The EarthCARE Program

As part of their EarthCARE program, Agincourt PS in Ottawa, Ontario, created a mural of a tree with many "buds" on it. Whenever someone does a good deed for the earth, they write about it and turn the bud into a maple leaf. The tree is a great record of what has been done and offers suggestions for others to do something the same or something entirely different.

What is EarthCARE?

Energy costs for a school board can be roughly attributed 70% to the building systems (heating, lighting, automation systems, etc.) and 30% to how the occupants behave in the building and how efficiently the buildings are operated. Ameresco's Better Schools Partnership uses their school renewal program to address the building systems and their EarthCARE program to address the occupant behaviours and operation of the building. This model involves many stakeholders as partners working toward a common goal of reducing waste and increasing educational value for the board.

EarthCARE's Proven Success

EarthCARE is an action-oriented environmental education program designed to develop students and staff as environmental stewards. A distinguishing feature of the program accounting for its success is its delivery strategies, which include a focus on partnerships between schools and facilities, on youth as action-oriented leaders, and a shared goal to encourage energy savings and conservation. In just two years, the EarthCARE program in one board has avoided energy costs of ~$2,000,000 and reduced CO2 emissions by ~20 tonnes. EarthCARE can help to avoid about 10% of a board's utility costs by influencing how we behave in and operate the buildings. The EarthCARE program is currently active in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board.

Program Themes

The EarthCARE program focuses on three core themes:

• Energy - efficiency in how we use electricity, gas and oil
• Waste - recycling is good, reduction is great
• Water - identify waste and act on it

Addressing these themes provides the greatest opportunity to develop students and staff as environmental stewards. Turning off lights and computers and reducing waste have a huge impact on the environment.

EarthCARE Program Components

There are six components in the EarthCARE program; they ensure success at the board level and help to build a robust framework among all EarthCARE participants.

1. Project Partnership System
2. In-School Program
3. Building Operators Training Program
4. Incentive/Recognition Plan
5. Quality Assurance Plan
6. Communications Plan

Learn about all the unique components that can be customized to your board's need to make EarthCARE successful.

EarthCARE Delivery Strategy

EarthCARE leverages the following four essential elements to produce a multi-layered delivery concept:

• Youth Engagement
• Custodial Engagement
• Gain Sharing
• Project Partnership System

Find out more about EarthCARE implementation and delivery.

Get Involved

Are you a student, teacher, facilities manager, administrator, or board member who is interested in getting involved with the EarthCARE program? Find out how!