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Efficiency
Efficiency is a measure of how well a system can convert into work or other desired outputs.
Efficient systems allow us to get the most benefit from our time, energy, and resources.

Efficiency Formula

Lost Energy in a System

No system can convert 100 % of its input energy into useful work.

Lost energy is energy that is not available to help produce the desired output.

Transformed energy is energy that is changed from one form to another

Transferred energy is energy that is moved from one place to another

Energy in a Car
Most cars run on gasoline. The chemical energy stored in gasoline is transformed into motion in
the engine. Engine motion is then transferred to the drive wheels, making the car move.
In a typical engine, only about one-quarter of the chemical energy in the gasoline is converted into
mechanical work by the engine. By the time that energy is transferred into the drive wheels, less than
20 % of the gasoline’s energy is actually used to move the car. The remaining energy is lost through
such things as hot exhaust gases (fumes), heating the water in the car’s cooling system, overcoming
friction in the car’s moving parts, vibration, and sound.
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Energy Efficient House Activity

Mr. Pavletic is building a house and has hired you as his contractor. Mr. Pavletic wants to make
sure that his house is as energy efficient as it can possibly be. Your job is to write down all the
ways that you will make his house energy efficient.

Using the house diagram below, and the success criteria label the different ways that you will
make the house energy efficient.

Success Criteria

1. Identify an area in homes where energy is lost or wasted. ( Example: heat escaping
through openings in window frames).
2. Propose a solution to the problem(Example Use a film to seal the window shut to trap
heat inside the house and reduce energy loss).
3. You can also include energy efficient additions to the home
(If you do this Leave the problem section blank and fill out solution)
4. Use 8 examples
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Energy Efficient House

1. Energy Efficiency Problem-

Energy Efficiency Solution-

2. Energy Efficiency Problem-

Energy Efficiency Solution-

3. Energy Efficiency Problem-

Energy Efficiency Solution-

4. Energy Efficiency Problem-

Energy Efficiency Solution-

5. Energy Efficiency Problem-

Energy Efficiency Solution-

6. Energy Efficiency Problem-

Energy Efficiency Solution-

7. Energy Efficiency Problem-

Energy Efficiency Solution-

8. Energy Efficiency Problem-

Energy Efficiency Solution

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