Climate-themed competitions and activities to help you save energy and inspire your pupils
With global leaders due to meet next month for the UN’s 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30), we have some fun activities and competitions to help your pupils take meaningful action. We also have prizes up for grabs, so don’t miss out!
We believe one of the most effective ways to inspire pupils is by helping them see how their actions contribute to the bigger picture. Whether that’s participating in an event relating to a UN climate conference, or helping their school compete against others to reduce energy waste and greenhouse gas emissions, we have ideas for you!
‘Layer Up, Power Down’ Day (during COP30)
In November, world leaders will meet in Belém, Brazil for the UN’s 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30). There, they will coordinate global climate action in the coming years.
Climate change will be in the news, so why not offer your pupils the chance to learn more about the topic and take some meaningful action during COP30 with our ‘Layer Up, Power Down’ Day? It’s a good chance to remind staff and students of an important message: heat the person, not the planet!
To take part, all you need to do is turn your school heating off or down on Friday 14th November and keep it off all weekend (subject to frost protection settings). Currently almost 10% of school gas use happens at weekends, so let’s try to fix that!
Last year, gas savings for participating schools ranged from 26% right up to 72%! Some schools combined it with Children In Need and came to school wearing onesies, pyjamas and dressing gowns. All the guidance you need, including posters, videos and even text to go in newsletters is included in our activity page.
You can use your Energy Sparks account to monitor savings and we’ll share some good news stories afterwards about the schools that make the biggest savings.
Taking part will also earn you 30 points towards our annual scoreboard competition.
Winter Heat Saver competition
During November and December 2025, we will be running our Winter Heat Saver competition to help schools get a handle on their heating.
On average, 60% of schools’ energy is used outside of opening hours, and this can often be reduced by making very simple changes to boiler settings – turning the set temperature down, and changing the times when heating is switched on. For many schools, they can make these changes without even feeling a difference in classroom temperatures during the school day!
We invite you all to complete one of two heating programmes (or both if you like!). Any school can complete Smart Schools Stay at 18 degrees, even if you don’t use gas heating or have gas data available on Energy Sparks. This programme asks pupils to monitor temperatures around the school and staff to turn the heating down if temperatures are too high.
Schools with gas data can also choose Give your heating a lie-in, and use their Energy Sparks charts to check what time their heating comes on in the morning on school days.
Now for the fun bit!
All schools that complete one of these heating programmes between 1st November and 31st December will receive the usual 30 bonus points for completing a programme AND be entered into a draw to win a £100 prize. This means that everyone is in with a chance to win.
We’ll also be awarding £100 to the school that makes the greatest % reduction in gas use compared with last year.
The two periods we will be comparing are:
- 17th November to 14th December 2024; and
- 16th November to 13th December 2025.
To enrol on a programme, just click on the Start button on the programme page. Your Recommended activities page will then show the progress you are making in completing the programme.
Best of luck everyone!
