EarthCARE is an activity-based, curriculum-aligned program that focuses
on energy conservation, waste reduction, and water conservation. This
focus offers the greatest opportunity to develop students and staff as
environmental stewards while aligning the program with the curriculum.
Even the most basic behavioural change in these areas (such as turning
lights and computers off, encouraging recycling and identifying dripping
taps) greatly improves the school's environmental impact.
Each theme is reflected in our lesson plans and activities, as well
as the building operators training program,
and each theme is a part of the audit process built into the EarthCARE
quality assurance component.
Visit the Lessons & Activities Section
to download and print sample EarthCARE lesson plans and activities
reflecting each of these themes. If you would like more information
on EarthCARE lesson plans please contact Rose-Marie Batley,
.
Energy
The focus in the energy theme is on being more efficient in how we use electricity, gas and oil. The utility costs avoided by turning off lights and computers when not in use, making use of natural
light whenever possible, or changing room temperatures by one or two degrees is astounding. In a
school, each computer station turned off at night and on weekends saves $60-$100 (CDN) in annual energy costs. This alone can generate tremendous savings for a school board.
Waste
While the EarthCARE program promotes recycling, it has become apparent that some of what we thought we were recycling is going to garbage dumps because there is no secondary market for the recycled product.
Therefore, a focus of this theme is reduction. A good example is the 'paper revolution' used in many schools. Paper in the recycle box is removed if used on only one side and is used for everything from jot
notes to paper for tests and assignments. This is a good example of walking the talk.
Water
Water, especially clean water, is a necessary and precious resource. People are acutely aware of the need to protect this resource. That makes it all the more important to repair a leaking tap, use water-
efficient appliances, and take action to protect our water supplies before it is too late. The focus of this theme is on identification of water waste and changing attitudes about how we use water.
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