Heating and Cooling: Designing a Low Energy Home

Abstract

This unit is aimed at engaging students in designing and building an energy-efficient scale model house through the understanding of relevant concepts of energy flow in thermal systems. It is developed into 4 subunits that analyse the different processes of thermal energy transfer (conduction, convection and radiation). The project intends also to introduce pupils to infrared thermography, thermal imaging and thermograms, i.e. infrared imaging science. The content area of the unit is energy and power in thermal systems. The subunits are suitable for 14-16 year old students while the data analysis and more theoretical parts of the unit are suitable for 16-18 year old students. The estimated duration of the whole unit is 30 hours. However, it can be used partially. The unit uses hands-on activities, scientific simulations and probe-ware measurements as tools to develop an Inquiry Based Approach