CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 14. Discuss the results of the mini-blower door testing. Point out any designs that required a ventilation damper or vent to control flow.
Explain that sealing to this point and adding this feature is an ideal strategy. It allows the homeowner control over the amount of air coming into the home. Explain that in actual houses, this would be a ventilation system and might include fans to exhaust air along with inlets that bring in fresh air. Use the diagram on the previous page to illustrate. 15. Discuss other materials the students could have used as insulation. Discuss what the students would change if they could do the
activity again with additional materials.
Extensions Have the students draw blueprints of their houses to scale or using digital design software. Have them devise written plans to insulate their houses before they begin the activity. Have the students design an experiment to explore the insulating qualities of materials with which houses are made, such as wood, brick, stucco, block, etc. Have students research heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) and present the advantages of this type of system in cold climates. These systems use a heat exchanger to remove the heat from air being exhausted from the home and send that heat back into the house. Have students include small lights, fans, or other devices that use electricity, and outfit their homes with solar panels or wind turbines that generate electricity. Have a building contractor visit the class to discuss energy-saving materials and techniques in the building industry. Assign students a budget for their house design project and attribute costs to the construction materials.
Evaluation Evaluate individual student performance using the graphic organizers, worksheets, and science notebooks as appropriate. Evaluate presentations for the House Design Project using the rubric below. Evaluate the entire unit with your students using the Evaluation Form on page 79 and return it to NEED.
House Design Project Rubric
32
Category
3
2
1
0
Research and Planning
In addition to evidence of thorough research, relevant experiments were conducted to test design ideas.
Science notebook indicates several research questions were asked and answered effectively.
Science notebook indicates minimal research or planning was undertaken.
No evidence of research or planning leading up to design and construction.
Design and Construction
In addition to meeting project goals, construction was neat and of high quality.
All building codes and budget restrictions were followed. House air leakage was within a range that optimized energy use and occupant health. House was effective at maintaining temperature.
Some building codes were not followed and/or home air leakage rate was too high or too low and/or house was ineffective at maintaining temperature.
Many building codes not followed. Construction is sloppy and house performs poorly as a result. Budget was not followed.
Evaluation
Team effectively evaluated all aspects of the design process and made necessary improvements to improve performance.
Evaluation was conducted, but did not include all steps of the process and /or improvements to performance were modest or not present.
Minimal evaluation did not lead to any improvement in product.
Team did not evaluate their project and/ or did not make any improvements.
Building Science