Conserve Energy
Think about all of the ways you’ve benefited from electricity today. Most of us use electricity from the moment we wake up to the end of the day. We often don't think about it- we just expect that it will be there. It’s an important topic, as life would be very different without it. Do you ever stop to think about all of the steps it takes to get that electricity to us?
Most of the energy we use today comes from nonrenewable sources. That means one day we could run out, or at the least have less. We also pay a lot of money for the electricity that powers our homes. Energy conservation is crucial if we want to lessen our use of nonrenewable resources and save money.
If we conserve nonrenewable resources today, we can delay the point at which resources become more expensive, more difficult to extract, or even run out. We can do a lot of different things to conserve energy at home. Please watch this short video with your family to learn about ways to save energy at your house.
Insulation Lab - Energy Conservation Activity
Insulation in our homes plays a big role in how energy efficient our homes are. Insulation is materials that we use to help keep the temperature in our homes more consistent, keeping our homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. What materials make good insulators?
In this lab, we are going to explore how three different materials work to hold heat inside a glass. We make a prediction, record the data, and conclude on the results. Let's see what happens!
Materials Needed:
pen and paper for notes
3 large drinking glasses
a large piece of cardboard
scissors
black construction paper
bubble wrap
aluminum foil
packaging tape
3 tall thermometers
hot water
stopwatch
Procedures:
Gather supplies
Use the top of one of the drinking glasses and trace three circles on the cardboard.
Cut out the circles and trim them slightly.
Fit the cardboard inside the drinking glasses to see if they fit snugly into the top of the glasses and then remove them.
Wrap each glass in one of the insulation materials. The first glass in black construction paper, the next in bubble wrap, and the last in aluminum foil
Secure the insulation material on the glasses with packaging tape.
Fill each glass with hot tap water.
Quickly fit the cardboard lid on top of the glasses and insert the thermometers.
Take the temperature of the water and record the data.
Set the timer for 5 minutes.
On the datasheet, create a prediction of what you think will happen. Which material is the best insulator?
Record data ever 5 minutes, for thirty minutes.
Write a conclusion based on the results.
Gather supplies: three drinking glasses, cardboard, scissors, aluminum foil, bubble wrap, black construction paper, packing tape, thermometers, a pen, and paper
Make a lid for the drinking glasses by cutting out cardboard to fit inside the top. First, circle the top of the glass on the cardboard with a pen.
Cut out the circle and trim a small edge, so the cardboard fits snugly inside the top of the glass.
Poke a small hole in the center of the cardboard to insert a thermometer.
Wrap one glass in black construction paper, one in bubble wrap, and the last in aluminum foil.
Using the packing tape, secure the insulation material on the glass.
Using the hottest tap water possible, fill each glass with one cup of water.
Quickly place the cardboard lids over the glasses.
Insert the thermometers inside the jars. Measure the temperature now and every five minutes for the next thirty minutes. Record your data.
Check out more ways to be energy efficient in your home at the links below.
https://bggreensource.org/what-you-can-do/energy-efficiency/