VOA 631 - Alternative & Renewable Energy Resources

5 Continuing Education Units (CEU). This course is not for Credit(s).

This course is designed to enable the student, who is a HVAC technician, to learn about various renewable energies including solar energy, wind power, hydropower, fuel cells, biomass, and alternative transportation options. Topics to be covered include discussing the principles of solar home design; solar hot water, heating, and cooling for new and existing construction; assessing the viability of wind power, hydropower or biomass system for a given site; the impact of government regulations on the use of renewable energies; and investigating the potential of renewable energy technologies to help solve environmental and economic problems within society.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. classify and describe the different types of renewable energy systems;
2. assess renewable energy systems for their economic and environmental impacts;
3. explain the economics of combining energy conservation and renewable energy projects;
4. explain the effects of government regulations, politics, and corporate development on the renewable energy industry;
5. evaluate a solar energy system; and
6. estimate the amount of energy available from wind, water, solar, and other renewable energy systems at a site.