The Future Spark Schools Energy Challenge
Imagine if you could generate electricity just by pedaling.
How much power could you produce?
For how long?
How many people would it take to power a light globe, a kettle, a microwave, a lap top, or even a 3 hour rock concert?!
The Future Spark Bike trailer is a remarkable program that provides students with both an individual and collaborative physical experience of the personal energy required to create the power for common household items. The Future Spark Power Trailer has 12 bikes, each connected to a generator positioned behind each bike.
The energy created by the bikes directly inputs into the mains electricity grid via a regular 10 amp power point.
Our aim is to inspire students to reduce their energy use and this is done by the practical physical experience of bike riding to create electricity.
We are passionate about providing students with an experience of the power of collective action. Each student’s behaviour makes a difference and if we work collectively together we can make a positive contribution to the sustainability of our planet.
A great day at the RACV Energy Breakthrough
Check out the Youtube clips from our day with the fantastic Energy Breakthrough teams in Maryborough
Schools Visited Between May and October 2009
In the first 6 months of the Schools Partnership Program we have visited more than 20 schools and more than 15 days of festivals (see the festivals page).
The schools we have visited include:
Woodleigh College, Caulfield Grammar, Wesley College,Rosanna Golflinks Primary, Strathcona Girls, Canterbury Girls, MLC, Hurstbridge Primary, Billanook College,Melbourne Girls, Rowville S.C., Bayswater S.C, St Josephs College, Boronia Heights, Scoresby S.C, Wantirna College, Rowville S.C. Western Campus, Knox School, Waverley Christian College, Fairhills High.
With special thanks to Knox Council for supporting many of these schools as part of their Knox Council Youth Summit and the Stringy Bark Festival.
Congratulations St Joseph’s generating a huge 2436 WHrs.
See the blog for all school energy generation results.
2009 Earth Hour Concert.
Over the course of the week March 23 to 28 the Power Trailer was based in Federation Square to generate the energy for the Melbourne Earth Hour Concert. We had over 1200 people, the majority school children, participating to generate over 50kWh of electricity. We then held a huge concert for Earth Hour. We were successful in meeting the power needs of the 3 hr concert with some left over!
School Partnership Program
In it’s current life the trailer is set-up to visit schools as well as festivals and other events.
The Future Spark Power Trailer is very popular among students.
We provide a “hands on” program to physically experience how much effort it takes riding a bike to create energy to power a variety of household items (such as light bulbs, kettles, microwaves, laptops etc.) Also we have activities that make comparisons: For example seeing the difference between powering a 75 watt incandescent light bulb verses a 15 watt fluoro light (you have a lot of energy left to spare!). Computer screens (attached to the inside end wall of the bike trailer) shows a graph of how much energy each person is creating in the moment as they cycle.
The trailer provides a powerful physical experience of relative power and energy, and transforms some quite abstract concepts in to very concrete concepts. The main focus is on highlighting how we can reduce our energy consumption and energy waste.
Some schools book us for the day to have their students competing in teams to create energy for a carbon neutral school event. Other schools have booked us for the educational program which can be tailored to meet each school’s needs – whether it be for engagement and motivation in science, maths, physical education, sustainability, developing strategies, team work etc.
We are engaging with the Resource Smart AuSSI Vic Program to ensure the Future Spark can be part of a comprehensive approach for sustainability education across Victoria.
We are passionate about providing students with an experience of the power of collective action. Each student’s behaviour makes a difference and if we work collectively together we can make a positive contribution to the sustainability of our planet
