Unit 4: Reducing Energy Use
Outline
Developed by
This project was funded by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
Page 1 of 5 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.
Unit 4: Reducing Energy Use
Outline Time allowance: 3 hours Key themes: • Estimating how much energy we use in the home • Investigating how to reduce our usage in the home VCAL Unit Level: • Personal Development Foundation 1 • Personal Development Foundation 2 • Personal Development Intermediate • Literacy: Reading and Writing Foundation & Intermediate • Literacy: Oracy Foundation & Intermediate
Overview of Learning Activities .......................................................................................... 2 Session Plan......................................................................................................................... 3 Learning Outcomes ............................................................................................................. 4 Resource Requirements...................................................................................................... 4 Main learning objectives..................................................................................................... 5 Further Resources............................................................................................................... 5
Overview of Learning Activities The first activity in the unit, the “Energy calculator” audit, is undertaken using the Origin Energy Efficiency Calculator which was demonstrated in Unit 3. Information gathered from the ‘energy calculator part 1 worksheet’ given to students in Unit 3 will help them complete the task. This activity should begin with an opportunity for students to clarify any questions that about their own home energy circumstances. Students spend time using the computer program and obtain an energy calculation of their home use. Students can obtain a print out of the results of their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The “Analysing results” activity using the worksheets provided should help them to discuss their findings in class or as part of a small group. Answering the questions on the worksheets and writing a summary paragraph about their use will help them draw conclusions about their household’s energy use. It will also help focus their ideas about ways that they could make a difference in their own lives. Time has been allocated to continue team building activities if required. The final part of the class, “Reducing our power use”, is a group discussion documenting the major findings and helping students to draft ideas for a personal action plan for their personal eco‐challenge in unit 10. Page 2 of 5
Session Plan
Unit 4: Reducing Energy Use Date: Start time: 9.00am Finish time: 12.00pm Time allowance: 3.00hrs Key themes: • How much energy we use and how to reduce our usage WS = student worksheet AG = teacher’s activity guide Time Topic Learning Outcomes Activity brief description (As a result of this unit, students should be able to…) 50 minutes 1. Energy calculator Students complete their individual audits using • Calculate individual part 2 information they have gathered at home. Print out household consumption copies of pie graphs and results
20 minutes 50 minutes
Break 2. Analysing results
• • •
20 minutes 20 minutes
Break 3. Team building game
20 minutes
4.
Understand their personal energy consumption Better read graphs & summarise data Drawing conclusions about consumption
• • • •
Reducing our power use
Have fun Demonstrate teamwork Work together in groups Determine ways to reduce individual energy use
Students use the results summary to analyse how much money their household is spending on energy and what their annual greenhouse emissions are. Students answer questions on the worksheet and so identify areas for improvement. Any team game
Class discussion of findings. Students brainstorm ways of reducing their footprint in different areas of energy use.
Resources
AG: Energy calculator part 2 Completed WS: Energy calculator part 1 (from unit 3) Computers Internet access or CD Roms AG/WS: Analysing results Results from energy calculator Computers
Team games book or internet resources
AG/WS: Reducing Our Power Use
3:00 hours
Page 3 of 5
Learning Outcomes PD F1‐3 =Personal Development ‐ Foundation Unit 1 Outcome 3 RW = Reading and Writing, O= Oracy, N = Numeracy
Session/Activity Learning Outcomes (As a result of this unit, students should be able to…) 1. Energy • Calculate individual calculator household part 2 consumption
2.
Analysing results
•
Understand their personal energy consumption Better read graphs & summarise data Drawing conclusions about consumption Have fun Demonstrate teamwork Work together in groups Determine ways to reduce individual energy use
• •
3.
Team building game
• • •
4.
Reducing our power use
•
VCAL Learning Outcomes (foundation level listed only – for intermediate see the learning outcomes matrix) PD F1‐2: Solve problems specific to an established goal PD F1‐3: Demonstrate knowledge specific to an established goal. PD F1‐4: Demonstrate skills specific to an established goal. RW2: Writing for practical purposes RW7: Reading for knowledge N5: Numeracy for interpreting society – data N6: Numeracy for interpreting society – numerical information RW2: Writing for practical purposes RW7: Reading for knowledge
PD F1‐5: Demonstrate teamwork skills PD F2‐4: Work effectively in groups PD F1‐3: Demonstrate knowledge specific to an established goal PD F2‐3: Communicate Information about health issues and/or community services PD F2‐4: Work effectively in groups RW2: Writing for practical purposes
O3: Oracy for practical purposes
Resource Requirements Facilities and Equipment White board Computers CD Rom or internet connection Unit Materials 1. Activity Guide: Energy calculator part 2 Worksheet: Energy calculator part 1 (from unit 3) 2. Activity Guide: Analysing results Page 4 of 5
Worksheet: Analysing results 3. 4.
Team games book Activity Guide: Reducing our power use Worksheet: Reducing our power use
Main learning objectives • • •
To conduct a virtual energy audit using computer technology To analyse the results of the energy audit using numerical and/or graphical information To generate a list of power savings measures at home, school and in the workplace.
Further Resources Team games books: • Funn ‘n Games • Silver Bullets • Quicksilver • No props • Cowstails and Cobras II • The Bottomless Bag Revival Internet resources for team games: http://wilderdom.com/games/InitiativeGames.html www.group‐games.com/ www.businessballs.com/teambuildinggames.htm
Page 5 of 5