Dream Vacation
What is the greenhouse gas “cost” of your dream vacation?
Susan E. Powers, PhD, PE, Clarkson University, Potsdam NY
May 2011
Details
Type: Activity
Length: 2 - 45 minute class periods
Content Area/Course: Environmental science, Geography
Targeted Grade Level: 11-12 (could be adapted to younger students if more of the MS Excel spreadsheet equations were completed by the teacher and provided to the students)
Prerequisite Knowledge: Familiarity with concepts of greenhouse gas emissions, fuels as a source of GHG emissions, and global warming potentials
Prerequisite Skills: Basic internet and MS Excel skills
Technology/web resources: MS Excel, Internet Access, Google Earth
Thinking skill development: Comprehension, evaluation
NASA resources used: none as written, could add satellite photos (beyond what is in Google earth) (http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/ )
Description
Students plan travel itinerary for a dream vacation and explore the consequences and “cost” of the travel in terms of their greenhouse gas emissions. Basic greenhouse gas inventory concepts and calculations are included: emission factors, fuel economy, and global warming potentials. Options include the use of Google Earth to integrate global geography concepts and knowledge.
Resources
Materials for Activities:
Vacation GHG Emissions Spreadsheet
Lecture Support Materials:
Links to External Resources:
U.S. EPA Personal Household Carbon Emissions Calculator
Corporate Average Fuel Economy








