A Green Construction Web Quest

for 11th and 12th grade students

Mr. Roland

INDEX

•Introduction•Task•Process

•Step 1: Define “going green”•Step 2: Research green construction•Step 3: Study green supporters•Step 4: Find new sources•Step 5: Advantages/Disadvantages•Step 6: Decisions and Design

•Resources•Evaluation•Conclusion•Comparison Chart

INTRODUCTION

•Ever wonder how to turn your house “green”? Or wonder what it means to be green? What if you could learn how to convert or build a house to be green? Where would this endeavor begin though?

•This Web Quest will introduce you to green construction techniques, practices, and resources.

TASK•By completing this Web Quest, you will understand what green living is and how it affects the environment

•After completing, you will know enough about green technologies to design and model a green home.

•You will keep a keep a journal and write a summary of your learning and decisions for green construction.

PROCESS

•Step 1: Define “going green”•Step 2: Research green construction•Step 3: Study green supporters•Step 4: Find new sources•Step 5: Advantages/Disadvantages•Step 6: Decisions and Design

Step 1: Define “going green”•Review the information from Architecture2030 and Building Green to learn about going green

•Record your definition of going green in your design journal

•Search the web for two alternate sources and record the definitions and source name

Step 2: Research green construction

•Study the possibilities and techniques of going green and record all of the related information found.•Be sure to study the major topics of going green: solar and wind energy, heat loss, and energy efficiency.•Below are some helpful links to start but don’t limit yourself to these:

•California Green Building Basics•Green Home Article

Step 3: Study green supporters

•With the growing energy crisis, there are many supporters and lobbyist groups for green construction.•Follow these links to identify several of them:

•Alliance to Save Energy•Green Building Finance Consortium•Green Roofs for Healthy Cities

•Be sure to identify and describe at least ten supporters for green construction.

Step 4: Find new sources •The energy market and green technology are constantly growing and changing. Because of this, there are always new resources to be found.•In this step you will identify 5 web sources, not already on the class list, and submit them to the teacher as an annotated bibliography.

Step 5: Advantages/Disadvantages •After studying the definition of green technology, concepts and techniques, and supporters, you will record the advantages and disadvantages you have found.•Study the notes in you journal, print the comparison chart, and then fill it out.•Once the chart is complete, place it in your journal to be submitted.

Step 6: Decisions and Design•You will form groups of three students and compare your notes.•As a group you will decide what green technology you would like to study further and design into a model home.•Your group will design this model or prototype for a presentation to the class.

RESOURCES

•Green Roofs for Healthy Cities•International Energy Agency•Green Communities•California Integrated Waste Mgt Board•Sourcebook for Green Building•Architecture 2030•LEED Resources•Alliance to Save Energy•GreenBlue

EVALUATION

•You will be evaluated in 3 categories:•Journal (25 points)

•Is your journal organized? Are there entries for every day? Are all writing assignments included?

•Comparison Chart (25)•Is the chart completed? Are there several advantages and disadvantages listed?

•Class Presentation (50)•Is your group prepared to discuss you green technology? Is your model well constructed and easy to understand? Do you participate in discussion about other groups’ technologies?

CONCLUSION

•Now that you’ve completed this Web Quest, you are ready to finalize your research and prepare for the class presentation.•After all of the presentations, we will discuss the possibilities of green construction and begin to refine the models to construct a model green home.•Be sure to continually update your journal.

Comparisons Name____________________

Design

Advantages

Disadvantages

Construction

Advantages

Disadvantages