Name ________________________________

Date _________________________________
Period _______________________________

Energy Webquest
Type in the following link: http://www.cooltheworld.com/kidscarboncalculator.php
1. Calculate your carbon footprint by answering the prompts in the calculator.
What are your CO2 emissions from travelling to and from school? ____________________________________
What are your CO2 emissions from home? _______________________________________________________
What are your CO2 emissions from going on vacation? _____________________________________________
List five things you could do to reduce your CO2 emissions (your carbon footprint).
1. ____________________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________________________________________
Type in the following link: www.energy.gov
2. Click on the purple map titled How much do you spend?
a. Then, click on Colorado to determine how much each person spends on energy and record
below.
U.S. Average ________________________
Colorado ___________________________
What is Colorado ranked compared to other states? __________________
3. Now, click on a few other states and record below.
State

How much?

Rank

________________________

_________________________

___________________

________________________

_________________________

___________________

________________________

_________________________

___________________

4. Now, go back to the home page and click on the yellow/blue map titled How much do you use?
Which state uses the least amount of energy per person? __________________________________________
Why do you think this particular state uses so little energy? _________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Which state uses the most amount of energy per person? __________________________________________
Why do you think this particular state uses so much energy? ________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
What is the U.S. average? ___________________________
5. Now, go back to the home page and put the cursor on the Science & Innovation tab. When the
dropdown menu appears, click on Energy Sources.
b. Click on each of the subtopics (renewable energy, nuclear, electricity, fossil) and watch the
videos and/or look at the images/maps.
Write down one thing you learned from exploring each of the subtopics.
1. ________________________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________________________
Type in the following link: www.smartgrid.gov
6. Click on the orange panel that says What is the Smart Grid?
c. Then click on the icon labeled The Smart Grid, watch the short video and read the
corresponding information.
What is a smart grid? ________________________________________________________________________
What makes a grid smart? __________________________________________________________________
What are three advantages of having a smart grid over the old electrical grid?
1. ________________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________________

7. Now click on the icon labeled The Smart Home, watch the short video, and read the corresponding
information.
Explain how a home energy management system works. ____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
What makes an appliance smart? _____________________________________________________________
How can a smart grid be used during a blackout? __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Now click on the icon labeled Renewable Energy, watch the short video, and read the
corresponding information.
According to what you read, what is one reason why we do not use as much renewable energy as we could?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
How does geography play a role in the efficiency of the smart grid? ___________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
9. Now click on the icon labeled Consumer Engagement, watch the short video, and read the
corresponding information.
Explain why electricity is more expensive during peak times? ________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
How does a smart grid save you money on electricity? _____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Now click on the icon labeled Plug-in Electric Vehicles, watch the short video, and read the
corresponding information.
What are the pros and cons of plug-in electric vehicles? ____________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
How does the smart grid and plug-in electric vehicles interact with one another? ________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Type in the following link: www.fueleconomy.gov
11. Click on the Benefits tab, then click on why is fuel economy important? in the drop down menu

List the four reasons why fuel economy is important.

1. ______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________
12. Now click on save money on the sidebar.
Calculate fuel costs for a Chevy Suburban which averages 18 mpg. __________________________________
Now calculate fuel costs for a Toyota Prius which averages 55 mpg. _________________________________
How much money do you save per year by driving the Prius? ______________________________________
How much money would you save over a five year span? _________________________________________
Besides saving money, what are other reasons for having better fuel economy in our vehicles? _____________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
13. Click on the Advanced Vehicles & Fuels tab, then click on Hybrids in the dropdown menu
Explain how a hybrid car works.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
14. Now click on About Plug-in Hybrids under the title Plug-in Hybrids and About Electrics under
the title Electric Vehicles in the drop down menu.
What is the difference between the gas mileage of an electric vehicle versus a gas powered vehicle?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
List 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of owning electric/plug-in vehicles.
Advantages

Disadvantages

1. _________________________________

___________________________________

2. _________________________________

___________________________________

3. _________________________________

___________________________________

Use the following web link to start designing your floor plans for your dream homeshttp://www.homestyler.com/designer Include any sketches you think would be helpful in the space provided
below: