Energypedia - FAQs

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Frequently Asked Questions We have collected a list of frequently asked questions on this page. Please check this list to see if your question has already been answered here. For questions not covered here please send us an email at info@energypedia.info

General Questions

What is www.energypedia.info?

Energypedia is a wiki-based platform for collaborative knowledge exchange on renewable energy and energy access issues in the context of development cooperation. It is operated by the nonprofit company energypedia UG (haftungsbeschränkt). On energypedia.info any registered user can easily create, modify and share content. The platform currently includes 11,970 free articles, contributed by the growing community of than 12,871 registered users made up of energy practitioners, experts, academics and other interested stakeholders.

What is a wiki?

A wiki is a website that enables its users to contribute and modify content via their web browser. Wikis are often used for collaborative working and knowledge management. The most famous example is the online encyclopedia Wikipedia. Ward Cunningham, the developer of the first wiki software, WikiWikiWeb, originally described it as "the simplest online database that could possibly work". The word "wiki" is Hawaiian and means "fast".

What is energypedia UG (haftungsbeschränkt)?

Energypedia UG (haftungsbeschränkt) is a nonprofit company that hosts the platform www.energypedia.info. Its legal form is comparable to a Limited Company. Energypedia promotes knowledge and experience exchange to achieve universal access to sustainable energy for all people. Hence, energypedia.info is open and free for everyone.

What is energypedia's legal form?

Energypedia is officially registered as a "Unternehmergesellschaft (haftungsbeschränkt)" in Wiesbaden, Germany. This legal form is comparable to a Limited Company. Additionally, energypedia is recognized as a nonprofit organization by German tax authorities.

Why is energypedia recognized as a nonprofit organisation

Energypedia only persues nonprofit activities which are defined in its charter. Hence, energypedia was recognized as a nonprofit organization due to the promotion of "Science and Research" as well as "Development Cooperation" by German tax authorities (i.e. Finanzamt Wiesbaden I) as of 6th December 2011.

What does energypedia do?

Energypedia's action scope is defined in its organizational charter. In order to achieve our vision and comply with our charter, energypedia's primary task is to operate and fund the platform www.energypedia.info. We offer our user support and all posted information for free. We develop the underlying software to implement more and easier to use knowledge sharing tools. And we continuously improve the content quality (for example, by revising articles with our "Wiki Gardener").

Besides these efforts, energypedia is promoting free knowledge exchange and the need for sustainable energy access for all in publications and on events.

Where is energypedia located?

Energypedia maintains an office in Eschborn, Germany. Click here for our full contact details and directions.

Does energypedia have it's own projects in developing countries?

Energypedia is an organization dedicated to human development. However, as a knowledge broker, energypedia does not have projects running in developing countries. Nonetheless, we do work together with experts and institutions worldwide to share knowledge on sustainable energy and energy access issues. Have a look at a list of our funders and partners for more information on current projects with other organizations.

Who supports energypedia?

Energypedia's main supporters are our users who contribute and maintain the platforms content. Without enthusiastic and engaged users, energypedia would not exist! Besides our voluntary supporters, energypedia has received in kind and financial support from different organizations which are listed here. We accept no money - directly or indirectly - from companies primarily focusing on non-renewable energy generation like oil or nuclear energy production.

How can i get a job at energypedia?

Vacancies will be announced on energypedia's job portal when available.

Does energypedia offer internships?

Energypedia offers regular internship positions in its offices in Eschborn, Germany. If you are interested, please send us an email with your CV at info@energypedia.info. Unfortunately, energypedia cannot cover any travel expenses.

Contribute

Can I become an energypedia member?

Everyone can register with www.energypedia.info to become an user. However, the nonprofit organization energypedia is not a member-based organization. Hence, it is not possible to become an official member. We invite everyone to register with energypedia and contribute to its content.

How can I support energypedia?

There are many ways how you can support energypedia's vision of free knowledge exchange and universal energy access for all:

• Share Your Knowledge:
  Your knowledge about renewable energies and your experience in implementing projects in the field will help to quicker spread renewable energy solutions to the energy poor.
• Spread the Word:
  Tell your friends, colleagues or fellow students about energypedia and encourage them to share their experiences and knowledge!
• Donate:
  Energypedia is a fully independent non-governmental organization supported by contributions from individuals, foundations and companies. In order to maintain energypedia's independence and neutrality, we also need funds from people like you!
  For more information and account details, please visit our donation page.

What happens with my donation?

Energypedia wants to be an independent, high quality information source on renewable energy and energy efficiency in developing countries. With your donation you help us to

1. Inform about the importance of clean energy access for human development and the existence of energypedia as a free knowledge sharing platform available to all people. Some 1.4 billion people worldwide living without access to electricity are dramatically hampered in their development. About 2.7 billion are cooking or heating with firewood or other biomass, with negative consequences for their health and the environment. This is an intolerable situation, we have to make people aware of.
2. Support all energypedia users in their efforts to share their knowledge on energypedia.info. We are there for our users to help them sharing their knowledge in the most efficient way. If you have any questions, simply contact us!
3. Assure the quality of energypedia's content. Even though we encourage our users to correct mistakes and update information, a professional guidance is necessary to keep our set standards. As a result, we implement quality assurance measurements like maintenance boxes. Additionally, the ***** continuously looks out for little flaws and can be directly contacted in case of any questions.
4. Implement knowledge sharing projects for free especially involving people from developing countries. For example, we are currently developing a publication database with students from Mozambique in close collaboration with one of our cooperation partners.
5. Promote the distribution of renewable energies through knowledge sharing, especially targeting remote regions without current access to modern energy sources. In the future we would like to expand our project work according to the wide range of possible activities defined in energypedia's charter.
6. Run the platform in terms of hosting, software updates, backups, and last but not least to run our office.

How can I donate?

Currently, you have two options:

• Directly transfer money to energypedia's account
• Donate online via Paypal.

More donation options will follow soon. For more information and account details, please visit our donation page.

Do I get a receipt for my donation?

Energypedia can only issue receipts for German residents. For a donation receipt please send an email with your address to fundraising@energypedia.info. Usually we send annual receipts in January for the past year.

Usage

Who can access energypedia?

Energypedia is open to the general public so that everyone can read and download content. If you want to create or edit articles you first need to register with a valid email address and your full name (first and second name) as username.

May I edit articles published by other users?

Yes of course you may do so! The idea behind a wiki is that users collaboratively work on texts. In turn others are allowed to edit your articles, too. Please don't mind and see it as a valuable input into your own and our community's knowledge. As you can always check the article´s history to see who has changed or edited an article, there is no need to worry about vandalism. Wikipedia has already proven it works!

How do I edit articles?

Creating and editing articles is fairly simple - just click the "Edit" button on the top right corner of each page. Easy - that's how a wiki should be! Check out our help section for more information and detailed manuals.

What if I forget my password?

If you cannot remember your password, let a new one be sent to you! Simply type your user name into the login field and click on "E-mail new password" next to the login button.