Energy and Environment

3 units

This course sets out to instruct the student on how to understand decision making regarding energy and the environment, and will provide a unique educational experience, wherein the challenges and potential solutions to meeting future energy needs will be clearly elucidated via lectures and experiential learning. Topics include: overview of energy and the environment and associated challenges; description of power generation from coal, natural gas, biomass, wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and nuclear; political, environmental, and social considerations; regulations, economics, decision-making; students will gain experience with software capable of analyzing renewable energy projects worldwide, from backyard to power-plant scale systems.