MILWAUKEE — Students across Wisconsin are taking an active role in reducing energy usage at their schools, thanks to the five-week "Renew Our Schools Challenge.”

What You Need To Know

  • The “Renew Our Schools Challenge” is organized by the statewide group Focus on Energy and the Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program

  • More than a dozen schools are competing in the challenge to maximize energy savings at their school for a chance at cash prizes

  • Students are collecting energy readings and then using the information to come with up strategies to be more energy efficient, sharing them with the whole school and documenting the progress made

More than a dozen schools compete in the challenge, including Golda Meir in Milwaukee. A green team that’s dedicated to the challenge meets weekly.

On one afternoon, Golda Meir junior Shandra Cooper checked the temperature in a classroom at the school.

“We are trying to figure out which sides of the room are warmer than the other to try to detect the energy, because the more energy you use, the warmer the room would be,” said Cooper.

Cooper and her teammates have been collecting different kinds of energy readings in and around their school.

The students then use the information to come with up strategies to be more energy efficient, share them with the whole school and document the progress made.

“Stuff like things plugged into the wall that we just checked in this room,” said Cooper. “That we have an impact on, and we can actually make a change on, so it’s important for us to know that.”

Fellow green team member Adrianna Reams said the feedback has been positive.

“So many staff come up to me and tell me how they have been unplugging things every night and how they have learned so much from that, and now they are thinking about conserving the energy, and they have been sharing that with their students,” said Reams.

By maximizing energy savings at their school, the teams can win cash prizes.

“They love to be a part of that change and to help to see better what happens at our schools. This green team is just amazing,” said Golda Meir green team supervisor Tina Gleason. “They are always trying to reach out and do different things, so being a part of this challenge is right up their alley, and they are really excited about making an impact for our school.”

Cooper said she hopes the energy-saving steps they’re sharing are just the beginning.

“We lessened our energy use this year,” said Cooper. “We want to keep that going for the future classes. We want them to continue that, not just short-term progress.”

The “Renew Our Schools Challenge” is organized by the statewide group Focus on Energy and the Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program. 

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