HEROES for ZERO!Sustainability Initiatives Unit presents the second annual HEROES for ZERO Contest! HEROES for ZERO challenges K-12 student teams to help make their schools “Zero Net Energy (ZNE) Ready” by reducing energy consumption, maximizing energy efficiency, and educating fellow students and staff. Teachers are encouraged to connect ZNE activities with STEAM curriculum. Teams can badges in six HEROES categories, and schools can up to $25,000 for sustainability-related projects at their schools!
Zero Net Energy (ZNE) schools are ultra-efficient and consume only as much energy as they produce from clean, renewable resources. In addition to lowering energy and operating costs, ZNE schools can result in improved student health and productivity. ZNE schools can also serve as teaching tools, providing opportunities to learn about sustainability, high performance design, and emerging technologies like renewable energy generation and storage. The steps to ZNE are:
|
Resources
Check out a variety of resources for energy-related curriculum and learning activities below and in our Resources page! Feel free to discover and use other resources as well.
- Energize Schools offers the following resources to teachers for the Heroes for Zero Competition:
- Energy Conservation Guide: this resource provides schools with the information and tools necessary to develop, implement, and track campus-wide energy conservation campaigns.
- Zero Net Energy Certificate: this project based learning curriculum leads students through creating a school zero net energy design proposal. Curriculum sections can be used separately or in any order. (High school level).
- Energize Schools can further support high school teachers through planning and in-class instructional support from our expert staff. Request resources here. Learn more here. Their program is sponsored by utility companies and is at no charge to schools.
- PowerSave Schools offers Lesson Ideas and Learn the Basics Student Videos.
- National Wildlife Federation's Eco Schools Program provides guidelines for energy audits as part of its Energy Pathway.
- National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) - Teacher and Student Energy Survey and other educational resources related to energy.
- US. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy - EERE K-12 Educator Resources roadmap.
- National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) - Teacher Resources and Activities for Elementary, Middle & High School students.
- Division of Instruction has provided NGSS Alignment for Heroes for Zero.
Official Heroes for Zero Banner!
|
2017/2018 Awards Ceremony
View the Winning Entries!
View the Winning Entries!
Special thanks to our ZNE Partner, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power