Researchers have created an interactive web tool to estimate the amount of energy that could be generated by wind or solar farms any where in the world. This tool, called Renewables.ninja, makes scientific-quality weather and energy data available to a wide community in order to make the task of predicting renewable output easier for both academics and industry.

This informational resource guides users through the process of assessing viability of potential sites for suitability for installation of solar photovoltaics or wind and assists in ascertaining whether potential barriers exist. The types of sites covered are: potentially contaminated sites, landfill, underutilized land and rooftops.

 This guide analyzes challenges and provides recommendations for developing quality infrastructure for small wind turbines. It also utilizes examples from different countries to describe development and implementation of infrastructure specific to small wind turbines.

 The Sustainable Energy Marketplace is a virtual platform for project developers, financiers, and service/technology suppliers to work together to realize projects and bring renewable energy to developing countries.

The Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) enables the Federal Government to translate policy goals into a set of analytically based, integrated actions that include executive actions, legislative proposals, and budget and resource requirements for proposed investments, over a multi-year planning horizon.
The report includes the following:
– An integrated view of, and recommendations for, Federal energy policy in the context of economic, environmental, occupational, security, and health and safety priorities
– A review of the adequacy of existing executive and legislative actions and recommendations for additional executive and legislative actions, as appropriate.
 -An assessment of and recommendations for priorities for research, development, and demonstration programs to support key energy innovation goals.
– Identification of analytical tools and data needed to support further policy development and implementation.

 In this short video, we learn how a city in the United States runs entirely on renewable energy sources. In 2014 Burlington, Vermont became the first city in the U.S. to run on 100% Renewable Energy. Their secret to success will fuel discussion topics and extracurricular activities in your classroom.

Wind, solar and other renewable energy sources now make up just about 10% of the U.S.’ electricity supply, but transitioning to 100% clean energy is both necessary and feasible, according to a new report from Environment America and Frontier Group. This report discusses how a shift to 100 percent renewable energy can limit the impacts of global warming, improve human health and put the economy on a sound foundation.

 This short but powerful video outlines an extremely comprehensive, up-to-date assessment of climate change: the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment and Synthesis Report. The video gives an overview of this document, written and explained in such terms that policy makers can better understand and accept the science provided within the report to effectively deal with the world’s changing climate, which is also a valuable classroom tool.

To view the written report, visit: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/

These activities can be used by faculty as course assignments and by staff as campus or community activities. They will increase skills for civil discourse, reducing political polarization and stalemate, while increasing understanding of energy efficiency and renewable energies via a civic engagement opportunity. Students will discuss the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy and weigh in on energy policy.  This resource provides support for people to merge ideas and engage in actions geared toward creating a safe operating space for humanity on Earth, regardless of race, religion or political beliefs.

Through Curricular and Co-Curricular Activities, Campus and Course Conversations:
– Is easy to implement and is interesting for students
– Improves student engagement in getting to know each other across cultural and political divides, helping to reduce polarization and build understanding within our society
– Provides real world applications and critical thinking opportunities
– Improves students’ communication and civil discourse skills, helping them become better change agents
– Increases Civic Engagement and appreciation for democracy while reducing apathy

 Globalize your curricular materials with this report on West Africa’s intent to bring an end to energy poverty while addressing the needs of it’s people and utilizing sustainable development in acknowledgment of the world’s urgent need for a low-carbon future. For high resolution graphics to use in lectures and for more reading materials on the energy transformation in West Africa, check out the links at the bottom of the article.