Renewable Energy Education
Evaluation
SDF contracted with Maxwell Associates to examine public attitudes about renewable energy and to evaluate SDF’s previous educational efforts. Two reports from this work are available:
Year One and Year Two Projects
SDF’s Renewable Energy Education Program executed contracts with ten organizations and firms to provide renewable energy education services. The following is a summary of the program’s Year One and Year Two contractors and their activities.
Alternative Energy Now – Produced Velocity, a 30 minute documentary film about wind. They also produced a 5 minute short about Pennsylvania’s wind farms.
Alliance to Save Energy - As part of the Philadelphia Green Schools Program, ASE introduced students to renewable energy by having them build a solar battery charger in elementary and middle schools. They also encouraged participation in Junior Solar Sprint.
Alliance for a Sustainable Future– ASF held the Philadelphia-area Earth Charter Summit and broadcasted it on the web. They built coalitions and networks of sustainability groups and student campuses as well as appealed to municipalities and interfaith groups to increase consumer demand and publicize their efforts.
Center for Resource Solutions– CRS conducted meetings with large power users to discuss power procurement issues. They also presented a one-day Power Procurement Workshop to encourage large users to buy renewable energy.
Clean Air Council - CAC, using a technical advisory committee, designed an interactive, multi-media educational website on renewable energy. The next stage will be to place the information in an interactive kiosk in a museum.
Clean Energy States Alliance - A multi-state comprehensive education strategy funded by six northeastern state clean energy funds to research, implement, monitor and evaluate a public education campaign to encourage people to buy renewable energy.
Green Plains Energy - Worked with the Philadelphia Million Solar Roofs Partnership to educate the public about solar photovoltaics through trade shows, speakers bureau and an answer desk for inquiries.
Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition - The "Clean Your Air" campaign produced television spots in Year One and public radio advertising in Year Two about renewable energy and how to purchase it. MAREC also developed a web site and collateral material for use a various events.
Northeast Sustainable Energy Association - NESEA sponsored architects and other building professionals to serve as “renewable energy ambassadors” to make presentations to school administrators and boards about high performance buildings. They also sponsored the Tour de Sol, a rally of alternative fuel and electric cars that made day-long stops in Philadelphia in 2002 and 2003.
Pace Law School's Energy Project – The Pace Energy Project updated energy source data for the PowerScorecard and the website. Work with suppliers, policy makers, energy associations and others to gain support for the cards’ acceptance as a tool for understanding energy sources.
Philadelphia Solar Energy Association – PSEA worked with the schools and hosted workshops on Junior Solar Sprint while partnering with the Philadelphia Green Schools program. They also coordinated publicity and used a video to promote the race.
Pennsylvania Resources Council - Pennsylvania Resources Council has teamed up with Philadelphia Self Reliant and the Delaware Valley Green Building Council to sponsor and manage a sustainable products/services conference and expo called “Building the Town Green” which was held on May1-3, 2003 at the University of Pennsylvania.
For more information about the SDF Renewable Energy Education Program, please contact our Energy Education Coordinator:
Maureen Mulligan
33 Greening Life Lane
Shermans Dale, PA
maureenm@pa.net
What is Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy sources are those that are derived from the sun or other natural processes. They are also replenishable by those sources over relatively short time periods.
Learn more about the different types of renewable energy:
Solar: using sunlight directly to generate electricity or for water heating, space heating or light.
Wind: using wind to generate electricity.
Hydropower: using the energy in falling water to generate electricity.
Biomass: using the energy in agricultural products and waste to generate electricity and other fuel.