Imagining Renewable Futures

Exploring and Imagining Renewably Powered Schools and Communities, with Reading School and Supported by the Reading Community Energy Society

What might a renewable-powered future look like in your school or community?

Was the question posed to students at Reading School for a STEM/STEAM (Science Technology Engineering / Art / Mathematics) related design and innovation workshop, fostering a collaborative, creative action-oriented and entrepreneurial approach for the climate.

The workshops, ‘Designing for Renewable Futures’ saw over 150 Year 8s across 5 classes,  imagining and exploring the benefits of renewables as well as challenging them to imagine and then action plan 37 innovative ideas for the school and community.

The workshop was designed for a number of reasons: 

• To create time and space for imagination and nurturing the student’s curiosity
• Grow awareness of some of the renewable energy initiatives and related climate issues and action in the local area
• To connect creative design and team working skills with traditional STEM subjects
• To empower students to have skills and routes to turn ideas into action

“Perhaps we need sometimes to stop, stare out the window and imagine a world where things are better. Maybe it’s time to recognise that at the heart of our work is the need for those around us to be able to imagine a better world, to tell stories about it…. If we can imagine it, desire it, dream about it, it is more likely that we will put our energy and determination into making it reality.” – Rob Hopkins, From What is To What if

Some of the local initiatives highlighted during an interactive warm-up Quiz, included Reading Hydro Community Benefit Society (who also offers educational opportunities and one of our Directors, Erica, volunteers for), Green Park Wind Turbine, Reading buses (particularly the ones that now feature Ed Hawkins Climate Stripes) and the Reading Community Energy Society.

Ideas ranged from ways to improve and scale solar and wind energy at the school and wider community to looking at how kinetic, human energy could be harnessed through the gym and play equipment. You can get a taste of some of the other themes in the summary infographic below.

Huge thanks for the collaboration with the Reading School Chemistry Teachers, Mrs Heston, and Ms Rosser-Evans alongside the whole Chemistry Department for supporting and facilitating and to Dal Singh, Community Relations Manager (and for capturing such great photos). Also to the Reading Community Energy Society for their grant going towards the design, development and deliver of the local workshops championing the role of renewable energy in the community.

We’re excited to explore ways for the school and students to take some of their ideas further, to bring imagination to reality and to continue contributing to the school’s ESG (Environmental Social Governance) journey.

If you’d like to support, donate, or fund the running of more of these workshops on renewable energy, energy reduction or another sustainability topic, then get in touch.