Category: Projects

Energy Sparks is a charity that offers a unique school-specific energy management tool and education programme. Using a school’s electricity, gas and solar data, Energy Sparks shows pupils and staff how much energy the school is using each day. The online tool presents bespoke analysis of the energy data with suggestions of actions the school community could take to save energy and reduce the school’s carbon emissions. 

Energy Sparks can currently offer its services free of charge for one year to Sheffield schools that meet at least one of the following criteria:

• >30% free school meals or
• >20% SEN or
• (>22%) English as an additional language pupils

The funded offer includes access to the Energy Sparks energy management tool and education resources, weekly emailed energy use alerts, webinar training for staff on school energy management and using Energy Sparks with your pupils, email support, and a half-day in-school education workshop. 

Schools that don’t meet the above criteria can join Energy Sparks for £545 + VAT per year.

Find out more
Watch the introductory video to learn more about what Energy Sparks offers schools. Or book a demo session at  https://energysparks.uk/find-out-more

Example dashboards

Take a look at the dashboards for some of the participating schools to understand how Energy Sparks can help you take control of your energy use and involve the whole school community in carbon reduction.

Example adult dashboard
Example pupil dashboard

Impact
Explore case studies that showcase some of the ways that Energy Sparks schools have saved energy and improved their pupils’ energy and climate literacy.

The average Energy Sparks primary saved at least £3,000 off their energy bill over the 2022/2023 school year and 12.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the average secondary saved at least £12,000 and 48 tonnes of CO2. 

Join a demo or register your interest at https://energysparks.uk/find-out-more

> Quick Link – Tiny Forest – expression of interest

Tiny Forests are dense, fast-growing areas of woodland planted with the aims of reconnecting people with nature, mitigating the effects of climate change and creating nature-rich habitat patches in urban environments.

Why do we need Tiny Forests

Environmental issues such as flooding, heat stress and loss of biodiversity are increasingly affecting urban areas.

Creating thriving and climate-resilient urban areas that support economic growth, whilst also enhancing livelihoods and wellbeing, is a considerable challenge.

Tiny Forest can play a part in facing this challenge. They bring the benefits of a forest – reconnecting people with nature and raising awareness, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change, as well as providing nature-rich habitat patches to support urban wildlife – right into the heart of our cities and urban spaces.

Help mitigate the effects of the climate crisis, one Tiny Forest at a time.

What is a Tiny Forest?

• A Tiny Forest is a dense fast-growing native woodland, based on an established forest management method developed in the 1970s by Dr Akira Miyawaki.
• Environmental and social data is collected for every forest we plant, this helps us assess the benefits they provide over time and between different forests.
• 600 trees planted densely in a tennis-court size plot, maximising benefits per m2 of land
• Planting method encourages accelerated forest development and uses no chemicals or fertilisers
• Low management and maintenance requirements after the first two years
• Rich biodiversity, capable of attracting over 500 animal and plant species within the first 3 years
• A nature-rich accessible green space and outdoor classroom for people to reconnect with nature
• Monitoring data gathered by citizen scientists to help understand how Tiny Forests develop, and quantify the climate benefits
• Links to business sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and environmental, social corporate governance (ESG)

How can we use Tiny Forests in schools?

Tiny Forests are a fantastic way to engage young people with the environment. The school community can be involved in the planting and maintenance of the forest. There is a space left as an outdoor classroom to encourage further use of the Tiny Forest in years to come.

Would you like a Tiny Forest in your school or college grounds?

Tiny Forests are a fantastic way to engage young people with the environment. The school community can be involved in the planting and maintenance of the forest. There is a space left as an outdoor classroom to encourage further use of the Tiny Forest in years to come

We are currently identifying potential funding which would cover the cost of implementing Tiny Forests in school grounds. To help understand demand and capacity, if you would like to be considered for a Tiny Forest in your school or college please complete this short eForm.