Professor Therm has the answers to 'All Things Energy'

Are you looking to learn about how you can cut down on energy consumption at home, or wondering what the University of Iowa does to manage its energy usage? Professor KW Therm has the answers.

Professor Therm with Herky. Photo courtesy of UI Pentacrest Museums.

Doug Litwiller (aka Professor Therm), associate director of energy conservation in UI Facilities Management, will give the audience members a light-hearted look at “all things energy” in a special presentation in the Biosphere Discovery Hub in the UI Museum of Natural History at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25. Topics include information on how the university is reducing its carbon footprint and how you can reduce energy consumption at home.

The “Professor” will be answering questions such as:

• How much energy does the university consume?
• What is the university’s energy bill?
• What is a kilowatt-hour, and why should I care?
• What does an LED light bulb look like?
• What is that large building with tall stacks sticking out of it located at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Burlington Street?
• What is coal?
• How do I make sense of my energy bill?

The program is open to community members of all ages, and Litwiller encourages attendees to bring a copy of their most recent energy bill so he can explain what it means.

Litwiller, who is one of the many individuals on campus dedicated to reducing the UI’s energy consumption, sees the program as a “light-hearted and lively” way to educate the public on the basics of energy conservation.

“Each citizen of the world, young and old, on the University of Iowa campus and beyond, should understand the ‘language of energy,’” Litwiller says. “I offer some simple and fun ways to learn the basics and reduce energy waste. In addition, I’m excited about the University of Iowa’s energy goals and will share some of the interesting ways we are working to reduce energy waste on campus.”

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to attend this presentation, contact Julia DeSpain in advance at 319-335-0606 or at julia-despain@uiowa.edu.