The Renewable Energy Cabin is an innovative, stand alone, classroom in which students can study how renewable energy works and investigate the pros and cons.

The wooden cabin is supplied with hot water and electricity from a small scale wind turbine, solar thermal unit and photo-voltaic cells. The amount of hot-water and electricity produced along with the potential CO₂ saved can be monitored.

Benefits to students include:

• hands-on understanding of renewable energy technology
• knowledge of impacts technology has on the global environment
• awareness of stewardship of finite resources
• understanding of carbon footprint, climate change, carbon neutrality and sustainable energy
• analysis of real data, use of spreadsheets, graphs etc
• Increased creativity when investigating issues that are both important and controversial

Somerset County Gazette Article February 2008