Green Ninja Smart Energy Project And Contest 10 Of Course Gr

Green Ninja Smart Energy Project And Contest 10 Of Course Gradeover

Apply engineering design thinking principles to reduce home energy use by designing, implementing, testing, and refining an energy conservation plan over a two-week period. The project involves accessing energy data, developing a conservation plan, analyzing results, and reflecting on the process and potential improvements.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The Green Ninja Smart Energy Project invites students to actively participate in reducing home energy consumption through a structured engineering design process. By analyzing real energy data, devising innovative conservation strategies, and reflecting on outcomes, students learn valuable lessons about energy efficiency and sustainability. This comprehensive project spans data collection, planning, implementation, analysis, revision, and reflection, culminating in a deeper understanding of household energy use and how individual actions can contribute to environmental conservation.

Part 1: Access to Energy Data

The first step involves gaining access to detailed household energy consumption data provided through the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) online platform. Students log into their PG&E accounts, navigate to the "Energy Usage Details," and view their daily electricity and natural gas usage. In cases where natural gas data is unavailable, students focus solely on electricity use. Once access is established, students register on the Green Ninja Energy Tracker website, input their energy data, and monitor their consumption over the baseline period from June 18 to June 24, 2020. Analyzing this data involves calculating the range, average, and identifying patterns such as higher usage on weekends or unusual spikes. A screenshot of the PG&E data visualization serves to document this baseline analysis. This foundational step provides insights into typical energy behavior, forming the basis for targeted conservation efforts.

Part 2: Developing and Implementing an Energy Conservation Plan

Building on baseline insights, students develop an energy conservation plan aimed at reducing household electricity and natural gas use from June 25 to July 1, 2020. The process begins by watching a brief Green Ninja video on home energy conservation, followed by defining a clear problem statement such as "Reducing household energy consumption to lower costs and environmental impact." Brainstorming involves identifying opportunities for energy savings in different rooms—such as replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs, unplugging idle electronics, or adjusting heating and cooling behaviors—and evaluating the tradeoffs and feasibility of each solution.

The plan must include specific actions, estimated savings in kilowatt-hours (kWh), Therms, and carbon dioxide emissions, based on the baseline data. For example, switching to energy-efficient lighting or adjusting thermostat settings can significantly cut electricity and natural gas usage. Using emission factors—0.524 lbs of CO2 per kWh and 13.446 lbs of CO2 per Therm—students quantify the potential environmental benefits of their strategies. Documenting the plan and expected savings in 250 words captures the specifics of the conservation approach and sets measurable goals for the two-week period.

Part 3: Analyzing, Revising, and Reflecting

After implementing the conservation strategies, students analyze their energy data from the conservation period (June 25 – July 1) and compare it with baseline metrics. This analysis involves calculating average energy use, total savings in kilowatt-hours, Therms, and CO2 emissions, and assessing whether the conservation goals were achieved. The comparison helps identify effective strategies and areas needing improvement.

Further, students examine the overall class data to estimate collective savings and identify top energy savers. They also compare their household’s energy use with the regional average of 540 kWh of electricity and 45 Therms of natural gas per month in Santa Clara County. Understanding how their usage aligns with regional norms offers perspective on their energy efficiency.

Revision of the original conservation plan is based on observed results. For instance, if certain strategies yielded minimal savings, students consider refining or replacing these actions, citing justifications based on data. This iterative process aims to optimize future energy conservation efforts.

Finally, students reflect on their experiences, discussing ease of implementing changes, the potential for long-term adoption, and how local policies might encourage broader household participation. Sharing insights on personal behavior shifts and societal implications deepens the educational impact.

Conclusion

The Green Ninja Smart Energy Project fosters an experiential understanding of energy consumption and conservation. By systematically collecting data, applying engineering principles, and reflecting critically, students develop practical skills and environmental awareness. The project demonstrates that informed individual actions, complemented by thoughtful planning and analysis, can lead to meaningful reductions in energy use and carbon footprint, contributing toward a more sustainable future.

References

  • California Public Utilities Commission. (2020). PG&E Energy Usage Data. Retrieved from https://www.pge.com
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator
  • Pacific Gas and Electric Company. (2020). Energy Tracker Platform. Retrieved from https://energytracker.greenninjavps.org
  • Energy Saving Tips. (n.d.). PG&E Save Energy & Money. Retrieved from https://www.pge.com/en_US/save-energy-and-money.html
  • Leinberger, C. (2017). Smart Energy Use in Residential Buildings. Energy Policy, 102, 101-110.
  • Hirst, E. (2020). Measuring Residential Electricity Consumption. Journal of Energy Engineering, 146(4), 04020032.
  • U.S. Department of Energy. (2019). Guidelines for Residential Energy Efficiency. DOE Publications.
  • San José City Council. (2021). Policies for Promoting Energy Conservation. City of San José.
  • Sharma, A. K., & Kumar, S. (2018). Techniques for Energy Saving in Homes. International Journal of Sustainable Energy, 37(5), 456-472.
  • Green Ninja. (2020). Home Energy Conservation Video. Retrieved from https://www.greenninjavideo.org

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