Friday January 23

You will complete your first portfolio entry today.

• Label your study guide as "Unit 1 Study Guide: Conservation & Efficiency"
• Label your article as "Article #1:Conservation & Efficiency"
• Label your article activity as "Summary #1:Conservation & Efficiency"
• Include the Efficiency & Conservation Handout as "Unit 1 Handout"

If you missed class today, you will need to complete that quiz on the day that you return during 5th, 8th or after school. In addition, you will need to complete your portfolio entry.

Thursday January 22

Questions and Topics for the week...

1. What is energy conservation?
2. What is energy efficiency?
3. What are the countries that use the most energy?
4. Why do we (Americans) consume so much energy?
5. What is the formula to measure energy efficiency?
6. What is the scientific principle (Law) that governs conservation?
7. What is a payback period and how is it calculated?
8. What does the term "consumer society" mean?
9. What is sustainability?
10. Provide an example of an opportunity to conserve energy in your own home.

In class today, we will review the material that we have covered this week. All of the above questions will be answered in class and you will have an opportunity to take notes and prepare a study guide for the test. These study guides will become part of your portfolio.

Tuesday January 20

What is conservation?
What is efficiency?
How is efficiency measured?
What "Laws" govern the conservation of energy (and matter)?
Why are these concepts important in our discussion of natural resource use?


For Friday, bring a news article that deals with either conservation of natural resources or the efficient use of energy.

Thursday January 8

To clarify a few points for you....

Your final is worth 200 points. It is divided into 4 categories; participation, portfolio, essay and exam.  Each portion is worth 50 points.

• The exam will have 45 multiple choice questions and a short answer question worth 5 points.
• You should have 14 drawings in your portfolio. 
• The essay is based on the rubric which was posted last week, but here are a few questions for you to consider....

1. What is the purpose of including a service based learning requirement for this class? In other words, why is it important to connect the information that is studied in class to a real world application?
2. Based on your service based learning experience, why do you think that it is important to connect a volunteer experience with information that we have learned in class?
3. Provide evidence from your service learning to demonstrate the importance of the experience.
4. Provide an introduction and conclusion paragraph.

January 7, 2015

Go to this link and follow the instructions provided. When you have completed the tasks, answer the questions below.

1. Which of the resources could be used in Colorado? Why?
2. What is one positive and one negative associated with each of the resources?
3. Select one of the resources and explain how it is used to generate electricity.

There is an extra credit opportunity for you.... take a selfie in front of the Waterton Canyon Hydro-electric dam before January 16th to earn those valuable points!

Here is a link to your study guide.  If you have any questions, please see me. This study guide needs to be printed out and is due the day of your final exam. 

Monday December 15

This week...
We will finish the roof and the exterior walls. The metal roof will be here on Tuesday and will go up Wednesday. We will wrap the house in TYVEK and be ready to install windows after break. The roof will be covered with tar paper before the metal roof panels go up.
Here is the rubric for your service learning project. Be sure to get your volunteer supervisor to sign off on your hours before you finish your paper.


For Wednesday...

1. Measure the area of each of the 4 types of photovoltaic (PV) panels that are in the classroom.
2. Look at the electrical specifications label on the back of the PV and find the maximum wattage.
3. Find the amount of daylight that we will experience in Denver today.
4. Calculate (in kWh) the amount of electricity that each of the PV cells could generate.
5. Calculate electrical generation/area (kWh/m2) for each of the PV cells.

In your group discuss and answer the following questions:

1. There are 60 fluorescent bulbs in this classroom that are each rated at 32 watts. How much electricity is consumed by using those lights for a full school calendar year? (Assume 8 hours per day and 185 days each year.)
2. If those 60 bulbs were to be replaced with LED (light emitting devices) that are rated at 12 watts, how much electricity would be saved?
3. The fluorescent lights cost $3.95 per bulb and last for 10,000 hours. The LED's cost $39.95 and last 50,000 hours. 
1. What is the cost to light this room with both of these options? (Electricity in Colorado costs (on average) $0.12/kWh.) 
2. How long (payback period) does it take for the LED option to be less expensive?
4. How many (of the most effective) PV cells would be needed to meet the electrical demand for each of (fluorescent and LED) options?

Use the CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) model to shape your answer to the following questions. 

1. If each of the PV cells receives the same energy input (sunlight) can you rate the relative efficiencies of them?
2. Why do you think the solar panels are as efficient (or inefficient) as they are?

Below is the rubric for the report that you need to write for your service hours this semester. If you are still short hours, you may attend the Eco-Action meeting after school every Wednesday. In addition, we are going to be working on the house after school tomorrow and then again on Monday -Wednesday next week.

Service Based Learning Report Rubric