Abstract:

Implementing sustainable energy strategies for creating a sustainable living space is important for combating against climate change and global warming. Energy efficiency and renewable energy sources is important for the solution of these problems. Some of the solutions are technical aspect but there are also other important ways of struggle these problems. They involve policies, legislation, economic incentives and education. All of these initiatives have an important role to play in modifying human behaviour and moving society towards a sustainable future. Governments have different policies about energy subject and try to build a society who has consciousness to consumption and energy efficiency. Ministry of Education in Turkey also have some policies about energy efficiency. From the primary school to university there are a lot of subjects and goals –most of them are only recognizing level not applying- about energy and efficiency. As all persons, teachers have to know the subject and also be a role model by practicing some activity in their daily life. There is a growing body of research showing that learning by doing is much more effective, in this perspective it can easily be said that to do something is more important than to say. As a part of a project carried out in Balıkesir city in Turkey about energy efficiency that funded by GMKA (South Marmara Development Agency) a two days long education program was developed and applied to 131 (63 female, 68 male) participants. Program contains, experimental sets as simulations (wind turbine, solar panel, hydrogen fuel cell, energy efficiency etc.) and active methods for encourage energy efficiency awareness of the participants. The aim of this study is to examine awareness of home energy efficiency measures and attitudes as well as beliefs to environmental changes of the teachers (44), prospective teachers (41) and college of higher education students (50). Data collected by using both a 34-itemed scale and program evaluation forms. Results show that nearly 100% of the participants heard about global warming and 1 % believe that only natural occurrences, 29 % believe only the activities of the mankind, 70% believe both of them cause global warming. 29% report that they leave an appliance on stand by often, 27% sometimes, % 11 always, unfortunately only 5 % never. In conclusion we need an effective energy efficiency education program to make it applicable in Turkey.

Keywords:

Energy efficiency, sustainability.