Energy Efficient Housing - Design And Build A Passive Solar Home
The big question for this project was "How can we create a comfortable home without the use of electricity, and what is the best way to power it." With our groups we were tasked to sketch a blueprint of what we think this house should look like.
Project Outline:
- Design A Hot Water Heater: Following criteria, we created passive solar water heaters by using cardboard, aluminum foil, copper tubing, plastic tubing, plastic wrap, paint, and water. We started by taking a cardboard box and painted the bottom black so it could absorb heat. Next we covered the inside of the box with tin foil to better reflect light onto the black paint. Copper tubing was bent twice and then placed on the bottom on top of the black paint to heat the water flowing through the pipe. We then attached a insulated water bottle which would circulate hot water into and then back out of the water heater. Lastly we placed saran wrap over the top of the entire box to create a greenhouse effect. The goal of this project was to slowly heat the water over time as it re circulated. We can successfully that our project was a success as it raised the temperature a few degrees in only half an hour.
- Day Lighting Design Activity: There are many ways to use light to its full potential no matter what season or what time of day. For this particular project we were asked to make a model house out of cardboard and utilize three daylighting techniques we were given in class. Below are the three techniques:
- Light Shelves: used to reflect light from the overhang on the window sill, back into the room.
- Skylights: a glazed opening in a ceiling to allow light
- Solar Tubes: an opening that lets in light, then bounces down reflective lining
- Cold Frame Design: For this project we designed and built a model cold frame for plants. Out of all the stem classes only one cold frame would be picked to actually be built and put on the San Marin High School campus. One of the high points of our design was to have an adjustable lid so that it could stay open on its own. We hot glued nails to small pieces of wood and used them as props for the lid. Here is our presentation for the Cold Frame:
- Windmill Design: For this project we were tasked with designing a model horizontal and vertical wind turbine. We were only asked to make the blades themselves and not the base. The goal was to generate the most electricity using our turbines. Our group used cardboard to create the blades. To maximize our electricity gain, we tilted the blades to help them catch the most wind. Here our pictures of both our designs:
-North Window Reflector: For this project we designed and built a model window and brainstormed the best way to gain light. Because the window in the STEM solar studio gets little to no light during mid day, we were tasked to find a way to reflect light and maximize its potential. Our group decided to go with a reflector that is adjustable and attaches to the window itself. This model was difficult to engineer because we built our model out of cardboard and it was hard to make the axle work. We never quite got our project the way we envisioned it but here is our presentation of the North Window:
-Bonus Plan: This project's goal was to design a model of an object that could improve the passive solar home. While observing the passive solar house on the San Marin campus, we noticed that there was no privacy, and a great amount of light breaches the window all throughout the day. So, after observing this, our group agreed on creating blinds. We made our model out of popsicle sticks and cardboard. We decided on adjustable blinds that could be turned open or pulled up and down. This was one of three projects that we presented to a group of judges.
- Reflection: For me, it was hard to see the connection between all these projects except that we were required to do them all. This project, like the Rube Goldberg, was presented to judges to determine our final grade. I personally did not like this project. I was very happy to have this project end. All the seperate components of this project were not particularly engaging or fun. It mostly consisted of labs and various math problems. My group and I did a great job completing all tasks even though we didn't find them particularly engaging and we went above and beyond to complete extra credit. We could have done better at staying on task during some classes, as our group would often scatter and speak with friends. One other thing we could have done better is spending a bit more time practicing on our presentations. Over all this project was a learning experience but I'm happy to say it is over.
Below are our three presentations for you to look at.
Project Outline:
- Design A Hot Water Heater: Following criteria, we created passive solar water heaters by using cardboard, aluminum foil, copper tubing, plastic tubing, plastic wrap, paint, and water. We started by taking a cardboard box and painted the bottom black so it could absorb heat. Next we covered the inside of the box with tin foil to better reflect light onto the black paint. Copper tubing was bent twice and then placed on the bottom on top of the black paint to heat the water flowing through the pipe. We then attached a insulated water bottle which would circulate hot water into and then back out of the water heater. Lastly we placed saran wrap over the top of the entire box to create a greenhouse effect. The goal of this project was to slowly heat the water over time as it re circulated. We can successfully that our project was a success as it raised the temperature a few degrees in only half an hour.
- Day Lighting Design Activity: There are many ways to use light to its full potential no matter what season or what time of day. For this particular project we were asked to make a model house out of cardboard and utilize three daylighting techniques we were given in class. Below are the three techniques:
- Light Shelves: used to reflect light from the overhang on the window sill, back into the room.
- Skylights: a glazed opening in a ceiling to allow light
- Solar Tubes: an opening that lets in light, then bounces down reflective lining
- Cold Frame Design: For this project we designed and built a model cold frame for plants. Out of all the stem classes only one cold frame would be picked to actually be built and put on the San Marin High School campus. One of the high points of our design was to have an adjustable lid so that it could stay open on its own. We hot glued nails to small pieces of wood and used them as props for the lid. Here is our presentation for the Cold Frame:
- Windmill Design: For this project we were tasked with designing a model horizontal and vertical wind turbine. We were only asked to make the blades themselves and not the base. The goal was to generate the most electricity using our turbines. Our group used cardboard to create the blades. To maximize our electricity gain, we tilted the blades to help them catch the most wind. Here our pictures of both our designs:
-North Window Reflector: For this project we designed and built a model window and brainstormed the best way to gain light. Because the window in the STEM solar studio gets little to no light during mid day, we were tasked to find a way to reflect light and maximize its potential. Our group decided to go with a reflector that is adjustable and attaches to the window itself. This model was difficult to engineer because we built our model out of cardboard and it was hard to make the axle work. We never quite got our project the way we envisioned it but here is our presentation of the North Window:
-Bonus Plan: This project's goal was to design a model of an object that could improve the passive solar home. While observing the passive solar house on the San Marin campus, we noticed that there was no privacy, and a great amount of light breaches the window all throughout the day. So, after observing this, our group agreed on creating blinds. We made our model out of popsicle sticks and cardboard. We decided on adjustable blinds that could be turned open or pulled up and down. This was one of three projects that we presented to a group of judges.
- Reflection: For me, it was hard to see the connection between all these projects except that we were required to do them all. This project, like the Rube Goldberg, was presented to judges to determine our final grade. I personally did not like this project. I was very happy to have this project end. All the seperate components of this project were not particularly engaging or fun. It mostly consisted of labs and various math problems. My group and I did a great job completing all tasks even though we didn't find them particularly engaging and we went above and beyond to complete extra credit. We could have done better at staying on task during some classes, as our group would often scatter and speak with friends. One other thing we could have done better is spending a bit more time practicing on our presentations. Over all this project was a learning experience but I'm happy to say it is over.
Below are our three presentations for you to look at.