PowerHouse Programs

The PowerHouse is a tiny home used as a mobile educational resource. We’ve visited fairs, schools, libraries, and community centers–and we’d love to visit you!

The PowerHouse is an exciting way to bring science and energy education to life. Programs can explore a wide variety of topics surrounding science, energy, and the environment. Read on for some example activities!

Our programs

Programs cost $100 per program hour, plus a flat fee of $150 to cover transportation to and from the location. Long distances (30+ miles from Ithaca, NY) may incur an additional transportation charge.

Limited financial assistance may be available. Please email us for more information.

Programming is available April through November. If you have any questions, please email us at PowerHouse@cornell.edu.

  • Energy Detectives: Design your very own draft detector and use a thermal camera to explore home energy use.

    Tiny Home Story Time: Explore the PowerHouse and then cozy up in the tiny house reading loft for tiny home story time!

  • Tiny Home Story Time: Explore the PowerHouse and then cozy up in the tiny house reading loft for tiny home story time!

    Hands-On STEM Stations: Groups learn about states of matter, engineering design, and environmental relationships by exploring the PowerHouse and participating in hands-on STEM experiments.

    Save the Ice!: Explore heat transfer in a fun, hands-on experiment where small groups try to save their ice for as long as they can!

  • Hands-On STEM Stations: Groups learn about energy and fuels, properties of matter, environmental protection, and engineering design by exploring the PowerHouse and participating in hands-on STEM experiments.

    Save the Ice!: Explore heat transfer in a fun, hands-on experiment where small groups try to save their ice for as long as they can!

  • Solar Oven: Students learn about the greenhouse effect and the science of climate change. Groups then work to apply STEM principles to develop a solar oven mimicking the greenhouse effect.

    Insulation Challenge: Small teams discover what makes the PowerHouse well-insulated and then compete against each other to design the best-insulated enclosure.

    Design-Your-Own Tiny Home: Learn about the PowerHouse’s construction and energy use and then design your very own, super-sustainable tiny home! 

Looking for something else? If possible, we’re happy to develop or adapt activities to meet your needs! For any other questions, please contact us at PowerHouse@cornell.edu.