Many Ways to Save Energy – including Harnessing the Power of Trees

Small changes bring big effects in the long run, says the Methodist Girls’ School in Penang – one of the schools which CAP had guided on efficient energy use and conservation.

Simple measures like switching off lights and fans, reducing air-conditioner use, planting trees, growing indoor plants, and appointing class energy monitors to check on adherence to specific rules, have brought about positive changes for the school.

Congratulations to the school’s teachers and students for their exemplary efforts that make sustainable lifestyle practices in our institutions of learning possible.

Let’s hear it from our eco-warriors.

“Trees are natural coolants in our school” – TEACHER Nur Nadia Zafirah binti Mohd Zamri

When CAP introduced the energy-saving activity to Methodist Girls’ School Penang, we embraced it wholeheartedly. I lead the school’s Environment Club. The school also participates in eco-school and energy-saving competitions.

To ensure the energy-saving initiatives go smoothly, we assigned 2 energy monitors to each classroom. Each of them was issued a badge to authorise them to advise and guide other students to switch off the lights, fans, air conditioners and other electrical appliances when not in use.

The majority of the students at Methodist Girls’ School, Penang, come to school from around 6.30 am to 7.30 am.  During that time, they are allowed to switch on only one light and fan. Additional lights and fans are turned on when all students are present. The lights in the classrooms are switched off between 9.00 and 9.30 am, depending on the weather. Some classes are overshadowed by trees, for which we cannot apply this rule.

The school has implemented the use of TV boxes. Previously, students had to go to the computer lab, where each student used one computer. With the introduction of the TV box, with just one switch, all students could learn together, which means a significant reduction in the use of electricity.

We put reminder labels near the switch for each light and electrical equipment. The introduction of indoor plants is an excellent move, as it helps to reduce heat and consequently reduce energy use. Many do not realise electrical appliances emit heat during their operation. So, personally, when I turn on the fan, I do not set it to the maximum speed. As a teacher, I do experiments and share the information with the students. That way, we learn together.

The banner we hang at the school entrance exhibits the bill incurred for each month to keep alerting the students to how much they spend on electricity. Every assembly carried with it a reminder for the students to save electricity. We also ensure that our efforts are not limited to school alone. Students should carry energy-saving values wherever they go. In the beginning, students comply when we instruct them to do so. Later, when these values are ingrained in them, they tend to implement them wherever they go.

We at the SMK Girls Methodist are lucky in the sense that our previous headmasters were nature lovers. As you can see, the school is endowed with many lush trees that continuously give shade and supply oxygen to the surrounding area. Such a bounty of nature, besides being a conducive environment for learning, also keeps the environment cool and reduces the need for fans and air conditioners.

Our headmaster had set a rule that if the electric bill was more than what had been fixed by the school, the balance would be borne by the teachers. Therefore, naturally, all teachers cooperate to reduce the electricity bill. There are challenges we face. Some days, as early as 8 a.m., we already feel the heat. We have learned to handle these vagaries of weather together.

In the process of learning and implementing energy reduction in our school, I also made several changes in my lifestyle. I have the habit of using the air conditioner and fan together. However, now I only use one appliance at a time. When we use the air conditioner and fan together, it hinders the cold air from reaching us. I have also gotten rid of the habit of opening the fridge door often and have started ironing clothes for the whole week. I believe that small changes bring big effects in the long run.

“I carry my energy-saving values wherever I go” – Form 5 STUDENT Nur Syazwani binti Saad

As an energy monitor, I am happy that all students are cooperating well to reach our goal of reducing electricity consumption. We have a total of 40 energy monitors in our school. These energy monitors split their tasks and operate at different times. From 6.30 am to 7.00 am, each class is allowed to switch on only one light and fan. We have energy monitors to check on this.

Likewise, another set of energy monitors checks that all lights and electrical equipment are switched off during recess. Another group of energy monitors will be responsible after school ends. Our teachers continuously observe how we function, and those with exceptional dedication and performance are rewarded. This boosts us to perform better.

Limiting the Use of Decorative Lights. I share whatever I learned in school with my family and try to implement it wherever possible. At home, we wait until the washing machine is full to wash our clothes. We use the air conditioner for the first hour at night to cool the room and then replace it with a fan. Before gaining knowledge about saving electricity, we used to light the decorative lamps at the entrance of our house. As for now, we leave the decorative lights on for at least 10 minutes rather than turning them off completely.

Occasionally, when I go to the laundry room, I find nobody there, yet the lights and fans are switched on. I make sure to turn them off before leaving the room. My energy-saving practices are not limited to school and home. Wherever I go, I carry my energy-saving values.

“We reserve the freezer for the festive season” – Form 5 STUDENT Nur Jannahtul Amirah binti Saad

The entire school is subjected to the energy-saving rules. Besides students, our teachers also show their commitment to reducing electricity consumption. The air conditioner in the staff room is switched on only after 12.00 pm. The rules are bent on days of sweltering heat, and the teachers may turn on the air conditioner earlier than usual.

As a result of the combined efforts of teachers and students, our school successfully reduced the electricity bill. We are proud of our achievement. I apply what I learned in school at home as well. At home, we have a separate freezer, which I learned consumes a lot of electricity. Therefore, we decided to reserve the freezer for the festive season.