Energy Efficiency Webquest
Name:
Now that you have learned how energy is neither created or destroyed, how it’s
transformed from one form to another, about all the different sources of energy, and how
some sources are more sustainable than others, complete this Webquest to learn the best
way to CONSERVE energy to SAVE MONEY and REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
Energy Efficient Home Features
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_homes.nh_features
List the six features of an Energy Efficient Home that are written in bold.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Take a tour behind the walls of an ENERGY STAR qualified home:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=behind_the_walls.btw_airsealing
Don't pay to heat and cool the outdoors! Air leakage and improperly installed insulation
can waste 20 percent or more of the energy you pay to heat and cool your home.
Typical homes have so many leaks, it's like having a window open all the time, winter
and summer.
Diagram of Leaky Home:
Click on the Diagram of a Leaky Home
7. List all of the ways air leaks from inside the house to the outside.
8. List all of the ways air leaks into the house from the outside.
Infrared Image of House Exterior:
9. What does the yellow represent in the infrared image of the house exterior?
Mold:
10.
When warm air leaks into construction assemblies, it can come in contact
with cooler surfaces where ____________________ can occur. The buildup of
moisture encourages __________________ growth, ruins
__________________, and even compromises the __________________
elements of the home.
Behind the walls of an ENERGY STAR qualified home...
11.
Well-sealed and properly insulated walls, ceiling, and floors help maintain
even temperatures throughout the house and save you up to
__________________ on heating and cooling costs. A tighter home also reduces
the amount of ____________________________________ that can come
inside.
12.
What can you do with holes in the wall for wiring?
13.
What is caulk used for?
14.
When does an insulated wall work?
Click on “Continue the tour: Ducts That Don't Leak”
15.
List the seven common duct problems.
Click on “Continue the tour: Advanced Windows for Comfort”
16.
Look at the pictures of the windows at the top of the page. What is the color
of the ENERGY STAR qualified window?
17.
How much less heat does it lose than the non ENERGY STAR window?
Ecological Footprint Quiz
http://www.earthday.org/footprint-calculator
After taking the quiz, answer the following questions:
18.
If everyone lived like you, how many “Earth’s” would we need to provide
enough resources?
19.
How many global acres of the Earth’s productive area does it take to
support your lifestyle?
20.
What is the biggest factor that contributes to the number of acres you listed
in #28.
21.
Which statistic above (#27 or #28) would you use if you wanted to point out
the lack of awareness of the environment? Which statistic would you use if you
did not want to alarm the public?