might still have enough light.
- Let the sun in: Daylight is good for growing kids! Take advantage of natural light. Whenever possible, let the sun shine into your classroom. But remember that direct sun is not always the best light source, such as when you're trying to see a computer screen or a blackboard. So avoid having the sunlight shine directly on those surfaces.
What Your School Can Do
- Use efficient lighting: Wherever your school uses lighting, it should use the most efficient type. Today, many lightbulbs and fixtures use far less energy than older types. These also last longer, which reduces waste. Although these lights cost more, in the end they save your school money by cutting down on electricity bills. The most efficient lights of all have the Energy Star label.
- Don't light areas that don't need it: Many schools use lights in places that don't really need them. Light is most important in areas where people are reading or writing. In other places, it's often possible to use less light. Hallways, for example, are often lit more brightly than they need to be.
- Use fewer lightbulbs: Have you ever looked closely at the light fixtures in your school? They may contain three or four individual bulbs. If they do, it may be possible to remove some. The remaining bulbs will still provide plenty of light. This process is called "delamping." Good places to consider delamping are areas near windows, doors and corners, as well as areas over computers, televisions and other equipment.
- Make daylight a priority: When the time comes to renovate, your school should look for ways to use more natural light. In addition to the environmental benefits, kids will benefit, too. Studies show that students do better when schools let in more natural light.
Project Ideas
- Light monitor: Choose someone in your class to watch out for lighting waste (or make a schedule so kids can sign up). The monitor can make sure all lights are turned off when your class leaves the room, and look for other times when lights should be switched off.
- Study your school's lighting: Pick a room, or several, in your school and study the lighting. Is it in the right place? Is there more than necessary? Look for lights near windows or over computer screens -- those can often be removed. See if lights are shining in areas that don't get much use. And in areas where electric light is needed, think about whether you could get by with less. Keep a list, and write down suggestions for reducing the lighting -- and saving energy.