Module F: Energy Loft
F3 Energy loft. Our daily activities require electricity and fuel from Canada’s energy mix. In this full-scale
replica of a modern loft, visitors complete daily tasks and when they do they learn that energy carriers
come from a mix of energy sources. An energy meter keeps track of the energy use within the space.
Topics addressed will include energy conservation and efficiency.
F3-1 Canada’s energy mix map. Visitors look out the loft window and see a large map which
shows the location of sources from which Canada produces its energy. Along the railing,
visitors see a short list (3) of opportunities and challenges for each source.
F3-2 Energy games. Our youngest visitors can assemble a block puzzle map of Canada’s
energy mix (inspired by the energy mix map) or play Canada’s energy mix tic tac toe.
F3-3 My energy use and footprint interactive. Your daily activities require electricity and
fuel from a mix of energy sources. Visitors can choose from the different activities that they
do daily to get a cumulative output of the energy footprint that they use in their lives.
Information visitors will get includes: amount of energy used, % of energy which comes from
each source (general national data), carbon footprint, cost. At the final output screen,
visitors can remove activities and see what the effect on their energy use is. (Outreach
potential).
Canadians use a lot of energy. One of the main reasons being the need to keep warm in the winter and
cool in the summer. Although heating and cooling represent the largest energy use for Canadians, our
appliances account for 14 percent of the energy consumed in the average home.
1
List of potential household appliances that visitors could interact with in the Energy Loft:
(2016 Toronto Hydro stats)2
Appliance
Approx. Wattage
Monthly hours of Avg. monthly kWh Avg. monthly cost
use
based on avg.
TOU price
Clothes Dryer
5000
20
100
$15.38
Clothes Washer
500
10
5
$0.77
Computer
200
100
20
$3.08
(Monitor &
Printer)
Dishwasher
1300
10
13
$2.00
Microwave Oven
1000
5
5
$0.77
Stove (Oven)
5000
100
500
$76.89
Fridge
500
150
75
$11.53
Television
100
200
20
$3.08
Coffee Maker
900
10
9
$1.38
Fan (Portable)
115
200
23
$3.54
Stereo
30
30
0.9
$0.14
Interesting tip from NRCan
“An appliance’s first price tag—the sticker price—is obvious. Smart consumers also calculate the
“second price tag”: the cost of operating the appliance over its lifetime.
Some energy-efficient appliances cost more initially, but will save money over time by greatly reducing
annual energy costs. Saving just 50 kWh a year is enough to run your dishwasher 35 times; 100 kWh is
enough to do four loads of laundry every week for a year!”3
For Energy Map
Opportunities and Challenges (simplified)
Energy Loft games
- Canada’s energy map puzzle (ages 4 to 10)
Young children can spend time assembling a replica of Canada’s energy mix map. The puzzle could be
made out of wood or robust foam (or similar material). The puzzle pieces could be divided by
province/territory and/or by colourful energy source logos throughout the map.
-
Mix-Tac-Toe (ages 8 and up) (work in progress)
- Pop culture quiz (ages 12 and up)
Quiz asking pop culture questions relating to the natural resources industry. The quiz would be played
on a tablet. Questions would be answered using multiple choices. After each question, information
would be provided relating to the correct answer. After having answered all the questions, the visitor
will receive a simple score (18/20 or 90% for instance).
- Personality Quiz – What energy source are you? (ages 12 and up)
Similar to a BuzzFeed personality quizzes, the visitor will have to answer a series of multiple choice
questions relating to their lifestyle, preferences, interests, etc. Once complete, the result page will
indicate what energy source best fits your personality (or which source you would be).
1
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/products/categories/appliances/13630
http://www.torontohydro.com/sites/electricsystem/residential/yourbilloverview/Pages/ApplianceChart.aspx
3
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/products/categories/appliances/13630
2