Energy Conservation Basics

Lesson 1: Energy and its Sources

Topics

What is Energy?; How Fossil Fuels Developed; Mining and Drilling Methods; Putting Fossil Fuels to Work; Nuclear Power; Nuclear Reactors; Solar Energy; Converting Solar to Electrical Energy; Wind as an Energy Source; Hydroelectric Power; Evaluating Energy Sources; Measuring Energy

Objectives

• Define energy and list several potential energy sources
• Explain how fossil fuels developed and how they are extracted from the earth.
• Explain, in simple terms, how uranium produces energy.
• List at least one advantage and one disadvantage of each of the following: oil, natural gas, coal, solar power, wind energy, and hydroelectric power.
• Tell how heat and temperature are measured (what units).

Lesson 2: Why the Energy Crisis?

Topics

History of Energy Use; The Fossil Fuel Age Begins; America Strikes Oil; Other Traditional Sources; How Much Energy is Enough?; WWII and After; The End of Cheap Oil; World's Energy Record; Fossil Fuel Reserves; Increase in Coal Use; Fossil Fuels Produce More Than Energy; Alternative and Synthetic Fuels; Gas and Oil from Coal; Nuclear Fuels; Nuclear Fusion; Geothermal Energy Sources; Biomass

Objectives

• Define the fossil fuel age and list the energy sources that made it possible.
• Name some of the factors that contributed to the greatly increased use of fossil fuels in the past century.
• Describe the outlook for fossil fuel availability in the next century.
• Give examples of current efforts to develop alternative sources of oil and gas.
• Identify potential sources of future energy and describe their present limitations.

Lesson 3: Energy Consumption and Loss

Topics

Using Fuels to Generate Electricity; Fuels Most Often Used; Energy Losses in Consumer Areas; Effects of Climate on Energy Use; Degree-Days; Cooling Degree-Days; Using Degree-Day Figures; Where Can Energy Be Conserved?; More Savings; The Cost of Saving Energy; ROI and Payback Period; Establishing Priorities

Objectives

• Tell why generating electricity is an inefficient use of energy and what characteristics of electricity justifies this inefficiency.
• Compare energy use in the three categories of energy consumers.
• Explain degree-days and how they are used?
• State why a building's HVAC system is a good place to start looking for potential energy savings.
• Tell how to calculate the payback period of an energy conservation plan.

Lesson 4: Practical Conservation Measures

Topics

Recognizing Energy Waste in Building Structures; Correcting Energy Waste in Building Structures; Energy Loss in Heating and Cooling; Sample Heating/Cooling Corrective Measures; Energy Waste in Mechanical Systems; Some Energy Savers for Mechanical Systems; Recognizing Electrical Energy Waste; Electrical Conservation Examples; Electric Utility Charges; Computer Monitoring and Control

Objectives

• Recognize energy waste conditions in building structures.
• Name at least three factors that affect boiler and furnace efficiency.
• Give examples of energy waste in a building's mechanical system and how it might be eliminated.
• Explain peak demand and why it is important in electricity costs.
• Tell how computer monitoring and control can be used to save energy and lower utility costs.
• Tell how computer monitoring and control can be used to save energy and lower utility costs.

Lesson 5: Conducting an Energy Audit

Topics

What Is an Energy Audit?; Mini-Audits; Tools Required for the Energy Survey; Sample Energy Audit; Fuel Usage Information; Building and Equipment Data; Conservation Opportunities; Priorities

Objectives

• Name and describe the six segments of a detailed energy audit.
• Define a mini-audit and tell when it might be used.
• List the tools required for an energy survey of any building.
• Record the data necessary to make up an energy audit.
• Explain the procedure for assigning priorities to energy-saving projects.