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Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse
Cost Effectiveness of a Sustainable Building
Lesson Description:
Over the course of approximately two 50-minute classes, students will become familiar with the basic concepts of sustainable building. They will learn which changes can be made to a building for the smallest upfront cost and what reaps the largest long term benefits, financially and environmentally. The students will do this by beginning to design their own sustainable building on a tight budget.
Objectives:
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
Over the course of approximately two 50-minute classes, students will become familiar with the basic concepts of sustainable building. They will learn which changes can be made to a building for the smallest upfront cost and what reaps the largest long term benefits, financially and environmentally. The students will do this by beginning to design their own sustainable building on a tight budget.
Objectives:
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
- Define sustainable building and understand its benefits
- Analyze the costs and benefits of certifying a school building as “green”
- Create a plan to certify a new school building as green
Lesson Type:
- Discussion
- Group Work
- Project
Sustainability Topic:
- Green Building
GEF Program Category:
- Green Building Program
Time Needed:
2 50-minute class periods
2 50-minute class periods
Standards Addressed:
This lesson addresses the following National Education Standards:
Content Standard: NM-NUM.9-12.2 Compute Fluently and Make Reasonable Estimates
As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should:
· develop fluency in operations with real numbers, vectors, and matrices, using mental computation or paper-and-pencil calculations for simple cases and technology for morecomplicated cases
· judge the reasonableness of numerical computations and their results.
Content Standard: NS.9-12.6 Personal and Social Perspectives
As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop understanding of
· Personal and community health
· Population growth
· Natural resources
· Environmental quality
· Natural and human-induced hazards
· Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges
This lesson addresses the following National Education Standards:
Content Standard: NM-NUM.9-12.2 Compute Fluently and Make Reasonable Estimates
As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should:
· develop fluency in operations with real numbers, vectors, and matrices, using mental computation or paper-and-pencil calculations for simple cases and technology for morecomplicated cases
· judge the reasonableness of numerical computations and their results.
Content Standard: NS.9-12.6 Personal and Social Perspectives
As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop understanding of
· Personal and community health
· Population growth
· Natural resources
· Environmental quality
· Natural and human-induced hazards
· Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges
Materials Needed:
· Computer and projector with internet access
· Chalkboard, whiteboard or equivalent
· Reproducible #1 - Plan of Action
· Reproducible #2 - Reflection Questions
· Computer and projector with internet access
· Chalkboard, whiteboard or equivalent
· Reproducible #1 - Plan of Action
· Reproducible #2 - Reflection Questions
Submitted By:
GEF on behalf of the Earthday Network
GEF on behalf of the Earthday Network
School or Group:
GEF
GEF
Contact Email:
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
