energy efficient house
In this unit, we designed an energy efficient house. This was the longest project that we did. We worked on this project for 5 weeks, and it was very fun. First we built a prototype solar powered water heater, then we built a prototype of what our house would look like and looked for the best location for the house, finally we built prototypes of a reflector and cold frame.
When we were building the solar powered water heater, we were learning about thermodynamics and light reflection. The materials we used were a shoebox, newspaper, aluminum foil, plastic covering, copper and plastic tubing, wood, a water bottle, and some thermoses. We split up and Donnie and I worked on the funnel, the water bottle and the wood platform while Shasta and Grace worked on covering the shoebox with newspaper an aluminum foil and put the tubing in to the shoebox. Our water heater worked pretty well, we got the water up 2*F which was really cool, but it wasn't the best. There was a group that had a big satellite dish with a black box in the middle which worked very efficiently, (you can kind of see it behind our water heater). We didn't do very well at holding the water in the bottle or the thermos. We had started out with 800ml and ended up at 300ml , and that was a problem. I felt we should have been more creative .
When we were building the solar powered water heater, we were learning about thermodynamics and light reflection. The materials we used were a shoebox, newspaper, aluminum foil, plastic covering, copper and plastic tubing, wood, a water bottle, and some thermoses. We split up and Donnie and I worked on the funnel, the water bottle and the wood platform while Shasta and Grace worked on covering the shoebox with newspaper an aluminum foil and put the tubing in to the shoebox. Our water heater worked pretty well, we got the water up 2*F which was really cool, but it wasn't the best. There was a group that had a big satellite dish with a black box in the middle which worked very efficiently, (you can kind of see it behind our water heater). We didn't do very well at holding the water in the bottle or the thermos. We had started out with 800ml and ended up at 300ml , and that was a problem. I felt we should have been more creative .
day lighting and design project
For this project, we were instructed to design a cardboard model of a house, that maximized the use of sunlight. Our instructions were to draw a house with the dimensions of 1000 sqft with no windows. Our team figured out how many light bulbs would be placed in the rooms and how many hours per day the bulbs were on. Next we added windows to the house and calculated how many hours the bulbs would need to be on. The house without windows used light bulbs 5.3 hrs per day (10.323 kw). The house with windows used light bulbs for 2.8 hours (3.39 kw). We found that by installing windows, our light bulb usage went down to 2.8 h (6.933 kw). That was very exciting to see how much energy could be saved by installing windows!
Our team designed our house to be a 2 story round house. It was a very unique design. We placed most the windows on one side where there was the most sunlight. We determined that there was the most sunlight on the side of the house that faced south. Installing skylights reduced the amount of light bulbs we needed, by increasing light from above.
Our team designed our house to be a 2 story round house. It was a very unique design. We placed most the windows on one side where there was the most sunlight. We determined that there was the most sunlight on the side of the house that faced south. Installing skylights reduced the amount of light bulbs we needed, by increasing light from above.
site selection
Next, we had to find the perfect location for our house on the San Marin campus. We wanted to make sure we placed our hypothetical house in a spot with the most use of sunlight and other key components; privacy, wind, shade, sun angles, average temperature, seasonal variation, landscape and elevation. Our team walked around campus an came up with 3 possible locations. We decided that the best location would be on the land by the old soccer field. It was the space that best met all of the needs of the home and best represented the key components.
cold frame and reflector
MATERIALS TESTING LAB
Before we started our cold frame and reflector project, we needed to do experiments to see what was the best insulation. To the left are many different types of insulators, and their different abilities to retain heat. From these class experiments we determined that tar paper was the best at absorbing and sustaining heat.
Our team was given three items to conduct our experiment on; tar paper, a rubber tire, and a terra cotta pot. We took the initial temp of the materials, and turned on a light bulb above them and we took the temp every 5 minutes, for 20 minutes to determining how well each item absorbed and retained the most heat. We were supposed to put these items on cardboard, but since we didn't, our experiment failed. Even though our experiment failed, we were still able to see through our data that tar paper retained the most heat.
Data from our experiment
COLD FRAME
The purpose of our cold frame is to insulate the plants in the garden so they wont freeze in the winter. Our cold frame design looked like a big scalene triangle with a door on the top for the sun to get in. We designed the cold frame with the window almost perpendicular to the ground. We did this to allow the frame to retain the most heat before dark. We made blueprints and scale models of or cold frame and presented it to judges during presentation night.
REFLECTOR
Finally we designed a reflector to be placed out by the solar house's north window. The purpose of the reflector was to reflect light in to the north window to create a more solar energy efficient house. Our team came up with a design and built a prototype made of cardboard and foil (see below) . Our design was supposed to reflect light from the south facing window , back into the house. We researched the cost of our design and presented it to judges during presentation night. Our design was cost effective and was a good solution to the north facing window that did not ever have sun reflecting into it.
The purpose of our cold frame is to insulate the plants in the garden so they wont freeze in the winter. Our cold frame design looked like a big scalene triangle with a door on the top for the sun to get in. We designed the cold frame with the window almost perpendicular to the ground. We did this to allow the frame to retain the most heat before dark. We made blueprints and scale models of or cold frame and presented it to judges during presentation night.
REFLECTOR
Finally we designed a reflector to be placed out by the solar house's north window. The purpose of the reflector was to reflect light in to the north window to create a more solar energy efficient house. Our team came up with a design and built a prototype made of cardboard and foil (see below) . Our design was supposed to reflect light from the south facing window , back into the house. We researched the cost of our design and presented it to judges during presentation night. Our design was cost effective and was a good solution to the north facing window that did not ever have sun reflecting into it.
REFLECTION
For our Solar Water Heater Project, I felt we all worked well together as a team. Our design did not work very well, it leaked water and did not heat it very well. We could've been more creative in our design, and thought about how water could retain heat more. Next project I need to take more of my own photos , and do more research so I can help the group with fresh ideas. I did my best at all times to work with the group and share my ideas.
For the Daylight and Design project, we became more creative as a group and thought a little more about the design. I had a great attitude and was easy to work with. I cut out all the cardboard walls to create our model, and enjoyed the project. I could've taken my own photos so I wouldn't have to rely on others for theirs, and I could always work on being more assertive with my ideas.
For the Site Selection and Materials Testing Lab, I was not able to keep up with writing down all the data. I could be better at using my group as a resource for reflecting on information for my own notes. I could also take more care in writing slower so that my notes are more legible. I enjoyed learning about insulation and heat retention.
For the Cold frame Project, I learned a lot, as I didn't know what a cold frame was before. I felt our group came up with a great design and liked the idea of capturing the sunlight before dark. We could've thought about little details better, like a handle for the door and a prop to keep it open during the day.
For the Reflector Project, I think we needed to think a bit more outside the box. I realized after seeing many other projects, that ours was not creative enough. I could've done more research to help out the group, but I enjoyed learning about energy efficiency and reflection of light.
My group was wonderful to work with and I enjoyed each aspect of all the projects.
For the Daylight and Design project, we became more creative as a group and thought a little more about the design. I had a great attitude and was easy to work with. I cut out all the cardboard walls to create our model, and enjoyed the project. I could've taken my own photos so I wouldn't have to rely on others for theirs, and I could always work on being more assertive with my ideas.
For the Site Selection and Materials Testing Lab, I was not able to keep up with writing down all the data. I could be better at using my group as a resource for reflecting on information for my own notes. I could also take more care in writing slower so that my notes are more legible. I enjoyed learning about insulation and heat retention.
For the Cold frame Project, I learned a lot, as I didn't know what a cold frame was before. I felt our group came up with a great design and liked the idea of capturing the sunlight before dark. We could've thought about little details better, like a handle for the door and a prop to keep it open during the day.
For the Reflector Project, I think we needed to think a bit more outside the box. I realized after seeing many other projects, that ours was not creative enough. I could've done more research to help out the group, but I enjoyed learning about energy efficiency and reflection of light.
My group was wonderful to work with and I enjoyed each aspect of all the projects.