Careers in Energy Auditing/Home Performance
Provided by: Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education|Published on: July 14, 2023
Grades: 6-AP
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Social Studies, Engineering, Career Skills
Authors: K-12 Energy Education Program, Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education
Region: Wisconsin
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This lesson introduces students to a career as an energy auditor or home performance consultant and gives students the chance to explore other careers in green energy.
- Students will watch a video interviewing some home performance consultants and explore an interactive career map to get an idea of just how many careers there are in green energy.
Teaching Materials
Prerequisites:
- Ensure students are familiar with the concepts of greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide, the effect that carbon emissions have on our environment, and the greenhouse effect.
Broken links:
- The "Reading Utility Meters" link on slide 11 is a broken link.
- The video linked on slides 8 and 9 is the same as the video that is on slide 7.
Differentiation:
- To enable subtitles for English language learners, videos within the slide deck need to be made full screen.
Extensions:
- Students explore the Green Buildings Careers Map, then choose a career to look into and report back to the rest of the class.
- Students choose a career from the careers map and find programs/education for this career in their area. Students can also explore locally to find home performance consultants and energy auditors in their area.
- Students discuss the kinds of things that would make a home more or less energy efficient. These can be ideas mentioned in the video or from students' background knowledge.
- Use KEEP's Clean Energy Career lessons for a unit on the growing energy career opportunities in Wisconsin due to the changing energy landscape.
Interdisciplinary Connections:
- English Language Arts:
- Students practice propaganda/persuasive writing by creating advertisements convincing people to hire an energy auditor or home performance consultant to come to their home.
- Social Studies:
- Students discuss the political and economic implications of the goal made by the governor to use completely carbon-free energy in Wisconsin by 2050.
- Science:
- Use this slide deck in units talking about the carbon cycle, carbon emissions, and clean energy.
- Career Exploration/Guidance:
- Use this slide deck to introduce students to careers in energy when leading students through career-planning.
This resource from the Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) introduces students to energy auditing and home performance consultation as a career that could not only provide income into the future, but also help Wisconsin meet its clean energy goals. The resource includes a slideshow, a student handout and a short video filled with interviews of energy auditors and footage of them on the job. The video particularly does a great job of showing how rewarding this career can be, as energy auditors help homeowners save money and help the state reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. The student sheet includes a number of thought provoking questions and the slideshow is filled with links to help interested students learn more about a clean energy career. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
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