The Department of Environmental Protection invites middle school teachers, administrators and building managers to a May 28 training workshop in Philadelphia 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 Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 500 West Willow Grove Ave., Philadelphia. Pre-registration is required by May 21.

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. Participants should bring their lunch.

Space is limited, so registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The next workshop is scheduled for June 17 at the Ferguson Township Elementary School in Pine Grove Mills, Centre County.

For more information and to register, visit DEP’s KEEP Program webpage.

5/4/2015