The Department of Environmental Protection invites middle school teachers, administrators and building managers to a training workshop on April 7 in West Chester, Chester County, on the Keystone Energy Education Program (KEEP) to teach and track energy efficiency in school buildings and homes.

The workshop is offered free of charge and will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Westtown School, 975 Westtown Rd., West Chester. Pre-registration is required.

KEEP is primarily for teachers of grades 4 through 8, administrators and building maintenance managers.

Workshop participants will explore energy conservation, efficiency, energy basics, student energy teams, and benchmarking the school building using the free Energy Star Portfolio Manager program through presentations, tours and hands-on activities.

Participants will have the opportunity to integrate high-level, standards-based energy education into their formal curriculum. This could include lesson plans, curricular modules, energy benchmarking through EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager, or hands-on student-led energy efficiency assessments leading to improvements that reduce energy consumption.

The workshops are based on Pennsylvania’s Academic Standards and Assessment Anchors for Environment and Ecology, Science and Technology and Engineering Education.

Participating teachers will receive background information, standards-based curricular materials and energy conservation kits that contain a Kill-a-Watt meter, light meter, multimeters, power conserving plug-in wall switches, and thermometers (each kit valued at $75).

Participating teachers will be eligible for 6.5 Act 48 credit hours.

Space is limited, so registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Register by visiting DEP’s Keystone Energy Education Program webpage.

3/23/2015