Rural Energy in China: How Can Engineers Make a Difference?
A kitchen in rural Yunnan Province, China.
Students learn about five types of renewable energy that are part of engineering solutions to help people in rural communities use less and cleaner energy for cooking and heating. Specifically, students learn about the pollution and health challenges facing families in rural China, and they are introduced to the concept of optimization. Through an energy game, students differentiate between renewable and non-renewable sources of energy.
Engineering is all about developing solutions to help meet people's needs. Engineers can make a difference by designing solutions to help people in rural communities use less and cleaner energy for cooking and heating. In rural China, many families have limited incomes and rely on solid fuels such as coal and biomass to cook meals and heat homes and water. Design solutions must be affordable, robust, sustainable and culturally appropriate so they can make a real difference in the health of the families who use them, as well as the environment.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Explain the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy.
- Name five different types of renewable energy sources.
- Describe solid fuels and how they differ from non-solid fuels.
- Explain why solid fuels can be harmful to people's health.