Develop an understanding of the alternative energy sources and their uses.
COURSE STRUCTURE
The eight lessons are as follows:
- Introduction: The Problems and the Energy Sources.
- Understanding Energy
- Generating Electricity
- Storage and Using Electricity
- Non-Electric Systems
- Energy Consumption
- Energy Conservation
- Converting to Alternative Systems
AIMS
- Describe the nature and scope of alternative energy.
- Describe the nature and application of electricity.
- Compare different methods of generating electricity
- Compare different techniques for storage and use of electricity.
- Describe the application and operation of different non electric energy systems
- Identify ways to better manage energy consumption.
- Describe energy conservation techniques.
- Discuss how to convert a building’s energy supply to an alternative system.
WHAT YOU MAY DO IN THIS COURSE
Here is just a sample of what you may do in this course:
- List different insulating materials which may be commonly found inside electrical equipment?
- Determine a practical example to show the relevance of each of Kirchoff’s Laws to a technician, in their daily work?
- Contact a number of suppliers of alternative energy generating systems (e.g. wind, solar). Find out all that you can about the types of systems they supply. Collect any relevant leaflets and brochures. If possible observe such systems in action.
- Design a floor plan and describe the current electricity use of a home which you are familiar with (but which uses only mains power supply).
- This might be the home of a friend, relative, or even your own home.
- Recommend ways in which this home might reduce reliability on mains supply (either in part or full) by introducing its own electricity generation system
- Compare the relative significance of alternative sources of energy including wind, solar, fossil fuels, hydro, etc.
- Explain electricity, including its nature, terminology and options for applying it as an energy source
- Explain the generation of electricity through a variety of means including: Photo voltaic cells, Wind powered generators, Petrol powered generators and Batteries.
- Describe procedures for appropriate use of electricity, including storage and safety
- Develop ways of reducing energy consumption, including effective temperature control.
- Evaluate a building and recommend appropriate measures for minimising it’sconsumption of energy.
- Identify the restrictions or regulations which can affect the adoption of more appropriateenergy applications for a specific property.
- Plan the conversion of a property from high energy consumption systems to an appropriate network of sustainable and lower energy consumption systems
