Gen Z plans for global warming

They may come at the end of the alphabet, but Generation Z children are proving that they are ready to tackle some of the most complex problems our world has ever faced.

Born from 1995 onwards, these children will be the ones who will be living the future effects of the global warming crisis.

“If climate change continues, it will ruin our earth and we won’t be able to live in it,” says 10-year-old George Odicho. “It will be very hot and we will get skin cancer from the sun. So it is important to cut down on electricity and turn off the TV and other appliances when we are not using them.”

George is one of the Year 5 and 6 students at St John’s College Preston who studied conservation and global warming over the past school term.

As well as exploring the greenhouse effect and the effects of pollution on global warming, students investigated and built models of 5 Star energy efficient homes.

Year 5 student Mariah Lagaris says that a prime feature of her energy efficient house is solar power for hot water (instead of electricity).

“My house also has double glazed widows, skylights for natural lighting, water tanks that collect grey water and rainwater for gardening and washing, and shutters to keep the heat out in summer and cold out in winter,” she says.

Mariah aspires to be an architect when she grows up and said that she would take these energy efficient alternatives into consideration in her future designs.

Anna Kanidiadis’s house also had a focus on solar power. The 11 year old incorporated solar panelled lights that she said could be recharged without electricity.

“I learnt that solar panels give power from the sun and help everything to work in the house,” she says.

George Odicho focused on the use of nature as an alternative to electricity.

He surrounded his house with trees to keep the house cool instead of air-conditioning. He also included a skylight on the roof of his lounge room for natural lighting.

“I placed it in the main room of the house because that’s the room where we usually use a lot of electricity,” he explains.

James Baskopoulos of Year 5 said that he designed his energy efficient house as if it was a real home.

"It has prepared me for when I get my own home so I know what to do,” he said.