Introduction to Energy Management Powered by RETScreen (edX)

With practical examples and applications, learn how to make the management of energy more efficient, cleaner and more sustainable.
The objective of this MOOC is to help organizations combat climate change through effective energy management. It explains proven strategies to reduce fossil fuel consumption, increase the use of renewable energy, cut greenhouse gases and encourage the transition to a low carbon economy. The RETScreen Expert software, the world’s leading software to empower cleaner energy decisions is used throughout the course.

Module 1: Getting Started – The Foundations of Energy Management
This module introduces the course and lays the foundations for energy management. It has three parts:

• The strategic imperative of energy management for the sustainability of the planet and the crucial role that organizations and their decision-makers play
• The elements of a strategic approach to energy management
• An introduction to the RETScreen software

Module 2: Reducing Energy End-Use - Introducing Benchmarking
This module focuses on the reducing energy consumption strategy and highlights the role of benchmarking. It has three parts:

• The Reducing Energy End-Use strategy
• RETScreen’s Virtual Energy Analyzer
• Benchmarking for energy management

Module 3: Increasing Energy Efficiency - Introducing Feasibility Analysis
This module focuses on the increasing efficiency strategy and highlights the role of feasibility analysis. It has three parts:

• The Increasing Energy Efficiency strategy
• Financial analysis for energy management
• Feasibility analysis for real property

Module 4: Optimizing Energy Supply – Introducing Perfomance Analysis
This module focuses on the optimizing energy supply strategy and highlights the role of performance management. It has four parts:

• The Optimizing Energy Supply strategy
• Feasibility analysis for power plants
• Performance analysis for energy management
• Reporting for energy management

Module 5: Energy Management – A Strategic Approach
This module brings together all of the strategies, and compares and contrasts them. As the final module, it also includes the exam. It has three parts:

• A framework for action in energy management
• Achieving multiple objectives: Carbon pricing
• Portfolio analysis for energy management

What you'll learn
At the end of this course, students should be able to…
Module 1

• Identify the context for energy management by organizations
• Explain why energy management is a strategic issue for organizations
• List the factors that influence the management of energy
• Locate the features and components of RETScreen Expert

Module 2

• Explain the rationale for reducing energy end-use
• Recognize the elements of the reducing energy end-use strategy
• Describe RETScreen’s Virtual Energy Analyzer
• Recognize the steps for using the Virtual Energy Analyzer
• Explain the role of benchmarking in energy management
• Recognize the steps of the benchmarking process

Module 3

• Explain the rationale for increasing energy efficiency
• Recognize the elements of the increasing energy efficiency strategy
• Match different financial measures to correct definition
• Explain the role of feasibility analysis in energy management
• Recognize the steps of feasibility analysis for real property using RETScreen Expert

Module 4

• Explain the rationale for optimizing energy supply
• Recognize the elements of the optimizing energy supply strategy
• Recognize the steps of feasibility analysis for power plants using RETScreen Expert
• Recognize the steps of performance analysis using RETScreen Expert
• Recognize the steps of reporting using RETScreen Expert

Module 5

• Explain the rationale for a strategic approach to energy management
• Recognize the elements of the framework for strategic action in energy management
• Distinguish the key differences among energy management strategies
• Explain how to set priorities for energy management initiatives
• Identify the elements of a strategic organization for energy management
• Explain approaches for achieving multiple objectives in energy management
• Recognize the steps for portfolio analysis using RETScreen Expert