MUM courses:
- Energy Use by Man and Nature
- Hands On Course In Sustainable Technologies
- Permaculture Design Certification
- Sustainability Forest Academy
- Artisan Foods and the Slow Food Movement
- Local Economy
Grinnell College courses:
Resource Center
Nathan Renewable Energy Web Research Report
Iowa Energy Center
Renewable and efficient technologies seem to be moving ahead at a tremendous rate today. New ideas and technological innovations are being proven day after day, yet many of these technologies remain virtually unused for years or even decades. This delay in technology and technique implementation is due in part to a poor system of information dissemination. Either no one knows about the technology, or no one is willing to try it because of incomplete knowledge. The Iowa Energy Center helps to bridge this information gap by "advancing Iowa's energy efficiency and renewable energy use through research, education and demonstration." The organization’s website serves as a near-exhaustive source of information on these topics, and is clearly and logically laid out.
On the one hand, the site provides a great resource for energy efficiency projects. It contains information geared toward commercial, industrial, agricultural, residential, and transportation-related projects, providing case studies in each category. One of the most useful components of this section is the home series booklets which provide advanced, easy to understand suggestions for improving heating and cooling, insulation, water heating, and appliances in a home. If widely distributed, I believe these booklets might in all reality help change the way people understand the energy flows within their homes. This section of the website also provides numerous helpful links, including one to the Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor. This section of the site will be truly helpful for anyone looking to improve the efficiency of their home or building.
On the other hand, the Iowa Energy Center website gives extremely detailed information on renewable energy, with details specific to Iowa. The site provides information for technologies related to biomass-, wind-, solar-, hydro-, and even ammonia-based renewable energy. Of particular interest are wind and solar assessment and calculator utilities which allow users to calculate the total output of renewable energy installations based on location and type of equipment. This easy-to-use tool allows users to make rudimentary analyses of considered renewable energy projects. Listings of tax incentives and possible funding sources are also provided to help in the implementation of such projects. Again, this section provides numerous links to other helpful websites. This section is a really useful tool for assessing the viability and uses of renewable energy throughout Iowa.
Overall, this website serves as an amazing resource for anyone in Iowa concerned with energy flow within the human system. It provides a wealth of knowledge on energy efficiency and renewable energy in ways accessible to most people. Overall, I think that the site will be critical for promoting improvements in energy capture and use throughout Iowa. A transfer to a renewable energy economy will depend on the growth of such resources world-wide.