Member Article

Big Energy Project Educates Next Generation

A Sunderland based customer service centre has teamed with a local secondary school to educate pupils about energy efficiency.

The Big Energy Project, developed by EDF Energy and children’s charity The Transformation Trust, saw teams of key Stage 3 students from Venerable Bede Academy create their own energy efficiency campaigns.

A team of energy experts from EDF Energy, Doxford International Business Park, visited the school to teach students aged 11-13 about energy efficiency as part of an interactive workshop.

Kelly Burdis-McGough, customer service advisor at EDF Energy said; “It was great taking part in the Big Energy Project, spreading the word about energy efficiency and educating the next generation on important environmental issues.

“The children really got into it and came up with some really impressive ideas for campaigns.”

The energy efficiency campaign designed by the classmates was aimed at raising awareness of energy efficiency between peers and family members. The students chose to write and record a song on energy efficiency to help spread the word.

The pupils’ campaigns are now set to go up against others from around the country in ‘The Big Energy Project Challenge’, where experts from EDF Energy and the Transformation Trust will choose a winner for a two-day science themed trip to London.

The Big Energy Project aims to encourage a change in behaviour towards energy saving as well as to help students develop key skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, enterprise and leadership skills. Evaluation of the programme has shown that as well as educating young people on the importance of sustainability, the Project also offers wider benefits. After taking part 76% of students agreed that they work better with other people, 78% felt more confident, 92% felt that they had learnt something new, 84% felt that they achieved something and 88% want to do better at school.

Katryna Wrathmall, teacher of science and coordinator of STEM at Venerable Bede Academy said: “It is fantastic that EDF Energy is interested in educating the next generation about energy and supporting the curriculum with interactive and practical workshops.

“The students all really enjoyed the session and learnt a lot about energy and the issues surrounding efficiency. We will be keeping our fingers crossed that they do well in the ‘Big Energy Project Challenge’ as we really think they deserve it.”

The Big Energy Project is one of several initiatives that EDF Energy runs with schools. The Pod EDF Energy’s flagship environmental education programme, now was over 17,000 registered schools and has engaged with more than 100 million students since its launch in 2008.

EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies and the largest producer of low-carbon electricity, producing around one-fifth of the nation’s electricity from its nuclear power stations, wind farms, coal and gas power stations and combined heat and power plants.

At EDF Energy’s Hartlepool nuclear power station, the nearest to Sunderland, the station’s two reactors generate enough low carbon electricity to power around two million homes. This saved around four million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2014 - the equivalent of taking two million cars off the road.

If you would like any more information or would like to arrange a visit to EDF Energy please contact Emma Shearer emma.shearer@edfenergy.com

Hartlepool power station’s popular visitor centre also offers an insight into electricity production and gives visitors a chance to look around a power station. To book a trip contact: 01429 853582.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by EDF Energy .