Organizing a School Energy Showdown—a friendly competition between classrooms—is a powerful way to engage students and staff in building sustainable habits. Especially if you’re looking for a way to bring the whole school together around energy conservation. This place-based activity promotes collaboration, fun, and real-world behavior change through friendly competition.
What is a School Energy Showdown?
The School Energy Showdown is a week- or month-long challenge where classrooms compete to adopt energy-saving behaviors. By working as teams, students gain a sense of student agency and responsibility while making a measurable impact on their school’s energy use.
How to Organize a School Energy Showdown
Set the Rules
Decide which energy-saving behaviors will be tracked and create a simple checklist for each classroom. Common behaviors include:
-
Turning off lights when not needed
-
Unplugging devices when not in use
-
Using natural daylight
-
Shutting down computers at the end of the day
- If you want a full list of options, check these out.
Create Teams
Treat each classroom as a team. Encourage collaboration and shared responsibility as students work together to reduce their energy footprint.
Track and Report
Assign a daily student “energy reporter” in each class to check off completed actions on the checklist. At the end of the day, record each class’s score on a school-wide chart.
Celebrate the Winners
Announce the winning class at the end of the competition and celebrate with a fun reward like:
- A certificate or trophy
- Extra recess or a classroom privilege
- A shoutout in the school newsletter or morning announcements
Extend the Lesson
Reflection Journals
Ask students to keep a journal reflecting on their role in the competition and what new habits they’ve adopted.
Challenge Other Schools
Take it to the next level by connecting with another school and seeing who can save the most energy! Not sure how to do this? Join our next competition and we’ll take care of all the details for you!
Did You Know?
💡 Competition-based energy reduction programs can lead to behavior changes that cut school energy use by up to 20% when students are actively engaged and motivated.
Join the Movement to Save Energy
The School Energy Showdown is a fun, interactive way to integrate STEM, place-based learning, and student agency into your curriculum. By participating, students learn the importance of mindful energy use while working together to create a greener school community.
Want to go even further? Join a Renew Our Schools competition today!
