Power House

Sustainable Living in the 21st Century. Human civilization's energy consumption is growing. At the same time, the harmful environmental impact of our energy usage is becoming apparent. A massive global effort to adopt renewable energy and use our resources more sustainably has begun. To live sustainably, we must use Earth's resources at a rate at which they can be replenished, and thus provide for future generations to live as we have. With this kit, you can learn about alternative energy and sustainable living by conducting 100 experiments and building energy-related models. Build the Power House and then conduct experiments in and around the house. Learn about energy-efficient construction materials and passive house design. Experiment with heating, cooling, conduction, convection, and insulation. Investigate Earth's climate, the water cycle, and that inexhaustible power plant in the sky: The sun. Test passive solar collection methods with a solar collector. Hook up a photovoltaic solar panel to generate electricity from sunlight. Build wind turbines to extract energy from the wind. Construct a greenhouse and learn about the energy conservation tricks used by plants. Power House provides a comprehensive overview of the many forms of alternative energy, and makes environmental protection and energy conservation issues tangible with hands-on models. The 64-page, full-color experiment manual provides instructions, scientific explanations, and energy-saving tips. Ages 10 and up.