Winners of the 2019 Classroom Energy Diet Challenge announced

OTTAWA, May 14, 2019 /CNW/ - Going an hour without power, calculating your carbon footprint, and teaching your family how to use less water. These are just a few of the 16 energy-related challenges that more than 27,000 students from across Canada took part in during the 8^th annual Classroom Energy Diet Challenge. This award-winning program, presented by Canadian Geographic Education and Shell Canada, was created to inspire grades K to 12 students across Canada to better conserve energy. This year, nearly 1,400 classrooms from across Canada participated in the Challenge, one of the highest response rates since the program started in 2011.

Students made brochures about smart transportation in their communities as part of the Buckle Up challenge, one of 16 challenges in the Classroom Energy Diet Challenge. (CNW Group/Royal Canadian Geographical Society)

Grade two students from St. John XXIII share their energy saving tips in the Video Challenge component of the Classroom Energy Diet Challenge. (CNW Group/Royal Canadian Geographical Society)

"The classes that participate in the Classroom Energy Diet Challenge develop a clearer understanding of the value of energy," says Gilles Gagnier, Chief Operating Officer and Publisher of Canadian Geographic Enterprises. "Best of all, this next generation of Canadians is getting valuable hands-on experience in reducing their energy use, which they'll take with them throughout their lives."

The winning school from Camlachie, Ontario earned $2,500 by participating in all of the 16 challenges that enabled students and families to use less energy. From February 4 to April 25, participating classrooms completed challenges like the One Hour, No Power, where classes saved energy by turning off lights and equipment, resulting in more than 3,600 hours without electricity. Students also saved more than 300,000 plastic bags from entering landfills and conserved more than 400,000 litres of water, almost double what was saved in the 2018 challenge.

"The challenge faced both by Canadians and companies like Shell is how to use energy in a more sustainable way," said Michael Crothers, President and Country Chair of Shell Canada. "The continued success of the Classroom Energy Diet Challenge is that it really engages future generations on solutions; how students, their families and their communities can use less energy in their daily lives. This fun program leads to more energy-aware citizens both in and out of the classroom."

Classes that participated in the Challenge are eligible to win one of more than 90 prizes, which total $40,000. Listed below are winners from the main categories who won prizes for their great efforts on the challenges. 

The Classroom Energy Diet Challenge winning classrooms for 2019 are:

• 16 challenges completed ($2,500):
  Energy Efficient Eagles, Errol Village Public School, Camlachie, Ont. This class has won $2,500 and a $500 charitable donation to the Sarnia and District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on their behalf.
• 15 challenges completed ($2,000):
  HNPN, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School, Hornepayne, Ont.
  
• 10 challenges completed ($1,500):
  Mr. Rawson's Class, Springdale P.S., Scarborough, Ont.
  
• 5 challenges completed ($1,000):
  Classe 7D, École secondaire Gabriel-Dumont, London, Ont.

The Classroom Energy Diet Challenge winners of the Video Challenge can be viewed here and include:

• Best video – Elementary ($1,500):
  Gillis Green Team, Cresthaven Public School, North York, Ont. Their second year in a row winning this category.
• Best video – Secondary ($1,500):
  Socials 9, ideal mini school, Vancouver, B.C.
• Most unique ($1,000):
  MT's Trash Talkers, Mother Teresa School, Saskatoon, Sask.
• Best comedy ($1,000):
  8G, Jack Chambers Public School, London, Ont. This is their second year winning a video category.
• Most public engagement ($1,000):
  Grade 8, Ottawa Jewish Community School, Ottawa, Ont.

For more information on the Classroom Energy Diet Challenge, please visit energydiet.ca or follow the official Twitter account @Energy_Lit.

SOURCE Royal Canadian Geographical Society

Royal Canadian Geographical Society: Deb Chapman, Communications Manager at [email protected] or [phone]; Shell Canada: Tara Lemay, Media Manager at [email protected]