What is the Energy Drill?
An Energy Drill involves the entire school and its visitors taking actions to reduce their electricity consumption in school buildings during times of greatest need (at times of extreme temperature, on smoggy days, during times of electricity supply constraints and when electricity prices are highest).
The Energy Drill is modeled after fire drills and involves designating and training members of an Energy Team in participating schools who will be responsible for taking no-cost actions to reduce electricity use on an Energy Drill day. This type of energy conservation is called ‘demand response’. All measures taken to reduce electricity use are implemented relatively simply and without causing significant interruption to normal school activities.
The Energy Drill Program allows schools to take an active role in reducing peak period electricity use, burn fewer fossil fuels, reduce air pollution and save money.
What is the Energy Drill Schools Program pilot?
The TCDSB is the lead partner in piloting the Energy Drill Program. Once the pilot is complete, it is expected that all schools in Ontario will have the opportunity to access resources that enable them to implement Energy Drill program in their schools.
The Energy Drill Program is being piloted in four schools in Toronto and four schools in Milton in the 2006/2007 school year. Major funding for the project has been provided by the Ontario Power Authority, in partnership with the Halton District and Halton Catholic District School Boards, Milton Hydro, Toronto Hydro and the City of Toronto Energy Efficiency Office.
Participating schools are:
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Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB)
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Mary Ward Catholic Secondary
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Cardinal Leger Catholic Elementary
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St. Raphael Catholic Elementary
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Chaminade College Catholic Secondary
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Halton District School Board (HDSB)
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Robert Baldwin Public Elementary
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Hawthorne Village Public Elementary
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Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB)
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St. Peter Catholic Elementary
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Holy Rosary Milton Catholic Elementary
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When do drills happen?
The Energy Drill Program is a demand response program, so Energy Drills happen at times of high electricity demand in Ontario. There are four triggers that reflect the real needs of Ontario’s electricity market for demand response, while also facilitating education and awareness of key messages related to the Energy Drill.
The four conditions that trigger an Energy Drill are:
Temperature: When the outdoor temperature in the Toronto area is forecasted to be 26°C or above or -5°C or below.
Smog: When poor air quality and smog is forecasted for the Toronto area.
Supply Constraints: When the market operator issues an appeal for consumers to use less electricity
Price: When the market price of electricity is forecasted to reach 18˘ per kWh
It is difficult to predict how many times one or a combination of the above triggers will occur. In the event that none of these conditions occur over a two week period, schools will carry out a practice Energy Drill. If the triggers occur frequently it is up to the school to decide how to manage Energy Drills while avoiding fatigue with the program.
For a full description of each trigger, see Triggers: When do Energy Drills Happen?
What can I expect to happen at the school during an Energy Drill?
Once a school is notified by e-mail of an Energy Drill, it is up to the school to implement the Energy Drill in the most appropriate way for that school. Usually student Energy Marshals walk around the school to make sure that electricity use in four main areas is reduced. A brief outline of these areas follows. For a more detailed description of the actions to be taken on an Energy Drill day, see Creating the Energy Team and What to do on an Energy Drill day.
Lighting: When adequate natural light is available, or when rooms are not being used, lights are turned off.
Computers:Computer monitors and computers are turned off when not in use
Electrical equipment: Staff and teachers are reminded on the morning of an Energy Drill to plan to defer the use of office machines, audio visual equipment and kitchen appliances away from times of high electricity demand.
Heating, cooling and ventilation: During an Energy Drill, thermostats and ventilation systems are slightly adjusted to use less electricity. You may notice slightly warmer temperatures in the school on spring, summer and fall afternoons, and slightly cooler temperatures in the school on winter mornings.
What are the educational messages?
Further to the practical experience of conducting an Energy Drill at the school are great educational opportunities associated with the theoretical elements of the program, such as the theory behind demand response triggers and the costs and benefits of using electricity.
The Energy Drill Program aims to send the following key messages to the students:
- Electricity use burns fossil fuels
- Electricity use affects local air quality
- Electricity use contributes to climate change
- When we use electricity matters
- Electricity costs money
- Electricity is a highly valued resource that we need to manage wisely
- Electricity management is everyone’s responsibility, together
The messages help teachers, staff and students appreciate the importance and wide scope of electricity demand response. The messages equip Energy Drill participants with the ability to advocate energy conservation and demand response at home, amongst family and friends and the general public. A brief outline of each message is given in The seven key messages of the Energy Drill program.
A set of resources has been prepared for teachers to introduce the basics of the Energy Drill triggers, to relate the triggers to the key messages and to suggest classroom activities related to curriculum. See:
The messages of the Energy Drill program were initially introduced to staff and students through presentations and will be reinforced on Energy Drill days. For further details of the staff and student presentations, see:
How does the Energy Drill benefit schools, their Boards and the community?
By reducing the overall electricity demand in the GTA, the Energy Drill Program will reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants that result from the generation of electricity in the Province of Ontario. The level of reduction will vary depending on the school building, however it is estimated that up to 20% savings on total electricity use may be achieved during each Energy Drill.
For a monthly progress report on the results of running the Energy Drills, read our fact sheets:
The major anticipated benefit to the schools and their boards is the awareness gained by school employees and students from developing the Energy Drill action measures for their school, carrying out the individual drills, and observing the real electricity reductions achieved by their performance. Students and staff can learn about the relationship between electricity and the environment and about Ontario’s electricity market, while recognizing that their individual efforts to reduce electricity consumption can make a difference.
In the long term, the Energy Drill Program will increase community awareness of energy conservation and demand response, and provide an increased sense of responsibility for taking demand response actions.
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