This video describes an efficient solution for heating and cooling homes and the increase in geographic regions that will need temperature regulation in the coming years, due to climate change.
It highlights electric heat pumps as a climate solution for one third of the world's population, providing the framework needed to help incentivize this transition away from heaters powered by fossil fuels.
Teaching Tips
Positives
It proposes an efficient alternative to fossil fuel heating that also cools.
The maps and images make the content easy to understand.
Additional Prerequisites
Heat pumps are already in use in many areas, so some students may not be familiar with natural gas or propane furnaces.
There is an advertisement before the video.
Differentiation
As an extension activity, ask students to investigate the global fossil fuel emissions from buildings using this EPA resource or this other EPA resource.
Another resource to consider using for this topic is this interactive resource about home energy use that allows students to see the effect of using more efficient appliances/light bulbs and changing their behaviors to reduce energy use and energy waste.
Math classes could use this carbon calculator to determine the collective impact of other actions that can be taken by everyone in their class to reduce carbon emissions.
Scientist Notes
The video explores the benefits of heat pumps in carbon reduction and indoor heating and cooling. A good alternative for ACs and furnaces. This resource is insightful, a good alternative for carbon switch, and it is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
ETS1: Engineering Design
HS-ETS1-1 Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.
HS-ETS1-2 Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.
PS3: Energy
HS-PS3-4 Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that the transfer of thermal energy when two components of different temperature are combined within a closed system results in a more uniform energy distribution among the components in the system (second law of thermodynamics).
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Civics
D2.Civ.13.9-12 Evaluate public policies in terms of intended and unintended outcomes, and related consequences.
Dimension 2: Economics
D2.Eco.1.9-12 Analyze how incentives influence choices that may result in policies with a range of costs and benefits for different groups.
