School Programs

How It Works

Step 1 - Finding a Sponsor. The first step in the program is finding a sponsor or a group of sponsors who wish to provide the program in their area. Sponsors can be anyone with a stake in water, gas or electricity conservation.

Step 2 - Doing the Legwork. The Resource Action team contacts teachers within the sponsor’s designated territory and enrolls them in the program.

Step 3 - Providing the Tools. Program materials are branded with the sponsor’s logo and shipped directly to participating teachers.

Step 4 - Conservation Education Begins. Teachers facilitate in-class activities and distribute Resource Action kits to all their students.

Step 5 - From the Classroom to the Home. Each student takes home a Resource Action Kit that contains educational materials, auditing tools and resource efficient devices.

Step 6 - Identifying Inefficiencies. Students and their parents conduct a simple home audit to determine how much water, electricity or natural gas they’re using and to identify any inefficiencies.

Step 7 - Making Changes. Students work with their parents to remove old, inefficient fixtures. They replace these fixtures with the new resource efficient devices provided inside each kit.

Step 8 - Adding up the Savings. A second audit is performed by the students and their parents to calculate the resource savings produced by retrofitting activities.

Step 9 - Collecting the Data. Audit information is collected and the participants are surveyed with a pre/post test to find out how much they learned by participating in the program.

Step 10 - Providing the Results. All collected data is compiled, analyzed and placed into a Program Summary Report that is given to the program sponsors. This report summarizes all of the program results including a breakdown of resource savings.
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Education

Each Resource Action Program was developed by teachers, for teachers, and emphasizes resource conservation education. It is designed to introduce students and their families to the concept of natural resources, while teaching them the importance of conservation in their daily lives. The program’s focus is on energy and water awareness, with the goal of resource education and an increased feeling of environmental responsibility.

The personalized education approach truly makes Resource Action Programs unique. By using hands-on learning, accommodation to different learning styles, adaptive lesson plans, and flexible times schedules, there is something to be gained by everyone involved.

Some of the things that students and families learn are:

• The value of clean water and energy
• Where resources come from
• The impact of everyday actions
• The power of individual and collective action

And learning doesn’t stop there! Additional resources are also available at www.getwise.org, a very special resource for teachers, students, and parents. Complete with activities, games, interactive tours, and facts, everyone can continue to learn and grow, even when class is over.

Schools from all over the country are joining in the commitment to conserving natural resources through education. Resource Action Programs encourage attitude change and increased knowledge about water and energy conservation. When education is fun, change is inevitable.
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Measurable Results

Each program tracks and records all program activities as well as the resource savings generated. The results are tabulated and returned to the sponsor in the form of a Program Summary Report. This comprehensive report helps the sponsor evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
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Customization

Each program can be custom designed to meet the sponsor’s individual conservation goals and budget requirements. The program provides flexibility by allowing the customization of the program materials, and by assisting in the creation of individualized community outreach. In addition, distribution of sponsor specific information is also available (i.e. rebates, promotions, etc.).
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Community Outreach

Program materials are prominently branded with the sponsor’s name and company logo. In addition, the community will learn about this generous sponsorship through the press releases and teacher awards generated by the Resource Action Team. Because the program involves children and is media worthy, local radio and television stations are often interested, providing excellent exposure opportunities.

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