1. Kevin Little, Ph.D. Rapid Improvement Associates, LLC
Renewable Energy Systems: Introduction to Building Education and Awareness
Kevin Little, Ph.D.
Rapid Improvement Associates, LLC
This presentation is based on our presentation at the We Energies Renewable Energy Learning Session 8 October 2009 at Waukesha County Technical College, updated for the REL Session 20 April 2010 at Schlitz Audobon Nature Center.

2. Trying to Accomplish Something New?
Will to Change
Execution
Ideas for Change
Will: desire, motivation, passion
Ideas: mental constructs of changes that will change your system (“know-what”)
Execution: putting ideas into practice, so they work effectively (“know-how”)
Without will to change, nothing will happen. If you have the will to accomplish something new, you are eager to seek sources of ideas, to recognize ideas already available; to create new ideas.
You then have to put the ideas into practice and learn if the ideas help you accomplish what you aim to do.
Source: Tom Nolan articles, “Executing for System-Level Results”
Nolan, T.W. A primer on leading improvement in health care. Presented at the Fifth European Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care, Amsterdam, March 24, Used by permission. 2

3. Your Contract’s Language
Your facility “will enhance the public’s awareness and education of renewable energy resources.”
This language comes from item 10 in the We Energies Renewables Energy Grants RFP document:
10. Provide a statement that you support the installation of a web accessible monitoring system of your facility and indicate your preference for a onsite computer unit or kiosk as well as why such a unit would be particularly beneficial from an education and/or awareness standpoint. Also, in this statement, provide an overall summary of how the proposed facility will enhance the public’s awareness and education of renewable energy resources.
If you already have been awarded a system, you had to describe what you intended to do.
If you are applying for a system, you have to describe what you will do.

4. Start with yourself!
Learn the basics of energy so you know how to manage a renewable energy power plant
a. energy words
b. dollar value of production
c. environmental impact of renewables
Connect with colleagues who are developing ways to educate their communities

5. 1. Understand your production
This is a web view of production (at the Eco justice Center). We Energies provides you with a public web view like this (details vary!) as part of your system. It is the core resource for understanding how your system is performing!

6. 2. Connect with colleagues
We have a web site ENERGY STEWARDS™ that organizes information about the We Energies renewables sites. It is provided to you by We Energies, no additional cost to explore and use.
And now, we’ll introduce you to two of your peers who have developed ways to spread education and awareness.

7. Mission and Passion drive great Education and Awareness Programs
Sister Janet Weyker will speak first and Tom Mellon, science department head at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School, will speak 2nd.

8. Contact information
Kevin Little, Ph.D.
Kevin designs information tools so people can align their actions with the rest of Nature. Principal designer of the Energy Stewards™ web platform, he understands how to use data to improve performance. A former high school math teacher, he earned a Ph.D. in statistics from the University of Wisconsin—Madison.