Remodeling and Energy Efficiency *

Areas of Science Environmental Engineering
Difficulty
Time Required Average (6-10 days)
*Note: For this science project you will need to develop your own experimental procedure. Use the information in the summary tab as a starting place. If you would like to discuss your ideas or need help troubleshooting, use the Ask An Expert forum. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions and offer guidance if you come to them with specific questions.

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Abstract

Has your house (or one of your friend's houses) been remodeled recently? Were any improvements made for energy efficiency (solar systems, better insulation, passive solar heating, better lighting)? Compare your family's energy costs for a similar time period before and after the remodeling (remember that energy usage often varies seasonally). Monthly bills often have a bar graph showing energy usage for the previous 12 months. You may also be able to get information on past energy usage through your electric company's website. Ask your parents for help to access the online records. Did the improvements save you money? Analyze the cost of the remodeling work that was specific to energy efficiency (for example, if your house got a new roof, and insulation was added, find out what was the extra cost for the insulation, don't use the entire cost of the roof). Calculate how long it will take for the energy savings to pay for the improvements.

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MLA Style

Science Buddies Staff. "Remodeling and Energy Efficiency." Science Buddies, 28 July 2017, https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/EnvEng_p017/environmental-engineering/remodeling-and-energy-efficiency. Accessed 16 Dec. 2019.

APA Style

Science Buddies Staff. (2017, July 28). Remodeling and Energy Efficiency. Retrieved from https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/EnvEng_p017/environmental-engineering/remodeling-and-energy-efficiency


Last edit date: 2017-07-28

Experimental Procedure

For this science project you will need to develop your own experimental procedure. Use the information in the summary tab as a starting place. If you would like to discuss your ideas or need help troubleshooting, use the Ask An Expert forum. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions and offer guidance if you come to them with specific questions.

If you want a Project Idea with full instructions, please pick one without an asterisk (*) at the end of the title.

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Ask an Expert

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