Part F: Brainstorm Ideas
Brainstorm ideas for your house. Think about devices, appliances, and building materials you want your house to have. In addition, these computer tools might help you brainstorm some ideas.
This calculator gives you the average energy use of household appliances, so you can research energy-saving alternatives.
This quiz can tell you what your carbon footprint is and how to reduce it in your home. Consider turning some of the questions into energy solutions. For example, one of the questions is, Do you turn off your faucets? If water supply is a concern in your region, perhaps faucets that turn off automatically might be an eco-friendly solution.
This database provides information about air emissions rates in a region. Search the ZIP code for the location you chose and select one of the electrical companies listed. Then scroll down to see how much of the energy in this ZIP code comes from renewable and nuclear energy (a non-renewable, cleaner energy source) compared to fossil fuel sources (oil, coal, and gas). Bar graphs compare the ZIP code's energy profile to the national average.
Write down your ideas for the house you’ll design. Explain how those ideas can reduce carbon dioxide emissions and preserve natural diversity.