EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said he would like to see energy efficiency taught in schools across Europe, as part of the educational curriculum. During a recent live Internet chat held with school children from 16 schools across Europe, Piebalgs, who worked as a teacher himself before starting a career in politics, discussed topics such as climate change, energy efficiency and alternative sources of energy with participating school children. Pupils asked a broad range of questions to the commissioner, from EU policy on nuclear fuels to measures in member states encouraging energy efficient light bulbs. Calling awareness of climate change a priority, Piebalgs encouraged the children to spread the message in their family and school environment, and gave practical advice on how to save energy in the classroom. “With real attention by myself, I have decreased the use of energy in my household by 85 percent,” Piebalgs said, asking the pupils to follow his example by rationalising their use of energy at school. Piebalgs said the students’ questions “will help me establish the most efficient policy for achieving the EU energy policy goals.”