Open Space Learning to Reduce Electricity Consumption

Lai Cheng August 24, 2024 0 Comments
TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY: This big banner serves to remind students and teachers that the school has embarked on an energy-saving project that will have a positive impact on the environment and their daily lives.

Avoiding air-conditioner use to save energy can pose challenges, especially in a hot climate, but SMK Datuk Hj Mohamed Nor Ahmad in Bukit Gelugor, Penang has not let this prevented the school from inculcating energy-saving habits in students. To optimise health and safety, the school uses a practical approach of balancing students’ well-being and needs with good environmental care.

Energy conservation is now a daily practice in the school. And students are now very aware of the connection between energy use and climate change. How does the school handle the setbacks in their journey towards environmental stewardship? Let’s hear it from their schoolteacher, and class energy monitors.

“Our students learn to use nature as a learning space” – TEACHER Law Yee Chen

I am the coordinator for the Education for Sustainable Development Project (ESD) at SMK Datuk Hj Mohamed Nor Ahmad. The existing 100 members of the eco-team of the school had eased the job of imparting energy-saving messages that CAP had introduced to us.

LET’S GO GREEN: CAP officer Saraswathi Odian giving a talk to students on the usefulness of plants as an alternative way to cool the air.

Since the air conditioner is one of the electrical appliances that consumes the most electricity, we took action to reduce the use of air conditioners. However, there are many challenges involved in this. With the unprecedented temperature increase, we believe saving energy should go hand in hand with protecting our health as well. In between the moves to reduce energy, our school fixed 10 new air conditioners that come with 5 hosepipes. This is inevitable, as the administration of the school needs to put the well-being of the students first to ensure the teaching task is carried out without a hitch.

Currently, the use of our seminar hall has also increased as the school has been organising more projects by collaborating with other organisations. These are some of the setbacks in our effort to reduce energy.

In our endeavour to cool the classrooms naturally, “Our previous ‘one class – one plant’ project had been upgraded to ‘one class – two plants’. This way, we impart the message that plants are important to reduce heat and cool the planet. All our eco-activities are blossoming well, with students participating in international competitions and learning more about the importance of saving the earth. I noticed that when they emerged as champions in eco competitions, it heightened their enthusiasm, and they became more confident when undertaking tasks such as saving energy.

PLEASE LEAD THE WAY: Energy Monitor badges prepared for appointed students to wear. The monitors have an important role of ensuring other students follow energy-saving rules drawn up by the school.

Wherever possible, I expose students to open-space learning. For example, for art class, I bring them out of the classroom to some shady area. This way, students not only avoid using lights and air conditioners but also learn to use nature as a learning space. To enable students to grasp all the energy-saving messages, teachers must first set a good example. I get full cooperation from other teachers. They use the morning assembly to convey energy-saving tips to students.

“Energy monitor role helps us spread awareness” – Form 5 STUDENTS Nur Farisha binti Mat Salleh & Nur Afifah binti Ahmad Najmi

As appointed class energy monitors, Nur Farisha binti Mat Salleh and Nur Afifah binti Ahmad Najmi stay constantly vigilant to ensure the school’s goal to reduce energy use is achieved.

Nur Afifah said that, in general, students welcome the move to save energy. “The energy monitors stick a card at each electrical point with messages to power off electricity that’s not in use. This way, the students are alert all the time. However, a few students feel that this is a non-issue. When dealing with them, I had no choice but to compel them and give them a warning to follow the rules set by the school.

BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARD. Students listening to CAP’s talk on the role that students play in tackling climate change.

My involvement in the save-energy project, especially my daily duty to ensure students follow the rules, has made me more aware of the importance of saving energy and its connection to the environment. Previously at home, whenever my mother asked me to turn off the light, I would not take it seriously. Now, I do it even before she instructs me to do so. As the eldest child in the family, I take on the responsibility of guiding my siblings to follow suit.

Nur Farisha binti Mat Salleh too, is now more energy conscious and environmentally aware and thinks twice before using any electrical appliances. She is determined to save electricity not only in school, but also wherever she is. She encourages others around her to commit to saving energy.