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Climate action at schools
At the Karl Foerster School in Potsdam, energy-saving detectives are making sure that electricity and heating are used efficiently. At the Hamburg-based Horn Primary School, climate-conscious “climate foxes” are tracking down potential for saving energy, leading to lower heating costs and the installation of motion sensors. At the Hegel Gymnasium secondary school in Stuttgart, “solar scouts” are motivating their parents to install balcony power plants, supported by an app providing interactive energy-saving tips.
The Energy-saving Champion Competition seeks out the best climate action projects in schools
Even the youngest pupils are actively contributing to climate action through their projects, learning hands-on how they can help shape the energy transition. Support comes from the non-profit consultancy co2online, which organises the Energy-saving Champion Competition each year. Since 2009, the most creative and sustainable climate action projects in schools have been honoured, with one winner from each federal state. Applications for 2025 are open from 14 January to 28 March. For more details, visit the website here (in German only).
Before a project becomes worthy of an award, pupils need one or more good ideas for climate action within their schools. A wealth of information is available in the Climate action in the classroom guide (in German only), which can be downloaded as a PDF. It provides tips for assessing energy consumption in schools and, in a second step, offers useful ideas for action. This includes information on reducing heating or electricity consumption, using renewable energy, adopting climate-friendly diets, waste separation, and even low-carbon mobility for the school commute.
Smart ventilation and heating: saving energy while learning better
If you don't set radiators to full power all the time, you save energy: each degree lower reduces consumption by about 6 per cent. The ideal temperature for learning is 20°C. Incorrect ventilation leads to heat loss, but regular airing remains essential for concentration. Teaching materials on energy saving and climate action are available for both teachers and students here.
Carbon dioxide monitors help track air quality – when CO₂ levels reach 1,400 ppm, it’s time to open the windows. Without a monitor, ventilation should take place at least once before, during, and after a 45-minute lesson. While ventilating, the heating should be turned down to save energy. Additionally, radiators should remain unobstructed and regularly bled to ensure rooms heat up quickly.
Practical tips, project pan, and posters available for free download
The guide provides valuable electricity-saving tips: turning off lights in unused rooms, using labelled switches, and turning off electrical appliances fully instead of leaving them on standby. It’s also worth checking the energy labels of refrigerators in the school kitchen and considering a green electricity tariff for the school.
Once a project is selected, the guide provides information on setting up a pupil company, available funding programmes, project offers, and public relations for the project, as well as a collection of links on specific topics. To ensure everything is organised properly, a ready-made project plan (in German only) is available for download.
A poster with heating and electricity-saving tips for everyday school life, an infographic on the greenhouse effect for the classroom, and even a full lesson plan entitled ‘Climate action in everyday life – what’s important?’ can also be downloaded free of charge from the Energy-saving Champion website (in German only). With these resources, climate action in the classroom can begin for all to see.