Guiding+Activity+(Jeff)

=media type="custom" key="14007936"= =Resources:= = =
 * Energy Savers
 * Energy Savers Consumption Guide
 * energy.gov - Energy Consumption Map
 * [|energy.gov - Energy Usage]
 * PECO Smart Ideas
 * [|Powering the Future: Striking a Balance (Discovery Education Video)]
 * bubbl.us
 * Google Docs
 * Wattage and Amperage (Discovery Education Video)
 * Infinite Power Pollution Estimator
 * EPA Pollution Estimator
 * Carbon Footprint Calculator

= = = = =Objectives:=
 * Calculate Household Energy Demands
 * Identify Patterns in energy usage
 * Translate energy needs into resource demands
 * Identify energy use reduction strategies

=Guiding Questions:=
 * How much energy do you use in your home?
 * How do you use your energy in your home?
 * How much energy do your appliances use?
 * How many resources are needed to fulfill your energy uses?
 * What changes can you make to your energy uses?

=Procedure:=

Part A: Overall Household Electric
1.View this video from Discovery Education on measuring Electricity: http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=C67AC9CA-EE69-4721-BCFA-D4EAD28D8550&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

2. Think of all of the ways that you use electricity in your home. Make a list of all of the electric items that you may use in a typical day. Consider electric used for household purposes as well as used for your individual purposes. For example: Electricity used to heat the house is a household purpose, whereas lighting your bedroom is a personal purpose. In your list, identify those items which you have control over. Use Google Docs to present your information in a spreadsheet similar to the abbreviated example below:

Use (Item Name) || Personal or Household? || Fixed or Controllable? ||  ||
 * Electric
 * Water Heater || Household || Controllable ||  ||
 * Bedroom Light || Personal || Controllable ||  ||
 * Heat Pump || Household || Fixed ||  ||
 * Xbox || Personal || Controllable ||  ||

3. Compare your list with other members of your group or class. Discuss your similarities/differences. Make any adjustments you feel necessary after this discussion.

4. Learn how to read your electric meter by visiting this document from PECO []

5. Read your total household electric usage at 2 hour intervals throughout the day. For times when you are away or unable to read it (such as while in school, or while sleeping), record when available and prorate the data for the missing times (assume a linear change throughout the unrecorded times). Record your results in a new sheet within your Google Doc Spreadsheet. Create a formula to calculate the usage during each time period. Present your results in a graphical format.

Part B: Usage in More Detail
6. To prepare for more data collection, expand your spreadsheet with the additional columns below. Fill in the Wattage column by reading the power off the information panel on your device. If you are unable to locate the information on the device or in its documentation, use this link: [] to estimate your device.

Use (Item Name) || Personal or Household? || Fixed or Controllable? || Wattage || Time of Use || Power Used || Estimated or Actual || Monetary Cost || Pollution Cost ||
 * Electric
 * Water Heater || Household || Controllable ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Bedroom Light || Personal || Controllable ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Heat Pump || Household || Fixed ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Xbox || Personal || Controllable ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||

7. When possible, use the Kill-a-Watt to measure your actual energy usage. Use the Kill-a-watt when you are using each device. For example, plug your xbox into it when you are ready to play a game, then record your data when you finish the game. When you are unable to record actual usage, estimate based on the power of the device and approximate amount of time it is used throughout the day. Be sure to annotate these entries as estimated.

Part C: Making sense of your numbers
8. Calculate the money needed for each energy usage. If you know your current utility rate, you may use that, otherwise refer to average rates available on this table from PECO: []

9. Calculate Pollutants associated with generating the electricity to meet your energy demands [] - use this link to identify the pollutants [] - use this link to show similar pollutant levels

Part D: Putting it All Together
10. Review the data highlighted in your spreadsheet. Identify patterns of usage. Be sure to give extra focus to those areas that you have some influence over. From your data, create a graphical representation of your usage patterns. Be sure this graphic illustrates the areas that you can have some influence over.

Part E: Making Changes
11. From your data, identify the items that you can influence. Your goal is to conserve energy resources. Some suggestions for savings may be found at PECO's Smart Ideas: [] In your savings strategy, highlight 3 specific ways you can reduce your personal energy impact.

12. Create a plan to reduce your energy impact. Present this plan in a PowerPoint, Prezi, or Glog. Within this presentation be sure to include:
 * the graphics that you created from your spreadsheet
 * summary of your current and proposed usage
 * your planned usage reduction (Your 3 specific strategies, along with supporting graphics or media)
 * Personal Reflection

Deliverables:

 * Submit the URL to your Google Docs spreadsheet
 * Submit the URL to your PowerPoint, Prezi, or Glog

Resources: