Energy Resource Lesson Five

American Solar Energy Society, a national organization based in Boulder, Colorado, is dedicated to advancing the use of solar energy for the benefit of U.S. citizens and the global environment. Its web site has links to solar information, the National Solar Tour, and conferences. The group publishes Solar Today magazine and a free online newsletter, Sunbeam. Retrieved October 20, 2010, from http://www.ases.org

American Wind Energy Association is a national trade association that represents wind power plant developers, wind turbine manufacturers, utilities, consultants, insurers, financiers, researchers, and others involved in the wind industry. The group advocates development of wind energy as a reliable, environmentally superior energy alternative in the United States and around the world. Its web site provides updates on wind energy developments, policies, and legislation. Retrieved October 20, 2010, from http://www.awea.org

Clean Energy is a U. S. Environmental Protection Agency site that discusses ways of working with state and local agencies to reduce the environmental impact of activities such as electricity generation, Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/index.html

Clean Energy is the home page for a section that explores various alternatives to fossil fuels, prepared by Union of Concerned Scientists. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/.

In 2003, this group published a 52-page report entitled Grading the States, which is still downloadable but somewhat obsolete. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_energy/ plugging_in_renewable_energy.pdf

Energy Quest is the California Energy Commission’s award-winning energy education web site, which debuted during National Energy Awareness Month in October 1995. This updated site encourages youth to learn about new ways to produce energy and to use less energy. Retrieved October 20, 2010, from http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/

Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association is a Michigan-based nonprofit association that seeks to increase the mainstream use of renewable energy technologies and sustainable energy practices. Its web site provides links to information about energy efficiency, renewable energy resources, conferences, seminars, photovoltaic technician training, policies, and legislation. Retrieved October 20, 2010, from http://www.glrea.org

Make a Model of a Windmill, a Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries web page, presents the history of windmills and a pattern and instructions for making a windmill model. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-54463_19268_20778-52098--,00.html

Michigan Energy Office Case Study Series is a web site featuring energy case studies in various categories: residential, public buildings, business and nonprofit, industrial, transportation, wind and solar. There are also links to pages with general information for the same categories. The Energy Office is part of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. Retrieved October 20, 2010, from http://www.michigan.gov/cis/0,1607,7-154-25676_25679---,00.html

Michigan Renewable Energy and Efficiency Success Stories is an online booklet that discusses the history of renewable energy, current energy challenges, and how people can create their own success stories like the ones described. Authored by John Richter through a grant to Urban Options, a nonprofit community agency that provides energy and environmental information and services to improve the environmental quality of urban spaces. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.michiganenergyoptions.org/education/renewable-energy-success-stories

Michigan Renewables Energy Program is a web site with links and sources that promote the use of renewable energy in Michigan. The Public Service Commission is part of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. Retrieved October 20, 2010, from http://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/0,1607,7-159-16393---,00.html

Midwest Renewable Energy Association is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit network for sharing ideas, resources, and information with individuals, businesses, and communities to promote a sustainable future through renewable energy and energy efficiency. Its web site has information about its annual Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair, ReNew the Earth Institute with demonstrations of renewable energy systems and educational displays, workshops, tours, and newsletter. Retrieved October 20, 2010, from http://www.the-mrea.org

Myths About Solar Electricity, a downloadable document from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings series, discusses several myths about solar energy, including the belief that solar energy can never meet a significant part of the world’s energy needs. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/32529.pdf

Renewable Energy Sources is a four-color, 23” x 35” poster showing sources of renewable energy, including biomass, passive and active solar energy, photovoltaics, power towers, hydropower, wind, geothermal, OTEC, waves and tidal energy. The back side supplies background information and suggestions for K-8 student learning activities. Available for $4.95 from the National Energy Foundation. Retrieved July 11, 2018, from https://nef1.org/store/energy-efficiency/renewable-energy-sources-poster/

ScienceEducation.gov allows teachers to access science education lesson plans and other information from any federal agency, with a search engine that allows stratification by subject and grade level. As a live portal to a number of governmental agencies, its content will be updated frequently. Retrieved July 11, 2018 from https://science.education.nih.gov/

The Spirit Lake Community School issued a summary of the costs and benefits of their wind energy turbine, which can be downloaded as a pdf file. Retrieved July 11, 2018 from http://www.iowapolicyproject.org/2006docs/060307-WindySchools.pdf

Sustainability Education Handbook: Resource Guide for K-12 Teachers was created to help K-12 teachers incorporate sustainability concepts that balance economic, social, and environmental concerns into their classrooms. Activities are correlated with Michigan State Framework Standards and Benchmarks. Jones, D. (2004). Sustainability Education Handbook. East Lansing, MI: Urban Options. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.michiganenergyoptions.org/education/sustainable-education-handbook

U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is the home page for a site that has pages dealing with a number of energy topics, from biomass to solar and wind. Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.eere.energy.gov/

Wind and Solar Energy, a page on the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth’s Energy Office web site, has links to wind energy maps and wind and solar programs, case studies, publications, and other resources. Retrieved October 20, 2010, from http://www.michigan.gov/cis/0,1607,7-154-25676_25774--,00.html