Educating Citizens About Alternative Energy
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The energy choices we make today will have an indelible effect on our environment as well as economy. However, most citizens of today's world are ignorant about the energy issues the world is currently facing. It is especially the younger generation that needs to be educated about energy, its varied sources and its efficient use.
There are many individuals, institutions and organizations that are actively working today to bring this awareness to the young and the adult alike. The alternative energy comes in myriad forms: geothermal, solar, wind, biomass, hydrogen and other such alternative fuels. These bodies are educating the people about a number of different energy related topics like the scientific principles behind energy and fuel usage, the kinds of energy resources and their availability, the cost component associated with energy use, the effects of energy use on the environment, our health and our security, alternative energy and its associated technology. They also incorporate hands-on investigations to bring the concept home.
The purpose of these bodies is to increase educational opportunities and economic development in their regions, and to spur exploration of other methods of providing energy like biomass, wave technology, wind, fuel cells and their hybrids. They also want to make people aware that using alternative energy sources will decrease our dependence on oil supplies from other countries, bringing more stability in our energy supplies.
Alternative energy is increasingly being incorporated in curriculums in schools, colleges and universities. In a number of universities across the world, students are working on projects to build hybrid vehicles, learning energy management and exploring alternative methods to cool and warm buildings and residences.
One such educating vehicle is Energy Quest, California Energy Commission's energy education website. It is an award-winning educational program, which was provided to public in June 1995. It is an excellent educational resource, which was initially provided to celebrate October 1995 as America's Energy Awareness Month, and was updated in May 2002.
Another very good educating vehicle for both children and adults is a company called PicoTurbine. Their core concept is, "Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I might remember some of it. Involve me, and I will master it." Based on this premise, they offer books, projects and kits to give people information and hands-on experience with working with alternative energy. This helps increasing their awareness about the impact of energy usage on our environment. They are being used by school districts and by major colleges and universities in their youth programs. Thousands of people have used their kits to build tools to create alternative energy.
They offer a kit to build your own electricity-producing windmill, another to learn all about AC to DC conversion techniques. They have solar kits, which offer a complete mini-course on concepts of solar electricity.
The kit includes information on connecting solar cells in different configurations to vary voltage and current, basic circuit concepts, and solar cell construction concepts. They also provide books, kits and plans for various other homebrew projects for 10-year olds to adults. They also offer free, downloadable plans for do-it-yourself projects and basic as well as rare books on homebuilt alternative energy.