A New Story of Energy

How do we power our civilization? How should we power our civilization? The answers are relatively clear to most of us, but there is a huge difference between point A and point B. Some would say it would be impossible to reconcile the two, but we say that's a cop-out. The problem is not that it can't be done, but that not enough people know how to do it. It is important to understand the technology that creates, delivers, stores, and conserves our energy if we are to create it more wisely, deliver it more effectively, store it more soundly, and conserve it more. We don’t all have to be battery development researchers or transmission line engineers, but we must be able to understand how this technology interacts with our environment, economy, and culture so that we can better apply our unique talents and chosen work to spur and guide innovation. That's why GUTEC (Georgetown University Technology and Engineering Club), in partnership with GREEN, the Office of Sustainability, and a handful of Georgetown faculty, has created a series of events intending to empower you with the new perspective it will take to power your world in a new way. Now more than ever, it is time to write a new story for energy - I hope we can help you get started on writing it.

This “New Story” will consist of a series of diverse events spanned across Georgetown’s Spring 2017 semester. While the events will be physically centered around Georgetown University and the Washington, D.C. area, some chapters might take us out even further into the world to encounter energy systems up close and in action. Although this series of events will include thought-provoking speakers, film screenings, and special lectures, it will also include opportunities for students (and faculty) to learn up-close and on their feet: power plant field trips, hands-on DIY projects (the main focus at the moment is to create a functional wind turbine), and possibly even energy industry networking events.

We’ve already seen two successful events in the last week of January. The first was a special lecture on nuclear fission and fusion for energy purposes by Dr. Patrick Johnson, of Georgetown’s Department of Physics. (Side note: He’s coming out with a book on the physics of Star Wars in a few months. A must-read, if you ask me.) The second event was a tour of Georgetown’s central heating plant, hosted by our very own utilities staff. Georgetown’s central heating and cooling system is terrifically efficient because, instead of having a separate heating/cooling unit in each building, there is only one generation system, which sends heated and chilled water through underground pipes to all the other buildings. Upcoming events include an “interactive history” of Hilltop solar, a wind farm tour, a nuclear power plant tour, and panels on geothermal, solar, and hydroelectric power. As mentioned, we’re also trying to build a (small) windmill, but we’re off to a slow start. You can learn more about our events and be “in the know” when we release information on new events by liking our Facebook page, New Story of Energy (@newstoryofenergy).