ESE 107 - Introduction to Sustainable Energy

Institution:

Washington University in St Louis

Subject:

Description:

What do you really know about the coming energy crunch? What should you know about the coming energy crunch? For that matter, what does the instructor know about the coming energy crunch? Probably, in all three cases, not nearly as much as befits a well-informed citizen of our democracy, which is facing one. A fundamental prerequisite for continued existence of our technically rich civilization is sustainable energy, energy that will be available even when our dowry of fossil fuels and fissionable elements is only a memory. The purpose of this course is to attain understanding of the daunting problems that have to be worked through to achieve that sustainability. Topics include: Ragone charts; nuclear transformations and gravity as primary energy sources; sunshine, tides, and geothermal heat as secondary energy sources; fossil fuels, biomass, elevated bodies of water, wind, etc. as tertiary energy sources; the electric power grid; load leveling using quaternary energy sources; the slowly approaching mineral resource crunch. The group meets an average of one and a half hours a week for provocative discussion of the texts and other reading matter. A short essay (fewer than 750 words) is required at the end of the course. Prerequisites: high school biology, chemistry, and physics.

Credits:

1.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.wustl.edu

Phone Number:

(314) 935-5000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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