Improving energy efficiency and using more renewable energy sources is a priority for the EU energy policy to fight climate change, improve Europe's competitiveness, and become less dependent from imported fossil fuel. In particular, policies and measures have been put in place to reduce by 20% Europe's primary energy consumption, by the year 2020. This requires the broad introduction of energy efficient technologies and changing consumer behaviour.

Children and youngsters are key to behavioural changes and young people have become more active energy users during the last decades. Particularly the use of communication devices, entertainment equipment and motorised vehicles has increased in this age group. Moreover, the concerns about the environmental impacts of our energy intensive lifestyles have grown, and youngsters are keen to actively contribute to tackle those challenges which include the excessive use of energy sources.

Promoting energy awareness in schools and inspiring changes in daily behaviour relates to many aspects of the formal educational curriculum. It can be incorporated into lessons in human, social and physical sciences as well as aspects of ethics. The topic adapts to practical study and theoretical calculation. It has a considerable historical aspect and has wide scope for artistic, cultural and scientific interpretation. It also has the scope to inspire young people and influence their wider social community via family and friends.

The U4energy competition is a unique teaching opportunity for teachers and will be fun for students keen to save energy, money on their fuel bills, and to protect the environment. From September 2010, schools can submit their contribution to different competition strands, earning the chance to win a prize and gain recognition at European level. The U4energy competition is looking to award best practices by teachers and students from primary and secondary schools and spread their success stories around Europe.

• Are you planning to make your school energy efficient?

• Are you teaching your students how to use energy in an intelligent way?

• Are your students and teachers running awareness campaigns about efficient energy use at school?

… Go to the 'Competitions' section and find out more about how you can enter the competition!

U4energy is a European Commission initiative, funded through the Intelligent Energy Europe programme which aims to make Europe more competitive and innovative while helping it to deliver on its ambitious climate change objectives. Check out the projects in the field of energy education on http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent.

U4energy is carried out by European Schoolnet on behalf of the European Commission.