Children discover the importance of renewables at parents’ workplace

The children of staff at Mitsubishi Electric’s Hatfield headquarters dropped in during the summer break to learn about renewable technology and the importance of recycling as part of the company’s innovative and award-winning education programme.

The Learning Curve has been developed as a teaching resource for primary schools and aims to help children understand the importance of adopting ‘the 3 R’s’ – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

The pioneering morning session is specifically designed to fit seamlessly into the curriculum and aims to teach the energy consumers of tomorrow all about renewable technologies.

“Over 500 pupils have already visited our facilities and the feedback from both students and teachers has been brilliant,” says Office Manager, Jenny Maskrey. 

“We wanted our staff’s children to also have a chance to understand what their parents are involved in so arranged this morning for anyone who wanted to attend.”

The programme, which has been described as “an inspirational, exciting and totally new way to stimulate interest in renewable technology in our future workforce,” was developed under the stewardship of Maskrey and a dedicated team of staff, who have designed experiments to interest and involve the children whilst basing the morning on the curriculum so that the session becomes a benefit to the teachers as well.

Using a specially designed workbook complete with stickers and purpose-built experiments, the children discover how photovoltaic panels can use solar energy to reduce electricity consumption and also investigate how air source heat pumps can provide heating in the middle of winter, by extracting ‘free’ energy from the outdoor air. 

They also recycle their drinking cups into bird feeders and visit the company’s special wormery, where kitchen waste is recycled.

“As well as showing the children the importance of reducing energy use in our everyday lives, we want to challenge them to think about how society should cope with increased demands for energy use, whilst also seeking to combat climate change,” explains Maskrey.

Around 44 per cent of total UK carbon emissions come from the buildings we live, work and play in, so Mitsubishi Electric is using its expertise in renewable technology to increase awareness of how everyone can play their part in reducing our impact on the environment.

The company is now looking to extend the programme to other parts of the country and is also looking to develop a programme aimed at secondary schools. 

Further information on the programme is available online at www.thelearningcurve.me.uk, or by contacting Jenny Maskrey by email at thelearningcurve@meuk.mee.com.

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Note to editor:

Founded in 1921, Mitsubishi Electric is a global, market leading, environmental technologies manufacturer, producing an advanced range of heating, air conditioning and ventilation equipment. The company realises that ensuring the right solutions are selected for each individual building, requires collaboration by all involved. Mitsubishi Electric has therefore changed the way it does business to ensure engagement with all involved in delivering sustainable buildings so that together, we can make a world of difference.

For further editorial information please contact:

Russell Jones: Email: russell.jones@meuk.mee.com
PR & Communications Manager: Telephone: 01707 278772

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