Essential Understandings with Guiding Questions
Green Technology Engineering
36-week Course
1st Quarter
Theme: Course Expectations, Safety Procedures and Wind Energy
I. Expectations for student success
A. Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable energy systems
1. What is an energy system?
2. How would describe the difference between renewable and non-renewable
energy system?
B. Apply STEM to real world scenarios
1. Define STEM
2. How is STEM incorporated into this course?
3. Can energy systems be created without STEM?
C. Explore LEED certifications
1. Define LEED
2. In what area can you be LEED certified?
3. What are the requirements to become LEED certified in different areas?
D. Use appropriate computer applications to solve problems
1. Is there a need to know the basics of software packages such as Word,
PowerPoint, Excel, AutoDesk Design Academy?
II. What are the related safety to green technology engineering
A. Adhere to accepted laboratory safety practices
1. Who/what could be damaged if safe practices were not followed?
2. Will the safe practices be the same for all labs?
B. Identify safety precautions necessary when using tools and materials
1. In servicing electrical components should you always power down?
2. If in doubt of what you are about to do, what should you do?
3. What is OSHA?
4. What does OSHA regulate?
C. Locate and refer to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
1. What is MSDS?
2. Who is responsible for keeping the MSDSs?
3. Identify the all areas of a MSDS.
D. Match Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to specific activities
1. Is eye protection essential in the lab environment?
2. Identify other protective gear you may need for the labs in this class.
III. Wind Technology
A. Introduce Wind Technology
1. What is wind technology?
2. Can we produce energy from moving air?
Green Technology Engineering – DoDEA Career and Technology Education
Essential Understanding and Guiding Questions
Revised 22 September 2010
B. Understand the Science of Wind Technology
1. What are the physical properties of wind?
2. Why is aerodynamics important to wind technology?
C. Produce electrical energy via a wind-driven generator
1. Can there be enough energy produced from wind to power a home or
business?
D. Explore control mechanisms of wind-generated electricity
1. Can wind energy be stored?
2. Can wind energy be transmitted on a grid?
2nd Quarter
Theme: Hydroelectric and Fuel Cell Energy
I. Hydroelectric Technology
A. Introduce Hydroelectric Technology
1. What is hydroelectric technology?
2. Can we produce energy from water?
B. Understand the Science of Hydroelectric Technology
1. What the process of producing hydroelectric energy?
2. What is turbo machinery?
C. Produce electrical energy through a hydroelectric system
1. Can there be enough energy produced from water to power a home or
business?
D. Explore control mechanisms of hydroelectricity
1. Can hydroelectric energy be stored?
2. Can hydroelectric energy be transmitted on a grid?
II. Fuel Cell Technology
A. Introduce Fuel Cell technology
1. What is fuel cell technology?
2. How is energy stored in a fuel cell?
B. Understand the Science of Fuel Cell technology
1. What the process of producing fuel cell energy?
2. What is the chemical process of producing energy in a fuel cell?
C. Produce electrical energy through a Fuel Cell system
1. Can there be enough energy produced from water to power a home or
business?
D. Explore control mechanisms of fuel cells
1. How is fuel cell energy stored?
2. Can fuel cell energy be transmitted on a grid?
E. Build Hydrogen Powered Car-Fuel Cell X7
1. Does a fuel cell last longer than a battery?
2. How do you charge a fuel cell?
3. How do you troubleshoot your car if it doesn’t work?
Green Technology Engineering – DoDEA Career and Technology Education
Essential Understanding and Guiding Questions
Revised 22 September 2010
3rd Quarter
Theme: Course Expectations, Safety Procedures and Solar Energy
Review/ Introduce Course Expectations, Safety Procedures
I.
Expectations for student success
A. Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable energy systems
1. What is an energy system?
2. How would describe the difference between renewable and non-renewable
energy system?
B. Apply STEM to real world scenarios
1. Define STEM
2. How is STEM incorporated into this course?
3. Can energy systems be created without STEM?
C. Explore LEED certifications
1. Define LEED
2. In what area can you be LEED certified?
3. What are the requirements to become LEED certified in different areas?
D. Use appropriate computer applications to solve problems
1. Is there a need to know the basics of software packages such as Word,
PowerPoint, Excel, AutoDesk Design Academy?
II. What are the related safety to green technology engineering
A. Adhere to accepted laboratory safety practices
1. Who/what could be damaged if safe practices were not followed?
2. Will the safe practices be the same for all labs?
B. Identify safety precautions necessary when using tools and materials
1. In servicing electrical components should you always power down?
2. If in doubt of what you are about to do, what should you do?
3. What is OSHA?
4. What does OSHA regulate?
C. Locate and refer to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
1. What is MSDS?
2. Who is responsible for keeping the MSDSs?
3. Identify the all areas of a MSDS.
D. Match Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to specific activities
1. Is eye protection essential in the lab environment?
2. Identify other protective gear you may need for the labs in this class.
Solar Energy
I. Solar Energy Technology
A. Introduce Solar Energy technology
1. What is fuel cell technology?
2. How is energy stored in a fuel cell?
B. Understand the Science of Solar Energy Technology
Green Technology Engineering – DoDEA Career and Technology Education
Essential Understanding and Guiding Questions
Revised 22 September 2010
C.
D.
E.
F.
1. What the process of producing fuel cell energy?
2. What is the chemical process of producing energy in a fuel cell?
Understand basic electronics
1. What is Ohm’s Law?
2. What is the relationship between amps, volts and watts?
3. How does an electrical circuit work?
4. What are basic electrical components?
5. What is the difference between AC and DC power?
Construct a photovoltaic circuit
1. What is the output of a simple photovoltaic circuit?
2. How do you select the appropriate photovoltaic system to run a specific
appliance?
Construct a solar oven
1. How do you collect the sun’s radiation using a concentrator and use it to
cook?
2. How do you collect the sun’s radiation using a parabolic mirror and use it to
cook?
Understand how solar energy is collected and stored
1. How do you measure stored solar energy using a heat exchanger?
2. How do you measure stored solar energy using a voltmeter?
3. How do you measure stored solar energy by graphing time, rate and
temperature?
4th Quarter
Theme: Biomass Energy and Biofuel Technology
I. Biomass Energy Technology
A. Introduce Biomass Energy and Biofuel Technology
1. What is biomass energy?
2. How is biomass created?
3. How is biomass energy stored?
4. What is biofuel technology?
5. How is biofuel made?
6. How is biofuel stored?
B. Understand the Science of Biomass Energy and Biofuel Technology
1. What the process of producing biofuel energy?
2. What is the chemical process of producing energy in a biomass?
C. Understand how biomass energy and biofuel is produced
1. What the process of producing biomass energy?
2. What is the chemical process of producing energy in a biomass?
3. What are the disadvantages to using biomass energy or biofuel?
4. What are the applications of biofuel?
Green Technology Engineering – DoDEA Career and Technology Education
Essential Understanding and Guiding Questions
Revised 22 September 2010
Theme: Capstone Project
I. Construct and test a functional Green Technology Power System Model which
includes all prior Green Tech systems addressed in the past term, (ie: wind, water, solar
and bio energy).
A. Design the system as a priority power system or as emergency support system.
Explain why and how?
B. How do you troubleshoot an energy or storage component if it doesn’t work?
C. If you were designing a Power system, what changes would you suggest,
especially in the transition from the current non-renewable systems?
D. If you wanted to start your own business, what green technology would you sell
that would create jobs, training, educational opportunities for others and profits
for your company?
E. How would your company partnership with the community to raise awareness of
your green product?
F. Do all of the components work, and are the components working as a true
sustainable system?
Green Technology Engineering – DoDEA Career and Technology Education
Essential Understanding and Guiding Questions
Revised 22 September 2010