Energy Efficiency World Print1234567
Page 14: Buy Energy-Efficient Products
Objective: To help students understand that some appliances are more efficient than others and can cost less to run, and that efficient appliances can save money even if they cost more to buy.
Background/Discussion: Ask students what types of things might make one refrigerator more efficient than another. (More insulation in the walls of the refrigerator will keep the cold air in, as will a tight seal around the door.)
Activity Answers:
1. How much more does Appliance A cost to buy than Appliance B? ($60) How much less does Appliance A cost in energy per month? ($10)
2. Appliance A can make up for its higher purchase price through dollars saved on energy bills. How many months will this take? (If Appliance A saves $10 per month, it will take 6 months to equal $60.)
3. Why is A the smarter choice in the long run? (Answers will vary. Some students may recognize that at 6 months Appliance A has cost the same as B, and after that time Appliance A continues to save its owners $10 per month.)
Page 15: YOU Hold the Key to Energy Efficiency
Objective: To empower students to change their energy use behavior.
Background/Discussion: Emphasize that how people use their appliances plays a big role in how much energy they use. Explain to students that their families can buy the world’s newest, most efficient refrigerator, but if they keep the door open a lot it will waste energy just like an old, inefficient model would. Similarly, an efficient air conditioner won’t be able to run efficiently if doors and windows are left wide open when it is running.
Activity: Encourage students to record something new they have learned about using energy efficiently. This is a good time for students to review the book.
Back Cover: Home Energy Inspection
Objective: To encourage students to share important energy efficiency tips with their families.
Background/Discussion: Why should you carry out a home energy inspection? (You might find something that wastes energy in your home that could be fixed.) Ask students to take this inspection checklist home and to do the inspection with their families. Ask students to report back what they found. How did their families respond to their efforts? More advanced students may enjoy trying to figure out why each of these tips saves energy.