The Power of Energy Efficiency

6th graders built electromechanical devices while applying their learning about the impact of electricity and technology on the environment.

THE POWER OF

ENERGY

EFFICIENCY

תולעייתהב חוכה תיגרנא

Scarcity of natural resources is a growing concern for our planet and among our students. Our 6th grade scientists learned about our reliance on energy from fossil fuel-burning power plants which provide homes and JCDS with electricity. What is our responsibility to conserve our use of such energy sources? Our students looked to Jewish sources to guide them in our study of energy efficiency.

By Avraham Sosa, 6th-8th Grade Science Teacher

Rav Zutra said: He who covers an oil lamp or who uncovers a kerosene lamp for no purpose violates the prohibition: “Do not destroy — bal tashchit.”

Bal tashchit, according to Halacha (traditional Jewish practice), refers to a senseless waste of resources. In the premodern world of our sages, extraordinary efforts — such as hauling water or pressing olives for oil — were required to meet basic human needs. Consequently, wasting resources and energy was frowned upon and likely rare. Nowadays however, with nearly unlimited and easy access to resources, we can leave lamps on all day, overuse water, and throw away food without even thinking about the environmental impact of our actions. In order to increase our students’ awareness of energy consumption, I provided them with a hand-operated electric generator connected to light a tiny LED lightbulb. The students were exhausted from rapidly turning the handle to keep the light on, giving them an appreciation of how much effort goes into producing the energy they use on a daily basis. In a lab simulation, students learned how to calculate energy consumption based on wattage and usage. Many were surprised by how much energy it took to power basic appliances like a hair dryer or microwave. They were particularly concerned with the increase in energy consumption in their homes during the pandemic. In the classroom, we learned how electricity works, from an atom to an electrical circuit, which gave them scientific insight into why generating energy takes so much effort. With these lessons, our students gained the skills to build simple and compound machines. They first built a fan using a simple electrical circuit, and from there, were able to choose what type of electromechanical machines they wanted to build. We are so proud of the amazing machines that our students built, including a car, boat, juicer, and even an ice cream machine!

The pinnacle of our learning was the students’ participation in the Eversource Challenge, a regional contest run by the energy provider, where they put to use all of their knowledge about energy efficiency. The contest challenged them to write a letter to their parents, asking them to change their energy habits and become more energy efficient. Students were asked to discuss topics such as energy conservation (for example, turning off the lights) and using energy-efficient technologies like LED bulbs. The students harnessed all that they learned in our unit on energy, put their ideas into writing, and tailored an energy efficient solution specific to their home.

Former student, Nadav Englehart (’23) was one of the three winners of this regional challenge! His letter included helpful details, such as unplugging an electronic device as soon as it has reached full charge, as well as a year-long cost breakdown of LED bulbs versus traditional options. Nadav concluded, “These may seem like small things, but if we make more good habits like these, it will all add up to bigger changes. If we also encourage other people to do so, we can make a difference in our communities and the world.”

At JCDS, Jewish teachings and modern studies are routinely woven together, as they were in this unit. This kind of seamless integration of our Jewish and secular subjects is one of the great joys of teaching at JCDS!