SPPS Energy Saving Challenge
Empowering Students. Saving Energy. Sustainable Communities.
Behavioral Energy Efficiency + Kit (BEEK)
BEEK is a hands-on program that turns energy conservation into a learning adventure. By merging the Watt Waste Warriors learning game with Xcel Energy Kits, we empower students to detect, tag, and eliminate energy waste in their schools and homes.
Our aim is provide an engaging, low-cost solution that reduces utility bills for families, especially in low-income households, while positioning students, teachers and schools as leaders in community sustainability.
A Collaborative Effort: led by the University of Minnesota and funded by the US EPA, BEEK is a partnership between Northeastern Unversity of Minnesota, Iowa State, NLR (National Laboratory of the Rockies) and SPPS in collaboration with the Partners in Energy Team (Xcel Energy, Center for Energy and Environment)
We are looking for Teachers and Students to join the SPPS Energy Challenge in Fall 2026.
A Proven Approach
BEEK is modeled on the award-winning eFargo K-12 Energy Challenge, which was implemented across Fargo, ND
- Energy Savings: Turn energy conservation into an innovative game
- Winning schools achieved 6.75-12.23% energy reductions in 4-6 weeks of play (Purposeful Play Ch9, pg 347-373).
- eFargo led the city to win the Georgetown University Energy Prize.
- Award-winning game: eFargo won the prestigious nation Architect R&D Award.
Timeline
April 2026: Introduction, Brief intro meetings to explore concept of serious energy games
April-May 2026: Co-Design/User Testing, Collaborative feedback session to give insight to adapt game for your specific school.
May 2026- August 2026: Game Developed, Design team incorporates feedback, and finalizes game design.
Fall 2026: Launch Pilot Game/Challenge, a 4-6 week challenge competing against 4-6 other SPPS schools (timing depending on feedback received during engagement)
Spring 2027: Tree Planting Celebrations, at 2 schools with most points/participation with partners Tree Trust and Great River Greening.
Why Join the BEEK Challenge?
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Valuing Your Time: We respect your time, Stipends are available for teachers to compensate you for your collaboration.
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Friendly Competition: Schools with highest participation will win a school tree planting!
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Shape the Game: We value your input, your feedback will help us fine-tune the game's design to ensure it fits your classrooms needs.
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Plug-and-Play: You won't be in this alone; our project team will provide support, and ready-to-use kits/guides so you can focus on fun.
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Gamified Learning: Leverage play to increase student engagement, awareness, and help families reduce energy burden.
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Real-World Impact: Your students will see the direct correlation between their actions at school and the energy savings at home.
Watt Waste Warriors
Waste-a-Watt is a greedy super-villain who gains power from energy waste and hides energy-waste monsters in your schools and homes. The Watt Waste Warriors (students, teachers, families) will work together to capture the evil Waste-A-Watt by finding and capturing the energy-waste monsters.
Game Experience
In each session, using a combination of physical tags and a dashboard/app on their school provided ipad, students learn about identifying energy waste in the schools and homes and create solutions to prevent energy waste. Students will explore their environment and make a real impact.
| Phase | Action | How it Works |
|---|---|---|
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1.DETECT
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Find the Waste Monsters |
Find the hiding energy waste monsters in digital to learn about energy waste. |
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2. TAG
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Tag the Waste in your home and school |
Find the energy waste in your schools and homes and place a physical monster tag on the waste location |
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3.CAPTURE
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Take Action |
Capture the monster and earn "Watt Points" Watt points act as fuel to grow your digital garden. Reduce waste and let nature thrive! |
4. GROW |
Reap Rewards |
As your garden thrives, your points automatically flow in your school's grand total with most participation points receive a tree planting in their schools.
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Game Structure
Flexible Implementation
Whether you have an hour a each week or a full science block, Watt Waste Warriors is designed to be flexible. Teachers can choose how to run the game. The project team is available to assist.
| Session | What Happens | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|
Session 1 |
Kick-Off: We introduce the game, help students sign up, and get everyone ready to play.
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Required Session |
Sessions 2-5 |
Challenge: The Watt Warriors battle the energy monsters: You may choose to implement one topic per week or use a schedule that works best for you and your students. Each topic is standalone and has has multiple energy waste monsters that students can find, learn about, tag, capture, and count. You may choose to find and act on a minimum 5 or more monsters per activity cycle. Activities within each topic can range from 1-5 hours. Students can play at school, at home or both. |
Select up to 4 Topics: Lighting, Devices & Appliances, Water, Heating/Cooling, and Waste |
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Session 6
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Celebration: Celebrate student success, announce leaderboard winners, complete surveys and plant trees! | Required Session |
Join Us to Defeat the Energy Waste Monsters!
Help students become Watt Warriors and make a real impact at your school!
We’d love to hear from you, fill out the interest form or Contact chelsea.moody@spps.org (Facilities- Environmental Services)
This initiative is a key part of the SPPS District Energy Action Plan, developed through the Partners in Energy Program. Support our board-approved commitment to reducing the District's carbon footprint and fostering climate action across our community.
