Energy Efficient House
For the past few months, my team and I (Angus, Shannon, and Ben) have been working on many different aspects of our Energy efficient daylighting house. This project is by far one of the longest we have done and had many parts to it. We worked on each part at different times. Our two main goals were to make a reflector panel so light could get into the North window of the STEM Solar Home, and to come up with a design and model of a cold frame for San Marin High School's garden. A lot went into the whole process of this huge project and my team and I are very happy with how it turned out.
For the past few months, my team and I (Angus, Shannon, and Ben) have been working on many different aspects of our Energy efficient daylighting house. This project is by far one of the longest we have done and had many parts to it. We worked on each part at different times. Our two main goals were to make a reflector panel so light could get into the North window of the STEM Solar Home, and to come up with a design and model of a cold frame for San Marin High School's garden. A lot went into the whole process of this huge project and my team and I are very happy with how it turned out.
1. Atomic Structure, State, and Heat
Atoms
Atoms
- nucleus: center of an atom
- proton +
- neutron 0
- electron -
- ex: Helium, Carbon
- molecule: multiple atoms bonded together (H2O, CO2)
- compound: type of molecule with different types of elements bordered
- atoms are incredibly small and abundant
- durable and recycled
- isotope: atom with unusual number of neutrons (gives a diff. mass)
- ion: atom with unusual number of electrons
- almost all energy comes from the sun
- sun energy travels 91mi. in space
- conduction: transfer heat through solid
- convection: transfer heat through fluid
- radiation: transfer heat through waves/particles/rays
- insulation: bad at conducting (opposite of conducting) resistance to transferring heat
- heat= form of energy (thermal energy)
- unit= J (Joules)
- Thermal conductivity: rate at which a material transfers heat
- Thermal resistance: ability of material to resist transferring heat
- evaporation: high energy molecule- takes heat from water
- heat is a measure of the movement of molecules- more heat= more movement
- solid: all molecules are held in place
- liquid: all molecules are bonding with each other, but they can change bonds to flow
- gas: molecules don't (can't) have to bond with each other= more movement- take up way more space/less density
2. Design a Hot Water Heater
For our first "hands on" part of this project we were required to build a solar hot water heater. We used copper tubes, foil, clay, cotton balls, empty bottles, newspaper, plastic wrap, plastic tubing, black spray paint, and a shoe box. The objective was to have the copper tubes conduct heat from the sun and transfer it to the water we would pour into the tubes. The cotton balls and newspaper would then insulate the heat of the water and keep it warm for as long as possible. We had to make many adjustments to out heater because it kept leaking at the top. We added clay to help seal the leak, but it didn't fix it all the way. We would pour water down the heater continuously for about 40 minutes. We took the temp. every 5 min. and recorded it so we could see the process. Our solar water heater increased the temp. by 12 degrees C.
For our first "hands on" part of this project we were required to build a solar hot water heater. We used copper tubes, foil, clay, cotton balls, empty bottles, newspaper, plastic wrap, plastic tubing, black spray paint, and a shoe box. The objective was to have the copper tubes conduct heat from the sun and transfer it to the water we would pour into the tubes. The cotton balls and newspaper would then insulate the heat of the water and keep it warm for as long as possible. We had to make many adjustments to out heater because it kept leaking at the top. We added clay to help seal the leak, but it didn't fix it all the way. We would pour water down the heater continuously for about 40 minutes. We took the temp. every 5 min. and recorded it so we could see the process. Our solar water heater increased the temp. by 12 degrees C.
3. Solar Angles and How it Changes During Seasons
- vertical light: the brightest and most concentrated- more light and more heat per unit area
- slanted light: more spread out- less concentrated, less heat, and less brightness per unit area
- hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, gets more vertical light (summer)
- hemisphere tilted away from the sun, gets more slanted light (winter)
- latitudes near equator always get more vertical light
- latitudes far from equator always get slanted light
- this is all due to the curvature of the spherical Earth
4. Daylighting Design Activity
In this section of the project we learned about 4 different ways/techniques to get light into a space that needs it. The items we learned about were clerestory windows, skylights, light shelves, and solar tubes. We then built a little cardboard model of a 1000sq. foot house my team and I designed using all the daylighting techniques.
In this section of the project we learned about 4 different ways/techniques to get light into a space that needs it. The items we learned about were clerestory windows, skylights, light shelves, and solar tubes. We then built a little cardboard model of a 1000sq. foot house my team and I designed using all the daylighting techniques.
5. Site Selection
My team had the opportunity to walk around the San Marin campus and try to find the best location to put our structure. We could choose between 3 locations and had a variety of things to focus on/look for and grade on a scale 1-10. Privacy, sun, shade, temperature, sun time, level ground, accessibility, space, sun angle, and integration were all key features we looked for. We ended up choosing one site, which is a nice grass area with some trees around it located behind the art room and cafeteria. It had the best ratings for all our criteria and fit what we liked best.
My team had the opportunity to walk around the San Marin campus and try to find the best location to put our structure. We could choose between 3 locations and had a variety of things to focus on/look for and grade on a scale 1-10. Privacy, sun, shade, temperature, sun time, level ground, accessibility, space, sun angle, and integration were all key features we looked for. We ended up choosing one site, which is a nice grass area with some trees around it located behind the art room and cafeteria. It had the best ratings for all our criteria and fit what we liked best.
6. Materials Testing
The goal of this project was to have our class use multiple materials that we came up with to find the best conductors, insulators, and absorbed/sustained heat the best. The materials we tested for each part were:
conducting: copper, aluminum, steel, nails, screws, OSB, thin and thick plywood, 2x4
insulating: rigid foam, spray foam, fiberglass
absorb/hold: water, sand, tar paper, terra cotta, rubber, plastic wrap, glass, dirt, brick, magnetic/black/yellow/green/white paint, plastic wrap (double)
Below are our results:
The goal of this project was to have our class use multiple materials that we came up with to find the best conductors, insulators, and absorbed/sustained heat the best. The materials we tested for each part were:
conducting: copper, aluminum, steel, nails, screws, OSB, thin and thick plywood, 2x4
insulating: rigid foam, spray foam, fiberglass
absorb/hold: water, sand, tar paper, terra cotta, rubber, plastic wrap, glass, dirt, brick, magnetic/black/yellow/green/white paint, plastic wrap (double)
Below are our results:
7. Building Design
All of the projects we did have led up to this one. Our final goal was to build a reflector panel for the North window on the STEM solar studio and a cold frame model for the San Marin Garden. The purpose of the cold frame is to trap heat from the sun and isolate it inside the box in order to prevent the plants from freezing in the winter time. We had to include key features, a materials list, a budget, blueprints, and a scale model of our designs. Below are he presentations my team and I made for the solar reflector panel and our cold frame.
All of the projects we did have led up to this one. Our final goal was to build a reflector panel for the North window on the STEM solar studio and a cold frame model for the San Marin Garden. The purpose of the cold frame is to trap heat from the sun and isolate it inside the box in order to prevent the plants from freezing in the winter time. We had to include key features, a materials list, a budget, blueprints, and a scale model of our designs. Below are he presentations my team and I made for the solar reflector panel and our cold frame.
8. Justification
Why should we build a house that relies on solar power? Our class researched different types of energy sources and compared them in a table. It shows pros and cons of each and can explain why our class chose to do a solar powered house. The table is included below.
Why should we build a house that relies on solar power? Our class researched different types of energy sources and compared them in a table. It shows pros and cons of each and can explain why our class chose to do a solar powered house. The table is included below.
9. Generation of Electricity
For the final step in our project we had to design a wind turbine. We were required to make a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) and a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). Before building our models we had to research each type of turbine and brainstorm ideas of what would work the best for a turbine to be efficient. My team and I decided to use manila folders and tape around a spinning wooden wheel to create the models of our turbines. We tested both out HAWT and VAWT turbines at a low, medium, and high speed rates. We then calculated the voltage and recorded it in a data table and then took the averages from each speed. Based on the data we had, we concluded that our HAWT design was more efficient than the VAWT design. Because of these results, we would recommend a HAWT for the most efficient turbine.
For the final step in our project we had to design a wind turbine. We were required to make a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) and a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT). Before building our models we had to research each type of turbine and brainstorm ideas of what would work the best for a turbine to be efficient. My team and I decided to use manila folders and tape around a spinning wooden wheel to create the models of our turbines. We tested both out HAWT and VAWT turbines at a low, medium, and high speed rates. We then calculated the voltage and recorded it in a data table and then took the averages from each speed. Based on the data we had, we concluded that our HAWT design was more efficient than the VAWT design. Because of these results, we would recommend a HAWT for the most efficient turbine.
Reflection
I have learned so much from this project. It is definitely the most info packed and longest project we have done se far this year. I feel that my team and I have done every aspect of this project to the best of our ability. I think we succeeded most on our building design part of this project because we had solid presentations and I really feel like we understood the topic and did what we were asked to complete. A peak of this project has definitely been teamwork. My team and I got along very well and were able to work together and get a lot done with no problems. another peak of this project was learning even more time management skills. Because this project was split up into many different parts, we were able to take one at a time and focus on that. We got everything done without being behind and it made the whole process go a lot smoother. Although this project was done very well there were also some problems with it along the way. Although we worked on the presentations and had all the info, I feel like we definitely could have been more prepared when it came time to give the real presentations. When we were asked questions that we weren't fully prepared for, it was a minor setback for the team. Another pit we had was building our models. Even though we had good time management we struggled with some designs on the cold frame and reflector models. We still got done on time, but it took us a lot of time to do some things that should have taken a lot less time. For example we spent about 2-3 days just working on gluing all the parts together for the cold frame and a whole other day to flatten them out and connect them to each other. I feel like we could have handled that better and that is something we can work on. Overall this project was a huge success and I am very proud of how it turned out and the things my team and I came up with during the process. I have learned a ton of new skills and got a ton of information from this project and am looking forward to see how it will help me in the future. This project is the biggest one we have done so far and was very fun and educational!
I have learned so much from this project. It is definitely the most info packed and longest project we have done se far this year. I feel that my team and I have done every aspect of this project to the best of our ability. I think we succeeded most on our building design part of this project because we had solid presentations and I really feel like we understood the topic and did what we were asked to complete. A peak of this project has definitely been teamwork. My team and I got along very well and were able to work together and get a lot done with no problems. another peak of this project was learning even more time management skills. Because this project was split up into many different parts, we were able to take one at a time and focus on that. We got everything done without being behind and it made the whole process go a lot smoother. Although this project was done very well there were also some problems with it along the way. Although we worked on the presentations and had all the info, I feel like we definitely could have been more prepared when it came time to give the real presentations. When we were asked questions that we weren't fully prepared for, it was a minor setback for the team. Another pit we had was building our models. Even though we had good time management we struggled with some designs on the cold frame and reflector models. We still got done on time, but it took us a lot of time to do some things that should have taken a lot less time. For example we spent about 2-3 days just working on gluing all the parts together for the cold frame and a whole other day to flatten them out and connect them to each other. I feel like we could have handled that better and that is something we can work on. Overall this project was a huge success and I am very proud of how it turned out and the things my team and I came up with during the process. I have learned a ton of new skills and got a ton of information from this project and am looking forward to see how it will help me in the future. This project is the biggest one we have done so far and was very fun and educational!