EAGLE School of Madison and Golda Meir School Named Statewide Winners in Renew Our Schools Competition
Eight Wisconsin schools participated in the Renew Our Schools Competition this fall, which ended in December 2025. With support from FOCUS ON ENERGY® and KEEP - Wisconsin’s K–12 Energy Education Program, this six-week energy conservation competition engages students in hands-on activities to learn how their school uses energy.
EAGLE School’s fourth-grade science classes led the effort in the competition. Science teacher Tim Tynan introduced the competition after realizing how well it aligned with their Microclimate Unit. His fourth‑grade classes were already studying how environmental factors influence temperature around their school. The competition offered an opportunity to study the building itself as a microclimate and explore how energy flows through it.
During the competition, students learned how to read watts, calculate kilowatt‑hours, and measure electricity with tools such as the “Kill A Watt™” monitor and the school’s eGauge system. They also discovered how much energy common devices use, and how phantom power, electricity used even when devices are off, adds up. Students also conducted lighting experiments by turning off hallway lights for 15 minutes and watching the eGauge drop significantly. By using natural light from skylights, they found the school could operate safely with fewer lights on.
The competition reshaped how students think about energy. Fourth grader Neils shared, “Before, I wasn’t really aware of energy. I thought it wasn’t that important. Now I know how much it does and how important it really is.” Another student, Kira, added that they used to think energy “just powered lights and computers,” but now understands “it powers almost everything.”
Golda Meir School
Golda Meir School in Milwaukee reentered the competition after winning the 2025 spring competition. Their Green Team, made up of students in 6th through 12th grade, returned this fall with renewed motivation and a clear goal to build on last year’s success.
“We said yes right away,” said Green Team Advisor Tina Gleason. “The students wanted to do it again, and they wanted to win again. They were excited to keep going.”
This year’s competition came with new hurdles. The team lost a full week of work due to Thanksgiving break. Despite the tighter timeline, the team completed roughly 80% of the challenges and strengthened many of the activities they developed last year. “The kids took the lead a lot more this time,” Gleason said. “My seniors led discussions, assigned tasks, and made sure everything got done. I tried to stay in the background. They really owned it.”
The school also saw positive changes from last year’s participation. Students used light meters to measure illumination levels and found significant over‑lighting throughout the building. Many classrooms now rely on natural light, and an entire floor regularly keeps overhead lights off. Over the summer, the district replaced all fluorescent bulbs in the basement with LEDs, and additional upgrades are underway. One of the team’s new goals is to work with district leaders on a full‑building LED upgrade.
Other participants in the Fall 2025 competition included: • Webster Middle School • Kromrey Middle School • Shorewood Hills Elementary School • Amherst Middle School • Lodi High School • Cornell School District
“Renew Our Schools helps students see their buildings in a whole new way,” said Heather Feigum, Program Manager with Focus on Energy. “Once they start measuring actual energy use, they notice things they previously ignored, like lights left on or equipment running when it is not being used. That awareness shows them how small actions, like switching off a light or unplugging a charger, can add up to real energy savings.”
