SEET Energy Webinar Series

The Sustainable Energy Education and Training (SEET) project hosted a series of free webinars developed by SEET energy technology instructors, offering training on a variety of sustainable energy topics. The webinars were held each Wednesday between September 19 and October 17, 2012. All webinars are now available for viewing, as well as in pdf format for easy downloading.

See individual webinar details below.

Roadmap to a Grid-Tied PV Array (September 19)

Authors:

  • Don Davis, University of New Mexico-Los Alamos and Los Alamos High School, New Mexico
  • Rick Eckstrom, Technical College of the Lowcountry, South Carolina
  • Fred Hopps, North Shore Community College and North Shore High School, Massachusetts
  • Mary Marchegiano, Delaware Technical and Community College, Delaware
  • Peter Parrish, College of the Canyons, California

Presenters:  Don Davis, Fred Hopps, & Peter Parrish

Description:  This webinar is designed to introduce high schools and community colleges to the installation of photovoltaic grid-tied PV array systems for renewable energy programs. The presentation will begin with information on the design and permitting of a system, and continue through the installation and commissioning stages. Finally, the webinar team will present some ideas on wiring instruction for the classroom.

Residential Energy Audit (September 26)

Authors:

  • William Beauchamp, Delaware Technical and Community College, Delaware
  • James Jazdzewski, Gateway Technical College, Wisconsin
  • Shahed Mustafa, Bridgemont Community and Technical College, West Virginia

Presenters:  James Jazdzewski

Description:  This webinar provides a systematic investigation process for eliminating residential energy losses and wastes. The presentation is a broad overview of different areas that a homeowner may not be aware of, such as windows, doors, furnaces, appliances, etc. A comprehensive reference list will be provided for more in-depth research in the energy auditing field.

Biodiesel Lab Exercise with Hydrogen Enrichment (October 3)

Authors:

  • Robert Clark, Joliet Junior College, Illinois
  • Chien-Wei Han, Pima Community College, Arizona
  • Thomas Kearns, Massasoit Community College, Massachusetts
  • Jeff Oder, Lake Land College, Illinois

Presenters:  Robert Clark and Thomas Kearns

Description:  This webinar provides basic biodiesel production information. (Supplementary instructions are included on producing a 10-liter batch of biodiesel fuel using waste vegetable oil, showing the steps from titration to washing the finished fuel.) The presentation will then show the construction of a simple two-cell hydrogen generator made from easily obtainable components. Instructors will run a 14-liter diesel engine on a dynamometer under load with D2, B5, B10, B20, and B100 blends of fuels to show the changes in the fuel rate of the engine with each fuel. Finally, the engine will be shown running under the same load with D2 and the two-cell hydrogen generator to demonstrate the change in the fuel rate with the addition of hydrogen.

Bringing Energy Home—Smart Renewable Choices (October 10)

Authors:

  • Keith Elliott, Rockingham Community College, North Carolina
  • Larry Hughes, Southwest Virginia Community College, Virginia
  • In Shik Lee, Tompkins Cortland Community College, New York
  • Chris Tolbert, West Wilkes High School, North Carolina
  • Ed Witkin, Durham Technical Community College, North Carolina

Presenters:  Keith Elliott and Ed Witkin

Description:  This webinar will guide instructors who are new to the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy education. Through a step-by-step process, instructors will follow a checklist for making decisions about available technology choices. The webinar will also provide a flow chart and a checklist as resources.

Alternative Energies (October 17)

Authors:

  • Kevin Grove, Central Oregon Community College, Oregon
  • Suzanne Marinello, Lane Community College, Oregon
  • Delane McUne, Amarillo College, Texas

Presenters:  Kevin Grove & Delane McUne

Description: This webinar provides a brief introduction to three alternative energy technologies in the instructors’ regions. The presentation will include a short overview of wind technology and applications in Texas, in addition to ocean energy technology and enhanced geothermal systems in Oregon.