‘Stepping Up to Sustainability’ - Good News from across South Africa!

“Stories of Change”: School Energy Detectives in action at a Hotel. Innovation Project of Thea Holm, ESD LT (1)

Left: Thea Holm teaching chef Werner Blignaut of Centurion Lake Hotel, how to cook with the sun.
Right: Hartbeespoort Secondary School Gr8’s Energy Detective Team, ready for action!

On 22 November 2012, our long awaited Energy Action Day finally became reality! The wonderful and very professional staff of the 4 star Centurion Lake Hotel in Centurion, Gauteng, under the management of Andrew van Hasselt, gave us a warm and friendly welcome on arrival.

Some of the Energy Detective Team arriving in the foyer of Centurion Lake Hotel.

Our 22 Energy Detectives from Hartbeespoort High School curiously gathered around the solar cookers that were set up for praparing them their afternoon meal of bread roll sausages with a tomato and onion relish. Some of the children anxiously holding their clip boards tight to their bodies, waiting for the instructions to go and observe.

The Energy Detectives were divided into 5 teams with questions set up in the following categories: Water, Electricity (Appliances), Electricity (lights), Waste and Travel. Some of these groups only had questionaires for the facility manager of the hotel, others had to do practical measurements of water flow and some had to have a closer look at appliances in use and their electricity consumption.

Left: The “Travel” Energy Detectives asking questions to Ben Pretorius, security manager at the hotel, with Thea and Andrew van Hasselt standing by, also listening. Right: The “Waste” Energy Detectives with their questions to the facility manager, Neil Annetts.  Ben Pretorius standing by.

After finishing with their tasks for the morning, everyone just relaxed outside, hungry and waiting for the food to be served!

Left: Energy detectives at the hotel. Right: Head chef of Centurion Lake Hotel, Werner Blignaut.

BENEFITS FOR THE HOTEL

• Improve their marketing image: -although this specific hotel is part of the international chain, Legacy Group Hotels, and are already on a green programme called Heritage, the Energy Detectives were amazed at how many sustainable practices are already implemented at this hotel, but after some consultation with the facility manager, we (Holms and Friends), could identify areas of energy consumption where we can assist the hotel. This will be properly investigated and reported on in the new year;
• Cost reduction through energy efficiency: - here the hotel can already show prove of this through their continious green program, i.e. changing to energy efficient lighting, installing aerators in taps and showers, etc;
• Contribute to education towards sustainability: - this specific action day opened doors for them to become participants in the growing need for education towards sustainability;
• Media exposure/free advertisement: - some articles are going out to newspapers, international web sites, as well as a report supplied by Holms and Friends for their internal PR team.

BENEFITS FOR THE SCHOOL

• Practical learning activities and projects in sustainable development: - this action day already proved its contribution to educating the learners, as some of the aspects in the energy audit had to be explained and terminology taught.
• Reduction in school’s life cycle costs by introducing sustainable practices;
• Repetition of actions at Hotel to be done at school, therefor training the next generation of consumers: -early next year, the rest of the school grade will be involved when an energy audit will be conducted at the school. Various worksheets will be handed over to the school for implementing the subject of sustainable development in at least 7 different subjects taught at school;

STAKEHOLDERS

• Holms and Friends Consultancy
• Centurion Lake Hotel
• Hartbeespoort Secondary School
• Parents
• Community of Hartbeespoort

Beginning 2013, Hartbeespoort Secondary School will join WESSA’s Eco school programme.

Compiled by Thea Holm. A WESSA Share-Net resource, funded through the USAID ‘Stepping up to Sustainability’ project. WESSA Share-Net. People, places and publications for environmental education, PO Box 394, Howick, 3290. Tel (033) 330 3931 ext 124,
e-mail sharenet@wessa.co.za; website www.wessa.org.za