Students of today are decision and policy makers of the future and thus it is important to invest on them and raise their level of knowledge on different global issues and challenges.  

In line with this, the Energy Efficiency and Environment Building (EEEB) Project in cooperation with Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, UNDP and Cheragh Raga NGO – as the contractor – organized an energy efficiency training for 112 schools in Tehran.

These schools were chosen as pilot schools, and with support from 120 teachers, 6,700 students were trained on energy efficiency and its environmental aspects on Iran and globally.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the event which was held in mid-June 2019, Dr. Ali Vatani, National Director of EEEB Project said: “Students are the most crucial target group for energy efficiency cultural change and this is why we started the awareness raising and training projects with this target group.”  

Also speaking at the ceremony was Mr. Mohsen Soleimani Ruzbahani, UNDP Programme Analyst who stated: “Iran has one of the largest energy resources in the world, but people face problems such as air pollution and lack of job opportunities, both of which can be solved through energy efficiency.”

“Technology and engineering will not solve the energy and environment problems in Iran, but rather we need to look at energy efficiency as a puzzle which brings all the pieces together. Our aim through the EEEB Project, from 2016 until 2020, is to put all the pieces like policy, cultural and behavioral changes and pilot practices together in order to achieve energy efficiency in Iran” Mr. Soleimani added.

Ms. Pantea Dorri, Deputy of High School in Education in Tehran also spoke and said: “Ministry of Education is trying to educate students on environmental issues and energy efficiency, as both of these topics can influence people’s life in different ways.”

Ms. Nasim Shekari, EEEB National Project Manager explained about different components of this project and said: “EEEB Project has planned to reach 25 percent energy consumption reduction in exiting building by the end of this project.”

To raise awareness and bring the issue of energy efficiency to the attention of students these trainings were held for students. In this respect Ms. Zhema Javaheriour, Manager of Cheragh Raga NGO said: “Energy consumption in schools is not the concern of students and they will not think and talk about it unless we train them to.”

In his closing remarks, Mr. Hojjat Nazari, Tehran City Council Member said: “We need to conserve energy for generations to come and we need to teach our children to work towards and reach sustainable development.”

3,800 art works with the theme of energy efficiency were produced by the students, and they were delivered to the project as the output of the trainings held, and attendees at the closing ceremony had a chance to see these art works as they were put on display.