Energy Policy and Innovation Center (EPIcenter)

Energy 101 – A Regional Energy Literacy & Outreach Tool

Want to Learn about the Fundamentals of Energy?

The Energy 101 video series provides high level as well as regional perspectives on energy systems, resources, economics, policy, and technology fundamentals for a general audience from ages 14 to 114. It builds upon a previous and comprehensive Energy 101 MOOC developed by Georgia Tech’s Strategic Energy Institute and originally launched in 2012. Nearly 100,000 learners accessed the course in the past decade.

While the videos can be watched in any order, the best way to maximize impact is to watch them in sequence using this playlist. Additionally, the videos can be used individually to supplement lesson plans or presentations.

Credits:
Written, Presented, and Produced: Richard Simmons, Director of Research and Studies at EPICenter
Filmed, Edited, and Produced: John Thornton, Senior Academic Professional and Director of Film and Media Production, Georgia Institute of Technology
Produced and Marketed: Brent Verrill, Communication Manager, Georgia Institute of Technology
Research and Film Support: Kerri Metz, Research Associate, EPICenter
Research, Film Support, and Editing: Mark Philpot*, Grayspn Eady*, and Andrew White*
Additional Editing: Trinn Nguyen* and Nayla Mostifiz*

Georgia Tech* students had a large part in bringing this video series to fruition.

Energy Supply

Video 1 – Energy Generation – A Global Perspective

Online Resources:

Our World in Data – Energy Articles
- https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/global-energy-substitution?country=~OWID_WRL
- https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/energy-economics/statistical-review-of-world-energy.html
US Trends in Electricity Generation
- https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/
- https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_1_01
US Map of Electricity Retail Prices:
- https://www.globalenergyinstitute.org/average-electricity-retail-prices-map
Comparison of Energy Mix & CO2 emissions by US state
- https://www.epa.gov/egrid

Video 2 – Energy Generation – A Southeastern U.S. Perspective

Online Resources:

State by State Trends in Electricity Generation
- https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/state/
- https://www.nei.org/resources/statistics/state-electricity-generation-fuel-shares
US Shale Gas Deposits
- https://www.eia.gov/maps/maps.htm
- https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/natural-gas/where-our-natural-gas-comes-from.php
US Solar Projects
- https://www.seia.org/resources
Carbon Capture & Sequestration (CCS):
- https://www.thirdway.org/memo/mapping-the-progress-and-potential-of-carbon-capture-use-and-storage

Energy Demand

Video 3 – Energy Demand – Electric Power Use in Buildings

Online Resources:

Understanding the Grid: Generation, Transmission & Distribution
- https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/delivery-to-consumers.php
Energy Supply and Demand, United States and Individual States
- https://flowcharts.llnl.gov/
- https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/state/
Smart Meter Deployment
- (PDF Download) – https://www.edisonfoundation.net/-/media/Files/IEI/publications/IEI_Smart_Meter_Report_April_2021.ashx
- https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=108&t=3
Energy Storage
Breakdown of Household Electricity Consumption
- https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/use-of-energy/homes.php
- https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=51858&src=%E2%80%B9%20Consumption%20%20%20%20%20%20Residential%20Energy%20Consumption%20Survey%20(RECS)-b6

Video 4 – Energy Demand – Transportation Energy Use

Online Resources:

Transportation Energy in Context
- https://flowcharts.llnl.gov/
Major Transportation Fuels and Fuel Economy
- (PDF Download) – https://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/archive/00351804.pdf
- https://afdc.energy.gov/
- https://www.fueleconomy.gov/
US Vehicle Fleet
- https://www.bts.gov/
Electric Vehicles

Energy Policy

Video 5 – Energy Policy – U.S. Federal Policy Context

Online Resources:

Energy Policy Primers & General Resources
- https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/purduepress_ebooks/29/
- (Book publishers webpage with overview) – https://abc-clio.com/products/a2598c/
- https://nccleantech.ncsu.edu/renewable-energy-resources/dsire/
Key Federal Bodies Involved

Video 6 – Energy Policy – Georgia State Policy

Online Resources:

State-level energy regulation
- https://psc.ga.gov/
Vogtle Nuclear Generating Units in Georgia
- https://www.georgiapower.com/company/plant-vogtle.html
- https://www.westinghousenuclear.com/energy-systems/ap1000-pwr
Ratemaking and Electric Power Prices
- https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/prices-and-factors-affecting-prices.php
Model Solar Ordinance for Georgia
- https://epicenter.energy.gatech.edu/georgias-model-solar-ordinance
Role of Universities and Partnerships
- Georgia Institute of Technology https://www.gatech.edu/
- University of Georgia https://www.uga.edu/

Energy Economics

Video 7 – Energy Economics – Overview of Energy & Economy

Online Resources:

Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank
- https://www.atlantafed.org/education/visit/atlanta.aspx
Energy and Economics
- (PDF Download) – https://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/archive/00351506.pdf
- (PDF Download) – https://www.eia.gov/workingpapers/pdf/electricity_indicator.pdf
- https://www.eia.gov/
- https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=10891
Commodities and Volatility, E.g., Crude Oil, Electric Power Rates by State
- https://www.macrotrends.net/1369/crude-oil-price-history-chart
- https://www.eia.gov/electricity/state/
Vehicle Sales Trends, Cost of Gasoline

Video 8 – Energy Economics – Electricity Rates

Online Resources:

Energy Costs in A Household Context
- https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=10891
Energy Burden
- (PDF Download – )https://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/consumer-expenditures/2018/pdf/home.pdf
- (PDF Download – )https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/01/f58/WIP-Energy-Burden_final.pdf
Kendeda Living Building
- https://livingbuilding.gatech.edu/
Levelized Costs of Electricity, Total Cost of Ownership for a Vehicle
- https://www.lazard.com/perspective/levelized-cost-of-energy-levelized-cost-of-storage-and-levelized-cost-of-hydrogen/
Efficiency and Example Economic Payback Calculators