Renewable Energy Education
in the Classroom

First awareness, then action. Are our children really aware of their stake in making a difference in our environment? And if they are aware, do they know how to move from awareness to action so that they can contribute to the future of our planet? Renewable energy education in the classroom makes a huge difference and bridges this gap. It is important to teach about renewable energy concepts. Chemistry, physics, earth science and social studies classes are perfect venues.

Here are ideas and experiments that teachers can use for renewable energy education in the classroom.

Background Information....

• Definition: Renewable energy (sources) or RES get their energy from natural flows of energy (on-going natural processes), such as flowing water (hydroelectric), sunshine, wind, biological processes and geothermal heat flows.

  Most renewable forms of energy, other than tidal power and geothermal, come from the Sun. Some forms are stored solar energy such as wind power and rainfall which are considered short-term solar-energy storage; the energy in biomass is accumulated over a period of months, as in straw, or through many years as in wood.

  Capturing renewable energy by plants, animals and humans does not permanently deplete the resource. Fossil fuels, while theoretically renewable over a period of time, are exploited at rates that may deplete these resources in the near future.

• Renewable energy is cost effective compared to nuclear energy and fossil fuels, both financially and environmentally. Presently the cost per watt is about $4 to $5 and projected to be about $1 by the year 2015. Hydroelectric and Wind "Farms" have already proven to be commercially successful.

Why is renewable energy education in the classroom important?

• Fossil fuel pollutes the environment and therefore there is a hidden cost that is important to discuss with your students. It is impossible to calculate the effects and cost of green house gases that raise the temperature of the earth. Studies have also proven that fossil fuel pollution increases respiratory diseases such as asthma and even cancer.
• Nuclear power also has hidden costs. How do we dispose of spent nuclear fuel rods that leave behind lethal radioactive levels for thousands of years? Look what happened at Chernobyl and the effects on human lives and environmental conditions. I personally know a woman who has been debilitated for years with chronic asthma that she never had before. And look what happened to the vegetation. And did you know that the concrete casing of the nuclear power plants must be replaced about every 20 to 30 years? What about the cost in human and fuel energy to transport the concrete?
• Renewable energy decreases our dependence on foreign energy supplies. Look at what is happening now with the cost of gasoline. And finally the auto industry is going to be manufacturing hybrid cars.

Humans have the ingenious ability to create. And that is what our youth must experience in the classroom. That is what a teacher's job is all about... to create opportunities for kids to be creative and use their natural curiosity.

Renewable energy education in the classroom is the perfect place to begin. Let's look at some activities...

Read... See... Do...
Did you know that is the process that medical interns at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL go through before they do surgery. Scary! But it tells you that this is the best way for people to learn.

With the Picoturbine Educational Windmill Kit you can do the following

• With a simple picture wire you can show how wind power can produce heat. We think of wind as cold. But when the mechanical energy of wind is turned into electricity it easily produces heat.
• Divide your class into groups. (After all, scientists work in groups.) Each group can change one variable of an experiment. Then each group can present their project to the class and see which variable is more productive. Change size or shape of blades.
• Which one produces more heat?


• Which one produces the most electricity?
  
• Which one starts up faster with less effort? You can use a hair blow dryer to produce the "wind."

For High School Thru College


• The booklet that comes with the PicoTurbine Educational Kit includes information and formulas on how power can be extracted from various wind speeds.


• There is also information and formulas for producing electricity using alternators.
• We believe that renewable energy education in the classroom is a must for our planet's future. Check out more renewable energy science fair project ideas here...

We invite you to contribute new ideas to Renewable Energy Education In the Classroom by emailing us at supersci(at)super-science-fair-projects.com. If we use your idea on the net, in return we would like to contribute our Super Science Fair Projects Instantly downloadable ebook.