New
New
Year 11
AQA

Sustainable use of energy

I can explain how energy efficiency and energy conservation can reduce the demand for energy, and use an example to discuss a local renewable energy scheme in Togo, an LIC.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Sustainable use of energy

I can explain how energy efficiency and energy conservation can reduce the demand for energy, and use an example to discuss a local renewable energy scheme in Togo, an LIC.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Many countries are taking action to use energy more sustainably.
  2. More sustainable energy use includes energy conservation and energy efficiency.
  3. Togo provides examples of local renewable energy schemes using solar power.

Keywords

  • Carbon footprint - the total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere by an individual, product, process, country, etc.

  • Efficiency - energy efficiency means using technology that needs less energy to perform the same task

  • Conservation - energy conservation involves changing people's behaviour in ways that mean they use less energy

Common misconception

Energy efficiency and energy conservation mean the same thing.

In fact, energy efficiency is about using technology to do the same task but with less use of energy, while energy conservation is about changing people's behaviour so they use less energy.


To help you plan your year 11 geography lesson on: Sustainable use of energy, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

A video of the PRAVOST rural electrification project is available on Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/1036792638: it is in French with English subtitles.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words to their definitions:

Correct Answer:Resource,A material useful to people

A material useful to people

Correct Answer:Distribution,How something is spread out

How something is spread out

Correct Answer:Consumption,How much is used by people

How much is used by people

Correct Answer:Scarcity,Not enough of something needed

Not enough of something needed

Q2.
What is a natural resource?

A man-made material
Correct answer: Something from nature people use
A type of supermarket
A type of economic activity

Q3.
Which is an example of resource consumption?

Saving water
Building a dam
Correct answer: Using oil for transport
Storing grain

Q4.
Some countries use more than others.

Correct Answer: resources

Q5.
Which of these countries is likely to consume the most?

Correct answer: Germany
Chad
Nepal
Malawi

Q6.
Which is a renewable resource?

Oil
Coal
Correct answer: Wind
Natural gas

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions:

Correct Answer:Carbon footprint,Total greenhouse gases from an activity

Total greenhouse gases from an activity

Correct Answer:Efficiency,Using less energy for the same task

Using less energy for the same task

Correct Answer:Conservation,Cutting energy use through behaviour

Cutting energy use through behaviour

Q2.
Which of these improves energy efficiency?

Leaving lights on
Walking instead of driving
Correct answer: Using LED bulbs
Taking shorter showers

Q3.
Energy helps reduce harmful gas emissions.

Correct Answer: conservation

Q4.
Why don’t efficiency and conservation mean the same thing?

One is about cost, one about health
Correct answer: Efficiency is about tech, conservation is about behaviour
Efficiency uses more energy
Conservation is worse for the environment

Additional material

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