Unit 3: Energy
Production and Use
Energy calculator
part 1
activity guide
and worksheet
Developed by
This project was funded by the Department of
Sustainability and Environment.
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence. A copy of this licence is available at
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/au/ or by writing to info@creativecommons.org.au. However logos are protected by copyright.
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Unit 3: Energy Production and Use
Introduction to the Origin energy calculator part 1 activity
guide
Estimated duration: 30 minutes
Aim

To introduce student to the Origin energy efficiency calculator as an energy
auditing tool
Outcome
By the end of this session, student will be able to:
 Understand of the types and quantities of appliances in their own homes;
 Have an overview of the energy auditing process
Resources

CD Rom Origin Energy Home Energy project (available from Origin – see
below)
Or
Click on the energy efficiency calculator at
www.originenergy.com.au/2103/Residential-Efficiency



Computer
Internet access or CD Rom
Student worksheet (included below)
Note that an alternative calculator is available from the Environment Protection
Authority, on their website and as a CD ROM. However, there are additional
computer system requirements for this calculator (at the time of writing) which
might create difficulties in using this resource if your computers need updating. We
recommend you try the calculator out on the computers the students will use to
ensure they work correctly. This calculator is available from
www.epa.vic.gov.au/GreenhouseCalculator/calculator/default.asp.
Activity Description
1. Ask one of the students to act as a volunteer for a class demonstration showing
how to use calculator.
2. Load the energy efficiency calculator and follow the prompts.
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3. Show the students how the calculator works by moving through the different
rooms and clicking on the icons. Emphasise that this is a demonstration and that
they will need to find out the kinds of systems there are in their own homes to
complete their personal audit. For example, many students will not know whether
their hot water system is gas or electric, or they may have trouble identifying the
type of heating system.
4. Show the students the graphs being generated in the reports section. This includes
a table of costs per quarter and per year for each appliance. It also includes a pie
chart showing how much energy is being used in each area as a proportion of the
total energy consumption.
5. Get the students to take the worksheet home and fill it in. They will enter this
information into the calculator in Unit 4.
Note: There is excellent material for teachers available as part of the Home Energy
Project from Origin Energy at www.originenergy.com.au/hep. Support materials are
also available at www.originenergy.com.au/education.
Student Roles and Responsibilities
Participate in agreed tasks
Contribute to class discussions
Complete activities and worksheets
Work cooperatively with others
Participate in survey and collect data
Seek teacher assistance and support when needed
Level of Teacher Support
Facilitate discussion
Organise materials and equipment
Provide encouragement
Introduce tasks and activities
Provide assistance when requested
Provide advice on how to research and identify sources of information
Teach or reinforce statistical or graphical skills and understanding
Assessment
To use these learning activities as assessment tasks, collect evidence such as:
Teacher checklist and observation
Student research notes and report
Copies of student materials and worksheets
Student notes
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Unit 3: Energy Production and Use
Energy Calculator Part 1 Worksheet
What you need to know to complete the Origin energy calculator
The following questions can be answered by ticking the box if it the correct
answer. You might know the answer already or you may have to ask someone at
home. Knowing the answer will help you complete the Origin energy calculator
online later on.
What you need
to know
Question
Type of hot water
system
Is it gas hot water?
Is it electric hot water?
Is it solar hot water with a gas booster?
Is it solar hot water with an electric
booster?
Type of cooking
stove
Is it a gas stove?
Is it an electric stove?
Type of air
conditioning
Is it an evaporative cooler? (uses water)
Is it a split system air conditioner? (has a
box outside and a unit inside, high on the
wall)
Is it a wall unit?
Type of heating
Is it space heating? (a heater which just
heats one room)
Is it central heating?
What fuel does
your heating use to
run?
Doe your heating run on gas?
Does your heating run on electricity?
Tick box if
answer is
yes
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