As many of you know I recently moved to a new house in Big Bear (thanks again for the help moving).   The house is awesome, but as with all things, will need some work to get it just the way we want.  This blog is not going to be about interior design; talk to my wife about that one. What is more of a concern to me is the energy efficiency and environmental impact of the place.  We teach our students about conservation and the importance of being good crew members on our planet.  I thought that the changes I’m considering making in our house might be a good discussion point and real life example for our students. Here’s what I mean…

You could present your field group with the scenario of my house:

A house was built in 1969, pretty old by Californian standards, and as a result needs some updating.  How can we fix it up?  The students might at first talk about superficial improvements, like floral wallpaper, avocado green carpets, and brass door knobs (all of which are clearly evident in our new place, by the way).  Some students, though, might begin to realize that there may also be some environmental issues to deal with beyond really ugly wallpaper.  Because the house is older, what are some environmental problems it might have?

Most students would probably be able to identify some of these common problems:
1)      The light bulbs are old and should be replaced with CFLs.
2)      The windows might be cracked or in bad shape, letting the heat get out or in at the wrong time.
3)      Several sinks are dripping water from the faucets even when they are turned off.

Students that might have more experience with construction or energy issues might come up with ideas such as:
1)      The insulation might be old or non-existent.
2)      The major appliances probably won’t have energy star logo on them, because they just recently became “cool”.
3)      The toilets and showerheads are older, meaning that they probably aren’t low-flow and thus use more water.

As homeowners, we are working on making improvements to the house that will make a positive difference to our energy consumption, carbon footprint and, of course, financial bills.  With a long term view and sensible investment I feel we can make changes that will increase energy efficiency and still see a return on our hard earned dollars in 5-10 years.  Could students brainstorm some solutions as well, or even share some positive things they see their parents doing at home?

Some short term ‘quick fixes’ that we have already done include caulking most of the holes in the walls/around the windows.  We’ve gone to town with CFLs (acquired for free from a local electric company).  We’re setting up composting and recycling.  The upstairs is getting a remodel, so we’ll be closing in the ceiling upstairs and insulating it with a very thick insulation (R30).  We may even throw some skylights or solar tubes up there to let the light in.  I would love to have some solar panels put on the roof to help with energy issues even more.  We have also bought a woodburning stove to take care of heating (I know a couple of places to find dead trees to burn).  This will be virtually carbon neutral and running costs will be time and hard work instead of dollars.

Obviously, these ideas are specific to our house, but they are the kind of things that students may come up with in their Environmental Awareness class.  If carried out, they will make a small difference, but, more importantly, make students aware that their actions can have a positive effect.  The issue of heating may not be as relevant to southern California students, but maybe they could brainstorm solutions to hot climate issues, like watering your plants when the sun isn’t at its brightest, or keeping the blinds closed to let in less heat.  Talk about graywater usage; instead of dumping that water down the sewer use it to water plants. Do you think the students in your field group could brainstorm any of these ideas?  Will they have seen them before?  Or will some of them be brand new to them?  How powerful is it for them to see what simple things they could do to actually make a difference?

My house needs work.  I do have ideas on how to make it a more energy-efficient place, and I’m willing to put in the work to make it happen. It will take some work and some initial investments, but I am absolutely certain that it will pay off in the long run.  One day, your students may grow up to own their own floral, 1969 house that needs updating.  They will have to make some decisions that affect their immediate situation but also their future.  What costs and benefits will they consider?  Can they grasp the idea of making positive changes today for a better tomorrow?