Everyone – children and adults alike – should be aware of the current state of our environment and its resources, especially our fossil fuel reserves. For centuries we have used fossil fuel energy to power our homes, cars, businesses and more. Sadly, its supply around the world is dwindling, and our electricity-powered machines and tools will soon become obsolete. If we don’t find alternative sources of energy in the next decades, there is a very good chance that there will be no more fossil fuel reserves anywhere in the world.
Teaching kids about environmental responsibility
Besides teaching kids the usual things in school, it is our responsibility to teach them about how to conserve natural resources so they will have enough in the next decades. Throwing trash in the right places and recycling reusables are just some of the things that we teach our kids. But we should also teach them how to conserve energy so as not to use up our fossil fuel energy reserves quickly. One thing we can teach them is to use solar energy in place of fossil fuel energy. If schools have solar panels that convert the sun’s heat into energy that they use to power their schools, children will become aware of the importance of using alternative sources of energy.
Schools making use of renewable energy
More and more schools are switching to solar power. Companies like Solar Manchester fit panels on school roofs that absorb the heat from the sun and convert it into electricity. Switching to solar energy will significantly reduce – if not totally eliminate – traditional electricity consumption by schools. They will be able to channel the savings they realise from using solar energy into other school programmes that are crucial to children’s learning and development.
What does the use of solar energy in schools teach students?
When children see authorities taking responsibility for taking care of the environment and its resources, they will know that people are committed to protecting the earth. This teaching can extend to the home, with the parents echoing the sentiments of their kids’ school about using other sources of energy and how they – in their own little ways at home – can help conserve the energy that they use. Small things such as turning off lights in rooms with no one in them, setting a timer on the air conditioner or heater to turn off after a few hours and unplugging unused electronic appliances from the sockets will make a significant impact on conserving energy.
Children learn by example; so, if they see the people they trust – parents, relatives, teachers and school authorities – conserving energy, they will also feel that they should do their part in the conservation efforts. It is not difficult to instil values in children; all they need is a guiding hand to show them how they should do things that will benefit the earth. We are raising future citizens who will be responsible and compassionate regarding the plight of the environment.