The average American produces around 1,600 pounds of garbage every year, and it is estimated that 50 percent of that waste is material that could be composted (Clean Air Council, 2012). Instead, most is sent to landfills and incinerators. In technology and engineering education, a great deal of time is spent in talking, teaching, and thinking…

Using two cardboard boxes, a light bulb socket, light bulbs of varying wattage, a thermometer, and some insulation, students can learn some interesting lessons about how heat loss occurs in homes. This article describes practical experiments that work well on units related to energy, sustainable energy, renewables, engineering, and construction.…

Embracing the notion of going green, an affluent school district in Pennsylvania spent $83 million as part of the high school's renovation and expansion project. The three-level addition is now equipped with self-dimming lights, energy-efficient windows, a rooftop solar water heater, and a geothermal cooling and heating system. As a bonus for…

School physics rarely stands still for long. Environmental physics is now an option in some post-16 courses in England. The physics of environments, and in particular the built environment, offers a recognizable context in which to see the applications of physics at work. This article considers how a model doll's house might be used to help…

Involving two or more academic subjects, interdisciplinary studies aim to blend together broad perspectives, knowledge, skills, and epistemology in an educational setting. By focusing on topics or questions too broad for a single discipline to cover, these studies strive to draw connections between seemingly different fields. Cases on…

The activities included in the Curriculum for Environmental Education of the Disabled (CEED) are based on current best-practices in the area of pollution prevention and address the following major areas: recycling, water and energy efficiency, transportation, citizenship, and outdoor appreciation. The activities emphasize the development of…

This book provides the basic knowledge and guides for the construction and operation of a small-scale, family-size biogas unit. The first chapter discusses the benefits of biogas production and the Chinese biogas model. The second chapter shows the components, design formulas, and sizing units of the biogas model. Chapter 3 describes actual…

This survey was undertaken by the Peace Corps to assist Senegal in identifying energy needs in rural areas and in implementing alternative, renewable energy projects at the community level. This book describes the sample, energy use, energy needs, and resources. Fifteen villages of fewer than 5,000 people were selected for data collection. The…

As Californians put on another sweater, light candles, and open their electricity bills with shaking hands, the rest of the nation wonders who or what caused the problem and whether they will be next. Mixing with accusations about deregulation, there are also insistent voices blaming misguided and heavy-handed government for dimming the lights in…

Provides a partial listing of documents from the ERIC database dealing with energy. Includes information on natural resources, curriculum planning, and energy development. Suggests available educational materials including curriculum plans from Oregon, Maine, and federal agencies. (DK)

This book describes one approach to building and operating biogas systems. The biogas systems include raw material preparation, digesters, separate gas storage tanks, use of the gas to run engines, and the use of the sludge as fertilizer. Chapters included are: (1) "Introduction"; (2) "Biogas Systems are Small Factories"; (3)…

Lists instructional resources for use by social studies teachers in teaching about energy. Includes curriculum materials, videotapes, organizations, government agencies, and industry trade associations that can provide information. Suggests items on energy conservation, global warming, ecology, nuclear power, fossil fuels, oil spills, and…

Lists 24 frequently asked questions concerning hydrogen as a fuel with several responses given to each question. Emphasized are hydrogen production, storage, transmission, and application to various energy-consuming sectors. Summarizes current findings and research on hydrogen. An extensive bibliography is included. (ML)

Reports on increased amounts of financial assistance given to Laboratory Cooperative Science Centers, Energy Manpower Development Programs for teacher and student research, and minority institutions. Includes a table indicating programs mandated by Congress and the amount of support funds given. (RT)

Discusses the efficient use of energy. Compares reserves and pollutants generated by natural gas, oil, and coal. Points out some alternative energy sources and ways for improving energy efficiency in buildings, industrial processes, and transportation. Describes some problems in developing and developed countries. (YP)