Building
Science
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| About KEEP |
Professional
Development |
Resources |
Student
Involvement |
Networking |
Funding Opportunities |
| Introduction |
This page is being developed to serve the needs of technology education teachers across Wisconsin who builds houses or other structures with their students. Check back often for updates and new opportunities.
| What is Building Science? |
Building Science is the branch of science dealing with construction, maintenance, safety, and energy efficiency of buildings (Kregger: glossary). By incorporating building science topics or lessons into the curriculum, you bring real life situations into the classroom. It is important to inform students (future home buyers) to recognize a healthy home.
To learn more, visit www.buildingscience.com, which provides objective, high-quality information about buildings. This resource combines building physics, systems design concepts, and an awareness of sustainability to promote the design and construction of buildings that are more durable, healthier, more sustainable and more economical than most buildings built today.
| Student-built Homes |
In classrooms and construction sites across the state, technology education students are gaining the skills they will need to become effective members of tomorrow's building workforce. Led by innovative educators and community partners, these students are learning what it takes to be outstanding employees. Student-built home projects in Wisconsin may not be as numerous as science fairs, but they offer similar benefits in hands-on learning. Through KEEP and Focus on Energy, technology education teachers are accessing energy efficiency training and techniques to pass on to their students. From choosing high efficiency furnaces to integrating foam insulation and thorough calking, technology education students are discovering that energy efficient home building is superior and yet no more difficult than other methods. These educators armed with the latest energy information and their enthusiastic students will pave the way to a more energy efficient future for Wisconsin.
Web sites of School Construction Programs:
Appleton East:
http://www.aasd.k12.wi.us/East/academics/teched.htm
http://www.aasd.k12.wi.us/teched/TE%20House%2005-06/Index%2005-06.htm
Appleton East, West, and North:
http://www.aasd.k12.wi.us/East/academics/teched/house%20construction/index.htm
Eagle River - Northland Pines: http://www.npsd.k12.wi.us/NPHS/building_site/main_building_trades.htm
Hartford Union: http://www.huhs.org/vision/
Minocqua - Lakeland Union: http://www.luhs.k12.wi.us/departments.cfm?subpage=7173
Mt. Horeb: http://www.freewebs.com/tech_ed_department/tradeshouses.htm
Rhinelander: http://www.rhinelander.k12.wi.us/RHS/TechEd/construction.htm
Sheboygan North and South: http://teachers.sheboygan.k12.wi.us/jgrunewald/houseproject/
Sun Prairie: http://www.spasd.k12.wi.us/web/construction/
| Home Performance with ENERGY STAR |
The professionals of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® are trained to identify the cause of problems or potential problems in your home and provide you with solutions.
The first step in the process is to schedule an in-home evaluation. Expert consultants will conduct a thorough inspection of all the systems in your home and identify problems and their sources. You'll receive an objective, third-party diagnosis and a report of recommended solutions.
Once all work is completed, a post-performance evaluation and inspection are completed so you know things have changed for the better. Whatever the situation, the comfort, safety and durability of your home remain top priority. Cash-Back Rewards are also available on select installed measures.
Visit the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Web site.
| Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes |
The
Wisconsin ENERGY STAR®
Homes Program uses the Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA) strict guidelines for energy efficiency as a basis of
the certification process for each home. In addition,
homes must comply with specific building requirements for
final certification from the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes
Program. Four basic areas of building science and
performance are addressed through the certification process:
Air flow, Heat flow, Moisture flow, and Indoor air quality.
When implemented, the standards and guidelines can enhance a
home's comfort, safety, durability, and energy efficiency.
The goal of students building Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes is to promote awareness about the environment, energy efficiency, and health, while teaching the students how to build quality homes. These students will be building tomorrow's residential inventory. By partnering with an accredited consultant to provide guidance through the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes certification process, students are gaining the experience and knowledge needed to succeed in the homebuilding business.
Discover the special features of a Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Home.
KEEP is here to help your student-built home project become energized! We can connect you with the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes consultant in your area. Contact Sara Windjue for information at 715.346.4163 or swindjue@uwsp.edu or visit the Focus on Energy Web site and click on Residential Programs.
The schools listed below are building Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes or remodeling/adding an addition to a home to the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR standards in the 2007-08 school year.
Download
Case Study in Building Science:
Madison La Follette High School
School Name School City
| Appleton School District | Appleton |
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Hartford Union High School |
Hartford |
| Kiel High School - Home Performance | Kiel |
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La Follette High School |
Madison |
| Merrill High School | Merrill |
| Lakeland Union High School | Minocqua |
| Northland Pines High School | Eagle River |
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Parker/Craig High Schools |
Janesville |
| P.J. Jacobs Junior High | Stevens Point |
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Rhinelander High School |
Rhinelander |
| Sheboygan North & South HS | Sheboygan |
| Sun Prairie High School | Sun Prairie |
| Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) | Stevens Point |
| Renewable Ready Homes |
Energy prices are only predicted to rise. Insulate yourself from future spikes in energy costs and take your savings potential to the next level; build your Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Home renewable ready. Incorporating renewable ready details into planning and construction is relatively easy and inexpensive. To learn more about building a renewable ready home, visit the Focus on Energy Web site or download the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes Renewable Ready Construction Pre-Qualification, Site Verification and Reward Form by visiting www.focusonenergy.com/General/homepartners/forms.aspx and click on Renewable Ready Form.
| Instructor Recognition |
Ten instructors were recognized at the Wisconsin Technology Education Association (WTEA) conference in the Wisconsin Dells in March 2008 because of their involvement with the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes and Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program.
The following instructors continue to build energy efficient, Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes with their students:
David Rasmussen, P.J. Jacobs J.H., Stevens Point
Steve Munson, Madison LaFollette H.S.
Gary Vanness, Appleton School District
John Lonergan, Hartford Union H.S.
The following instructors were recognized for certifying a Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Home for the first time which will be completed this May or June (2008):
Mike Effinger, Lakeland Union H.S. (Minocqua)
Pete McConnell, Merrill H.S.
The following instructors were recognized for certifying a Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Home for the first time last year (2006-07):
Jeff Grunewald and Robert Below, Sheboygan North & South H.S.'sJoe Kruser, Parker and Craig H.S.'s (Janesville)
Tommy Sanders, Sun Prairie H.S.
Russ Germain, Rhinelander H.S.
Bill Rowden, Northland Pines H.S. (Eagle River)
Bob Baker, Stevens Point Area Senior High
This instructor built an addition on a home to Home Performance with ENERGY STAR standards for the first time last year (2006-07):
Robert Boenisch, Kiel H.S.
To learn more about the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes and Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Programs, please visit our Home Energy Education page! Or visit the Focus on Energy Web site at www.focusonenergy.com.
| Student Builder of the Year Awards |
Do you have a student in your construction program that deserves special recognition? Teachers are encouraged to nominate students for the annual Student Builder of the Year Award.
Eligibility:
Any technology education student who excels in
residential construction and has experience with energy efficient building
techniques.
Criteria:
Nominees should be knowledgeable about and/or experienced in energy
efficient building practices and the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes and/or Home
Performance with ENERGY STAR Programs.
Rauscher
Gaven Bandt, Wautoma High School,
nominated by his instructor,
Mr. Robert
Locy
Mr. Robert Locy, Gaven Bandt, Alex Trepanier, and Mr. Ron Rauscher
| Classroom Ideas |
Guest Speakers
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Contact your local ENERGY STAR Representative (For a listing call 1.800.762.7077)
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Contact one of the three technical colleges that offer a Building Science Certificate: Blackhawk Tech, Nicolet Tech, or Lakeshore Tech
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Click here to find guest speakers in your area
Field Trips
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Scavenger Hunt for Ice Dams and Icicles: After it snows, lead a field trip around a residential area to identify homes that may have poor insulation or other problems causing home performance failures.
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Blower Door Demonstration: Ask the local ENERGY STAR Representative if you can bring students on site during home performance testing of a home.
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Green Buildings: Visit a green building in your county.
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Click here to find field trip ideas in your area.
Student Involvement Fundraisers
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Bright Idea Fundraiser: Participate in KEEP's Bright Idea Fundraiser to educate the students about energy efficiency. Through this fundraiser, students learn about efficient lighting by selling compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Media projects
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Newspaper and Local Television Stations: If you are working on a house building project with your students in the community, ask a reporter to come out and interview the students. This makes great connections and exposes your project to the public. If you need assistance, please contact KEEP. We are here to help make connections.
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Students Advertisements: Ask your students to develop an advertisement to sell a green or environmentally built home. They could do this as a newspaper ad, PowerPoint presentation, or as a video clip.
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Check your local newspaper to find articles on home performance. Topics may include mold, home performance tips during cold winters and hot summers, and energy-efficient appliances.
Volunteer Projects and Community Involvement
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Student Built Homes: Over ten schools in Wisconsin offer house building classes through their technology education department. Involve you and your students on a house building project with a local builder.
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Habitat for Humanity Homes: Involve your students in Habitat for Humanity homes in your community.
| Important Links |
The Energy & Environmental Building Association (EEBA) - To provide education and resources to transform the residential design and construction industry to profitably deliver energy efficient and environmentally responsible buildings and communities.
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) - Known as "the voice of the housing industry," NAHB is affiliated with more than 800 state and local home builders associations around the country.
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) - a community of leaders working to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated. We envision an environmentally responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.
Wisconsin Builders Association (WBA) - Twenty-four local home builders associations located geographically across the state belong to the Wisconsin Builders Association.
Send comments and suggestions to KEEP, energy@uwsp.edu or call 715-346-4770.
Copyright 2001 KEEP
