Exploring sustainable energy use at home.
For students grade 4 – 8 (age 10-14).

In this project student groups are challenged to organize a party and to do all the work connected with that (dish washing, washing, cleaning, preparing drinks and snacks, light and music).  There is only one condition: their energy use may not contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Each group has its fair share of worlds CO₂ absorbing capacity, symbolized by trees.

Only when a tree is available (handed in), energy from fossil resources can be used on one of the eight activity spots. 

If the CO₂ production as a result of their energy use for a certain activity exceeds the average daily absorption capacity of the tree, the power supply (really!) halts and the tree is no longer available for this day. A new tree has to be used to continue.  If the last tree is used, the party is over.

In all activities choices can be made in energy use.  Smart energy use and the deployment of available sustainable energy sources (wind-mill, solar-panel en solar-heater) can diminish CO₂ production and extend party-time and fun!

Student groups prepare this project at school.  Then they visit the activity-site in their environmental education center. Afterwarts an evaluation takes place at school: what did I learn and what does it mean to me.

The activity-site travels since 1998 along environmental centers in the province of Gelderland (Holland).

This activity is possible thanks to the contribution of the local EE-centres, the energy and water company NUON, SIEMENS, STORK and several co-sponsors.

More information

Design and production: Het Groene Wiel – Wageningen.