Home Energy Audit

Topics:  Energy Efficiency, Convection, Conduction, Radiation

Source:  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Web Address: http://www.ase.org/uploaded_files/educatorlessonplans/audit.pdf

Grade Levels:  7-9

Learning Strategies:  Take home hands-on activity, observations and recording data

Frameworks Connections:

Science and Technology/Engineering

• Earth and Space Science, Grade 9 or 10

  1. Matter and Energy in the Earth System
  2. The Earth’s Sources of Energy

• Technology/Engineering, Grades 6-8

  1.  Materials, Tools, and Machines

• History and Social Sciences, Grade 5-9

  Economics

Cost:  Free

Desrciption: This activity has students take on the role of building inspectors and conductibg home energy audits. Students are provided with a glossary to review terms involved in building materials and structure and learn certain concepts such as radiation, conduction, and convection.  It may be necessary for the teacher to review the glossary terms with students prior to assigning activities to ensure that all students will be able to make connections between the glossary terms and their home energy audits. Through these energy audits, students draw conclusions on ways to conserve energy in their everyday lives.  The activity includes PDF formats of worksheets needed, materials and methods, and a teacher’s guide to ensure that the activity runs smoothly.