carcino-gen-nz

© swanksalot

The Students of Martinsville Middle School who were a part of NASA SEMAA had a golden opportunity to know about green technologies this week. The field visit was supported by the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research's mobile learning lab of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

At least 58 SEMAA students studying in sixth and seventh grades had a chance to experience a number of green technologies demonstrated inside the mobile lab.

A number of green technologies on display at the mobile lab were a project by Danville-based institute. Bruce Waller and David Sartin, mobile STEM lab driver and instructor, provided guidance to the students with various activities.

These green technologies included a human power generator having a wheel which could be turned to compare the amount of energy used to light an incandescent light bulb as well as the energy-efficient light bulb. The Students also gained insight about green technologies like solar power produced by the sun which keeps the environment eco-friendly. The objects with solar panels included toy cars as well as toy grasshoppers which would jump once the light hit them.
Waller said that the institute expects that these hands-on experiences will make students curious to learn more about STEM fields.

© glasseyes view

Our immediate surroundings, of course, have an impact on our health and well-being. For example, air quality is not only a concern relative to our planetary atmosphere, but to the inside our homes as well. Given the containment of air within the walls of our homes, it's important to make sure we have good ventilation. Equally important is to make sure that we don't have things in the house that compromise our air quality. Storing lots of chemicals for cleaning, or having paint cans around, etc., can release toxins into the air of your home. Another consideration is old carpeting. This can harbor mold and dust that gets kicked up every time you walk around. It's good to have a talk with flooring experts, like at Empire Today or other places. That way you can see what your options are. If you prefer carpet, then there are eco-friendly options, like some of the Empire carpet products. Then, make sure your vacuum cleaner is up to snuff! There are some excellent models with great filters available. People often keep their vacuum cleaners far longer than they should. Especially if you do replace your old flooring, check to see if it's time to get a new vacuum as well. It's best to start out clean all around!

© Manoj Kengudelu

Green homes are eco-friendly houses using natural resources that do not pollute the environment. Keeping this in mind, Mark Bernhardt plans to build a passive house, which is a green home focused on energy efficiency. Mark Bernhardt's energy saving green home will be coming up on Oak Crest Drive in Saanich. Use of extra thick walls and the best quality insulation will be a few notable features for improving the energy efficiency of Bernhardt's green home. According to Mark's father Rob Bernhardt, the focus is primarily on improving the energy efficiency by means of certain principles, which focus on the shape of the building, recovery of heat by means of ventilation, airtightness, etc. The Bernhardts expect to make an annual expenditure of less than $1000 on electrical and hot water consumption.

There are opinions against these green homes which are attributed to the very high costs involved. According to Casey Edge, executive officer of the Canadian Home Builder's Association, hardly any house has been built in the region based on the passive house pattern as extra planning is required which hikes up the cost of construction. The Bernhardts argue that the higher costs are offset by the energy saving mechanism inbuilt in these green homes.