Energy Literacy is an understanding of the nature and role of energy in the world and daily lives, accompanied by the ability to apply this understanding to answer questions and solve problems.
In this presentation we talk about why is energy literacy important for energy communities to successfully participate in the clean energy transitions and to contribute to the achievement of these transitions, their representatives and members need to be energy literate; and how to become energy literate.
Embeded interactive presentation
What is Energy Literacy and why it's important for energy communities
Energy Literacy is an understanding of the nature and role of energy in the world and daily lives, accompanied by the ability to apply this understanding to answer questions and solve problems.
In order for energy communities to successfully participate in the clean energy transitions and to contribute to the achievement of these transitions, their representatives and members need to be energy literate.
In this presentation, we'll explain what it means to be energy literate and why this is important for the new clean energy communities.
The topic is connected to the following two areas of knowledge on the Our Energy platform:
-the Participation, Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing, and to the
- Social Aspects of new clean energy communities.
The information in this presentation is taken from the knowledge acquired by the EN-LITE Society for strengthening energy literacy, a non-profit and non-governmental organisation based in Slovenia. The EN-LITE Society is involved as a third party in the NEWCOMERS project. So far, the EN-LITE Society has generated many energy literacy related educational and awareness raising materilas and has successfully collaborated with many stakeholders, including the authors of the Energy Literacy Framework, published by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
The main source of further information in this presentation is taken from the publication titled Energy Literacy – Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts for Energy Education which is freely available on the link you see on this slide: https://www.energy.gov/eere/education/energy-literacy-essential-principles-energy-education
We developed the content of this presentation in collaboration with Mojca Drevenšek, the President of the EN-LITE Society and energy communications consultant at Consensus, the company that leads the communication, dissemination and exploitation activities for the NEWCOMERS project.
2. CENTRAL PART – CONTENT
When we're talking about energy literacy, it's always good to start by asking: Why Does Energy Literacy Matter?
Mojca will explain several aspects of this.
/Mojca – video statement/:
»Individuals and communities, and especially energy communities, need this basic understanding of energy, energy sources, knowledge about how electricity is generated, how much and what for we use it, how to use it effectively etc. Having this knowledge and applying it to everyday life situations allows individuals and communities to make informed decisions on topics like smart energy use or how and why to switch from fossil fuels to clean, low-carbon energy sources.
We need facts and numbers in order to be reasonable about energy issues in our everyday lives in our households as well as in our local communities or in the energy communities we're part of, or at the national or even international level.
It's also good to be aware that energy issues cannot be understood by using only a natural science or an engineering approach. Energy issues often require an understanding of at least a bit of economics, sociology, psychology, and political science. Therefore, being energy literate is a truly interdisciplinary endeavour. And it really matters to be energy literate.«
Iva nadaljuje...
But why exactly does energy literacy matter?
Because a better understanding of energy can:
• lead to more informed decisions
• improve the security of a nation
• promote economic development
• lead to sustainable energy use
• reduce environmental risks and negative impacts, and -last but not least-
• help individuals and organizations save money.
(vir: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/07/f35/Energy_Literacy.pdf, str. 1)
An energy literate energy community can...
Let's conclude this presentation by defining what exactly it means for an energy community (for their representatives and members) to be energy literate:
An energy-literate energy community's representative or member:
• can trace energy flows and think about energy community operations in terms of energy systems they are part of
• knows how much energy he or she uses (on individual or community level), what for, and where that energy comes from
• can assess the credibility of information about energy, energy sources, energy supply, the importance of energy communities for achieving the energy transitions etc.
• can communicate about energy and energy use in meaningful ways
• is able to make informed decisions about energy sources, energy use, energy technologies etc., that are based on an understanding of impacts and consequences
• continues to learn about energy throughout his or her life and the life of the energy community he or she is inolved in.
(adapted from: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/07/f35/Energy_Literacy.pdf)
Energy Literacy Framework
If you're inteersted in the topic of energy literacy, please visit the Energy Literacy Framework and the accompanying educational materials that are freely available on the link on this slide: ///
The Framework offers the seven Essential Principles. These are broad content categories representing big ideas. Each of these seven Essential Principles is supported by six to eight Fundamental Concepts. These Fundamental Concepts are intended to be unpacked and applied as appropriate for the learning audience and setting (e.g. primary or secondary school, university, non-formal education or training for energy communities or other stakeholders).
By clicking on some or all of the Energy Literacy Essential Principles below you can find more information by reading about the Fundamental Concepts.
Let me also mention that there is an interesting Energy Literacy videoseries available. A short, 4 to 6-minute educational videos are prepared that explain each of the seven essential principles in a graphically supported way.
Let's conclude this presentation by emphasizing that the Energy Literacy Framework looks at energy through the lens of natural science, engineering as well as social science. A similar approach is taken by the NEWCOMERS project and its Our Energy platform, by defining several Areas of knowledge – these act as the lens through which we explore the new clean energy communities.
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