An Innovative Program Has Come to Schools in Mississauga

GreenLearning and Peel District School Board (PDSB), are empowering schools to reduce their energy use and carbon emissions by making energy ‘visible’ to students.

The program known as Energy Revealed, is currently in a planning phase thanks to a $53,900 Seed grant that was awarded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) in 2018.

“At the Peel District School Board, we pride ourselves on the creation of innovative learning opportunities that empower our students and will make a lasting impact on our community long after a student has graduated,” said Peter Joshua, Director of Education at the Peel District School Board.

Local MPP for Mississauga-Malton, Deepak Anand, met with members of GreenLearning on Friday morning to learn more about the program.

“Teaching our students to save energy today, will help them protect the world tomorrow,” said Anand.

Other attendees included partners of the program such as the Manager of Energy and Sustainability, Energy Specialist and Sustainability Specialist from the PDSB, Waterloo Global Science Initiative (WGSI) and Karen Farbridge, former Mayor of Guelph and expert on Community Energy Planning.

“The funding we received from OTF has allowed us to work with PDSB and a variety of amazing, highly regarded partners. We have been able to incorporate a community energy planning lens to our approach ensuring that all stakeholders are identified, and their perspectives are accounted for,” said Kristina Johnston, Energy Education Program Manager at GreenLearning.

Students can better prepare them for skills and careers in the 21st-century clean tech and innovation economy.

It is the hope of this program that the educational experience will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gases in the short term, creating a new generation of responsible and innovative energy users over the long term.

“We hope to reveal the results of the planning phase for the Energy Revealed program and also provide a thorough examination of how to ensure success for years to come,” said Johnson.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded more than $120 million to 700 projects last year to build better communities in Ontario.

GreenLearning creates free online programs about energy, climate change and green economy that engage and empower students to create positive change in their own lives, schools and communities.

“We are thrilled to have been able to partner with an organization like GreenLearning to launch Energy Revealed, a program that we believe will heighten awareness of environmental issues among our students and give them the tools to effect real change,” said Joshua.

For more information about OTF, please visit: www.otf.ca

For more information on GreenLearning, please visit: www.greenlearning.ca