"BKB earns title as energy-saving leader in North Rhine-Westphalia!"
Title: Greening Bottrop Vocational College - The Energy Savvy Champions!
Follow the inspiring story of Bottrop's Vocational College, the 2025 Energy Savings Champion of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the greenest school in Germany! With a passionate team and smart ideas, they've captured the title and are setting an example for sustainability and climate conservation.
"We aim to exceed the sustainability concept by embracing green practices in all areas, minimizing energy consumption, and preserving resources. Projects span from managing our solar system, energy consultations for Bottrop residences, greening the schoolyard, to project weeks. Moreover, we shone in the sustainability subject, strengthened civic education, and conducted a workshop on combating disinformation, ensuring our students stand strong against misleading climate change messages," explains the jury's decision. Organized by the non-profit organization co2online, the competition, financed by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, promotes energy-efficient ideas.
As the state winner, BKB pockets a 2,500 euro prize and gains sponsorship with Techem Energy Services GmbH. Matthias Hartmann, CEO of Techem, horizons the collaboration, "Bottrop Vocational College goes beyond advocating for creative ideas; it taps into the school's full potential!"
Vote for the National Title
Over 450 schools nationwide vie for the Energy Savings Champion crown. Having won in North Rhine-Westphalia, the vocational college competes against winners from other federal states in an online vote at www.energiesparmeister.de/voting until June 17. Should they win the national title, another 2,500 euros await them. The prize ceremony for all winners unfolds at the Federal Ministry of the Environment in Berlin on June 27.
"We've poured a tremendous amount of effort, creativity, and dedication into our projects, and we're reaping the rewards," beams Sandra Koster, a pillar of BKB's sustainability endeavors. School principal Guido Tewes salutes the initiatives' reality and implementation, "Our goal extends beyond winning prizes; we strive to create actual change. Every department contributes with expertise and ideas – that's our secret recipe."
Project Weeks and Going Green
The sustainability team reveals the path to the Energy Savings Champion title: "Our journey began with individual sustainability projects and has grown into a comprehensive school concept. Our mantra? 'BKB goes green!'"
Sandra Koester and Sandra Tavilla, project coordinators and key figures in the competition application, pondered two years ago, "What does it take for a school to be sustainable?"; In 2023, they founded a five-member sustainability team. They learned that every step towards sustainability counts, whether crafting insect hotels or making informed consumer choices.
Within the college, energy technical assistants operate the solar plant, advise Bottrop households on energy efficiency, and share smart energy solutions on the school climate day. Presently, a future campus, both innovative and user-friendly, is in the planning stages, addressing the skills shortage in the area[1].
Climate protection means more than mere energy savings at BKB - it is an educational mission. In an era of diminishing focus on climate issues, the school empowers civic education, critical thinking, and enlightenment, for example with workshops opposing disinformation and further coaching from the NUA[1].
With sustainability becoming part of the vocational training program "Retail Merchants," numerous projects like the fair week, fighting food waste, or phone rescues emerge. Each action contributes to the grand change.
Major project weeks in 2023 and 2025 revolve around "Green Creativity": Workshops like "Cow Cuddling" to "DIY Cosmetics" to waste art in the spirit of Josef Albers captivate learning while making sustainability tangible[1]. The schoolyard is slowly blooming into a haven for humans, animals, and the climate[1].
"We aim to inculcate sustainability in daily life so that our students naturally implement it. This way, every student will make a green difference!" proclaims Anja Seegert, a cornerstone of the sustainability team.
(c) Text/Photos: Berufskolleg Bottrop
[1] All enrichment details are derived from available documentation about the "BKB goes green!" project and the background of the Energy Savings Champion title.
"The Bottrop Vocational College's sustainability initiatives extend beyond the realm of environmental-science. They're also promoting education-and-self-development by educating students on critical thinking, civic engagement, and combating disinformation related to climate-change."
"As part of their ongoing green projects, Bottrop Vocational College is not only minimizing energy consumption through managing solar systems and energy consultations but also integrating sustainable practices into the retail merchants' vocational training program, thereby fostering a culture of sustainability in daily life and fostering the next generation of energy-savvy citizens."
