Energy Savers

Solar Decathlon: How Do WE Do Efficiency?

October is a great time of year in Washington, D.C. The weather is cooling off, the trees look gorgeous and (every other year) the National Mall turns into a beehive of activity when the Solar Decathlon comes to town.

Well, it doesn't really "come to town." It's an event that the Department of Energy sponsors every other year. Twenty college and university teams come to D.C. with solar-powered homes that they have designed, built, and transported here—some across the Atlantic Ocean, no less—in order to compete. That's dedication, folks; these college teams put in two years of hard work, all of which culminates in about a week and a half of insanely busy activity.

So why am I mentioning this event on the Energy Savers blog?

Animations, Videos, and Other Flashy Shiny Things from EERE

While it doesn't fit quite perfectly into the little niche of "energy-saving things you can do at home," I found myself thinking while I stared at EERE's new Multimedia Site this week. I started thinking about how there were a lot of really simple, really cute files here that explained how renewable energy and energy efficient technologies worked, and all in a way that anyone could understand. And I thought, well, wouldn't this be helpful to show around?

So I guess my post this week will be educational. If nothing else, the Multimedia site has some fun stuff that you can click around and play with, and what more can you ask for from a Web site?

EERE's Multimedia Web site has animations, photograph libraries, videos, and audio files. Some of the content is Program or research-specific, and some of it's a bit technical, but for most people, I think the animations might be interesting. A lot of them do a great job of explaining basic renewable information, including animations about how geothermal plants work, how hydrogen fuel cells work, how hybrid electric vehicles work, and how wind turbines work.

So feel free to look around! Some of the stuff this site highlights is really interesting.

Elizabeth Spencer is a communicator at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which assists EERE in providing technical content for many of its Web sites.

Question of the Week: Are You Considering an Energy-Related Career?

On Tuesday, Amy wrote about resources to help you further your education and career in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Are you considering an energy-related career? Tell us about your plans.

Each Thursday, you have the chance to share your thoughts on a topic related to energy efficiency or renewable energy for consumers. Please comment with your answers, and also feel free to respond to other comments.

Energize Your Career - Educational Opportunities in Renewables and Efficiency

Energy and persistence alter all things.
-Benjamin Franklin

In recent months, inquiries to the EERE Information Center on energy-related careers are on the rise. Some callers are students seeking information on degrees in energy or training programs to get them started in the field. Others callers are seeking resources to help them switch careers to take advantage of the recent national focus on making the transition to a green economy.

Whichever category best describes you, there are a number of training and degree programs that can help you get the education you need to be successful in the energy field. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's (EERE) website offers a wealth of information on energy education programs around the country.

Saving Energy Is a Lifestyle, Not a Diet

This blog has been aimed at helping you save energy. We've offered ideas on ways to fit your home for the winter months, including checklists of tasks from the easy to the not-as-easy, and we've shown how saving energy saves you money. Some of the posts here are practical advice, while others are about the why behind this whole effort.

So why are we doing this?

Energy Resources for Students and Teachers

All the world is a laboratory to the inquiring mind.
- Martin H. Fischer

Mornings are brisk as students wait for the school bus, catch a ride with a parent or walk down city streets and rural lanes on their way to school. Energy is an important topic in the classroom and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has resources to help students research that report or teachers set up lesson plans on topics ranging from hydrogen to wind energy and much more. There is a variety of great information available online—and at students' fingertips—that can point them to useful answers for a variety of energy-related questions. From resources for research papers to step-by-step science project plans, there truly is a wealth of information on efficiency and renewables available on the internet, much of which is categorized by age group to ensure that students are able to view content appropriate to their level of understanding.

But students aren't the only ones who can benefit from online energy resources. Teachers searching for lesson plans or classroom activities on energy-related topics have a treasure trove of web-based information to choose from. So, whether you're a student with an inquiring mind and a burning energy question or an educator teaching a classroom full of inquiring minds, the following websites should help to put you on the right track.