Energy, Environment and Sustainability

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

Formal courses with oral presentations and discussion.

Access to specific literature will be provided.

Type of evaluation: Distributed evaluation with final exam.

  

Learning Outcomes

To propose a background knowledge on critical energy issues such as sustainability and environment, global and local, in order to make students aware of values to refer to when dealing with more specific themes related to energy conversion and, in particular, energy use and management rather than just energy economics or even energy technologies. The emphasis on the energy system approach to tackle the energy issues is permanently stressed as the one that is long lasting and sustainable one.     

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Sustainability: concept and approaches. The CO2 and the global warming issue. Energy forms and sustainability. Energy under two perspectives: supply and demand.

Environment: concept and context for energy use. Energy as an environmental stress factor. Impact assessment of energy systems.

The new energy paradigm: decentralized, renewable and demand side oriented. Indicators for sustainability. Tools for managing and monitoring energy, environment and sustainability.

Energy efficiency: energy planning, energy demand side management and technology.     

Head Lecturer(s)

Manuel Carlos Gameiro da Silva

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Synthesis work: 50.0%
Exam: 50.0%

Bibliography

-Eduardo de Oliveira Fernandes; Smart cities iniciative, European University Institute, 2011. ISBN: 978-92-9084-068-8

-Thomas Princen; The logic of sufficiency. ISBN: 978-0-262-66190-4

-Vaclav Smil; Energy in nature and society. ISBN: 978-0-262-69356-1

-Eduardo de Oliveira Fernandes; Energy and Environment in Cities, EXPO'98/THERMIE Brochure, 1997. ISBN: 972-8396-26-0

-International Energy Agency; Cities, towns & renewable energy. ISBN: 978-92-64-07687-7

-L. D. Danny Harvey; A handbook on low-energy buildings and district-energy systems. ISBN: 978-184407-243-9

-Enno Abel, Arne Elmroth; Buildings and energy. ISBN: 978-91-540-5997-3.