This project was about making a an energy efficient home. We came up with many plans to help cut off as much of the energy bill that we can and still be energy efficient. We had to build a water heater and storage, a house that uses mainly solar light and not electrical light, made vertical and horizontal windmills, build a cold frame, build a light shelf, and a bonus plan. My group for this project was Nolan Joseph and Kate Mayfield.
Solar Water Heater
The first part of this project was to build a water storage heater. The purpose of this project was to be able to build a water heating storage so you wouldn't have to pay as much for warm water. We used a 7 Up bottle as our storage heater. The 7 Up was connected to some ventilation by plastic tubing. In the ventilation, water was heated up because it was traveling through copper wire, which is a great conductor of heat. The ventilation was also well ventilated, causing heat to be stored in the ventilation, and heating up the copper wire containing the water even more. The water would then flow into your house, warm and ready to use. Since we didn't have a house, the water poured into a container, which would be poured back into the water storage.
The first part of this project was to build a water storage heater. The purpose of this project was to be able to build a water heating storage so you wouldn't have to pay as much for warm water. We used a 7 Up bottle as our storage heater. The 7 Up was connected to some ventilation by plastic tubing. In the ventilation, water was heated up because it was traveling through copper wire, which is a great conductor of heat. The ventilation was also well ventilated, causing heat to be stored in the ventilation, and heating up the copper wire containing the water even more. The water would then flow into your house, warm and ready to use. Since we didn't have a house, the water poured into a container, which would be poured back into the water storage.
Solar Studio
The solar house, or solar studio, was a project that required us to make a blueprint of a house that can use the sun as energy and light as much as it can, while also using the least amount of electricity.
The solar house, or solar studio, was a project that required us to make a blueprint of a house that can use the sun as energy and light as much as it can, while also using the least amount of electricity.
Vertical and Horizontal Windmill
For this part of the project, we had to build cardboard cutouts of a working windmill. The pole of the windmill was provided by Miss Havel because it was a special pole that measured the energy gained from the windmill. After doing three trials for each windmills for different wind speeds, we found out that the class as a whole had their horizontal windmill working way better than the vertical windmill. It was also easier to build then the vertical. Based off of what I found, the horizontal windmill is a far better windmill.
For this part of the project, we had to build cardboard cutouts of a working windmill. The pole of the windmill was provided by Miss Havel because it was a special pole that measured the energy gained from the windmill. After doing three trials for each windmills for different wind speeds, we found out that the class as a whole had their horizontal windmill working way better than the vertical windmill. It was also easier to build then the vertical. Based off of what I found, the horizontal windmill is a far better windmill.
Cold Frame
For this part of the project, we had to build a scale model of a cold frame for the garden club. A cold frame is a container that allows warmth for the plants to grow in the winter time, while being able to open for plants during the summertime. Their would also be copper wire underneath to prevent wild rodents from burrowing in. The cold frame is also green and black because those colors are the best for absorbing heat, therefore making the cold frame warmer.
For this part of the project, we had to build a scale model of a cold frame for the garden club. A cold frame is a container that allows warmth for the plants to grow in the winter time, while being able to open for plants during the summertime. Their would also be copper wire underneath to prevent wild rodents from burrowing in. The cold frame is also green and black because those colors are the best for absorbing heat, therefore making the cold frame warmer.
Solar Window
The solar window is designed to reflect sunlight into the window, allowing more natural light to have access into the house. As you can see from the image, light hits the reflective surface and bounces in through the window.
The solar window is designed to reflect sunlight into the window, allowing more natural light to have access into the house. As you can see from the image, light hits the reflective surface and bounces in through the window.
Bonus Plan
For our bonus plan, we built solar selves used on the south windows to reflect the sun into the windows, allowing more natural light to enter. This also prevents light from exiting the house.
For our bonus plan, we built solar selves used on the south windows to reflect the sun into the windows, allowing more natural light to enter. This also prevents light from exiting the house.
Reflection
Working with Nolan and Kate was fun, and we got a lot of work done. I thought we were very organized because we handled who had what job very well. We also finished our work before the due date which gave us time to make the project even better. But we also argued a bit, which allowed some of our work to come out sloppy. Our presentation was also a bit rushed and we didn't reach our full potential.
Working with Nolan and Kate was fun, and we got a lot of work done. I thought we were very organized because we handled who had what job very well. We also finished our work before the due date which gave us time to make the project even better. But we also argued a bit, which allowed some of our work to come out sloppy. Our presentation was also a bit rushed and we didn't reach our full potential.