I’m currently supporting a school on their climate action plan. We’ve talked lots about whole school energy projects -some of which sound great on paper. After all they have a huge number of positives:

• Lower bills
• Lower carbon emissions
• Support pupil leadership
• Develop real-world maths.
• And have visible impact.

But I know that in reality, the phrase “whole-school project” can become

• another spreadsheet
• another meeting
• another thing someone has to own

The good news is that a whole-school energy project doesn’t need to be a big initiative. It can be small, light-touch, and mostly built into things you already do. This blog will hopefully point you in that direction.

Whole school energy projects: start with this mindset shift

Let’s reframe what “energy project” means.

We’re not: installing new tech, writing a strategy document, running assemblies every week or launching a branded campaign

Instead we’re noticing how your building uses energy – and helping pupils understand and improve it. From this we can look to reduce use, look to save money, reduce our emissions or even look for further changes. But at it’s heart it is about whole school energy use.

Think curiosity, not programme.

Why a whole school energy project is such a good place to start

If you’re choosing one sustainability focus, energy makes sense because:

✔ it saves money
✔ it links naturally to the curriculum
✔ it’s measurable
✔ pupils can see real change
✔ it doesn’t require behaviour guilt

It’s also one of the areas where environmental action and financial pressure point in the same direction. Which makes leadership buy-in much easier. It could encourage your wider community to get involved. After all, who doesn’t want to reduce their energy use?

Keep it small (seriously)

The biggest mistake schools make is trying to do everything at once.

That’s how it becomes another job.

Instead, aim for:

👉 one question + one routine

For example:

“How much energy do we use each week — and can we reduce it a little?”

A simple, low-effort model that works

Here’s a version we’ve seen work well in lots of settings.

Step 1 – Nominate two or three pupils

Not a committee or a club, just a small group:

• eco reps
• school council
• or interested volunteers

They could be: energy monitors, climate leaders, whatever fits your culture.

Ten minutes a week is enough.

Step 2 – Track one number

Use something you already have:

• smart meter display
• weekly energy reading
• monthly bill summary
• site manager’s figures

Pupils record:

• one number
• once a week
• on a simple chart

That’s your entire “data system”.

No spreadsheets required (though you could adapt this for older pupils, or maths scenarios etc!)

Step 3 – Make it visible

Put the number somewhere public:

• entrance board
• staffroom
• newsletter
• assembly slide

Note – this is not to shame anyone, visibility creates gentle behaviour change without nagging.

Step 4 – Try tiny tweaks

Let pupils suggest small changes like:

• lights off at lunch
• devices shut down overnight
• doors closed in winter
• reminders near switches

Nothing dramatic. Nothing preachy.

Step 5 – Link it to learning (not extra work)

This is where the it comes alive and becomes more than just a tickbox.

Instead of creating “energy lessons”, just borrow the data for things you already teach:

• Maths → graphs, averages, percentages
• Science → energy transfer, electricity
• Geography → climate impact
• Citizenship → collective responsibility
• Computing → simple data handling

Same lessons. Real data.

What this looks like in practice

In many schools, it ends up being surprisingly simple:

• pupils take one weekly reading
• teacher spends 5 minutes updating a chart
• occasional reminder in assembly
• termly reflection

That’s it. We’re trying to create a habit. Where it goes after that could depend on what you find.

The benefits sneak up on you

Schools report that:

• pupils become naturally more energy aware
• lights and screens get turned off without prompting
• staff join in informally
• site teams feel included
• bills dip slightly
• and sustainability stops feeling abstract

It becomes part of the culture rather than a project. Which is exactly what you want.

Start where you are

You don’t need:

• new funding
• specialist knowledge
• or a big plan

You just need a place to begin, and energy is often the easiest first step because it’s already there, happening every day, whether you look at it or not.

AND – If you’re not sure what you’re already doing (or where energy fits alongside everything else), our Not Yet Zero Sustainability Audit can help you map things out quickly and spot easy wins.

It’s designed to support conversation, not create extra paperwork.

👉 Download the audit here