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=So, what's the Big Idea?=

Our group's Big Idea dealt with the concept of Climate Change and how it can be tied to energy usage. Most people have heard of the concept that the rise in energy use by humans has contributed - through increased burning of fossil fuels - to the escalation of the greenhouse effect, global warming, and climate change. Another relationship that needs to be considered is how climate change in turn affects energy usage. The EPA speculates that increasing global temperatures will cause an increased demand for energy to power air-conditioning in hotter states, but that could be offset by decreased energy demands for space heaters, etc. Climate changes can result in damage to energy sources and production infrastructure, incurring higher maintenance and repair costs (1.)

Industrial energy usage has also contributed to climate change - more fossil fuels are being burned, causing higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, while deforestation removes the Earth's natural CO2 removal systems. Increased production of steel and aluminum accounts for at least 3 percent of global electricity usage (2.)

Sources: (1) @http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/effects/energy.html (2) @http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071021114258.htm

=The Challenge:=

Design an Energy Efficient Home

source: http://ottawamortgagesolutions.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/renewable-house.jpg

To reinforce the idea that everyone doing their part can make a substantial change in climate change conditions - the idea behind "Think Globally, Act Locally" - students are challenged to research and design an energy efficient home. During the course of this project, students should discover that energy efficient homes are not only good for the environment, they are good for the economy (directing income towards manufacturers of energy efficient products) and good for the pocketbook of their family, due to the incentives and rebates available from local, state, and federal agencies.

=Research:=

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=Actions and Proposed Solution:=

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