Energy Conservation Basics

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Energy and its Source

Topics: Energy; Fossil fuels; Nuclear power; Solar energy; Wind; Hydroelectric power; Evaluating energy sources; Measuring energy

Learning 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).

Chapter 2: Why the Energy Crisis

Topics: History of energy use; Fossil fuel reserves; Alternative and synthetic fuels; Gas and oil from coal; Nuclear fuels; Geothermal energy; Biomass

Learning 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.

Chapter 3: Energy Consumption and Loss

Topics: Using fuel to generate electricity; Energy loss; Effects of climate on energy use; Degree-days; Cost of saving energy; ROI and payback period

Learning 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.

Chapter 4: Practical Conservation Measures

Topics: Recognizing and correcting energy waste in buildings, mechanical, and electrical systems; Energy conservation examples

Learning 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.

Chapter 5: Conducting an Energy Audit

Topics: Audit tools; Sample energy audit; Fuel usage information; Building, equipment data; Conservation opportunities

Learning 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.

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