Inspiring Canada's next generation of energy experts.

Welcome to the 10th anniversary edition of the Classroom Energy Diet Challenge, the only energy literacy competition in Canada where students in grades K-12 compete for more than 100 prizes worth a total $45,000! Students in homes and classrooms across Canada can improve their energy awareness and energy literacy by completing energy-related challenges and competing for prizes. And, it’s free to participate!

Registration closes January 25, 2021 at 11:59:59 EST.
Challenge period: February 1 – April 23, 2021

Checkout the Challenges

Important date! The Challenge ends April 23, 2021 at noon EST

Time left to complete

Energy savings by the numbers

water_works 28,843 Litres of water conserved
hour_no_power 856 Hours of no power
take_home 6,270 Items Kept from Landfill

Classroom Challenges

Does your class have what it takes?

55 Classrooms

Do You Really Need It?

Students will examine items in their lives that use energy and classify them as a need or a want.

28 Classrooms

Buckle Up

Students will explore different modes of transportation and discuss smarter mobility habits.

20 Classrooms

Water Works

Students will calculate the amount of water they use and determine ways to reduce it.

37 Classrooms

A Green-Powered Canada

Students will research and present on renewable energy in Canada – on resources currently being used and those in development.

28 Classrooms

What’s For Lunch?

Students will look at energy consumption associated with food production and transportation.

29 Classrooms

The Phantom of the Classroom

Students will learn about the concept of phantom power and locate the phantoms in their classroom, school or home.

19 Classrooms

Take-Home

Students will work with their families to calculate the approximate number of items they keep from being thrown away for one week by opting for composting, recycling and reusable replacements.

28 Classrooms

One Hour No Power

Discover how many hours your class can go without using any power.

32 Classrooms

What’s Old is New Again

Students will use recycled materials to create art displays and upcycled objects and encourage others to be more energy aware.

26 Classrooms

Tips and Tricks

Students will share tips and tricks for reducing energy use.

56 Classrooms

How Big Are Your Carbon Feet?

Students will learn about the concept of carbon footprints and calculate their own.

12 Classrooms

Round and Round it Goes

Students will explore the circular economy and take a closer look at programs that are seeking to reduce waste.

36 Classrooms

Limited Edition: Game Time!

Students will learn about food waste and its connection to energy, brainstorm ways to reduce waste, and participate in a game that explores this problem.

20 Classrooms

Get Growing

Students will learn about the process of photosynthesis and the important role it plays in carbon offsetting.

2 Classrooms

Video Challenge

Students will produce a one-minute public service announcement video about ways to save energy.

7 Classrooms

Community Connections

Students will research and engage in an energy-saving initiative in their community.

23 Classrooms

Story Time

Students will research and engage in an energy-saving initiative in their community.

Prizes

It's been ten years of the CEDC so we're giving away $45,000 in prizes!

See all prizes

Video Challenge

See last year's winning classrooms

Elementary

Gillis Green Team

Cresthaven Public School

Secondary

8He

Foundations for the Future Charter Academy

Best Comedy

Grade 4/5 Room 10

Emerson Elementary School

Blog

The latest energy-saving tips, student work and program announcements

Video Challenge: Tips, tricks and reminders!

The Video Challenge is a fun and engaging way for students to get creative with technology while creating a public service announcement about ways to save energy. This can be an exciting challenge for your students, so we have come up with some tips, tricks and reminders to help your class get started. Tips and…
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Citizen Challenge #3: Do You Really Need it?

This challenge is asking you to think about which energy-using item you could give up for 24 hours.
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Energy Educator of the Year Award

Each year, Canadian Geographic Education and Shell Canada present two teachers (one elementary and one secondary) with Canada’s Energy Educator of the Year Award.
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Citizen Challenge #2: What’s for Dinner?

For our second Citizen Challenge, we are challenging Canadians to grab their recipe books and to think local!
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Special Calendar Dates

The Classroom Energy Diet Challenge is a 12-week national competition. Throughout these 12 weeks, there are specific holidays, UN days or special key dates that may be of interest to classrooms. We’ve listed some of these special dates below and connected them to different CEDC challenges to help you plan and participate. 
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CEDC: Where to begin

To help you get ready, we asked some teachers who have participated in the past how they begin the CEDC with their students and how they tackle the challenges.
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Family Challenge: Waste Not Want Not

 This challenge will get your family thinking about and tracking how many items they throw away every day – whether that item goes into the garbage, recycling bin, or compost. Then, we challenge your family to come up with ways to reduce that number and see if you can lower it!
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What’s new this year?

The Classroom Energy Diet Challenge (CEDC) is officially underway! This year, to celebrate 10 years of the program, we decided to make a few changes. Check out all of the new and exciting changes below.
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Citizen Challenge #1: Bundle Up!

This year, we are inviting all Canadians to take on simple, energy-themed Citizen Challenges!
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What a year for the 2020 Classroom Energy Diet Challenge!

A teacher’s strike. A pandemic. Extended school closures. Teaching and learning from a distance. Despite more than a few obstacles, the 2020 Classroom Energy Diet Challenge (CEDC) has ended on a high note! Teachers and students persevered through these difficulties and worked incredibly hard to learn about energy, both in the classroom and at home. …
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