Events

Class limit 25 attendees.  Reservations required.  Call 303.384.6566 to sign up.

Energy is a critical part of everyday life in the 21^st Century. It is the electricity that powers our homes and businesses.  It is the fuel that moves our cars.  It is an essential element of commerce, comfort and convenience.  This course is designed to help home and business owners assess the numerous new, clean energy choices available to them.  It will include an overview of the current energy situation; information about renewable energy resources and technologies; and a practical guide to residential and business renewable energy applications.  Participants will learn how to offset rising energy costs and achieve greater independence from conventional energy sources.  The course also will offer cost-effective methods for capturing and using energy from the sun, wind and earth.

 

The July 19 program will focus on several aspects of the energy use in your household.    If you are a typical U.S. homeowner, you will find that about 20%of your energy bill goes to appliances and home electronics, 15% to lighting, about 20% to water heating and about 56% to space heating and cooling.  How can you reduce your energy costs by selecting the proper strategies, devices and appliances, especially when your air conditioning is running full speed?  Come and learn how to estimate your energy use and shop wisely. 

 

Speakers:

Charlie Stevens, Energy Audits

John Avenson, Bell Labs engineer, 26 year SERI passive solar home owner

 

 

 

Come for a day of learning on Saturday, July 19, 2008.   The Visitors Center will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

We invite you to take a look into the future as you tour the building.  We offer docent-guided and self-guided tours throughout the day.  No scheduling is necessary.  Each program takes 1 ½ hours and includes a ten minute video, “Energy for the 21^st Century”, virtual tours of the labs working on Biomass, Solar, Wind and Buildings technology, a show-and-tell segment, and a guided tour of our Exhibit Hall.  You will learn about NREL's research and development of renewable fuels and electricity that advance national energy goals to change the way we power our homes, businesses, and cars.  You will also get tips on energy efficiency and savings.

Why is NREL's power electronics cooling R&D so COOL? 

Power electronics are expensive, yet critical, components of fuel-saving advanced vehicle powertrains such as hybrid electric vehicles. Power electronics are used to convert, transform, and control the flow of electrical energy between batteries and electric motors. However, they don’t like the heat.

Come and learn from NREL’s Michael O’Keefe about power electronics, the role they play in making advanced vehicles possible, ways to reduce their cost, and cutting edge technologies to cool these amazing components.

This presentation is part of NREL’s “Visitors Center Power Lunch Lecture Series.”  Participants are welcome to bring a lunch and enjoy.