WebQuest

2X Revised Webquest

Pamela Buddy-D’Ambrosio Long Island University WebQuest-620 November 15, 2011

WebQuest Turning Landfill Methane Gas into Energy

According to the Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA), each American produces, on average, more than 1,600 pounds of garbage a year. A portion of that is recycled, composted or incinerated, but more than half of the garbage ends up in landfills. Eighty-nine percent of municipal solid waste ended up in landfills in 1980; By 2009, that number had decreased to 54 percent. Modern landfills are federally regulated and engineered to minimize their environmental impact. For example, a landfill cannot be placed near a wetland, fault or floodplain. Landfills are lined with at least 2 feet of compacted clay soil covered by a flexible membrane. A leachate collection and removal system, installed on top of the membrane, collects any liquids that may leach out of materials in the landfill. Scientists periodically take samples from nearby groundwater to ensure that all of the systems are working and that there is no contamination. While landfills can potentially impact soil and water quality, air quality is a concern as well. Landfills contribute to the greenhouse effect by producing methane, a gas that is 20 times more effective in trapping atmospheric heat than carbon dioxide. The EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program in an attempt to manage this environmentally-harmful gas. Newer landfills harness the power of methane by capturing it and using it to fuel factories, power plants, vehicles and homes.---http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/recycling-vs-landfills-incinerators-3266.html
 * __Introduction__**

Projectgreenify.com In 2006, through the EPA’s program, BMW in South Carolina, began powering its paint shop ovens with energy produced by methane gas from a nearby landfill to become the world’s first “green” automotive paint shop. Many businesses and corporations throughout the country have taken advantage of this form of energy. School districts haven’t taken advantage of this form of energy. Why?

You’ll work in groups on separate pieces of this project to convince your school’s Board of Education that they should look into using the energy from methane gas to power your school. Once your group has finished its portion of the project, you will teach the other groups what you’ve learned. In order to prove your sincerity and your knowledge to the Board of Education, you must become experts in the history and use of this energy source. Follow the steps below to become an expert: 1) Create a timeline of landfill methane gas-use as energy in the United States. 2) Map the United States’ landfills distributing methane gas. 3) Find the landfill closest to your school. 4) Choose one of these important tasks Cite your sources using MLA format. [|http://www.amazon.com/Waste-Energy-Heat-Light-Parents/dp/1584157658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321499108&sr=8-1#reader_1584157658] (Note: The 1993 date regarding BMW is not accurate--refer to the BMW website: []
 * Task**
 * 1) Develop a position paper to send to the BOE.
 * 2) Develop a PowerPoint presentation you will present at the March BOE meeting.
 * 3) Write an article for the local newspaper
 * 4) Develop a Public Service Announcement
 * 5) Create a poster that will cover all areas of your research; place in all the public buildings
 * 6) Develop a website where the public may go for more information
 * __Process__**
 * Gather as many dates as possible to create the timeline of the history of landfill methane gas-use.

[]

Blank map: [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [|http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19459535/ns/business-oil_and_energy/t/waste-management-tap-landfill-methane/#.TsR9s_KpOuI] Energy Calculator: [] []
 * Map the United States’ landfills presently distributing methane gas for energy use:
 * The methane gas from the landfill closest to your school will need to power the building.
 * How will the energy get to the school?
 * What will it power?
 * What will be the cost savings to your school?

Biomass Resources of the United States /Methane Emissions from Landfills: [] Cho, R. (2011). “Putting Landfill Gas to Good Use.” //E Magazine//. Retrieved from []. Energy Justice Network: [] EPA Tracked Sites with Current and Potential Landfill Gas Energy Projects: [] Largest Landfills and how energy is being used: [] ( O’Neal, C. //How You Can Use Waste Energy to Heat and Light Your Home//. Mitchell Lane Publishers. 2009.
 * __Resources__**

Methane gas use? || Minimal dates on timeline. || Advanced number of dates on timeline. || Nearly every date in order on timeline. || All dates in order regarding history of gas use on timeline. ||  ||
 * __Evaluation__**
 * || **Beginning**
 * 1** || **Developing**
 * 2** || **Accomplished**
 * 3** || **Exemplary**
 * 4** || **Score** ||
 * What did you learn about the history of
 * What did you learn about the locations of methane gas use in the United States? || Minimal places of methane gas use on map. || Advanced number of places of methane gas use on map. || Nearly every place of methane gas use on map. || All locations of methane gas use in United States on map. ||  ||
 * What did you learn about equipping your school with energy via methane gas? || Minimal effort in understanding and translating power transfer from landfill to school. || Advanced understanding and effort in translating power transfer from landfill to school. || Nearly full understanding and effort in translating power transfer from landfill to school. || Excellent effort and understanding of energy transfer. ||  ||
 * What did you learn about presenting to the Board of Education? || Minimal preparation of presentation. || Presentation lacking in preparation, but able to get the point across. || Noticeable preparation, delivered nicely with information in order. || Persuasive, well-thought out and delivered, cohesive presentation. ||  ||
 * Language, table, map, artwork use || Spelling, grammatical errors; little effort with artwork. || Fewer spelling and grammatical errors; advanced effort with artwork. || Minimal spelling and grammatical errors; determined effort with artwork. || No spelling, grammatical errors; perfectly rendered artwork. ||  ||

How will the use of landfill methane gas change in the future? Read about another productive use of “waste.”
 * __Conclusion__**

Using Animal Waste
Some farmers produce biogas in large tanks called "digesters" where they put manure and bedding material from their barns. Some cover their manure ponds (also called lagoons) to capture biogas. Biogas digesters and manure ponds contain the same anaerobic bacteria in landfills. The biogas can be used to generate electricity or heat for use on the farm, or to sell electricity to an electric utility. Read about a [|field trip] to a real waste-to-energy plant or learn about the history of MSW---http://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=biomass_home-basics-k.cfm

@http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/webenergyfps.html

Revised Webquest

Pamela Buddy-D’Ambrosio Long Island University WebQuest-620 November 15, 2011

WebQuest Turning Landfill Methane Gas into Energy

According to the Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA), each American produces, on average, more than 1,600 pounds of garbage a year. A portion of that is recycled, composted or incinerated, but more than half of the garbage ends up in landfills. Eighty-nine percent of municipal solid waste ended up in landfills in 1980; By 2009, that number had decreased to 54 percent. Modern landfills are federally regulated and engineered to minimize their environmental impact. For example, a landfill cannot be placed near a wetland, fault or floodplain. Landfills are lined with at least 2 feet of compacted clay soil covered by a flexible membrane. A leachate collection and removal system, installed on top of the membrane, collects any liquids that may leach out of materials in the landfill. Scientists periodically take samples from nearby groundwater to ensure that all of the systems are working and that there is no contamination. While landfills can potentially impact soil and water quality, air quality is a concern as well. Landfills contribute to the greenhouse effect by producing methane, a gas that is 20 times more effective in trapping atmospheric heat than carbon dioxide. The EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program in an attempt to manage this environmentally-harmful gas. Newer landfills harness the power of methane by capturing it and using it to fuel factories, power plants, vehicles and homes.---http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/recycling-vs-landfills-incinerators-3266.html
 * __Introduction__**

Projectgreenify.com In 2006, through the EPA’s program, BMW in South Carolina, began powering its paint shop ovens with energy produced by methane gas from a nearby landfill to become the world’s first “green” automotive paint shop. Many businesses and corporations throughout the country have taken advantage of this form of energy.

1) Create a timeline of landfill methane gas-use as energy in the United States. 2) Map the United States’ landfills distributing methane gas. 3) Find the landfill closest to your school. Cite your sources using MLA format. [|http://www.amazon.com/Waste-Energy-Heat-Light-Parents/dp/1584157658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321499108&sr=8-1#reader_1584157658] (Note: The 1993 date regarding BMW is not accurate--refer to the BMW website: []
 * Task**
 * __Process__**
 * Gather as many dates as possible to create the timeline of the history of landfill methane gas-use.

[]

Blank map: [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [|http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19459535/ns/business-oil_and_energy/t/waste-management-tap-landfill-methane/#.TsR9s_KpOuI] Energy Calculator: [] []
 * Map the United States’ landfills presently distributing methane gas for energy use:
 * The methane gas from the landfill closest to your school will need to power the building.
 * How will the energy get to the school?
 * What will it power?
 * What will be the cost savings to your school?

Biomass Resources of the United States /Methane Emissions from Landfills: [] Cho, R. (2011). “Putting Landfill Gas to Good Use.” //E Magazine//. Retrieved from []. Energy Justice Network: [] EPA Tracked Sites with Current and Potential Landfill Gas Energy Projects: [] Largest Landfills and how energy is being used: [] ( O’Neal, C. //How You Can Use Waste Energy to Heat and Light Your Home//. Mitchell Lane Publishers. 2009.
 * __Resources__**

Methane gas use? || Minimal dates on timeline. || Advanced number of dates on timeline. || Nearly every date in order on timeline. || All dates in order regarding history of gas use on timeline. ||  ||
 * __Evaluation__**
 * || **Beginning**
 * 1** || **Developing**
 * 2** || **Accomplished**
 * 3** || **Exemplary**
 * 4** || **Score** ||
 * What did you learn about the history of
 * What did you learn about the locations of methane gas use in the United States? || Minimal places of methane gas use on map. || Advanced number of places of methane gas use on map. || Nearly every place of methane gas use on map. || All locations of methane gas use in United States on map. ||  ||
 * What did you learn about equipping your school with energy via methane gas? || Minimal effort in understanding and translating power transfer from landfill to school. || Advanced understanding and effort in translating power transfer from landfill to school. || Nearly full understanding and effort in translating power transfer from landfill to school. || Excellent effort and understanding of energy transfer. ||  ||
 * Language, table, map, artwork use || Spelling, grammatical errors; little effort with artwork. || Fewer spelling and grammatical errors; advanced effort with artwork. || Minimal spelling and grammatical errors; determined effort with artwork. || No spelling, grammatical errors; perfectly rendered artwork. ||  ||

How will the use of landfill methane gas change in the future? Read about another productive use of “waste.”
 * __Conclusion__**

Using Animal Waste
Some farmers produce biogas in large tanks called "digesters" where they put manure and bedding material from their barns. Some cover their manure ponds (also called lagoons) to capture biogas. Biogas digesters and manure ponds contain the same anaerobic bacteria in landfills. The biogas can be used to generate electricity or heat for use on the farm, or to sell electricity to an electric utility. Read about a [|field trip] to a real waste-to-energy plant or learn about the history of MSW---http://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=biomass_home-basics-k.cfm

@http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/webenergyfps.html

Work in Progress

Pamela Buddy-D’Ambrosio Long Island University WebQuest-620 November 15, 2011

WebQuest Turning Landfill Methane Gas into Energy

According to the Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA), each American produces, on average, more than 1,600 pounds of garbage a year. A portion of that is recycled, composted or incinerated, but more than half of the garbage ends up in landfills.
 * __Introduction__**

Eighty-nine percent of municipal solid waste ended up in landfills in 1980; By 2009, that number had decreased to 54 percent. Modern landfills are federally regulated and engineered to minimize their environmental impact. For example, a landfill cannot be placed near a wetland, fault or floodplain. Landfills are lined with at least 2 feet of compacted clay soil covered by a flexible membrane. A leachate collection and removal system, installed on top of the membrane, collects any liquids that may leach out of materials in the landfill. Scientists periodically take samples from nearby groundwater to ensure that all of the systems are working and that there is no contamination. While landfills can potentially impact soil and water quality, air quality is a concern as well. Landfills contribute to the greenhouse effect by producing methane, a gas that is 20 times more effective in trapping atmospheric heat than carbon dioxide. The EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program in an attempt to manage this environmentally-harmful gas. Newer landfills harness the power of methane by capturing it and using it to fuel factories, power plants, vehicles and homes.---http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/recycling-vs-landfills-incinerators-3266.html

Projectgreenify.com In 2006, through the EPA’s program, BMW in South Carolina, began powering its paint shop ovens with energy produced by methane gas from a nearby landfill to become the world’s first “green” automotive paint shop. Many businesses and corporations throughout the country have taken advantage of this form of energy.

1) Create a timeline of landfill methane gas-use as energy in the United States. 2) Map the United States’ landfills distributing methane gas. 3) Find the landfill closest to your school.
 * __Task__**

The methane gas from the landfill closest to your school will need to power the building. Energy Calculator: [] []
 * How will the energy get to the school?
 * What will it power?
 * What will be the costs savings to your school?

Cite your sources using MLA format.

[|http://www.amazon.com/Waste-Energy-Heat-Light-Parents/dp/1584157658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321499108&sr=8-1#reader_1584157658] (Note: The 1993 date regarding BMW is not accurate--refer to the BMW website: []
 * __Process__**
 * Gather as many dates as possible to create the timeline of the history of landfill methane gas-use.

[]

Blank map: [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [|http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19459535/ns/business-oil_and_energy/t/waste-management-tap-landfill-methane/#.TsR9s_KpOuI]
 * Map the United States’ landfills presently distributing methane gas for energy use:

Cho, R. (2011). “Putting Landfill Gas to Good Use.” //E Magazine//. Retrieved from http://www.emagazine.com/includes/print-article/magazine/8635/. Energy Justice Network: [] methane digesters Largest Landfills and how energy is being used: [] ( Biomass Resources of the United States /Methane Emissions from Landfills: [] EPA Tracked Sites with Current and Potential Landfill Gas Energy Projects: [] =O’Neal, C. //How You Can Use Waste Energy to Heat and Light Your Home//. =
 * __Resources__**


 * __Evaluation__**
 * ||  ||   ||   ||   || Score ||


 * __Conclusion__** allows for reflection by the students and summation by the teacher.[[file:WebQuest.docx]]