Student Worksheet

Part 1: Preparation

Before coming to the classroom, please watch the following two clips and answer the associated questions:

Environmental Properties of Materials, How to Choose Green Materials (http://youtu.be/lJKcoUUEeJ0)

Reflect on how your thinking has changed by completing the table below.

Building with low embodied energy products (http://youtu.be/78lNrwBNdR0)

Reflect on how your thinking has changed by completing the table below.

After watching the videos, answer these questions -

1) Research and write your own definition of 'embodied energy':

2) How does embodied energy apply to building materials? Research and explain one example not discussed in the videos:

For more information, visit Your Home, Australia's guide to environmentally sustainable houses.

Part 2. Embodied energy in building materials

Modern domestic buildings are now often built in a manner that looks to conserve energy use for the use of heating or cooling the house depending on what climate you live in. However, have you ever considered how much energy is used to produce and transport the materials that are used in the construction of these homes?

In this activity you are to select a traditional building material and one contemporary building material, i.e. clay brick vs straw bale.

You are to:

Assess the embodied energy of each of these materials that may be used to fulfil the same purpose in the construction of a house.
Investigate the origin of the material, its production and its longevity along with its ability to be recycled or reused for a different use (upcycled) or to decompose.
Investigate the costs of production, transportation and maintenance.

Provide a small table displaying any data illustrating the embodied energy. See sample data below:

Material	Energy MJ per kg	Carbon kg CO₂per kg	Density kg/m³
Bricks (common)	3	0.24	1700
Straw Bale	0.91		100-110

Reflection

You are to present your poster, infographic, PowerPoint or Prezi to the class along with an oral presentation. After the presentation have a round table discussion on how this study may have changed your viewpoints on what building materials you may consider using in your dream home and why.

Going Further

Complete an audit of an older home and a contemporary designed home, listing materials used, the approximate weight/volume used and the embodied energy used in each. Analyse the results to assess which building used more energy in its construction.

Further questions to consider

Do modern energy efficient homes use materials that are low in embodied energy? Currently, we use an energy star rating to rate homes energy saving capabilities, should we go a step further to rate its energy use in construction and maintenance?

Valuable Resources

Your Home, Australia's guide to environmentally sustainable houses.

Greenspec

Embodied energy in building materials

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