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What to expect
In this activity, you will have the opportunity to answer the age-old question: why am I always freezing in gym class, or hot in science class? By utilizing infrared laser thermometers and infrared thermal imaging cameras, you will see firsthand which areas of your school are naturally warmer or cooler.
Connections
Keeping the inside of schools, homes, businesses, and other indoor facilities at a comfortable temperature is a very energy-intensive process that requires a constant supply of energy. In fact, about 40% of all energy consumption in the U.S. is consumed in buildings! As we try to decrease our society’s carbon footprint and become more conscious of how we consume energy, families and businesses all across the world are trying to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings. Therefore, understanding how temperature behaves within buildings is critical.
Chicago Public Schools Energy Use Breakdown
Chicago Public Schools Energy Use Breakdown
Chicago Public Schools Energy Use Breakdown
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, schools can waste up to 25% of their energy use.
Materials
Infrared (IR) thermal imaging camera
Infrared (IR) laser thermometer
Blue/Red/Yellow Markers
1-3 Large Poster Boards
Instructions
Work in a small group (2-3 people) to measure temperatures in your school using infrared laser thermometers and infrared thermal imaging cameras. An infrared camera (or infrared thermometer) is a device that is specially designed to “see” in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. In comparison, traditional cameras are designed to use the visible light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared (IR) radiation - which we feel as heat - has wavelengths that are slightly longer than visible light.
You will probably be able to find hot or cold spots around your school. Take note of the temperatures around various features such as windows and doors, the effect of different wall materials, and the effect of room size. At the end of your data collection, use the data that you collected to show temperature differences visually by creating a heat map of the school (or a part of your school).
Identify 2-3 areas in your school your team would like to survey.
Collect materials
Infrared laser thermometer (1 per group)
Infrared thermal imaging camera (1 per classroom; share between groups)
Markers and paper
2. Because there is only one infrared thermal imaging camera per classroom, it will be passed around to each group. When you receive it, carefully handle the camera and take some time to explore your classroom and surrounding area.
3. When you are not using the thermal camera, use your infrared laser thermometer. Turn on the thermometer by pressing and holding the measuring button.
4. The most important icons to pay attention to for this activity are SCAN, Laser Pointer turn on, Temperature unit (C/F), and Measured Temperature Value.
5. Check if the the LCD display is powered on
Press the C/F button to switch between measuring temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit
Press the Laser Pointer icon to turn on and off the visible laser.
6. Take 5-10 temperature readings in each room, at different locations in the room. Record your data and the locations where the data was collected. One member of your group should write down the key characteristics of the room while the other members collect and document different temperature values inside the room. Take turns operating the equipment.
7. Characteristics to write down about each room:
Number of windows
Directions the windows are facing
Material of the walls, floor, and ceiling
General size of the room
What floor the room is on
Is the room on the North/South/East/West side of the building
Proximity of the room to outside (how many of the walls are exterior?)
8. After all groups have returned from collecting data, your next objective as a club is to sketch out a heat map of your school. ***Hint: To help visualize the layout of your school, look for the nearest fire emergency exit map.
9. Start by drawing the outline of the school on a large piece of paper, poster board, digitally on a tablet, or white board. Do this process separately for each floor of your school, so that by the end you will even be able to compare temperature differences floor by floor.
10. As a group figure out the hottest and coldest measurements anyone could find to determine the range of your data.
11. The coldest temperatures should be shaded in blue on your heat map, while the warmest temperatures should be shaded in red. If there is a large enough range between the extremes, measurements close to the median can be shaded in yellow or orange.
12. Add your data to the heat map by writing the temperature over the color in the measured location. What do you notice in your data that might explain possible causes of a colder or warmer space? Work with your club leader to share the heat map with your principal or the maintenance supervisor.
Think about it
Congratulations on successfully creating a heat map for your school! This heat map should allow you to visually identify temperature variations throughout the building that you can share with your school leadership. Understanding temperature differences can be helpful in identifying areas where we can improve energy efficiency in homes, businesses, and schools.
Question 1: Was there anything about the spaces and their temperatures that surprised you?
Question 2: In your school, which areas or rooms had the highest/lowest temperatures recorded?
Question 3: In your home, can you think of any areas that feel warmer or colder? If so, can you think of any reasons why some areas are warmer or colder than other areas?
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Next Time
In the next session we will continue investigating thermal energy by learning about and performing experiments to determine the specific heat capacity of various objects around your school.
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