Switch-Off Fortnight
Thank you to everyone who has already taken
part in Switch-Off Fortnight. In 2011 over 4400
schools, with over 1.5 million
pupils signed up to take part in our national
energy saving campaign.
If you were one of these
schools, don't forget to complete your
final audit for the Switch on to Switching Off or Goodbye Standby
activities and submit for a medal. For more information on how to
get a top medal for a Pod activity visit the medal page,
Confused about how to submit your audit?
- Login to the Pod and go to the blue 'Pod
schools' tab
- Click on the 'Pod activities' page
- make sure you have started the 'Switch On to Switching
Off' or 'Goodbye Standby
activity' and entered your start audit (if not, start an
activity in the green activities section)
- Select the activity you want to audit and click on the orange
'final audit' button
- Don't forget to submit the activity for a medal (lots of
blogging will increase your chance of a top medal)
For more help on how to submit your audit results, or use Pod
activities download the how
to guide.
To be in with a chance of winning a prize in the 2011 Switch-Off
Fortnight free prize draw you need to have signed
up to take part in Switch-Off Fortnight, posted on the Switch-Off Fortnight
wall and submitted your final audit by the 30 January
2012**.
The original Switch-Off Fortnight was piloted by Worcestershire
County Council in 2008 and results showed the potential to
save up to 20%* in energy costs as a result of taking part.
Since then the Pod has worked Worcestershire County Council
to make Switch-Off Fortnight a national campaign and one that will
involve the whole school, parents and the local community.
The success of Switch-Off Fortnight is increasing year on year;
when it first launched in 2009, more than 2500 schools joined in
and last year more than 3700 used Switch-Off Fortnight resources to
focus on saving energy in their schools.
Switch-Off Fortnight 2012 will be 19 November -
2 December, and sign up will open in the
summer.
Why take part in Switch-Off Fortnight?
Switch-Off Fortnight is a fantastic opportunity to get the whole
school learning about energy and thinking about how they can cut
down on the amount of energy they use both at school and at home.
It's also a great way to inspire parents and the local community to
make changes too. Why not encourage some light hearted competition
between classes and year groups to see who can save the most
energy.
In addition to making learning fun for pupils, the Pod's energy
activities fit in with many areas of the National Curriculum
including Maths, Numeracy, PHSE, Citizenship, English/literacy, ICT
and Geography. For full details of curriculum links,take a look at
the Curriculum Guide for the Goodbye Standby and Switching On to Switching
Off activities.
Taking part in Switch-Off Fortnight activities will also help
your application for an Eco-Schools award whether you're just
starting out and ready for a bronze award or looking for a major
project for your Green Flag Application.
What's more schools that take part could win a prize in the
Switch-Off Fortnight draw - more details of the 2012 competitions
will be available in the summer.
More information about how Switch-Off Fortnight will help with
Eco-Schools awards can be found here.
For more information about the campaign and the prize draw click
on the more tab.
* Energy saving costs based on a case study by Worcestershire
County Council,
available from the Learning for Sustainability Team
***For more information, see the full terms and conditions.