Introduction to Energy, the Environment and Society
SSC2XX3

"Note: This course has been developed, and is still in the approval process at Lawrence Tech."

This course introduces the various historical sources of energy and their influence on economies, societies, and the environment.  Presented as a humanities course, Introduction to Energy, the Environment and Society also brings to the forefront the economic and geo-political issues dealing with the acquisition, generation, distribution and consumption of energy resources.  The course begins with a brief introduction to important energy related terms and definitions.  Basic units of measure for energy and power are introduced.  The various forms of energy are reviewed, and provide a foundational basis for the duration of the course. 

The concept of energy conversion is relayed through a historical review of how the western hemisphere’s growth and transition from an agrarian society to the industrial revolution was made possible due to readily available energy sources; initially wood and later, fossil fuels.  The need for energy sources in systems such as steam power, which allowed the mechanization of work on a grand scale, and brought about dramatic advancements in transportation technologies such as the railroad and steam powered ships, are particularly emphasized.  The discovery and utilization of petroleum oil as a primary energy source and the rise of the automobile and OPEC are presented and serve as backdrops for student assessment of the global economy and the geopolitical situation in the world today.  How the economies of western society expanded in the twentieth century due to increased productivity, efficiency and capacity using these energy sources is also discussed.  The relationships between the need for low cost energy, economic growth and internal and external political activities of countries are integrated into these discussions.  The initial embracing and subsequent concerns of nuclear energy are also reviewed. 

Two critical components woven into these discussions are the environmental and health impacts of energy use.  Students are presented with, and challenged to assess, the rise of environmentalism, the concepts of sustainability, and the role of government and the benefits of regulatory law.  The potential worldwide impact of global warming and the constraints it could place on sustainable development are presented.  Students will assess the benefits and consequences of applying policies, such as the Kyoto Agreement, in developed industrialized societies, as well as in third-world economies.  An overview of the newly emerging alternative and renewable energy technologies is presented and their potential role in elevating these pressures on the environment and sustainability is considered.  Lastly, the feasibility of the hydrogen economy is explored and the scale, magnitude and economics of the corresponding infrastructure changes required to bring it about are assessed.

(Photo credit: Warren Gretz, c/o NREL)