By Halia Ochieng, 6th Grade, Great Falls ES
Principal Sara Harper displays energy awards with Halia Ochieng and Alexa
Landi, who are 6th graders at Great Falls Elementary School and the
co-founders of Climate Conservation Club (CCC).
Whether you are concerned about fuel prices, global warming, or
dependence on foreign oil producers like Russia or Iran, we need to find
ways to reduce energy usage. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is
taking helpful steps towards this goal. For example, FCPS committed to
achieve a 20% reduction of energy usage from 2013 to 2023. According to
data provided by FCPS, Great Falls Elementary School (GFES) achieved
this goal by 2016. According to the same data, progress at GFES has
slowed since then, and other schools may not reach their goal. To
accelerate change, schools can consider some simple additional steps.
For example, schools could reduce heating and air conditioning by
allowing teachers and students to wear temperature-appropriate
clothes. GFES installed heating and lights that switch off
automatically after school but could also fully transition to
energy-efficient appliances. Cafeteria menus could offer less meat,
source foods locally, and switch to reusable trays and utensils.
Cafeterias could also start composting systems to reduce fuel for
transporting waste. GFES donates leftover supplies to schools in need
but could go a step further by coordinating school supply lists
between grade levels so students can reuse supplies from previous
years.
Schools don’t have to act alone. Students, parents, and local
governments also play important roles. Students can conserve school
supplies, switch to reusable lunch containers, and use recycling
bins in the classrooms and cafeterias. Students should take the bus
instead of being driven to school, and parents should walk children
to the bus stop instead of driving them. If parents do drive, they
should at least turn off the car while waiting for the bus or at the
Kiss and Ride.
Local governments can help by building safe bike lanes and
sidewalks to schools, so students can go to school in a climate
friendly way.
These small changes would help slow the negative impacts of
global warming, which include extreme weather, such as floods,
hurricanes, and wildfires. These changes also can prevent food
insecurity, loss of livelihood and increased water conflict.
Reducing energy can involve up-front expenses, but reduces
utility bills in the long-run, allowing FCPS to save money for
other needs. As a resource-rich school in a resource-rich
county, we can lead the way by showing other schools how these
changes are climate-friendly and budget-friendly.
According to the November 2022 issue of the Economist,
current emission levels will not sufficiently slow global
warming. We need more drastic changes to avoid hurricanes
and heat waves like those seen recently in Florida and
across Europe. To do this, young people need the opportunity
to practice energy conservation and learn how their actions
impact emissions. It is their futures that are most at
stake.