Models

Here is a small list of some of the energy models that professionals use.

• Energy Plus takes weather and building information and predicts energy consumption
• GenX takes technology and policy information to create the most affordable generation, storage, and transmission for an electricity system
• ReEDS is a similar model created by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
• SAM analyzes the techno-economics of a power generation facility
• MOVES models emissions for mobile sources
• InMAP takes pollution data and estimates human health effects

Nation-wide Gasoline Usage in the United States

Imagine that we did not have the US Energy Information Administration compiling statistics of gasoline usage. If we needed to make an estimate of gasoline usage to support a decision about an energy policy how would we make it?

• What exactly would our model output?
• What inputs would we include and exclude?
• How would we estimate our inputs?

Once we have these, we can begin making the estimation.

Personal Gasoline Usage

Using the same thought process, you can construct a model of your own gasoline usage.

• The model inputs will be similar but at a smaller scale.
• You may be able to get a more accurate milage estimate knowing your travel patterns.