Insulation plays an important role in maintaining the energy efficiency of your home. Effective insulation keeps your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, helping to maintain a comfortable indoor environment. Proper insulation not only lowers energy bills by reducing the need for heating and cooling, but it also decreases the strain on HVAC systems, which could help your equipment last longer. Selecting the right type of insulation is essential to maximizing these benefits, and each home has unique and specific energy needs.  Whether it's fiberglass, foam, or cellulose, choosing the right insulation material and proper installation method ensures long-term savings and comfort.  

Objectives:

• Youth will be able to understand the concepts of energy efficiency and biomimicry.

• Youth will be able to identify different types of housing insulation and their benefits for the home.

• Youth will be able to identify how different types of animals stay warm in the winter.

• Youth will be able to build a nature inspired structure that can slow the melting of an ice cube.

Materials:

• 1 container of ice water

• 1 latex free glove per student

• 1 food service glove per student

• 1 container of vegetable shortening (example- Crisco)

• Serving spoon or ice cream scooper

• Towels

Directions:

1. Begin with each student placing one hand in the ice-cold container of water for max 15 seconds.

1. Next, explain the concept of energy efficiency: the use of less energy to perform the same task or produce the same result. Use examples like turning off the water while brushing teeth, closing exterior doors, and turning off lights when not in use.

1. Then, define insulation: the material used that reduces heat loss or heat gain by providing a barrier between the inside of your home and the significantly different temperature outside. You can compare insulation to if you house were to wear a scarf, sweater, or hat during the winter months.

1. The last terminology to mention is biomimicry: the practice that learns from and mimics the strategies found in nature to solve human design challenges. An example of this is a science noticing a Burr plant that stuck to his dogs fur after a walk in the park, and him using this to then invent Velcro.

1. You will now connect all of these concepts together. Introduce different animals and how they keep warm in the winter: Artic Fox- grows a winter coat, Christmas Robin- fluffs up its feathers, and Habor Seal- uses fat reserves/blubber. Each of these methods can be compared to different types of housing insulation: Fiberglass Batts- do it yourself and most common, Cotton Insulation- made from recycled blue jeans, and Open Cell Spray Foam- sprayed to the surface and doesn’t leave gaps.

1. Now that the students have all the background knowledge they need, they will complete the ice-water challenge again. Except this time, they will have an insulated glove that will mimic an animal’s blubber.

1. Each student will put on one non-latex glove. The teacher will then scoop a spoonful of vegetable shortening onto the glove. Then, the teacher will put a food service glove on top. The student will then spread the vegetable shortening around his palm. Lastly, the student will test their insulated glove by placing their palm into the ice-cold water. Students should now be able to keep it in the water for 30 seconds or more.

1. End by reflecting on this challenge and connecting it back to the concepts learned above.

*If use of materials for a large group is not possible, this lesson can be altered- Fill 3 containers with ice water. Layer the first with 3 layers of an insulated foil blanket. Layer the second with 1 layer. Leave the last with no layer at all. Students will start by placing their hand on the top of the first container to the last- making note of the change in temperature of the water. The insulated foil blanket is the same concept as the insulated glove.