EERE Energy 101 Video Series

The Energy 101 video series is a collection of educational videos produced by the U.S. Department of Energy, with the next generation of clean energy leaders in mind. Text version.

Clean energy and advanced manufacturing have the potential to rejuvenate the U.S. manufacturing industry and open pathways to increased American competitiveness.Text version.

In this video, learn how new fuel-efficient technologies are making our country's big rigs quieter, less polluting, more energy-efficient, and less expensive to operate over time. Text version.

The video highlights the basic principles at work in geothermal energy production, and illustrates three different ways the Earth's heat can be converted into electricity. Text version.

The video highlights the basic principles at work in wind turbines, and illustrates how the various components work to capture and convert wind energy to electricity. This updated version also includes information on the Energy Department's efforts to advance offshore wind power. Text version.

Learn how fuel cell technology generates clean electricity from hydrogen to power our buildings and transportation—while emitting nothing but water. This video illustrates the fundamentals of fuel cell technology and its potential to supply our homes, offices, industries, and vehicles with sustainable, reliable energy. Text version.

Learn how commercial buildings can incorporate whole-building design to save energy and money while enhancing performance and comfort. This video highlights several energy-saving features of the Research Support Facility at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory—a model for high-performance office building design. Text version.

See how organic materials like corn stover, wheat straw, and woody plants are being used to create homegrown biofuels in the United States—all while reducing our dependence on foreign oil and creating jobs in rural America. Text version.

See how marine and hydrokinetic technologies harness the energy of the ocean's waves, tides, and currents and convert it into electricity to power our homes, buildings and cities. Text version.

Learn how hydropower captures the kinetic energy of flowing water and turns it into electricity for our homes and businesses. Text version.

This edition of Energy 101 highlights the benefits of electric vehicles, including improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and lower maintenance costs. Text version.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems can generate clean, cost-effective power anywhere the sun shines. This video shows how a PV panel converts the energy of the sun into renewable electricity to power homes and businesses. Text version.

In this edition of Energy 101, we discuss lighting choices. People have been using the same light bulb since Thomas Edison invented it about 130 years ago. Today, there are more lighting options in stores that will save you energy and money. Text version.

This video shows how oil is extracted from algae and refined into sustainable biofuels. Text version.

This video shows how biomass is broken down and refined into sustainable biofuels via biochemical and thermochemical processes. Text version.

This video explains what CSP is, how it works, and how systems like parabolic troughs produce renewable power. Text version.