Environmental Science
Energy Use
 
The use of energy producing sources is a key element in environmental health. We use energy sources to drive our cars, heat and light our homes, run our businesses and schools, and generally to add to our daily comfort. Some sources of energy are less destructive to our world than others. Renewable sources and conservation are often environmentally friendly.Renewable sources include power created by solar energy, wind, wood, and water. Fossil fuels are finite and non renewable and often introduce pollution to our air, land and water. Projects in this section should deal with the enivironmental implactions of energy choices:

Essential Questions:

How can a person use energy in an environmentally friendly manner?

Focus questions about home energy use: (use four)
  • How much energy does my home use? (Do an energy audit of your home)
  • What renewable sources are being used in my (any) home?
  • What non-renewable sources are being used in my (any) home?
  • What can be done in my (anyoneís) home to improve energy consumption?
  • How many kilowatts of electricity does my (anyoneís) home use?
  • Where does the electricity that is used in my (anyoneís) home come from?
  • What kinds of enegy use solutions will appear in our future?

  • Focus questions about solar homes (use four):

  • Where does a solar home get its heat, light, electicity?
  • How does insulation help in creating an efficient solar house?
  • Whart are the problems with using solar energy in New England?
  • How does direction of windows and doors effect a solar home?
  • What is an efficient floor plan for solar home?
  • What is the difference between passive and active solar energy?

  • Focus questions about transportation: (use four)

  • How much gas is used by students driving cars to SRHS?
  • What are benefits and drawbacks of electric cars?
  • How does the electric/gasoline car work?
  • What pollutants are added to our air by cars?
  • What types of mass transportation are available to Kingston/Newton residents?
  • What is MBTE and what are its benefits and drewbacks?
  • What is ethanol and how might it help reduce pollution caused by driving?
  • Where is crude oil found?
  • How can drivers save gasoline?
  • Focus questions about electical production: (use four)
  • What are the benefits and drawbacks of the fuels used to create eletricity?
  • How is electricity generated in electrical power plants?
  • How much electricity is used by our school?
  • How much electricity is used in your home?
  • How can electricity use be reduced in your home/our school?
  • What fuels are used by electrical power plants that provide electricity to homes in Kingston/Newton?

  • Focus questions about energy saving devices (create a model of or an actual practical energy saving device)


    Focus questions about global warming (use four):


    Focus questions about drilling for oil in Alaska (use four):

    Research links:
     
  • Energy saving tips manual from the Department of Energy.

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  • Gasoline Saving tips from the Department of Energy

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  • Catalog of energy saving devices for the household.

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  • Explanations of renewable resources such as solar, biomass, wind, water,... power

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  • A catalog of energy efficient products for the household.

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  • Welcome to Energy QuestTM Energy Education from the California Energy Commission

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  • The Maine Solar House

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  • Solar house plans

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  • Information about successful solar systems

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  • Global Warming

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  • A Living on Earth Radio article about global warming's effects on the North.

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  • An example of a home energy audit

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  • A Do-it-Yourself home energy audit from the DOE

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  • Graph showing rising levels of atmospheric carbon Dioxide. (This is related to global warming)

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  • What is global warming

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  • A link to many sites about global warming

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  • The World Solar Car/Vehicle Race

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  • Calculate your ecological footprint - Just how much of the Earth is dedicated to you?.

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  • The Hunger Site - Click here every day to help feed people around the world.

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  • The Honda Insight - Links to information about Honda's hybrid (electric/gas) car.

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  • A general article about the econmics of hybrid (electric/gas) cars.

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  • A radio article from National Public Radio about hybrid cars heard as a RealPlayer broadcast.

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  • A great picture showing how electricity is produced in a coal fired plant.

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  • The Electricity Calculator lets you find out just where and how your own electricity is generated.  Great info. about electric generation fuels and impacts.

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