ENERGY 101

The Energy 101 Model Curriculum is a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary undergraduate framework developed by APLU and the U.S. Department of Energy. It aims to create energy-literate citizens by combining the science of energy (physical and biological processes) with the social sciences (economics, ethics, and policy). The curriculum is divided into five units and is supported by the NTER open-source educational platform. Testing began in early 2013 at the University of Maryland, with further implementation planned at Maryland community colleges.

• The Energy 101 Model Curriculum was developed over nearly a year by APLU and partners, building upon two years of DOE-led work to establish energy literacy principles. The team mapped these principles against existing curricula from 16 universities and community colleges to identify concepts suitable for freshman-level students.
• The course is designed to move beyond technical knowledge of energy systems to foster "energy literate decision making." This involves integrating the understanding of physical and biological energy processes with economic, ethical, societal, and international factors to help students objectively understand the implications of energy decisions at both individual and national levels.
• The curriculum is structured into five units: Introduction to Energy, Energy Basics, Energy Sources, Energy Technology and Practice, and Energy Policy and Decision Making. These units cover seven Essential Energy Literacy Principles and associated fundamental concepts, ranging from the laws of physics and greenhouse gases to the impacts of energy choices on quality of life.
• The National Training & Education Resource (NTER) is utilized as an open-source, cloud-based educational tool to support the curriculum. It provides course developers and users with free access to advanced information technology, graphics, and interactive communications, including the potential for digital simulations like a “net-zero energy” house.
• The Model Curriculum is being tested through a flagship course at the University of Maryland (UMD) titled “Designing a Sustainable World” (BioE 289A), which began on January 25, 2013. Additional courses based on the model are under development at Cecil Community College and Harford Community College.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2013). ENERGY 101. https://www.eesi.org/files/Energy-101-Course-Framework-Summary.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. ENERGY 101. 2013. https://www.eesi.org/files/Energy-101-Course-Framework-Summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=ENERGY 101 |date=11 March 2013 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/Energy-101-Course-Framework-Summary.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2013energy, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{ENERGY 101}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2013}, month = mar, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/Energy-101-Course-Framework-Summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }