Training methodologies and educational resources in the field of integration of Renewable Energy Sources in an energy efficient home

Abstract: The EU Kyoto target for greenhouse gas reductions can be met if families realise that they each can do something to reduce the environmental pollution associated with energy usage. The school is the most important source of information and therefore crucial in raising awareness in families. Following the earth summit in 2002, UNESCO launched the decade of education for sustainable development (ESD) in 2005. Efficient use of energy, reducing environmental pollution, preserving fossil fuel resources and preventing climate change are an integral part of ESD which now forms part of the national curriculum in all European countries. The first step in realizing the energy saving potential is to inform and educate students and their families how using energy more efficiently or using renewable energy sources (RES) in the home can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent climate change. Suitable resources have therefore developed in TREAM, (4.1031/Z/02-055/2002), KITH (EIE/05/183/512.421632) European projects and CREFEN Romanian research project to be used in educating both students and their families. The emphasis has been on saving energy and the use of RES in the home whenever possible. The European KITH project (“Realising the potential for small scale renewable energy sources in the home”) developed multi-lingual resources by the collaborative work of 17 partners from 10 European countries also accessible via Internet which explain the origins and impacts of global warming, and the necessity of clean energy houses by using set of activities together with resource material suitable for use in primary and secondary schools throughout the EU. A web-based methodology has been developed which will enable families to assess how RES can be incorporated into energy efficient homes