Officials from the Ministry of Education of Iran said the “Nabz-e
Energy” (“Pulse of Energy”) initiative is designed to promote sustainable
consumption habits among students while integrating energy management concepts
into broader life-skills education.
Speaking at an awards ceremony for students, teachers and school
administrators participating in the campaign, Seyed Ali Hosseini, director
general of lower secondary education at Iran’s Ministry of Education, said the
program marked the beginning of a broader effort to institutionalize
energy-efficiency culture across schools nationwide.
“This campaign has created an opportunity for students to learn
essential life skills, including energy management and optimal consumption,
alongside their formal education,” Hosseini said, according to remarks carried
by local media.
The initiative is being implemented in cooperation with National
Petrochemical Company of Iran and forms part of wider government efforts to
reduce domestic energy demand through public engagement and behavioral change
rather than solely through technical restrictions.
Iranian officials have increasingly emphasized conservation campaigns
in response to seasonal electricity shortages, rising gas consumption and
growing strain on infrastructure during peak demand periods.
Hosseini said the program aims not simply to encourage lower
consumption but to promote what officials describe as “optimized” use of energy
resources.
“We are not telling students merely to consume less,” he said. “We are
teaching them to consume efficiently, in a way that meets today’s needs while
preserving resources for future generations.”
The education official added that lower secondary school students —
estimated at around four million nationwide — represent a critical demographic
for long-term behavioral change because of their age and adaptability to new
habits.
According to Hosseini, participation in the campaign also helps
students develop teamwork, communication and analytical skills by encouraging
them to examine questions related to national resources and sustainability.
Officials involved in the initiative said digital platforms and online
engagement tools were used to maintain participation levels during periods when
some schools operated remotely. Incentives, competitions and prize programs
were also introduced to encourage broader student involvement.
Keshtkari, deputy for planning and supervision at the Lower
Secondary Education Office of Iran’s Ministry of Education, said the campaign
was initially developed alongside plans for students’ Nowruz holiday
assignments, with the goal of replacing traditional homework formats with more
interactive and competitive educational activities.
He said coordination between the Education Ministry and the
petrochemical industry enabled the rapid rollout of the program across all 32
provinces.
Keshtkari added that schools with the highest participation rates
could receive energy-efficiency equipment and related infrastructure support as
part of the initiative.
Iranian authorities have increasingly turned to schools, mosques and
local organizations as part of a broader strategy to embed energy conservation
into public life, particularly as the government seeks to protect industrial
energy supplies and avoid severe disruptions during periods of high demand.
Officials say the campaign is intended as a long-term cultural project
rather than a temporary awareness initiative, with plans for continued
cooperation between educational institutions, government agencies and
state-linked industries.