Acendendo "ideias" sobre o consumo sustentável de energia no ambiente escolar: um estudo de caso em uma escola estadual no município de Cabaceiras-PB

Abstract

In line with the basic principles of Environmental Education, there is an urgent need for transformations that restore respect for life, promoting environmental justice, equity, diversity, and sustainability. The importance of Environmental Education as a tool to raise awareness about the waste of water and energy, as well as environmental impacts such as air pollution, land occupation, deforestation, discharge of effluents, and waste generation, is emphasized. The expansion of electricity consumption is one of the main factors contributing to the global energy crisis. In light of this scenario, this work aimed to gather data on electricity consumption in a State School in Paraíba and present suggestions for attitudes aimed at conserving and consciously using this resource. The methodology included practical actions carried out between 2024 and 2025, with the participation of students from the 1st grade 'B' of the Comprehensive Technical Citizen School Alcides Bezerra. The activities involved daily monitoring of consumption through the school meter, mapping of electronic devices by sector, educational campaigns, among others. The data revealed an average daily consumption between 17 and 20 kWh on school days, with a significant drop on weekends. According to the collected data, the sectors with the highest consumption were the cafeteria, the secretary's office, the computer lab, and the administration. Student participation favored reflections on conscious consumption, promoting critical thinking and agency. This work demonstrated the transformative potential of education when combined with interdisciplinary and contextual projects, fostering effective student engagement and the construction of an environmental consciousness based on everyday practice. In addition to proposing concrete interventions for reducing electricity costs, the initiative helped strengthen the connection between theory and practice, as well as between curricular content and students' experiences making learning more meaningful and oriented towards citizen and sustainable development. Finally, the importance of the continuous insertion of projects of this nature in the school environment is reinforced as a way to foster a culture of environmental responsibility and rational use of natural resources.