Energetics Develops Instructional Video Series for Advanced Manufacturing Office
Energetics is developing a series of short, animated tutorial videos focused on life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) topics. Working with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Energetics’ Tracy Evans (program director, energy management) and Heather Liddell (senior scientist) are leading a team to develop this virtual training for DOE’s Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO).
AMO was looking for an engaging, accessible way to provide training on methods for quantifying potential benefits of new technologies—specifically, the potential environmental and cost impacts.
The Energetics team recommended developing a library of short, 5- to 10-minute on-demand modules. The bite-sized lessons make it easy for users to digest information and to target and revisit specific topics. The videos leverage dynamic whiteboard-style animations and graphics to convey often-complex LCA and TEA concepts in an approachable and user-friendly way.
Intended audiences include AMO staff and contractors, AMO-sponsored researchers, and members of the public. The tutorial series may also be useful to businesses (for workforce development) and students (as educational materials).
The first two videos have now been posted to the DOE YouTube channel:
Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which explains a method for assessing the environmental impacts associated with the entire life cycle of a product or process
Introduction to Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA), which introduces a method for evaluating the economic performance of a technology
They are also available on the DOE AMO website.
These videos are the first two modules in what is ultimately planned as a larger series of on-demand training content.