Albuquerque's
Environmental StoryAlbuquerque's
Environmental StoryArrange with the principal and the engineer or custodian to study the operation and maintenance of the school.
What type of heating system is used? _______________________________________________________
How often is it inspected and serviced? ______________________________________________________
Is there a more efficient one that could be used? _______________________________________________
If so, what prevents your school from using it? _______________________________________________
What type of heating fuel is used? __________________________________________________________
Where does it come from? ________________________________________________________________
How does it get to the school? ____________________________________________________________
What, if any, adverse impacts does use of this fuel have on the environment? ________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Describe how the heating system works? ____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Describe any solar energy usage? ___________________________________________________________
Does the school have an air cooling system? _________________________________________________
If so, what kind? _______________________________________________________________________
Can each room adjust its own thermostat for heating? _________________ For cooling? ______________
Are empty rooms heated? ______________________ Air-cooled? ________________________________
Does the school have adequate insulation? ____________________________________________________
Could the doors and windows be caulked to avoid heat loss? _____________________________________
How much energy does your school use per month to heat the building? ____________________________
To cool it? ____________________________________________________________________________
How much money does it cost APS to heat your school? _______________________________________
Do you have full spectrum lighting? ________________________________________________________
Can the lights be regulated in each room? ____________________________________________________
Are the lights left burning in the cafeteria? ___________________________________________________
In the auditorium? ___________________ In the corridors? ____________________________________
Is the natural light sufficient most of the day in some classrooms? The Department of Energy recommends lighting levels of 50 footcandles at desks; 30 footcandles in rooms and work areas; and 10 footcandles in halls and storerooms. Use a light meter to determine the amount of light in different parts of your room and school:
________ desks near window ________ work areas ________ halls ________ desks away from window
________ cafeteria
What is the wattage of the light bulbs in your classroom? _______________________________________
Calculate the kilowatt hours of electricity used by all of these bulbs in your classroom in a week ________
______________ for the school year.
Is the building used between 4 p.m. and 6 a. If so, how? ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
How much of the total energy consumed by the school is used after school hours? ___________________
How can you find out? ___________________________________________________________________
How much energy do you think your school wastes in its use of electricity? ________________________
What percentage of the total consumption is that? ________ %
What percentage of heating fuel is wasted? ________
How did you make this determination? ______________________________________________________
What are the adverse environmental impacts of over consumption of electricity? ______________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Make an inventory of all the ways water is used in your school building and on the school grounds, and list those uses.
How much water does your school consume in one month? _____________________________________
How much water is that per capita? ________________________________________________________
Is more used some months than others? _______________ If so, which months? ___________________
Why? ________________________________________________________________________________
If your school has a paved parking lot, what impact does that have on the water cycle and water availability?
______________________________________________________________________________________
List all the ways you can think of that paper is used in your school.
Ask the principal, or teacher in charge of ordering supplies, how much paper is used each year for classroom and office purposes.
_____________________________________________________________________
Ask the custodian how much paper is used in the cafeteria and for maintenance. ______________________
Name other paper products that are brought into the school. ______________________________________
How many times could the exterior of the building be covered with the paper that is consumed within a month's time?
_________________________________________________________________________
Ask the custodian how much solid waste is generated in the school in a year. _______________________
What percentage of this solid waste is paper? ________________________________________________%
Find out and describe the trash management program at your school.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Do a survey to get a variety of opinions about what percentage of the paper thrown away was unnecessary. Ask the principal, the custodian, a few teachers, and several schoolmates. Record their answers.
List all the ways you can think of that paper consumption has an impact on the environment. Discuss your answers with your classmates.
List three ways each that you can help to conserve: (1) energy used for heating and cooling; (2) energy for lighting the building; (3) water; and (4) paper.
1)_______________ 1)_______________ 1)_______________ 1)_______________
2)_______________ 2)_______________ 2)_______________ 2)_______________
3)_______________ 3)_______________ 3)_______________ 3)_______________
How can your class encourage the school to cut back on its resource consumption by 20 percent? Explain in the form of a brief essay, or sales pitch.
(Up to Section IV, Back to Eye Opener Activities 7, On to Eye Opener Activities 8)