Lesson summary
Students are introduced to the concept of net zero homes and the imperative why society needs building designs like this to address climate change. Students explore the features and innovations in these homes, focusing on electrification, renewable energies, batteries, and other sustainable design principles as they investigate how these aspects contribute to creating net zero homes and transitioning society to a net zero economy.
Learning intentions:
Students will...
- understand the key principles and features of net zero homes, recognising their significance in achieving energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact
- explore and investigate various sustainable design elements such as electrification, renewable energies, batteries, and heating and cooling systems to evaluate their role in transforming homes into net zero energy dwellings.
Success criteria:
Students can...
- summarise the importance of net zero homes for a transitioned economy
- list the essential features of a net zero home design, recalling the principles learned in the lesson
- evaluate case studies of sustainable house designs from different climate zones, outlining their innovative features and the potential benefits they offer
- develop recommendations and plans for incorporating specific sustainable design elements, such as electrification and renewable energies, into existing homes or new building projects to advance the transition to net zero homes.
Lesson guides and printables
Lesson details
Skills
This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:
- critical thinking
- collaboration
- communication
- global citizenship
- problem-solving
Curriculum Mapping
Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content description: Year 9 Physics
- Apply the law of conservation of energy to analyse system efficiency in terms of energy inputs, outputs, transfers and transformations AC9S9U05
- investigate how advances in technologies enable advances in science, and how science has contributed to developments in technologies and engineering AC9S9H02
General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability
Syllabus outcomes: Stage 5: PW3
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability
Relevant parts of Year 9 Physics achievement standards
Students can analyse energy conservation in simple systems and apply wave and particle models to describe energy transfer and analyse the different ways in which science and society are interconnected.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
UN SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy
- 7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- 7.3 By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
- 7.A By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.
Resources Required
- Device capable of displaying audiovisual material
- Student devices for research
Additional Info
This unit of lessons, along with the other units in the Skills and Jobs For a Transitioned Economy package, aims to teach students how to be climate solution entrepreneurs. These lessons will equip students with the relevant skills and knowledge of jobs and career pathways that will be able to sustain our economy once it has transitioned away from fossil fuels. Cool.org thanks our philanthropic partners, the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and Boundless Earth, for their generous contributions in helping us to create these resources.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium: Some explicit teaching required, facilitation of research and discussion.
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