Every school uses energy. But when is your school using the most? Where is energy being wasted? What could be changed? And could you prove that your idea would make a difference?
If your school uses Energy Sparks, you can explore its real energy data and use it as evidence for your Higher Project Qualification (HPQ) or Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
Instead of researching a problem that exists somewhere else, you could investigate what is happening in your own school.
You could:
- Analyse your school’s electricity, gas or solar generation data
- Investigate patterns and unusual changes in energy use
- See how your school’s energy use compares to other schools
- Explore why energy use changes during the day, week or year
- Investigate technologies that could reduce energy use
- Explore how people’s behaviour affects energy consumption
- Compare different solutions and their costs and benefits
- Develop a campaign or action plan for your school
- Present your findings to your school community
- Make recommendations or develop an energy saving plan that your school could actually use.
And you don’t need to be an energy expert. The data gives you somewhere real to start.
How Energy Sparks data can help you design a project – examples
“What could I discover about my school — and what could I change?”
Start with the data. End with an idea.
You don’t need to know your hypothesis or outcome before you begin. Start by exploring your school’s data.
Look for something that surprises you. What do you notice?
Then ask: Why might this be happening?
Next: What would you need to find out?
And finally: Could your investigation help your school do something about it?
Your school could become your case study – your investigation could be the solution.
Guidance for teachers
If you are supporting students with their Higher Project Qualification (HPQ) or Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and would like to understand how Energy Sparks can help, you can download our teacher guidance here.
