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University of Colorado engineer Abby Watrous is on a mission in rural China, converting coal-burning homes and cook stoves into cleaner-burning models. With funding from the National Science Foundation, this civil and environmental engineer is helping to develop renewable energy technologies in developing communities. Watrous and her colleagues are looking at ways to help more people use biomass.
(Source: DCMP)
Learning to incorporate a variety of eco-friendly energy sources into businesses and homes will make Earth a better place to live. Students explore photovoltaics, the design behind wind turbine technology and the creative processes behind vehicles in the American Solar Car Race. Zero energy houses of the future will use many of these technologies to produce more energy than they consume. Renewable energy technologies are important for the future of our planet.
Clearly shows the environmental impacts of both renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. Provides an overview of numerous renewable energy sources, how the energy is collected, and the pros and cons of renewable energy. Also explores what is happening around the globe with the introduction of wind farms, wave parks, and solar farms.
There’s a new renewable energy player in town, and it’s about to make waves in the industry. Despite its massive potential as a source for renewable energy, the ocean is unlikely to contribute meaningfully to electricity supplies without dramatic, innovation-driven reductions in the cost of energy conversion. That’s where engineers Balky Nair, Rahul Shendure, and Tim Mundon come in with their company, Oscilla Power. With support from the National Science Foundation, they’re developing a utility-scale wave energy harvester called the Triton. This technology shows promise as a means for delivering utility-scale electric power to the grid at a price that is competitive with conventional fossil or renewable technologies. Part of the National Science Foundation Series “Science Nation.”
Access to affordable, sustainable energy supplies is a growing concern around the world. Looks at successful enterprises that are providing some renewable energy solutions. In Scotland, small-scale turbines put wind power within the reach of domestic users. In Sweden, the world's first train to be run solely on biogas has been developed. In Nepal, biogas stoves are improving the quality of life in many ways. And in India, agricultural-plant waste is being turned into solid fuel briquettes for use in industrial stoves and boilers, while a solar-energy company has developed environmentally friendly lighting technology that disadvantaged communities can afford.
Energy has been essential for the development of human activities from the Industrial Revolution to present day. Over the course of history, human consumption of energy has increased significantly. Currently, society depends largely on nonrenewable energies that come from fossil fuels. However, the increase in greenhouse gas emissions has highlighted the need to change from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources that reduce environmental contamination. Many industries are committing to the development of alternative energy sources that don’t contribute to global warming. Chapter 9 of Air: Climate Change Series.
Revolutionary technologies now make it possible to harness a completely renewable energy resource-the natural power of the sea. Explores ways that electric power can be drawn from tidal forces or from fluctuations in ocean currents. Highlights several innovations, including a tide-driven rotor off the coast of Cornwall in the United Kingdom, a multi-rotor locks system in the English Channel, an OTEC (i.e., ocean-thermal energy conversion plant) in southern Japan, and another OTEC facility in Hawaii. Commentary from the inventors, designers, and managers of these systems is included along with animation that illustrates how each mechanism works.
Harnessing energy from the waves of the world’s oceans seems like the ultimate in renewable fuel. With funding from the National Science Foundation, Electrical engineer Annette von Jouanne is leading efforts to capture wave energy, by creating simple, powerful devices that can withstand heavy winds, monster waves, and corrosive salt water. Oregon State University research now underway is based on ocean buoy generators. As ocean swells hit the buoy, electrical coils inside move through a magnetic field, inducing a voltage, and creating electricity.
Geothermal energy is one of the oldest renewable resources used by humans. It has been used since the ancient Roman times as a heat source. Recently, it has been harnessed and used as a source of power. Explains a few different ways that geothermal power plants operate. Discusses how experts are working to fine-tune the process and make the power plants more affordable and useful across the country.
Host award-winning geoscientist, Richard Alley provides an eye-opening look at some of the world’s most important energy decisions, and an assessment of what it takes to build a sustainable energy infrastructure. Part 2 of Earth: The Operators’ Manual.
Environmental and science experts explore the enormous potential for clean, renewable energy. They also illustrate the connections among such issues as solar energy, wind energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, and global climate change. Viewers also learn specific action steps that viewers can take in their own lives to create a sustainable future.
More energy from the sun hits the Earth in one hour than is consumed on the planet in a whole year. Caltech chemical engineer Sossina Haile and University of Minnesota mechanical engineer Jane Davidson are working to expand the nation’s renewable energy storage capacity. Their mission is to put the heat of the sun to work creating renewable fuels from sources that don’t need to be drilled out of the ground. Part of the National Science Foundation Series “Science Nation.”
The Pajaro Valley, in the Monterey Bay area of California, is ideally suited for agriculture. In fact, the Pajaro Valley and the nearby Salinas Valley produce nearly half of the strawberries grown in the United States yearly. But, the water source for the valley is a confined underground aquifer that is slowly being depleted. In January of 2011, the American Institute of Mathematics held a Sustainability Problems workshop with the goal of bringing together mathematicians and industry representatives to work on a variety of sustainability problems, including renewable energy, air quality, water management, and other environmental issues. Part of the National Science Foundation Series “Science Nation.”
What is the best way to power the planet? Travel the globe with scholar Johan Norberg, from Morocco to Sweden and throughout the United States, as he explores the pros and cons of the eight main energy sources available to us: coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, biomass, wind, and solar.
Solar panels are becoming a familiar site in communities across the United States, but what about solar fuels? A solar fuel is produced from sunlight through artificial photosynthesis, mimicking what Mother Nature has been doing for billions of years. Many chemists and chemical engineers are working to make solar fuels a viable option in the future. Part of the National Science Foundation Series “Science Nation.”
Using only gasoline to power cars back in 1905 was cheaper and easier, so the hybrid car was forgotten-until recently. The modern hybrid car has two distinct power sources working together to make it run: gas and electric power. Since the fuel widely used now is a non-renewable resource and becoming increasingly less affordable, the hybrid car is making a comeback. The benefit of the hybrid is that instead of running on gas, it uses non-polluting electric power when possible. Also, it helps cut pollution and saves drivers money at the gas pump.
With today's high fuel costs, it is time to start looking beyond petroleum and into renewable resources to power vehicles. Ethanol is a clean-burning fuel derived from plants, primarily corn. It is combined with gasoline to produce a cleaner fuel that doesn't emit as many greenhouse gases as pure gasoline. Pure ethanol has not yet been approved to fuel vehicles, but it is the fuel of choice for racecars. By mixing gasoline with ethanol, fuel supply can be extended. Explores the production of ethanol and highlights the importance it holds in the "green power" movement.
This video describes the five main forms of energy and how to differentiate between them. Students will learn how to calculate potential and kinetic energy. Everyday examples illustrate the impact of energy on daily life. Other topics covered include chemical energy, nuclear energy, electromagnetic energy, heat energy, mechanical energy, and the law of conservation of energy.
Energy comes in many different forms. Real-life examples differentiate between potential and kinetic energy and demonstrate the different forms of energy. This video highlights mechanical, thermal, chemical, electromagnetic, sound, and nuclear energy.
Teaches caveman Zog that people use energy in one of two main ways: by moving heat from one place to another (conduction, convection, or radiation) or by transferring energy from one form to another by using an appliance, like a lamp or car. Appliances always waste some energy, and Zog learns why energy efficient appliances are the best choices people have today. As only a caveman can, Zog provides plenty of laughs along the way to finding clever and complete answers to elementary energy questions.
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A collection of Chemistry related resources
A collection containing 67 resources, curated by Benetech
Biology related concepts
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Resources to teach younger students about animals
A collection containing 58 resources, curated by DIAGRAM Center
