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Lesson 9:  Draft Busters

Energy Knowledge in Action

Overview

Students identify sources of unwanted heat transfer within their school and homes and make suggestions as to how these types of transfers can be slowed. Students further investigate how buildings are heated.

Key Ideas 

• There are a number of simple ways to slow unwanted transfer(s) of heat.
• It is everyone’s responsibility to use energy efficiently or wisely. Conservation of heat is linked to our use of natural resources, which impacts our environment, economy, and national security. 

Lesson Goals

Students will: 

• identify and describe steps that can be taken to conserve energy and the reasons for doing so.
• produce media that will interest, convince, and persuade an audience to take action in conserving energy used for heating.

Lesson Resources

Download Lesson Plan (13 pags 844 KB)


Student Handouts 9.1, 9.2, 9.3: Draft Busters School and Home Draft Detection Recording Sheets,
Draft Busters Media Guidelines and Rubric (1.5 MB)

Suggested Sites for Students to Review:

• Maine Government Energy "Do It Yourself" Videos: Energy Savings at Home and "Do it Yourself" Energy Saving Guide Brochure
• Reduce Your Heating Bills this Winter: Overlooked Sources of Heat Loss in the Home
•  University of Minnesota's Dairy Extension: Tips on how to keep dairy animals from being affected by drafts.
• Home Energy Saving Tips

A sampling of energy audit resources: 

• Maine Green Schools' School Energy Self Audit Guide
• The Home Energy Saver 
• WCSH 6: Conducting a Home Energy Audit

 Online Extensions

Make a draft sock to stop door and/or window drafts.

WCSH 6 Project Heat: Tips on Weatherizing Your Home

Connection to Maine Agencies 

MEEP (Maine Energy Education Program) is a no cost resource for schools and teachers in Maine. Contact MEEP about borrowing a Home Energy Efficiency Audit Kit or a School Efficiency Audit Kit. One of the tools in the school kit is a HOBO which is used to monitor warm and cool spots around the school and detect heat loss.

      School Energy Efficiency Audit - Students use tools loaned by MEEP to see where energy is being wasted in their school. MEEP staff can visit with their new Infrared Camera to   spot air leaks and insulation problems after students have used other tools to find problem areas.

     Home Energy Audit Kit - Students use kits loaned by MEEP to find phantom loads- electronics and appliances use energy even when they appear turned off.

For schools in Aroostook County, a  Maine Public Service representative (MPS) will come to interested schools, free of charge, to guide and support the concepts developed in this lesson.