Lesson Description:
You will be conducting a light bulb inventory and audit of your classroom.

First, you will be counting light bulbs and calculating the amount of energy used for lighting your classroom daily. Next, you will calculate the cost of lighting your classroom each day. Finally, you can extend your calculations to determine the cost of daily lighting all the classrooms in your school. You will start in your classroom.

Background:

• While working in groups to conduct a light bulb inventory of the room, be sure to look at all the light bulbs in the class. There may be lights in closets, under window sills, or in aquariums. You will need to determine the wattage of each bulb. (Note: determine the watts for each light bulb in the class. this should be listed on the bulb itself. if not, use the figure of 34 watts for your calculations.)
• The cost of electricity varies periodically. For the purposes of these audit forms $.07 was used to provide a means to compare dollars which can be saved through reduction in the amount of energy consumed.

Extensions:

• You have just estimated the number of light bulbs in each classroom. In small groups, and with the permission of your teacher and other teachers, conduct a light bulb inventory of each classroom in the school. As a class, compile the data on the estimated cost of lighting for the school.

Another challenge?

• Conduct a light bulb inventory of hallways and common areas of the school!

---

Lesson Type:

• Group Work
• Other

---

Sustainability Topic:

• Energy

---

GEF Program Category:

• Green Energy Challenge

---

Lesson Documents:
classroom-lighting-audit1.pdf

---