Niagara Catholic District School Board

Grade 11 and 12 students from several Niagara Catholic high schools recently took part in a hands-on learning experience about the process of homebuilding, from understanding the financing to ensuring it’s sustainable.  

The Home Energy Efficiency Tour (HEET) Project marries math, STEAM, and sustainability, to help students fully understand the scope of building a new home.  

The first part of the project focused on budgeting and financing, introducing students into the world of banking and mortgages. As part of this phase, students were given a wish list of construction options for the new house and then had to build within their means.  

The second part involved students planning and building their home using their selected materials, focusing on avoiding energy loss. In this step, students used Python programming to learn about thermostat controls.  

Students also learned about where a home is constructed on a property can affect environmental impact and had to choose the lot they felt was best for their home.  

Finally, the students’ projects were brought together by a presentation focused understanding how choices affect environmental impact, showing students it is possible to create sustainable, eco-friendly homes.  

What a fabulous real-world learning opportunity for students!