Abstract:

The global energy economy has undergone significant changes in the last few years in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. As a result of this trend, many countries around the world are working to promote electric technologies as an alternative to fuel-consuming ones. In Israel, the energy industry strives to integrate renewable sources into the supply system and streamline consumption. The Government Resolution No. 542, adopted in 2015, aims to reduce electricity consumption by at least 17% by 2030, and to generate electricity from renewable energy sources by at least 13% in 2025 and at least 17% in 2030. Between 2013 and 2017, per capita, energy consumption in the domestic sector increased by 7.3%. Domestic energy use has been a deterrent to energy efficiency in all fields of the economy.

Education is one way to prepare public opinion and reduce barriers to smart use and energy efficiency in the household. Through the education of schoolchildren, we will present a way to prepare public opinion and minimize barriers to the intelligent use of energy. Study will take place at the School of Multidisciplinary Studies in collaboration with the Dean of Students' Social Involvement Unit, thanks to funding from the Higher Education Council (the Planning and Budgeting Committee of the Council for Higher Education).

As part of the course, students from the Institute of Technology engage with elementary school students and, through workshops and experiential experiments, teach them about the necessity of preserving the environment in order to prevent air, water and soil pollution, as well as reducing waste production.

In 2021-2022, the course focused on issues of energy production from renewable sources and energy efficiency as a preparation for public opinion, in the circles of influence that students' families wield. In order to maximize energy efficiency and intelligent use in the entire household.

Students in the course learned about energy production processes from perishable sources and energy production from renewable sources at the beginning of the course. Energy efficiency was also discussed. Sessions with school students were also virtual sessions, in which the students were given an experimental kit and laboratory equipment before the sessions and conducted the experiments together in real time. Students learned and experienced how simple actions in everyday life can be made more energy efficient - preferring natural light over artificial sources, maintaining thermal insulation in the building, using LED lighting instead of "wasteful" lights, choosing energy-efficient electrical appliances, and more.

A knowledge quiz was conducted at the end of each session. The quiz results suggest the students learned a great deal and even started to share their knowledge with friends, parents, and siblings. Towards preparing public opinion and reducing barriers to household energy efficiency and intelligent use. According to the students, they have also learned a lot and have begun implementing energy-efficient practices.

It is important to invest great efforts even in seemingly challenging times and remember that change begins in education and it is best to start with children so that we can achieve intelligent use and energy efficiency.

Keywords:

Environmental Education, Elementary school, Renewable Energy, Sustainability.