INVESTIGATION

Defining the Problem

Energy experts beginning to investigate this project would begin by developing questions they have and the problem that needs to be solved. They would need to assess how much they know and what they still need to learn before they can progress further. You can use the buttons to go to the background information pages (click on the button)and learn about energy and solar energy. Use the blank data sheets to record information as you go along.

Webs, charts, tables, journals are all methods that could be used. Good research teams would set up a work plan outline

Questions to be addressed:

• What did we learn about energy and about solar energy?
• How will this information be important to the Sprawlorus Homebuilders presentation?

investigation Tools

Step 2: Energy Audit

Each member of your team will need to conduct their own energy audit for their home. Click on the energy audit and complete the exercises there to find out your weekly energy consumption.

Questions to be addressed:

• Completed energy audit and calculations.
• How much energy does your household use in a week?
• How could solar energy reduce or replace energy needs for a house?

Step 3: Solar Ovens

Your team will need to build a solar oven by clicking on the solar oven button and following the instructions there.

Questions to be addressed:

• Completed data table and graph of results.
• How can solar energy be used in residential housing?
• What are the potential problems (and possible solutions) involved in using solar energy?

Step 4: On-line Resources

Your team will need to go to the on-line resource information pages (click on the button) to find out additional information. Use the blank data sheets to record information as you go along.

Questions to be addressed:

• What did we learn about energy and about solar energy?
• How will this information be important to the Sprawlorus Homebuilders presentation?

Step 5: Presentation

Once your team has completed all the exercises listed above, you are ready to put together your presentation. Remember, your company "Sol Cache" needs to make a convincing presentation to Sprawlorus Homebuilders. Look at the rubric to make sure your presentation includes all necessary information.

Presentation should provide the following:

• Information learned from background research (location of the subdivision to produce the "best" results using solar energy).
• Information learned from energy audit (typical household energy usage).
• Information learned from solar ovens (reliable data).
• Information learned from on-line resources (Expert testimony gathered from current research and communications with other "SOL CACHE" partnerships in other cities and neighborhoods).
• question your team addressed
• data collected and hopwe
• conclusion
•  

Presentation should be:

• Oral/written
• Use graphs/charts/maps
• Technology based
• CAUTION: make sure tyeacher!