Some resources from federal government sites are currently unavailable; when possible, we’ve provided alternative non-government links to ensure continued data access.

Donate

Energy Efficiency and Climate Change

Provided by: MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative |Published on: April 27, 2021

Lesson Plans Grades 9-12

Synopsis

This lesson lets students explore information about energy efficiency, perform an energy audit of their classroom, and make recommendations about how to help reduce climate emissions through energy conservation and reducing energy waste.
The educator guide provides discussion questions, class activities, and student readings.

Related Teaching Resources

Subjects: Science, Mathematics, Computer Science

Authors: MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative

Region: North America, United States, Global

Languages: English

View Resource

Teaching Materials

Positives

The podcast presents the challenges and benefits of implementing more energy efficiency measures for homes and commercial buildings in a simple format.
The classroom energy audit will get students thinking about their everyday actions and help them understand how big of an impact they can make each day.

Additional Prerequisites

This resource uses terms related to economic principles, such as incentives, upfront and downstream costs, and the grid.

Differentiation

To see the impact of various climate solutions, look at this table of solutions provided by Project Drawdown and click on Scenario 1 twice to rank them.
Ethics and social studies classes could discuss why property owners might choose to implement or avoid energy-efficient technology in their (or their tenants') homes. Students could consider the following questions:
- How would a property owner benefit (financially or otherwise) from a building that is energy efficient?
- Would an energy-efficient building attract more long-term tenants? Why or why not?
- Is it better to force property owners to adopt energy-efficient building methods or provide incentives? Why?
Other resources on this topic include this Khan Academy video on energy conservation, this video on sustainable housing, and this article on the powerful impact of household actions on climate change.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative

Founded in 2014, the Environmental Solutions Initiative (ESI) is MIT’s institute-wide effort to mobilize the substantial scientific, engineering, policy, and design capacity of the MIT community to contribute to addressing climate change and other environmental challenges of global import. ESI pursues multidisciplinary research, education, events, and partnerships to help move society toward an environmentally and socially sustainable future. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts on MIT’s main campus, ESI is powered by a lean staff working closely with students and faculty across the full spectrum of disciplines. Led by architecture professor John E. Fernandez, a leading scholar in the emerging field of urban metabolism, ESI is advised by students, faculty, alumni, and thought leaders from many sectors of society.

Related Teaching Resources

All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.