Energy Conservation Project

For my energy project, I compiled information on how many sandwich and freezer bags my wife and I used over the course of three weeks, how much it cost us, and how much it was saving on the environment.

After looking at my numbers, I realized plastic bags are really cheap. Throwing plastic bags away after just one use will not break your bank account. However, the plastic bags we use sure do add up. Click here to view my PowerPoint presentation.

Over the course of 50 years, my wife and I -- both teachers who pack our lunches every day to school -- are on track for reusing 48,000 plastic bags over the next 50 years. In our three weeks of washing sandwich and freezer bags, we have become permanent bag washers. Click here to view my Excel spreadsheet.

Of all the requirements for this project, the video was the most daunting. I'm not sure why, considering I was alone in my classroom. I guess I feel more comfortable talking in front of students. Click here to view my YouTube video.

Here's a list of things that could have been improved: The camera should have been moved back (sometimes my face was cut off); visuals would have helped, like an actual sandwich or freezer bag; and, finally, I said "umm" and "uhh" way too many times.

All in all, I enjoyed watching the same teaching style my students witness. It generated some great internal constructive criticism.