Tech Directions - December 2008 - (Page 21)

THINK GREEN construction of such homes, wall insulation must be installed so that the large surface area will not result in a huge heat loss. Areas that extend away from the main body of a house or are situated on its north side are prone to high heat loss. Wise practice would call for isolating these rooms with doors or sliding curtains that can be closed to minimize heat loss when the areas are not in use. Using doors, curtains, or other techniques to judiciously “thin down” the house to its core area would certainly save money. Pocket doors and old-style room drapes can save energy in older homes—and lend a lovely old-world charm as well. In older homes with ﬁnished attics, you can save energy by keeping the attic door closed when the attic is not in use. Backing down the heat when no one is using the space also makes sense. Another “hot air rises” situation is evident in homes with ﬁreplaces. The warm air resulting from the expensive fuel you burn to heat your home will rise up the chimney ﬂue if the ﬁrebox damper is not closed or is incorrectly secured. It’s like having a window partially open through which heat can escape. Newer homes with multiple ﬁreplaces are especially vulnerable to heat loss here. In older homes with high ceilings, and modern homes with cathedralceilinged great rooms or family rooms, heat will tend to accumulate high up. A ceiling-mounted fan-light can direct the heat back down into the space near the home’s occupants. (Note that the “heatstacking” effect can be seen in older homes in the form of telltale paint bubbling and cracking where heated air stagnates—often near a stairwell where the heat has naturally risen to the second ﬂoor.) their thinking. Students can also assess their own homes and suggest ways their families could save energy and reduce heat loss. You can also have students conduct research and suggest a design for a new home that would be a minimal energy user. What techniques would they use? What building materials? What are some of the experimental techniques for reducing home energy use that have been tried in the past? Are there any concerns related to making a home too tight for energy conservation reasons? You and your students could take a ﬁeld trip to a big-box home improvement store, where students could see energy-saving products up close. Look into alternative forms of energy for homes like solar heating and solar cell panels, and even wind energy. How would using these new energy forms affect the need for energy conservation in the home? Are there homes that use alternative energy near your school that could be visited? Perhaps a local builder or designer of alternative energy homes could visit to talk to your students. Subterranean homes or dwellings built into the sides of mountains or hills also offer energy savings. Have students research how such construction impacts heat loss. And how about the use of dirt roofs or homes that are earth-bermed on three sides to save energy? What do the students think about these techniques? How about having them design such a home? Energy-saving ideas and technologies are more relevant than ever right now—get your students involved! Activities With the current increased interest on energy consumption due to recent dramatic rises in fuel costs, this is a superbly relevant area for classroom activities. You should be able to easily locate articles and booklets with additional information on the subject. Local utility companies, heating supply dealers, public utility regulatory agencies, and state governmental and energy agencies all have available resources. And, of course, the Internet is a great source of information on the topic. Many engineering colleges have experts who conduct research in this area and may be willing to provide speakers who can visit your school. Most local electric and natural gas utility companies have strong energy conservation programs, and also provide speakers and experts who can visit your school and discuss energy conservation topics. Students can be teamed to work on developing ideas for reducing energy consumption in school buildings. Have them research and present ideas and strategies, including drawings and diagrams that illustrate For more classroom projects on home energy consumption, visit www.techdirections.com/ projectsPE.html www.techdirections.com TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION 21 http://www.techdirections.com/projectsPE.html http://www.techdirections.com/projectsPE.html http://www.techdirections.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Directions - December 2008

Tech Directions - December 2008 Contents Advertisers Index Technically Speaking Direct from Washington The Report Technology Today Technology’s Past Mastering Computers Digital Portfolios—Powerful Marketing Tool for Communication Students Choosing the Right CC Welding Unit—Student Success Depends on It Think Green—Increasing Awareness of Garbage and Recycling Think Green—Teach Students Smart Ways to Reduce Home Energy Use Go International! Build a Simplified Shortwave Receiver Mooresville Middle School Snags Web Site of the Month Gifts for Geeks More than Fun

Tech Directions - December 2008

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