EcoKids Energy E-Pak - Edselectedselect.com/Docs/energy_e_pak.pdfActivity #3 Plan for a Wind...

1EcoKids Club E-PAK Winter 2001

E-PAK

Most people have heard about alternative energies such as solar and wind power,but have never seen anyone using them in real-life situations. Alternative

energies seem to exist only as castles in fairy tales or technologies infuturistic cartoons. So many people wonder: Do "alternative"technologies that can be used instead of fossil fuels actuallyexist today, in the year 2001?

The answer is YES.The challenge is to get the word out about alternative energies

and to create a demand for them. Have you seen a wind farm lately? Whatabout an active solar ventilation system at your local retail superstore? How

many electric cars have you spotted on the road? You see that's the problem. Not manypeople know about alternative technologies that use clean energy sources like the sun or the wind. Canada haslots of these technologies just waiting to be swept up by welcoming households, companies, and institutions. In fact, the Canadian government and many Canadian companies have built some of the latest alternative energysystems in the world.


The Challenge

What are "Alternative" or "Clean" Energy Technologies?

In Canada, the following renewable energy sourcesare available:

All renewable energies produce usable energywithout directly consuming non-renewableresources.1 However, classifying an energy sourceas "renewable" does not mean that it is withoutnegative impacts on the environment. For example,hydroelectric dams, which produce renewableenergy, cause vast wildlife habitats to be floodedand river landscapes to be altered. Wind turbinescan create flight dangers for birds.

Hydro power is currently the most used type ofrenewable energy in Canada.1 A noteworthypercentage of energy also comes from biomass, theburning of waste organic products, much of which isdone by pulp and paper factories.1 The federalgovernment realizes that we need to wean ourselvesfrom relying on fossil fuels. To avoid the impacts ofclimate change and ensure a strong, energyeconomy for the future as fossil fuels becomedepleted and more expensive to process, our wholecountry needs to begin using a more diverse mixtureof sustainable energy sources. But the governmentcan only do so much. At some point, it's up to us,average Canadians, to start buying green power andalternative technologies.

This E-PAK focuses on WIND, SOLAR andEARTH ENERGY –– three very cleanrenewable energy sources for Canada.

For more details on each of these alternativeenergy sources refer to the enclosed colourinformation flyer, "It's only natural!"compliments of Natural Resources Canada.

SOLARWIND

BIOMASS

EARTHWASTE TIDAL

HYDRO


Why do we need alternative energy technologies?

1)

2)

Alternative energy technologies help

reduce climate change caused by the

burning of fossil fuels to produce energy,

which releases greenhouse gases.

Non-renewable energy sources are finite

and costs will increase as they become

scarcer.

The extraction, production, and use of

fossil fuels release gases and particulates

that create other pollution problems, such

as acid rain, habitat loss, and smog.

We use lots of energy in Canada.

The burning of fossil fuels to create electricity is

estimated to create approximately 147 million

tonnes of greenhouse gases per year by the year

2020.2 Switching to cleaner sources of energy can

reduce greenhouse gases. Natural Resources

Canada and Environment Canada offices in Alberta

switched to renewable energy sources instead of

relying on Alberta's regular source of electricity that

is mainly coal. They reduced their CO2 emissions

by 10 000 tonnes each year.3

3)

4)

Canadians are big consumers of energy. At home, we

use energy mainly for (in order of highest energy use):

space heating, water heating, lights and appliances,

and space cooling.2,4 Canadians' home water heating

alone adds about 6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide to

the atmosphere each year.5 On the road, light trucks

are becoming the most popular vehicle driven.4 There

are more people driving more vehicles more

kilometres than ever before.4 The energy consumed by

transportation in Canada is rising and so are our

emissions of greenhouse gases. If we can switch even

a portion of the energy we use in our homes and

vehicles to cleaner, alternative energy sources, we can

reduce the amount of greenhouse gases created by our

lifestyles. That means EcoKids and individual

Canadians can take steps to reduce Canada's

greenhouse emissions significantly.

In 1997, Canada produced a whopping 520

million tonnes of CO2 emissions – and 349

million tonnes of these emissions came from

the transportation and energy industries.6 This

shows that our greenhouse gas problem

comes from the energy we use in our homes,

businesses, institutions, and vehicles. If we

continue like this, without changing a thing,

Natural Resources Canada predicts that we

could be spewing 703 to 748 million tonnes of

greenhouse gases (CO2 eq) a year, by the

year 2010.6


Why worry about Climate Change?

Get everything you need to know (and more) about climate change in the Archives area of

EcoKids Online – www.ecokids.earthday.ca. If you do not have Internet access give the

EcoKids Club office a call and we'll help you get the information you need.

If you were an EcoKids Club member in 1999-2000, refer to the autumn

and winter E-PAKs about understanding climate change and its

impact on plants and animals in Canada.

The answer to this question is what this EcoKids E-PAK is all about.

A national poll conducted in 1999 by Environics International found that 40% of the peoplesurveyed could not identify possible sources of green power.3

After tackling some of our EcoKids activities your club will be the central information sourcein your community for alternative energy technologies!

Global climate change means change in the climate ofthe Earth as a whole. The temperature on Earth isregulated by a system known as the "greenhouseeffect." Greenhouse gases trap the heat of the sun.Over the past 200 years, emissions of greenhousegases have been building up in the atmosphere wherethey stay for decades and even centuries. Byincreasing these gases we have created the potential

for the planet to warm at a rate that has never beenexperienced in human history. Ecosystems (includinghumans) need long periods of time to adapt to climatechanges. We may not have that kind of time. Theprojected pace and extent of change will createimpacts that have serious consequences. Canada willhave unique climate change impacts as will othercountries.7

Does ANYONE in Canada use alternative

energy or is it just a MYTH?

It's time we started looking for solutions to our HUGE greenhouse gas problem and HUGE demand for energy,asking for this information and technology and expecting to see it being used in our daily lives.


The SOLUTION

Look See

Ask

Launch your exploration into alternative energies with a club discussion. Learn the basics: What arealternative energies? Why do we need them? and so on.

Activity #1 Alternative EnergyTechnologies in Canada – Use theseinformation sheets to find out about renewable energytechnologies that are already in use today. You shouldbe seeing more of these kinds of technologies over thenext 20 years.

Activity #2 Get Real – Check out some real-lifeexamples of who's using renewable technologies andwhere they are using them in Canada. You may besurprised.

Activity #3 Plan for a Wind Turbine – Geta taste of what it takes to pick a location for a windturbine. Is your backyard a good site?

Activity #4 School Energy Audit – Get theresources you need to examine your school's energyuse.

Activity #5 Alternative EnergyScavenger Hunt – Put your research skills to theultimate challenge. Find information, photos, and web sites aboutalternative energies if you can!

Car Facts – Announce these facts to your schoolduring Earth Weeks and use them to educate othersabout cars as you do the Car-less Challenge (see thewinter 2001 EcoKids News for details).

EcoKids Online – In April 2001,www.ecokids.earthday.ca will launch games tochallenge your knowledge of ENERGY and EnergyConservation. Get all kinds of energy info, games,activities and projects.

EcoKids Activities

Check out some of the technologiesthat are up and running. This E-PAKwill give you some people and placesto contact.

This action starts here with the EcoKidsClub. We can get you looking into theproblems of today's energy systemsand looking for the alternativetechnologies that we know exist.

This comes after you've learned about some alternativeenergies. You've got to start asking for alternative energiesto be used in place of old, polluting systems that use coal,gasoline and other fossil fuels.


Fast Facts� Using renewables does not produce runoff, toxic

emissions or add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.8

� Fossil fuels are being depleted at a rate 100 000 times faster than they are being formed.9

� If people could trap 10% of the wind's energy, we could have enough power to meet the world's energy demand.10

� Enough sunlight falls on the Earth's surface each minute to meet the world�senergy demand for an entire year. 9

� The sun delivers 1.52 x 1018 kWh/yearto Earth. The energy needs of all thepeople on the planet add up to less than0.1% of this amount.9

� For every 1 kW of energy an earth energy heat pump uses, it provides at least 3 kWof energy to heat or cool a room.11

� Denmark plans to use wind power to supply 50% of its electricity by 2030. Tenpercent of its electricity already comes from wind.12

� Canada is one of the few nations in the world without a target for renewable energy use by a set date.13

� The Canadian Wind Energy Association believes that wind can provide up to 20% of Canada's electricity needs.14

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Alternative Energy

Technologies

in Canada

Discover what you'll be seeing more of in the next 5 to 10 years!

Subjects & Skills Development:� Language � Science & Technology✷ reading skills – independent, aloud or group

✷ reading comprehension and strategies

✷ respond to written materials, express opinions and thoughts, relate to their own knowledge

✷ build vocabulary

✷ use of conventional and nonconventional texts and media to locate information

✷ understanding different forms and styles of written material

✷ plan and carry out a research project

✷ investigation of materials that absorb light and heat (e.g. solar power & heat pumps)

✷ energy sources, transformation and technology

✷ structures and mechanisms – characteristics, forces, motion, design

ACTIVITY:

Objectives:➜ learn about real life examples of renewable energy technologies

➜ remove the "mystery" of alternative energy technologies and learn the basic ideas behind how they work

➜ learn new ways of creating/using energy that do not create greenhousegases

➜ discover what kinds of alternative technologies can be used in Canada

➜ discuss the concepts behind the technologies as a group

➜ set a precedent for technologies sought out by EcoKids in the futureYou Need:❏ EcoKids Information Sheets on pages 9 - 12.

❏ access to photocopier

❏ reading/discussion time ✔


ideas:� You may find that one of these technologies interests you more than the

others. If so, make this the target of more

discussion or projects.

� If the EcoKids in your club have different

interests, divide them into groups by their

interests and set common goals for the groups'

investigations of the different technologies.

� Recreate this content in another format such as

a set of newspaper ads and articles, brochures,

or the like.

� If your time is limited, use the sheets for

independent reading assignments combined with

similar topics you are working on in class. Use

the information sheets as TOOLS.

Instructions:There are four EcoKids

Information Sheets, one for

each alternative energy

technology - Earth Energy Heat

Pump, Solar Water Heater, Solar

Wall, and Wind Turbine. These

are designed for EcoKids to

read and work with.

These Information Sheets are

designed for EcoKids to read

and work with. They discuss

and simplify alternative energy

technologies down to their

most basic concepts without

losing the detail of how each

one actually works. The

Information Sheets aren't meant

to give you information on

every kind of solar water heater,

and the like that is out there.

They are meant to explain the

basics - that's all.

A solar water heater uses the energy from the sun to heat

up water in a tank. It has 3 basic parts: a solar panel on the

roof or on the ground, pipes from the panel to the hot

water tank, and at least one hot water storage tank with a

heat exchanger. Each solar panel is about 3 m2 (that's the

size of a rectangle 1m x 3m) and 15 cm thick. An average

four-person home needs two solar panels and a tank that

makes about 225 L of hot water

per day. The more water you

need heated, the more solar

panels and storage tanks you

need.


Solar Water Heaters

How it works:� On your roof, two solar panels collect the

sun's energy (the colour black is used to

absorb a lot of sunlight).

� Small pipes inside the solar panel are

filled with fluid (e.g. antifreeze). The

fluid picks up the heat from the sun.

� Pipes carry the fluid from the solar

panels to pipes around the water tank

inside the house. A pump attached to

the pipes makes the fluid move from

place to place.

� The heat from the fluid is transferred to

the water in the storage tank with the

help of machines.

� The fluid goes back up to the solar panels

to pick up more heat for another trip.

Where you'll see solarwater heaters:You can buy solar water heaters now.They

come in lots of sizes, so homes and big

businesses can use them, too. If its pipes have

antifreeze in them, the solar water heater can

be used all year! But certain kinds of solar

water heaters can be used only when the

temperature is higher than 3°C, because the

fluid in their pipes is water, and it freezes at

lower temperatures. In 1998, about 13 000

homes in Canada had solar hot water heaters,

most of which were for pools.15 Camp Queen

Elizabeth on Georgian Bay, Ontario, has a solar

water heater that is used when the camp is

open in the summertime.5

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An earth energy heat pump carries heat from one place to

another. In the winter, it takes heat from down in the

ground and carries the heat into a building to warm air or

water. In the summer, an earth energy heat pump takes heat

from inside a building and carries the heat down into the

ground. It works a lot like your refrigerator or air

conditioner.

How it works:� A big coil of plastic pipe is

buried under the ground. Itgoes from the building intothe ground and back. Thepipe is filled with a liquidthat is very good at carryingheat. The liquid takes heatfrom the ground and carriesit into the building.

� Another set of pipes insidethe building also has liquidinside it. This liquid picks upthe heat from the liquid inthe pipe coming fromoutside. It's like a relay racewith heat. The pipe in thebuilding carries the heat toan appliance that will warmup air or water.

� In the summer, this cycle isreversed.

The more heat/cooling youneed the longer the pipe youneed under the ground.

Earth Energy Heat Pumps

Where you'll see earthenergy heat pumps:Earth energy heat pumps are good for schools.16 The

heat pumps' pipes can be buried beneath large

schoolyards. Check out the "Get Real" activity for a list

of schools that already have heat pumps.

Heat pumps are also good

for homes, businesses and

factories. There were about

30 000 earth energy heat

pumps in Canada in 1998. 15

Natural Resources Canada is

telling builders and engineers

about earth energy heat

pumps so they'll start

designing homes, office

buildings, schools and entire

communities with them. In 1999, 250 homes in Greely,

Ontario were built with earth energy heat pumps.3

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A solar wall is made out of metal panels (aluminum

or steel), built overtop of an outdoor wall of a

building. In cold months, the solar wall is used to

make warm air for inside the building. In the

summer, it helps keep the building cool. Solarwall®

is the official name given to these walls by the

company who created them.This technology was

created in Canada and is the first solar-powered air

heating system.

Solarwalls® may be hard to spot because they

kind of look like any other wall. They can be

used on apartment buildings, industrial plants,

warehouses, commercial buildings, and homes in

Canada. The Ford Motor Company in Oakville,

Ontario has one and so does the Windsor

Housing Authority in Windsor, Ontario.17 Natural

Resources Canada has two buildings with

solarwalls: one in Prescott, Ontario and one in

Varennes, Quebec.15 The world's biggest

solarwall is at the Canadair manufacturing plant

in Montreal, Quebec.17

SOLAR WALLSHow it works:� Panels of metal are attached to an

outdoor wall of a building. An emptyspace is kept between the metalpanels and the wall.

� The metal gets heated by the sun.

� Air from outside is sucked into theempty space between the metal andthe wall through thousands of tinyholes about 1mm in diameter in themetal. The space is about 30 cm wide.

� The metal panels heat the air. Thewarm air rises up to a hole at the topof the wall.

� The warm air goes through the holeand into the building. A fan helpssend the warm air through thebuilding.

� In the summer, the wall actuallyblocks the sun's energy from warmingup the building. Warm air get'strapped in the space between thebuilding and the solarwall and isreleased through holes at the top ofthe metal panels.

� A computer controls the wholesystem.

� A solarwall does not replace abuilding's heating and coolingsystems. It reduces the need to turnon those systems, which use "dirtyenergy" sources, and it reduces thegreenhouse gases that they wouldhave created.

Where you'll see solarwalls®:

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Where you'll see wind turbines:Wind turbines are being built all over Canada. Alberta

has many power companies that are starting to use lots

of wind turbines to generate "green power." And a new

wind farm is being built in southern Alberta. The biggest

windfarm in Canada is in Quebec; 133 wind turbines,

each with a 48 m diameter rotor on a 55 m tower,

generate enough electricity for 10 000 homes.

Wind Turbines(to make electricity)

How it works:� The tower holds the turbine's

blades high up where strongwinds blow.

� The wind turns the blades.

� The blades spin the rotor.

� The rotor turns gears.

� The gears turn a generatorthat makes electricity.

A wind turbine has two or three large blades, like an

airplane's propeller, that are attached to machinery

on top of a tall tower. The blades are made out of

strong (but light) materials that won't break in the

wind.Wind turbines create electrical energy by

turning a generator. Some wind turbines can make

enough electricity for a home, a farm, or a small

business all on their own. Many wind turbines used

together form a wind farm that makes electricity

that a power company can send to its customers.

The east and west coasts of Canada have good winds for turbines, so you

should expect to see more turbines if you live in these coastal regions.The

Magdalen Islands, along the east coast for example, will have a wind farm

very soon.

EcoKids in Tricities, British Columbia, will soon be close to the world's biggest

wind farm in the US. If you live in the far north of Canada where many communities use diesel gas generators

to make electricity, you should expect to see wind turbines being combined with solar power to make

electricity. Aurora College in Inuvik, for example, currently uses wind and solar power.1

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This project was started by the International Solar Energy Societyto teach sustainability and to design schools to be environmentallearning tools. You can download the "Solar Schools - BrighterFuture" booklet that describes a number of schools that are usingsolar energy systems (photos are included) and shares artworkand essays from the students at the schools.18

Go to www.ises.org and click on "ISES Scientific and Technical Projects."Write your own distinctive essays, poetry and artwork. Send your workto the EcoKids Club office to have it posted in the Gallery on EcoKidsOnline.

In the northern desert of New Mexico, the Benedictinemonastery Christ in the Desert is completely solar-powered.The monks are even using solar power to getonline. They've created an amazing community that usessolar power for lights, heat, appliances, construction tools,computers, and purifying water smack dab in the middle ofthe desert!19

For articles about the monastery, go tohttp://wire0.ises.org/wire/wire.nsf or www.siemens.comand use the search tools at either site to do a keywordsearch for words such as "monastery." The monks' website features photos of the monastery, daily activity logs,and other information related to their religious study (goto www.christdesert.org and click on "Our Life").

Try creating some of your own solar-powered devices bypicking up instructions on www.picoturbine.com or otherrenewable energy sites (check EcoKids Online for moresites with project instructions, starting in April 2001 -www.ecokids.earthday.ca).


EcoKids Instructions:Use the REAL-LIFE examples of people using alternative energy technologies below asstarting points for discussions and further projects of your own design. Select examplesthat interest you, and compare them to your own school or community.

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Solar Schools

Solar Powered Monastery


You don't have to feed or water 'em! And they're popping up all overCanada – wind farms, that is. Lots of companies are using wind turbinesto create electricity that can be used by homes and businesses throughtheir regular electricity grid. Canadian companies/utilities include WindPower Inc.,Vision Quest Windelectric Inc., Tacke Windpower, TransAlta,AXOR and Toronto Hydro.

Check out the wind power biz at: windpower.ca, greenenergy.com,www.transalta.com, torontohydro.com. and, other web sites. Is windpower available in your hometown? Find out who owns wind turbinesand/or sells wind power in your area. Contact local power companies.Invite a guest speaker from one of the companies to speak to your clubabout "green power." If you're in Prince Edward Island book a school tripto the Atlantic Wind Test Site (see the resource section on pg. 40 forbooking info). Check out the live web cam showing you wind turbines inMiddelgrunden, Denmark, at www.windpower.dk.

What's 242 feet tall with blades that are 77 feet long? Each of the450 wind turbines being built in the United States near theborders of Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. Thiswind farm, known as the "Stateline Project," will makeenough energy to power 70 000 homes and should beoperational by the end of 2001.20,21,22

Go to www.statelinewind.com for more information on the"Stateline Project" and photos of the massive wind turbines.Make your own model-sized, wind turbine using instructions onwww.picoturbine.com.Or check EcoKids Online, starting in April 2001(www.ecokids.earthday.ca) for an even bigger list of sites with projects.

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World's Largest

Wind Energy Farm

Wind Farms in Your

Neighbourhood?


Father Michael McGivney Secondary School in Markham, Ontario has a ground-source heatpump system that'll WOW ya! The pipes in their system use water to carry heat from theground to the school's air system.The school also uses the earth energy system to heattheir water. There are 360 "U-shaped" tubes lined up in a row that go 200 feet into theground outside the school.This is where the water (inside the tubes) picks up and dropsoff heat (depending on the season). The whole system cost about $2.6 million and savesabout $9 400 a year in energy.24

Other schools in Canada with earth energy systems:16

• Bob McMath Secondary School in Richmond, BC• Swan Lake First Nations School in Brandon, MB• St. Paul Catholic High School in Trenton, ON• Plainville Public School in Northumberland, ON• Go to www.earthenergy.ca for more information.

Find out what it takes to keep students and staff at yourschool warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Whatkind of heating system does your school have? Whatabout the high school you'll be attending in a few years?How energy-efficient are these heating systems? Arethere plans to improve energy efficiency in the schools orinstall a new heating system?

Calgary will soon have its C-Train powered by the wind. The electricity thatpowers the C-Train will come from wind power starting in September 2001!For the latest news go to www.greenenergy.com/RideTheWind.pdf. Switchingto wind power will stop 21 000 tonnes of CO2 from going into the

air each year. Calgary will be the first city in North America to run a transit system on clean power.23

If your city has a public transit system, find out what kind of power/fuel it uses for trains, buses,and other vehicles. Does the transit company plan to do anything to reduce their greenhouse gases and save money on energy?

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Calgary's Public Transit

Powered by the Wind

A High School that's

Warmed by the Earth


HYBRID CARS are cars that can be powered by a combinationof stored electricity and/or gas.Although, they're not on the roadmuch yet, they will be soon. Contact the various manufacturersor retailers of hybrid "alternative" cars (e.g.Toyota, Honda) torequest an information package on the hottest release to-date.Perhaps these will be the cars that EcoKids will be driving theirfamilies in. Divide your club into groups. Invite each group toinvestigate a different car company and present their findings tothe rest of the club. Have the groups discuss which car theythink is the best.

There are more REAL examples of renewabletechnologies throughout this E-PAK.Can you find them all?

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Hybrid Cars

EcoKids Club E-PAK Winter 2001 19

Planning for a Wind Turbine

Canada could be making a lot more wind power

than we are today. We have the wind and the

technology. The power in wind can be captured by

anyone with a wind turbine. Wind power can

supply electricity to electric companies who sell

electricity to their customers. And people can have

their own wind turbines to make electricity for their

home or businesses. Some people will make

enough electricity from their turbine to be able to

sell extra power to electric companies who will resell

it to their customers. Rules about wind power are

different in each province and territory.

Supervisor InformationThis activity is recommended for grades 5, 6 & 7.

Supervisors working with younger grades can use the wind turbine diagram tostimulate a simpler discussion on wind power.

This activity is based on information found in the Natural Resources Canadabooklet, "Stand-Alone Wind Energy Systems. A Buyer's Guide."

Does your schoolyard have what ittakes to be a good location for awind turbine? Find out what makesa good site for wind power andinvestigate your local wind patternsand the winds across Canada.


Skills Development & Learning Outcomes:� Science & Technology � Geography� Math

✷ energy sources and transformation

✷ energy technologies and their design

✷ understanding forces and movement and theirrelationship to energy

✷ energy conservation and wise use of resources

✷ properties of air

✷ environmental protection

✷ structures and mechanisms

✷ weather and landscapes

✷ organization of ideas and work in logical sequence

✷ build vocabulary

✷ combine skills and knowledge from various subjects

✷ collection of data from the community

✷ draw conclusions

✷ plan and carry out a research project (ask questions, clarify, analyze, report writing)

✷ independent or group work

✷ math skills appropriate for grade level

Objectives: ➜ learn how wind is used to make energy

➜ learn how a wind turbine works

➜ learn what it takes to set up a wind turbine

➜ learn about the energy needs of a school

➜ learn about wind speeds in Canada

➜ learn about the relationship between thelandscape and wind

➜ learn about Canada's ability to create wind power


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Alternative EnergyScavenger Hunt

Supervisor Information:

Objectives:➜ become familiar with many different types

of alternative energy technologies

➜ build research and investigation skills

Subjects & Skills Development:� Language � Science & Technology✷ reading skills

✷ reading comprehension and strategies

✷ build vocabulary✷ use of conventional and non-conventional texts and media to

locate information (e.g. library, Internet, telephone calls)

✷ understanding different forms and styles of written material

✷ independent or group work

✷ energy sources and technology

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EcoKids InstructionsGet set for a CHALLENGE and some FUN all rolled into oneeducational activity! Using the EcoKids winter E-PAK, your locallibrary, the Internet, and other available resources, launch ascavenger hunt to find as many of the "items" below as you can.Break into teams or work on your own. Use the list of ScavengerWeb Resources to help with your hunt.

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Items or Facts to collect:1. Picture of a wind turbine

2. Picture of a windmill

3. When and where the first windmill wasbuilt

4. The name of the president of the SolarEnergy Society of Canada

5. An electricity bill

6. An advertisement for any kind ofalternative energy e.g. solar water heater

7. An energy conservation activity booklet oractivity about lighting

8. The name, date and author of a book onsolar energy

9. The name of two parts of a wind turbine

10. The date and time you telephonedsomeone outside of your club or schoolabout alternative energy technologies

11. A solar calculator

12. Proof of a solar heater, photovoltaic cellsor other alternative energy technology insomeone's home

13. Proof of a local business using analternative energy source (e.g., for heat orpower)

14. A picture or drawing of something in yourcommunity that uses alternative energysources

15. Five words that rhyme with solar

16. A map of the wind patterns of Canadawith your town marked on it with an 'X"

17. A photo or drawing of a solar home

18. A photo or drawing of a farm using windturbines

19. The name of the alternative energy thatmost interests you

20. The name of a town or community inCanada that is using wind, tidal or solarpower right now

21. The location of the solar poweredmonastery that is creating a web site for

the Vatican

22. The number of turbines the world'slargest wind farm have

23. A picture (printout) of a wind turbineinstalled on a schoolyard

24. The name of the Internet informationservice for the Center for RenewableEnergy and Sustainable Technology (hint:It has to do with the sun)

25. The name of a business with a Solarwall™

26. The name of the federal governmentdepartment that deals with renewableenergy and the url of one of theirwebsites

27. A printout of anything from the EcoKidsOnline site that has something to do withenergy. (The energy theme will begin inApril.)

28. A model of a wind turbine

29. Information (e.g. booklet, fact sheet) onsolar cars or hybrid cars

30. A picture of a solar panel

Scavenger Web Resources

www.canwea.cawww.windpower.ca, www.statelinewind.com, www.greenenergy.com, www.awea.org, www.windpower.dk, www.trec.on.cawww.solarenergysociety.cawww.powerposs.apsc.com/classroomhttp://sln.fi.edu/tfi/units/energywww.picoturbine.comwww.eren.doe.gov/kidshttp://wire0.ises.org/wirehttp://wire0.ises.org/wire/wire.nsfhttp://www.awea.org/pubs/spla_vi.htmlhttp://solstice.crest.org/index.shtmlwww.solarwall.comwww.web.net/~cfre/ or www.censolar.eswww.ttcorp.com/upvg/schools


Tools: We've found FREE helpful ELEMENTARY level resources for your EcoKids club energy

investigations. Although many of the resources come from outside Canada, they are easy to

use and require little if any adaptation. If you are unable to obtain some of theresources from the web please call the EcoKids Club office and we can help you getwhat you need.

APS Power Posse Classroom Activities –

Made available by APS (a power company in

Arizona) this material has been researched and

designed by science teachers in Arizona. You

can pick the grade level and choose from a

selection of energy-related activities. The

activities are brief and come with pre-designed

hand-outs.

Go to http://powerposse.apsc.com/classroom.

Home Lighting Energy Saver Detective – produced by the

United States Office of Building Technology, State and Community

programs. This is a group of activities within a Teachers' Guide with

hand-outs and instructions.

Go to www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/k-12activities.

The HEAT Challenge – The

Society, Environment & Energy

Development Studies

Foundation (SEEDS) has a few

energy audit-like resources

online such as the HEAT

Challenge that are designed for

individual students' use.

Watt's Up? – produced by Co-NECT.

This is a US-based school energy audit

available for Grades 3-5 and Grades 6-8.

Go to www.co-nect.org/Schools/Energy/

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Car-less ChallengeCar factsUse these facts for your morning announcements during Earth Weeks or at any timeof the year. See the winter 2001 edition of EcoKids News for details.

1 Environment Canada. (January 2001) "Transportation Challenge." www.ec.gc.ca/ecoaction/transp2 Environment Canada. (April 1999) "Canada's Greenhouse Gas Trends and Removals."3 Peckham, Alexander. (1991) Global Warming. Toronto: Gloucester Press.4 Natural Resources Defense Council, "The dirt on today's cars." January 2001, www.nrdc.org.5 Climate Change Calculator, "How does my vehicle's fuel type affect my emissions?", October 2000, www.climcalc.net

1. The average car in Canada spews over 4 tonnes of air pollutants a year.1

2. The average car in Canada makes 0.25 kg of CO2 for every kilometre it is driven.2

3. There are more than 9 million cars and over 5 million light trucks in Canada - thatequals about 15 million cars and trucks!1

4. For every two people in Canada there is one car or light truck.1

In China there are1 370 people to every car.3

5. In one year, the average car in Canada is driven about 19 800 km.1

6. Trips of less than 3 km can be done walking or riding a bike. Most ofus use one car to make 2 000 of these trips each year! That equals 1 500 kg of CO2.

7. If we look at all the ways we travel in Canada (e.g. bus, train, airplane) and thegreenhouse gases we create, cars and light trucks cause more than 91% of thosegreenhouse gases.1

8. People spend about $7 600 to keep a car each year.1

9. There are 600 million automobiles being used around the world. Over thenext 25 years, there could be as many as 1200 million automobiles.4

10. Although cars are getting better pollution control technologies, more and morepeople are buying SUVs and minivans that make more pollution than the averagecar does. That means more pollution!

11. The best car fuels based on the amount of greenhouse gas emissionsthey make compared to a litre of gasoline are (from lowest to highest):natural gas, propane, ethanol blend gasoline, diesel blend gasoline,regular gasoline.5

* A "light truck" is a truck weighing less than 3900 kg.

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Who to Contact People to talk to &Resources to help you

Telephone, Letters or E-mailEcoKids Clubtel. 1-888-283-2784 ext. 104 or (416) 599-1991fax. 1-888-232-9332 or (416) 599-3100500 - 296 Richmond St. W., Toronto ON M5V [email protected]

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)Renewable and Electrical Energy Division (REED)Energy Resources Branch580 Booth St. 17th Fl., Ottawa ON K1A 0E4 fax. (613) 995-0087websites:www.nrcan.gc.ca/es/erb/reedwww.nrcan.gc.ca/esTo receive copies of the "Renewable Energy. It's onlynatural!" poster, or an "Energy and the EnvironmentCalendar" for 2001 contact NRCan's toll free line at 1-800-387-2000.

Natural Resources CanadaCANMET Energy Technology Centre1 Haanel Dr., Nepean ON K1A 1M1tel. (613) 996-6220 fax. (613) 947-1016www.nrcan.gc.ca/es/etbLOOK for NRCan's new website for the CanadianRenewable Energy Network, called CanREN coming in thenear future. It will have examples of renewable energytechnologies being used across Canada.

Solar Energy Society of Canada Inc. (SESCI)(in the process changing contact information, use e-mail tocontact)www.solarenergysociety.ca [email protected] are hoping to add solar activities to their web site this year.

Canadian Solar Industries Association2415 Holly Lane, Ste. 250, Ottawa ON K1V 7P2tel. (613) 736-9077 fax. (613) 736-8938www.cansia.ca [email protected]

Thermo-Dynamics Ltd. (make solar water heaters)44 Borden Ave., Dartmouth NS B3B 1C8tel. (902) 468-1001 fax. (902) 468-1002www.thermo-dynamics.com [email protected]

Conserval Engineering Inc.200 Wildcat Rd., Toronto ON M3J 2N5tel. (416) 661-7057 fax. (416) 661-7146www.solarwall.com [email protected]

Canadian Wind Energy Association100 3553 - 31 St. NW, Calgary AB T2L 2K7tel. 1-800-9-CANWEA (403) 289-7713 fax. (403) 282-1238www.canwea.ca [email protected] you are doing ANYTHING on WIND call this number first. They can direct you to the right people and resources.

Earth Energy Society of Canada1050 - 130 Slater St., Ottawa ON K1P 6E2tel. (613) 230-2332 fax. (613) 822-4987www.earthenergy.org

International Ground Source Heat PumpAssociation490 Cordell South, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078-8018 Toll-free: 1-800-626-4747 tel. (405) 744-5175 fax: (405) 744-5283www.igshpa.okstate.edu

Pembina Institute for Appropriate DevelopmentPO Box 7558, Drayton Valley AB T7A 1S7 1-800-884-3515 tel. 1-800-542-6272 Fax. (780) 542-6464 www.piad.ab.ca [email protected] Pembina has a variety of resources:(1) The Canadian Environmental Education Catalgue. 2nd

edition. Lists hundreds of resources in Canada that covermore than 40 issues/topics, some listings may beoutdated as the catalogue was published in 1995.

(2) Climate Change Awareness and Action MultimediaEducation Kit. Includes 14 student activities, 13illustrated fact sheets, newspaper articles, 6 full-pageposters, 8 transparencies, 48 minute documentary, andmore. Charge applies.

(3) Renewable Energy Education Kit. Should be availablefall 2001. May be free of charge call to confirm.

(continued...)


Atlantic Wind Test SiteNorth Cape PE C0B 2B0tel. (902) 882-2746 fax. (902) [email protected] book educational tours ask for Mr. Carl Brothers. They do not have many staff to answer inquiries, please limit calls.

Destination Conservation Ltd.10511 Saskatchewan Dr., Edmonton AB T6E 4S1tel. (780) 433-8711 fax. (780) 439-5081www.dc.ab.ca [email protected] organization works with school boards/districts to help them conserve energy and save money throughout all of the schools within their jurisdiction.

Contacts and products listed in this publication does notnecessarily constitute an endorsement. Earth Day Canadadoes not make any warranty in respect of this publication orassume any liability arising out of this publication.

The Internet

www.ecokids.earthday.ca

EcoKids Online is launching its ENERGY theme inApril (2001). It will have all the best online linksto other great sites with solar and wind projects,more info on alternative "clean" energies and fossilfuels - with stuff for kids and teachers. Best of allwe'll have more NEW GAMES to test yourknowledge of energy and energy conservation, and how to avoid climate change and creatingnasty greenhouse gases.

Don't miss it!

This E-PAK is part of the EcoKids® Club, a program of Earth Day Canada.

Editor-in-Chief: Karen HortopanCopy Editor: Keltie ThomasContent Review: Sharon Moir, Debbie Saunders, C. Snoek, Ph.D,

Dr. V. Nikiforov., M. ChappellDesign and Illustration: Sean Murphy

©Copyright 2001 Earth Day Canada 1991 Inc. All rights reserved. EcoKids® is a registered trademark ofEarth Day Canada 1991 Inc.

Duplication of these booklets, or any part of, is permitted for EcoKids Club members direct use only. Ifyou would like more copies or permission to copy any sections of the booklets please contact:

EcoKids Program Director, Earth Day Canada500 - 296 Richmond St. W, Toronto ON M5V 1X2tel. (416) 599-1991 Ext. 104 fax. [email protected]

A very big thank you to all of the experts who donated to their time to review portions of this booklet and/oranswered many research questions:

Mary Hardman, Program Coordinator, Canadian Wind Energy AssociationMr. C. Snoek, Scientic Advisor, Community Energy Systems Group, CANMET, Natural Resources CanadaMr. Marcus Chappell, President, MSC EnterprisesMr. Denis Zborowski, Senior Officer Renewable Energy Market Development,Renewable Energy and Electrical Division, Natural Resources CanadaMr. Paul Liddy, Suncurrent Industries Inc.Dr. Vladimir Nikiforov, Conserval Engineering Inc.Mr. Terry White, Solar Energy Society of Canada Inc.Mr. Bill Eggertson, Canadian Solar Industries Association

All facts and statistics presented are accurate and up-to-date as per citations noted as of March 20, 2001.

Production


References

1. Canada. Natural Resources Canada. (Oct. 1996). Renewable Energy Strategy. Creating a New Momentum.

2. Canada. Environment Canada. (April 1997). Responding to Global Climate Change. National Sectoral Issues, VolumeVII of the Canada Country Study: Climate Impacts and Adaptations.

3. Canada. Natural Resources Canada. (Oct. 1996). Renewable Energy Deployment Initative (REDI) Year-End Report1999-2000.

4. Canada. Natural Resources Canada. (Jan. 2000). Energy Efficiency Trends in Canada. An Update. 1990-1997. Office ofEnergy Efficiency.

5. Canada. Natural Resources Canada. (2000). Solar Water Heating Systems. A Buyer’s Guide.

6. Canada. Environment Canada. (April 1999). Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory. 1997 Emissions and Removals withTrends. F. Neitzert, K. Olsen and P.Collas. Greenhouse Gas Division, Pollution Data Branch, Air Pollution PreventionDirectorate.

7. Canada. Environment Canada. “The Science of Climate Change.” 4 Sept. 2000.<http://www.ec.gc.ca/climate/fact/science.html>.

8. Amercian Solar Energy Society. “An Introduction to Solar Energy Topics. Externalities and the Environment.” SolarGuideFact Base. 19 Jan. 2001. <http://www.ases.org/solarguide>.

9. American Solar Energy Society. “An Introduction to Solar Energy Topics. History, Descriptions and Terms.” SolarGuideFact Base. 19 Jan. 2001. <http://www.ases.org/solarguide>.

10. World Book Encyclopedia Milllenium 2000. “Wind.” v. 21pg 331-334. Chicago: World Book Inc. 2000.

11. Canada. Natural Resources Canada. (2000). Earth Energy, Ground-Source/Geothermal Heat Pumps, GeoExchange.

12. American Wind Energy Association. “1999 Is Best Year Ever for Global Wind Energy Industry”. 22 Jan. 2001.<http://www.awea.org/news>.

13. Canadian Wind Energy Association. “Quick Facts.” 19 Dec. 2000. <http://www.canwea.ca/quickfacts.htm>.

14. Eggertson, Bill. Canadian Solar Industries Association. Personal communication Feb. 2001.

15. Canada. Natural Resources Canada. (May 1998). Renewable Energy Deployment Initiative (REDI) EncouragingHeating and Cooling Using Renewable Sources.

16. Earth Energy Society of Canada. “Canadian Schools and Earth Energy.” 16 Jan. 2001.<http://www.earthenergy.org/schools.htm>.

17. Conserval Engineering. “Solarwall®.” 23 Jan. 2001. <http://www.solarwall.com>.

18. International Solar Energy Society. “Solar Schools - Brighter Future.” 19 Jan. 2001. <http://www.ises.org>.

19. International Solar Energy Society. “Let There Be Light: Solar Powered Monastery.” WIRE. 19 Jan. 2001.<http://www.ises.org>.


20. International Solar Energy Society. “World’s largest wind plant to energize the West.” WIRE. 10 Jan. 2001.<http://www.ises.org>.

21. United States of America. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Green Power. “300-MW Wind Plant forPacific Northwest.” 19 Jan. 2001. <http://www.eren.doe.gov/greenpower/new.shtml>.22. United States of America. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Green Power. “Wind farm to be builtnear Tri-Cities will be largest ever.” 12 Jan. 2001. <http://www.eren.doe.gov/greenpower/new.shtml>.

23. Vision Quest Windelectric Inc. (February 12, 2001). “Ride the Wind!™” 12 Feb. 2001.<http://www.greenenergy.com/RideTheWind.pdf>.

24. Canada. Natural Resources Canada. (2000). “Case Study. Father Michael McGivney Seconday School.”<http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/es/erb/reed/public_e.htm>.

25. Supruniuk, David. Personal communication Feb. 2001.

26. Canada. Environment Canada. Atmospheric Research. Wind Energy Resource Maps for Canada., John L. Walmsleyand Robert J. Morris. Report ARD-92-003-E.

Bibliography

Alliance to Save Energy. “A Home Energy Audit.” 17 Jan. 2001. <http://www.ase.org/educators/lessons/audit.htm>.

American Wind Energy Association. “Facts about wind energy & birds.” 22 Jan. 2001. <http://www.awea.org>.

APS Power Posse. “Classroom Activities.” 17 Jan. 2001. <http://powerposse.apsc.com/classroom>.

Atlantic Wind Test Site. (July 1999). “Atlantic Wind Test Site.” 22 Jan. 2001.<http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/wind_test_site.pdf>.

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CADDET Energy Efficiency. International Energy Agency. (March 1999). “World’s largest solar wall at Canadair facility.”

Canada. Environment Canada. “Canada’s Transportation Challenge.” 6 Dec. 2000.<http://www.ec.gc.ca/ecoaction/transp/en/intro_e.htm>.

Canada. Natural Resources Canada. (2000). An Introduction to Solar Water Heating Systems.

Canada. Natural Resources Canada. (2000). CANMET Energy Technology Centre. “Community Energy Systems.”

Canada. Natural Resources Canada. (2000). Ground Source Heat Pumps. Heating and Cooling Your Home from theGround Up.

Canada. Natural Resources Canada. (2000). Heating Your Building with Solar Energy - Efficient, Simple and CostEffective.


Canada. Natural Resources Canada. (2000). Stand-Alone Wind Energy Systems. A Buyer’s Guide.

Canada. Natural Resources Canada. “Quick Facts on Renewable Energy. It’s only natural!” M27-01-1385E.

Canadian Climate Research Network. (Aug. 2000). “Background and Priorities.” 5 Feb. 2001.<http://www.cics.uvic.ca/climate/crn>.

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Chappell, Marcus, President. MSC Enterprises. Personal communication March 25, 2001.

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