Activities for Engaging High School Students in Energy Studies

Transcription

1 PARC/I- CARES Activities fr Engaging High Schl Students in Energy Studies Harry Blsn, LEED Green Assciate Washingtn University in St. Luis PARC/I- CARES

2 Energy In the Hme... 1 At Schl... 4 In Transprtatin... 5 In the Cmmunity... 7 Arund the wrld This guide is purpsed t direct teachers f grades 9-12 t the activities, lessn plans, curriculum, vides, and resurces necessary t educate students in renewable energy and applicatins f energy inside and utside f the classrm. Use the guide t fster student engagement in the glbal cnversatin f fssil fuels, alternative energy surces, and energy- efficient lifestyle chices, schl investments in energy efficiency and prductin, and hme- energy use. In each sectin f the table f cntents yu will find majr cncepts, leading questins, and resurces dented in italics such as vides, lessn plans, and curriculum. Distributin f these materials is apprpriate and highly encuraged inside the classrm. T start ut, let Bill Nye intrduce basic energy cncepts t the classrm Bill Nye: The Science Guy Energy (Full Episde) In the Hme Current Energy Use When at hme, ask yur parents t lk at the last utility bill fr electricity and natural gas. What cmpany r cmpanies deliver(s) energy t yur hme? Electricity What is a kilwatt? Hw abut a kilwatt hur? What s the difference? Ask yur students t bring in a cpy f their mst recent hme electricity bill t class.! Hw much is yur family paying fr electricity delivered t yur hme? Ttal? Per kilwatt? Vide What s a Watt? In this vide students will learn the basic unit f pwer in terms f human energy prductin during physical activities, and the relatinship between energy surce (fd) and prductin (Activity). Vide What is a Kilwatt Hur? Explanatin f the kilwatt- hur using hme electrnics. Prduced by the gvernment f Ontari.! Hw much electricity, in kilwatts, did yur hme cnsume last mnth? Last year?! An average hme in America cnsumes rughly 1000 kilwatt hurs a mnth. Hw des yur hme cmpare t this average? Des yur mnthly electricity use 1

3 change? Is there a trend? What external factrs might cntribute t the fluctuatins in energy use? Article Hmes Shw Greatest Seasnal Variatin in Electricity Use What electric utility delivers electricity t yur huse?! Search nline fr the utility website and find its energy surces prtfli. The prtfli is made f electricity- generating plants that may use a lt f different surces f energy fr pwer. What are these surces, and what percentage f the electricity is prduced by each?! Ie: Supply.aspx What is the electricity prtfli f yur state? Search the Energy Infrmatin Agency (EIA) nline t find yurs!! Ie. Why d states energy prtflis differ?! Hw des yur state cmpare t Washingtn State in its energy prtfli? Natural Gas What is a BTU? A therm? Ask yur students t bring in a cpy f their mst recent hme natural gas bill t class. Hw much is yur family paying fr natural gas delivered t yur hme?! Ttal? Per kilwatt? What in yur hme uses natural gas as an energy surce?! What alternative frms f energy culd be used fr the same purpse?! Hw culd yu reduce yur natural gas bill?! Mre Infrmatin What Can Yu D t Help Reduce Yur Natural Gas Bills? Is there infrastructure fr natural gas arund America? Why des every urban American hme have access t natural gas instead f a hme- tap fr petrleum- based fuels? If natural gas is s clean, why dn t we just burn it in ur hmes t prduce electricity fr the husehld?! Mre Infrmatin Hw Des the Natural Gas Delivery System Wrk? Hme Energy Audit Lessn Plan (multi- day): Hw t: Hme Energy Audit Included yu will find activities and hmewrk that cvers: Husehld Cnservatin/Efficiency, Watt Meters t Measure Energy Cnsumptin, Hme Energy Audit, Light vs. Heat Bulbs, Life Cycle Cst Analysis Energy Efficiency In yur kitchen, lk fr a sticker n yur appliances that says Energy Star. What appliances d yu see with this sticker? D yu see these stickers anywhere else in yur hme? Where? What is Energy Star? Hme Energy Use Next Steps Energy Reductin Discuss ways t reduce the energy use in yur hme 2

4 ! Think abut what cnsumes electricity r natural gas in yur hme. What uses a lt? What desn t? Cme up with a list f 10 recmmendatins fr yur parents t minimize yur hme energy use.! Mre infrmatin 100 Ways t Save Energy at Hme What culd yu d persnally t use less electricity in yur hme withut cmprmising yur daily life? Onsite Renewable Energy What technlgies are available fr cnsumers t pwer their hmes nsite? Hw abut ff- grid? What des it mean fr yur hme t be ff f the grid?! Article and Vide Hw Living Off the Grid Wrks Activity Have yur students write a ne- t- tw page paper n what they think life wuld be like ff- grid. Tell them t fcus n what wuld be different then their lives nw? Hw wuld their rutines change? Culd they live ff- grid the same as they d currently? Grund- Surced (Gethermal) Heat Pumps! Vide Energy 101: Gethermal Heat Pumps Article Gethermal Heat Pumps! Questins. Hw d heat pumps wrk? What are the envirnmental benefits f using a gethermal heat pump vs traditinal Air Cnditining? What is the difference between a vertical system and a hrizntal ne? Residential Slar PV! Activity Have students research slar phtvltaics fr the hme and have them bring in ne article abut slar phtvlatics in yur state. Place students int small grups t share the infrmatin they learned frm the article befre cming back t the full grup. Residential Slar Thermal (Water Heaters)! Vide Hw Slar Ht Water Wrks Why is a back- up unit needed t heat water in minter mnths? What side f the rf shuld yu install a system t maximize efficiency (ie Nrth, Suth, East, r West facing)? Hw is yur water at hme heated currently? Chse ne fuel surce that might make sense fr pwering yur hme. Hw des the technlgy t cnvert the energy surce int electricity (r anther useable frm f energy) wrk? Why is it nt already installed? Cnsider the envirnmental, ecnmic, aesthetic, and ther pertinent factrs. 3

5 At Schl Current Energy Use in the Classrm What is using electricity in the rm right nw? With yur class, perfrm a quick energy audit f everything that is visible. Hw many kilwatt hurs are cnsumed during ne class perid. During a full day? A week? A year?! Vide Pwer Save Schls! What culd yu and yur class d t minimize that energy use withut cmprmising the pedaggy and engagement in class? What s the biggest energy hg in the classrm? In the building? Why des it cnsume s much energy? Think critically abut the piece f equipment, hw it functins, and its necessity. Lessn Plan and Activity Lighting in the Library: A Student Energy Audit! Subject: Energy Basics, Efficiency! Activity geared fr intrductry science classes Hw d we measure the brightness f lights? Vide Energy 101: Lumens Onsite Renewable Energy Surces and Demnstratin Prjects Vide 2013 Greenest Schl n Earth! Questins: What renewable energy technlgies did yu see in the vide? Hw did this schl incrprate sustainability int its building? Call t Actin: Culminating Prject t assist schl in acquisitin f n- site renewable energy Vide Mercer Island Student Brightens up Schl with Senir Prject! Questins: What wuld it take t d a similar prject at ur schl? What are yur initial reactins frm this vide? Hw many hurs a year culd the slar panel array pwer a micrwave fr? Hw des the sunlight here cmpare t that f Washingtn State? Slar PV, Thermal, gethermal heat pump! Guide Renewable Energy at Schls This guide takes int accunt the experience learned in multiple schl districts in the state f Minnesta cncerning nsite renewables at schls. In this guide students, and teacher mentrs, can learn the step- by- step prcess t install a demnstratin and larger renewable energy systems at yur schl. In additin, the guide ffers infrmatin n integrating the system with curriculum, prject funding, and installatin management. Recgnitin and Awards fr Green Schls USDOE: Green Ribbn Schls Additinal Resurces Curriculum Resurce Greening Schls Green Yur Lessn Plan Lessn Plan Hw Green is My Schl? Cnducting an Energy Audit! Published in the New Yrk Times Lessn Plan and Many Activities Science Prjects in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency 4

6 ! Subjects: Advanced Vehicle Technlgies & Fuels, Basic Energy Science, Bimass, Building Technlgies, Electric Infrastructure Systems, Energy Analysis, Gethermal Energy, Hydrgen/Fuel Cells, Slar, and Wind Energy In Transprtatin Fuel and Energy Surces Traditinal Cars, trucks, and busses pwered by gasline Why are mst cars and trucks tday pwered by petrleum prducts?! Cnsider ptential ecnmic, scial, legal, and envirnmental factrs Alternative Fuel Surces Hybrid Electric! Ie. Tyata Prius, Chevrlet Vlt! Vide Energy 101: Electric Vehicles D any f yur families wn an EV? What s it like? What are sme f the differences between EVs and traditinal cards? Why desn t everyne drive an electric car? Is it pssible that electric cars are wrse fr the envirnment that traditinal nes? Hw culd that be? Natural Gas! Article and Vide Hw Natural- gas Vehicles Wrk Electric (plug- in)! Tesla Radster/Mdel S, Nissan Leaf! Have yur students research electric plug- in vehicles. Discuss the advantages f vehicles that nly run n electricity. Discuss infrastructure, fueling duratins, ptential pitfalls (battery malfunctins in the Fisker Karma), and brainstrm the future f electric vehicles in yur cmmunity. Bifuels What are they? Hw d we use them? Where d they cme frm? Can we make ur wn?! Vide Energy 101: Bifuels Questins: What is bimass? What are sme cmmn surces f bimass fr bifuels? What is ne way t cnvert bimass int bifuel? Is wd a bifuel? Hw d we use wd t prduce energy?! Vide Energy 101: Algae- t- Fuels What is algae? What are the advantages f algae bifuels? What is carbn- neutrality? What makes algae bifuels carbn neutral when burned? Why wuld yu want t put an algae farm next t a cal pwer plant?! Lessn Plan A Pre- Treatment Mdel fr Ethanl Prductin Using a Clrimetric Analysis f Starch Slutins Subject: Bienergy 5

7 Activity geared fr a higher level chemistry class! Lessn Plan Reactin Rates and Catalysts in Ethanl Prductin Subject: Bienergy/bimass Activity fr a general/envirnmental science r chemistry/bilgy class! Lessn Plan and Multiple Activities: The Bifuel Prject: Creating Bi- diesel Subject: Bienergy Activity geared fr higher level chemistry class! Lessn Plan and Multiple Activities: Renewable Energy Plants in Yur Gas Tank: Frm Phtsynthesis t Ethanl Subject: Bimass/Bienergy Three activities n Plant Pigment Chrmatgraphy, Plant Mass, and Stred Chemical Energy Mre Resurces! Curriculum Cars f Tmrrw and the American Cmmunity High Schl Curriculum Biking, walking, and using yur tw feet Fd energy what shuld yu eat t prvide the mst pwer! Why des what yu eat either help r hurt yur ability t mve faster Hw d we measure the energy in fd? What unit d we use? What fds give yu the biggest bst in energy? Which are better fr yu? Which d yu want mst? What tastes the best? Des yur persnal taste in fd crrelate at all t the energy stred in the fd? Discuss why that culd be and think critically abut the reasns behind why we perceive these fds t taste s gd. Mass Transit Busses, trains, trlleys, light rails, and metr What mass transit ptins t yu have in yur cmmunity? What kind f fuel surce d they use? E.g. mst buses in America run n petrleum based fuels and many urban busses can run n electricity. Undergrund subways alng with mst urban trains run n electricity. Benefits f Mass Transprtatin Research Have yur students research ne frm f mass transprtatin and the advantages and disadvantages f the fuel surce. Why is the fuel used? Is there a better alternative? If s, explain.! Reductin in energy/persn cnsumed in transprtatin! Envirnmental Externalities Cmparing alternatives fr schl bus fuel. Mind the Jepardy- esque backgrund music. Have yur students watch these vides back t back: Vide 1 Michigan Transprts Students in Hybrid Electric Schl Busses Vide 2 Prpane Buses Help Minnesta Schls Carve ut Greener Future Vide 3 Natural Gas Schl Buses Help Kansas City Save Mney Questins: In each vide a schl district invests in new technlgies fr their buses t save csts and have cleaner emissins. Why is prpane cnsidered a cleaner alternative t diesel and gasline? What are the advantages and disadvantages f using the fuel? What is a hybrid- electric schl bus and hw des it wrk? What are the advantages and 6

8 disadvantages f the hybrid technlgy and cnventinal engines? What is cmpressed natural gas? What makes it green? Cmpare and cntrast the three different fuels shwn in the vides. Des yur schl district perate any buses that use alternative fuels r electricity? If s, what are they like? D yu ntice anything different abut them when riding? Discuss. Is there a best ptin? Why/Why nt? Student Cmpetitins Shell Ec- Marathn: sciety/ecmarathn/events/americas.html In the Cmmunity The Grid What is it? Sme call the grid a giant battery. Why? Hw des the grid cmpare t a battery? Prductin Is there any cal pwer in yur state s energy mix? Where is the clsest cal plant lcated? Why is cal s bad? Why are we, as a cuntry, mving twards cleaner fuels? Delivery Hw des electricity mve frm a pint surce like a cal pwer plant t yur hme? Are there lsses f energy in the transmissin? If s, why? Where des the energy g if nt directly t yur hme? Cnsider heat lss ver distance. Full Curriculum: The Energy Surcebk High Schl Helps students understand the histry and applicatin f every majr energy surce and prvides simple DIY activities t shw hw each technlgy wrks. Infrmatin is specific t the Tennessee Valley but can be applied universally. This surcebk is purpsed t help teachers prepare students thrugh real- life applicatin sand principles f energy studies. Grid 2.0 Smart grid management Vide Smart Grid! Hw fast des electricity travel? Why d we need back- up pwer plants? In what decade did utilities start putting sensrs all ver their transmissin lines? What is a smart meter? Imagine a time in the future when a utility culd turn yur hme appliances n and ff fr yu. Hw des that make yu feel? 7

9 Check ut the Department f Energy s site n smart grid management fr mre infrmatin. Micrgeneratrs and Distributed Generatin Slid- Oxide Technlgy! Vide 60 Minutes: The Blm Bx! What is a fuel cell? Hw des the blm bx cnvert fuel t electricity withut cmbustin? What are sme applicatins f the blm bx? Cnnecting renewable surces Activity Ask yur students t find an article abut electric utilities fighting against residential nsite electricity generatin (ie frm slar r wind). Discuss the debate between the traditinal mdel f large- scale prductin f electricity and the emerging mdel f distributed generatin. Renewable Energy Utility scale renewable energy prductin Wind Energy! What are the benefits f pwer prduced frm wind?! Hw d wind turbines generate electricity! What are the pitfalls f this energy surce?! What percentage f yur state s energy mix is prduced frm this surce?! Why dn t yu see mre wind turbines arund?! Find the clsest wind turbine farm t yur schl. What is its generating capacity?! Vide Energy 101: Wind Turbines Questins: Why are wind turbines s tall?! Lessn Plan An Explratin f Wind Energy and Wind Turbines Subject: Wind Energy Activity is geared fr a general/envirnmental science class! Lessn Plan Wind Energy Basics Subject: Wind Energy Activity geared fr science/math classes! Teacher Guide Explring Wind Energy and Student Guide Explring Wind Energy Subjects: Energy Basics, Energy Efficiency and Cnversin, Wind Energy Hands- n activities that prvide a cmprehensive understanding f the scientific, ecnmic, envirnmental, technlgical, and scietal aspects f wind energy t students in grades Geared fr curriculum in the sciences, scial studies, language arts, and general technlgy.! Additinal Resurces Slar Phtvltaic (PV) Farms! What are phtns? Where d they cme frm?! What are slar phtvltaic panels?! Vide Energy 101: Slar PV 8

10 Questins: What are the negatives and benefits f Slar PV? Where in the wrld has the mst PV panels? What cuntry leads the wrld in slar pwer prductin?! Teacher Guide Explring Phtvltaics and Student Guide Explring Phtvltaics Hands- n investigatins t teach secndary students hw electricity is generated using phtvltaics and ther systems. Students will explre the variables affecting phtvltaic cells. Curriculum geared fr science, scial studies, mathematics, language arts and technlgy! Additinal Resurces: m ml uk.rg.uk/index.ht Cncentrating Slar Pwer (CSP)! Vide Energy 101: Cncentrating Slar Pwer! Lessn Plan and Activity Green Fuel: Explring Methds t Cllect Slar Energy Subject: Slar Energy Activity: The BTU r Bust Prject, geared fr 11 th - 12 th grade Science & Technlgy Educatin Slar Thermal Facilities Gethermal Energy! Teacher Guide A Gethermal Teacher Guide fr Grades 9-12 Subject: Gethermal Energy Geared fr teachers f Ancient and Western Civilizatin, Wrld and US Histry, US Gvernment, Gelgy, Earth Science, Envirnmental Science, and Physical Science Hydrelectric Pwer! Vide Energy 101: Hydrpwer Questins: Hw d hydrelectric dams wrk? What is the difference between impundment, pumped strage hydrpwer, and diversin? Where is the clsest dam t yur schl? What are the negatives f building dams? Hw many dams are in the US and abut hw many are pwer- prducing?! Curriculum The Nature f Water Pwer: A Hands- On Science Curriculum fr Students Published by the Fundatin fr Water & Energy Educatin Marine and Hydrkinetic Energy! Vide Energy 101: Marine and Hydrkinetic Energy 9

11 Discuss the advantages f using water t generate pwer. Renewable Energy Credits What is a Renewable Energy Credit (REC)? Wh benefits frm REC purchasing? Why d peple, businesses, and even cmmunities purchase RECs? Search nline and find a business r rganizatin that ffsets their energy use frm nn- renewable surces with RECs. What ther ways are there t reduce r ffset fssil fuel cnsumptin in buildings? Student Cmpetitins The 2014 Natinal Science Bwl: Igniting Creative Energy Challenge: Arund the wrld What is the mst cmmnly used surce f energy fr heat? Fr lighting? Fr electricity? Where in the wrld d yu see transprtatin fueled primarily by renewables? What cuntry prduces ver 90% f their electricity frm renewable energy surces What is the glbal electricity prductin capacity? Hw abut ttal electricity cnsumptin? Hw much energy, in watts, is emitted thrugh phtns frm the sun t the Earth ver a given year? Hw des this cmpare t ur current annual electricity cnsumptin? Is it pssible t pwer ur glbal sciety nly frm the sun? What factrs make slar pwer unreliable? This resurce guide was assembled by Harry Blsn, a student at Washingtn University in St. Luis graduating in May f Harry has majrs in Finance and Entrepreneurship and a Certificate in Sustainable Management and Organizatins. In the past six years he has fcused his research and endeavrs in renewable energy and the envirnment. His wrk experience includes the marketing, sale, installatin, prject management and leadership, educatin, and business develpment in residential and small cmmercial renewable energy systems and Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). This resurce guide is based upn wrk supprted as part f the Phtsynthetic Antenna Research Center (PARC) and The Internatinal Center fr Advanced Renewable Energy and Sustainability (I- CARES) Certificate in Renewable Energy and the Envirnment Prgram. Fr questins, cmments, r fllw- up n this guide yu can reach ut t Harry at [email protected]. Harry is pen t vide cnferencing in and talking t students abut applying what they have learned in class in the real wrld and fr mentrship n nsite r cmmunity renewable energy prjects. 10