Energy efficiency

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To celebrate World Environment Day on 5 June 2001, this hot topic highlights the effect our society's increasing hunger for energy is having on the environment.

New Zealanders, like people in many other countries, are using more and more energy every year. Our increasing energy use has resulted in some infrastructure problems, such as the Auckland power crisis of 1998. Environmental problems can also result, such as the destruction of river habitats from the construction of hydro-electric schemes, and contributions to the global problem of climate change (caused by increasing carbon dioxide emissions).

Some countries are finding it difficult to produce enough energy to sustain their economy and society. California is already experiencing blackouts because the US cannot produce enough electricity. New Zealand has had difficulty in producing enough electricity in times of drought.

Transport is the largest and fastest growing energy-using sector in the New Zealand economy, according to the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) figures. Domestic transport accounted for 40 percent of all consumer energy use in 1998, and produced 45 percent of all of our carbon dioxide emissions.

EECA says a big part of the problem is the kind of energy we are using. In New Zealand, we are using more fossil fuels than we could be (about 1/3 of our energy comes from fossil fuels). Using this type of energy produces more greenhouse gas emissions and accelerates climate change.

Improving our energy efficiency, conserving energy, and increasing our use of renewable energy sources like solar or wind energy will help us develop a sustainable energy future and reinforce our valuable "clean green" reputation overseas.

We can all get involved in conserving energy, by doing simple things such as turning the thermostat on our water heater down, buying energy-efficient appliances and reducing, reusing, and recycling.

The way we travel to and from work and school has a huge impact on our environment. Travelling alone in a private car burns non-renewable fossil fuel inefficiently, accelerates climate change by emitting more carbon dioxide, contributes to air pollution problems by emitting more carbon monoxide, and contributes to traffic congestion by clogging up our roads in rush hour. So get walking, get into public transport, car pool, or get ON YOUR BIKE!

Explore the role of electricity in producing light and heat.

Describe as many sources of energy as you can. For example, natural gas, oil, sunlight. Which of these are renewable energy sources? Which have a limited supply?

How are oil and natural gas formed? How are they made into fuel that we can use in our cars, heaters, and other appliances?

Discuss the different types of transportation people can use to get around. How can planners and city councils encourage people to use more efficient kinds of transportation?

What is global warming/climate change? What is causing it? What agreements has New Zealand signed to try and reduce world emissions of greenhouse gases?

What are some of the ways scientists and inventors are trying to improve our energy efficiency? How many examples of energy-saving innovations like the community living project that's being built in Auckland can you find in your neighbourhood or in New Zealand?

Discuss the use of solar panels in home heating.

Design an energy efficient house or community.

Design, construct, and test a solar-powered device.

An earlier edition of the TKI Hot Topic explored the greenhouse effect (www.tki.org.nz/r/hot_topics/greenhouse_e.php).

Senior science teachers have evaluated the Natural Gas Corporation's website at www.tki.org.nz/r/evaluation/natgas_e.php, and recommend the site, particularly for research into a natural resource at year 11.

The @ScienceSchool.NZ site has a great exercise on carbon dioxide. Go to the TKI science community (at www.tki.org.nz/e/science/) and click on the @ScienceSchool logo.

Environment Online
Environment Online provides a global virtual school for developing environmental awareness. Intended for 12- to 18-year-old students worldwide, it facilitates studying and sharing information related to themes covering physical, social, cultural, and natural environment. Topics include the places people live, the way they live (sustainable development), climate, and lifestyle. Activities include surveys, quizzes, and chat groups (www.enoschool.org).

EECA
The government has published a draft national energy efficiency and conservation strategy, available through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority's site (www.eeca.govt.nz/). The site also contains hints for conserving energy at home and at work.

Eco-housing
The Earthsong eco-neighbourhood has been getting a lot of publicity lately (www.cohousing.pl.net/). More information on eco-housing is available at the Eco-village and Cohousing Association of New Zealand (www.converge.org.nz/evcnz/).

Climate change
The New Zealand Government's climate change programme is outlined at www.climatechange.govt.nz.

Energy crisis
You can read a collection of stories about the US energy crisis at www.energycrisis.com/.

New Scientist
The website of newscientist.com, the online publication of New Scientist weekly magazine provides science and technology news (www.newscientist.com/).

Science: Making Sense of the Physical World

Social Studies: Place and Environment, Resources and Economic Activities

Technology and Society

Science in the New Zealand Curriculum (www.tki.org.nz/r/science/curriculum/toc_e.php), Technology in the New Zealand curriculum (www.tki.org.nz/r/technology/curriculum/contents_e.php), and Social Studies in the New Zealand Curriculum (www.tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/index_e.php) are available on TKI.