ENVR 380 - Sustainable Energy

3 Credit(s)

Fossil fuels are at the heart of our daily lives, but they have to fatal flaws: there are limited quantities of them on earth and burning them is the major driver of current climate change. This course focuses on the 21st century global transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy sources. We will begin with a brief introduction to the history of humans and energy, and the fossil fuel age. We will then examine the major renewable energy sources currently in use: Solar, wind, hydro, tidal, geothermal, and biofuels. For each of these, we will begin with a basic introduction to what it is and how it works, then explore the environmental, social, and economic pros and cons and discuss future potential for scalability. For the final project, students will apply their knowledge to design a renewable energy plan for a fictional town and engage in classroom debates to defend their plan to a range of stakeholders. The skills gained in this course will be valuable to any student pursuing a career in environmental studies, environmental science, or sustainability science. Sophomore standing or higher required. Not recommended for the first year.