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Educator GuideSeptember 20, 2021

Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Educator Guide

TILclimate energy efficiency guide for educators
Photo Credit
Sergei Akulich via Pexels

 

This Guide for Educators was developed by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative as an extension of our TILclimate (Today I Learned: Climate) podcast, to make it easier for you to teach climate change, earth science, and energy topics in the classroom. It is an extension of the TILclimate episode "TIL about energy efficiency."

Browse all TILclimate guides for educators.

Description

Saving energy reduces current fossil fuel use, makes the transition to non-carbon energy sources easier, and often makes buildings more comfortable to be in. A qualitative energy efficiency audit, combined with an interview with a facilities manager for the school, allows students to explore options to reduce energy use in the classroom. A quantitative energy audit provides students with data to present to school decision-makers.

Download the Guide as a PDF
SWBAT:
  • Explain the connection between fossil fuel use and climate change

  • Explain why energy efficiency is important

  • Identify key behavioral and technological fixes for energy efficiency in the classroom

Skills:
  • Data collection
  • Observation
  • Communication
Standards:
  • HS-ETS1-3 Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs.

  • HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH History/Social Studies

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL Speaking & Listening

Disciplinary core ideas:
  • ESS3.C Human Impacts on Earth Systems

  • ETS1.A Defining and Delimiting an Engineering Problem

  • ETS1.B Developing Possible Solutions

     

What is included in this Educator Guide
  1. How to use TILclimate Educator Guides (Download)
     
  2. Full Educator Guide (Download)
    • Includes both Teacher and Student pages
       
  3. Teacher pages (Download)
    • Includes materials, discussion questions, background resources, and adaptation suggestions for science, social science, and ELA teachers
       
  4. Student pages (Download)
    • History of Energy Efficiency reading
    • Qualitative Classroom Energy Audit
    • Make Your Recommendations Guide
    • Quantitative School Energy Audit instructions

 

Listen to the episode

 

Browse all TILclimate guides for educators
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by TILclimate Podcast
Topics
Energy
Energy Efficiency
Student Skills
Group Project or Jigsaw
Communication
Data Analysis & Graphing
Read & Discuss
Observation
Hands-On

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