MEE 101 – ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

(SYLLABUS IS FINALIZED IN FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS!)

by Prof. M. Kostic

Relevant Web links: Homework (HW) and supplemental materials; Topics
Class/HW/Lab/Exam Policies; Office Info

Catalog Description:
MEE 101: ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT (3 credits).
Development and current status of energy sources, technologies, consumption patterns, conservation, and energy policies. Emphasis on environmental effects of various choices made at each step of the energy cycle, and examination of those choices from technological and socioeconomical points of view.

Textbooks: No required textbook. Relevant handouts will be distributed and/or posted on the Web.

Supplemental references: In addition to handouts, relevant references and Web links will be given during the lectures along with handouts and additional materials when appropriate (Homework - HW and supplemental materials).

Instructor: Dr. Milivoje Kostic, P.E., Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Tel: 753-9975, email: kostic@niu.edu ; Web www.kostic.niu.edu
Office and Class/Lab hours: See Web posted schedule at: Office Hours and Info. Office: EB 208.

Teaching Assistant:
Office and Class/Lab hours: See Web posted schedules and locations at: Office Info. Office: EB 254 Lab Tel: 753-1252; or in EB 231 (CAD/CAM Lab) Tel: 753-1255

Coverage of and Objectives with relationship to General Education
(will be finalized in first week or so):

Rationale for inclusion as a general education area:

· Energy plays a dominant role in our modem industrial society. Rapid growth of energy consumption has had a noticeable impact on our standard of living as well as on our environment. A clear understanding of the many complex issues involved in energy extraction, conversion, and consumption must now be viewed as essential for the moderm educated person. Such an understanding cannot be limited to scientists and engineers. As consumers of energy, as citizens involved in making decisions related to energy and its effects on the environment, as economists, as journalists, and as politicians formulating public policy, we must have knowledge of the issues related to energy and the environment.

· The proposed course will address the issues of sources of renewable and nonrenewable energy, energy conversion technologies, air pollution and other environmental effects related to energy extraction and consumption, and finally the important issues of conservation and public policy. The course is intended as a general education course for students having one year of high school chemistry and one year of high school physics.

· By combining the scientific, technological, socioeconomic, and political factors affecting energy and the environment, the student is introduced to varied modes of thinking about these important issues. They will also become well informed members of society who will be better prepared to deal with the complex issues surrounding this area. The course thus clearly satisfies the objectives of the distributive studies, interdisciplinary area, as stated in Undergraduate Catalog.

This course qualifies as a general education course, rather than a mechanical engineering course, because the subject of energy is examined from technical, scientific, socioeconomic, and political perspectives. As such, there is more emphasis on the various aspects of the impact on society, and less on the technical skills needed for problem solving.

Objectives for student learning in this course, and how these objectives address the learning goals of the general education program:

Student habits of writing notes, speaking, quantitative reasoning, and use of resources necessary for continued learning:

· Students will encouraged to discus related concepts and issues among themselves and in class, and thus improve their communication skills.

· This course will help students to unite theory, criticism, and practice in listening, as there are many facets of energy and the environment, with multiple interests competing, and the course will consist of information from both readings and invited speakers if possible.

· Students will be exposed to perform some basic computations using quantitative reasoning in class exercises and assignments including estimates of various types of energy reserves available and projections on how long they will last under various assumed conditions.

· Students will need to use Internet to research related energy and environmental references related to the course content and objectives.

Student understanding of varied modes of inquiry across a variety of disciplines in the humanities and the arts, the physical sciences and mathematics, and the social sciences: this course will require an understanding of viewpoints from the perspective of business, individuals concerned about the environment, politicians, health professionals, and customers, among others.

· An understanding of the industrial revolution and the historical development of our current high dependency on energy is essential to learning about the current levels of energy use and what can be done.

· The value of the arts is beyond the scope of this course.

· Scientific methods and theories are required for this course, because energy is measured quantitatively (in joules) and future use requires estimating availability and projecting levels of consumption. This can be done making a variety of assumptions, so that the results of various courses of action can be seen.

Student understanding of the interrelatedness of various disciplines: this course addresses concerns from technical, scientific, socioeconomic, and political perspectives. With regard to energy and the environment, these viewpoints are often contradictory.
Social responsibility and preparation for citizenship through global awareness, environmental sensitivity, and appreciation of cultural diversity: technical choices have social consequences, which must be addressed. The current level of energy use has global implications due to transport of energy sources such as oil, air pollution which knows no social or political boundaries, and damage to the ozone layer which affects us all. Various cultures have different levels of energy consumption, with the United States being one of the highest. We need to learn from other which do well without excessive stress on the environment.

Prerequisites by topic:

None.

Topics (Week number. Topic number and title): [To HW]

(i) Introduction to Energy Concepts and Issues - Human-Environment Energy Balance
(ii) Energy in Developing and Modern Societies - Patterns of Energy Consumption and Environmental Impact
(iii) Energy In Transportation Sector - Your Car Energy
(iv) Energy In Residential and Commercial Sector - Your Home Energy
Review and Midterm 1
(v) Heat Engines and Power Plants - Electrical Energy Generation, Transmission and Utilization
(vi) Non-Renewable Fossil Fuels and the Environment: CO₂ 'Green House Effect' and Global Warming
(vii) Nuclear Energy and Related Issues - Radioactive Waste, Challenges and Opportunities
(viii) Energy and Ecology - Environmental Pollution
Review and Midterm 2
(ix) Solar energy - Sovereign Sun's Electromagnetic Radiation
(x) Energy and Sustainability - Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources and Technologies
(xi) Energy Conservation - Doing More with Less - Energy Management and Optimization
(xii) Energy and Society - Energy Policy: Life May Be Happier After Fossil Fuels' Era
Final Review of Energy and Environmental Issues in Society

Computer, Multimedia and Web Usage:

Students are expected to research and use Web and other resources, and for extra and/or honor grade to prepare small project reports related to the course objectives.

Laboratory Projects or Field Trips or similar:

Not planed, but may be introduced if time and schedule allows.

Grading:
Homework & Quizzes 30% (about 10&20% respectively); Midterms 30%, and Final exam 40%. Attendance 5% bonus and others up to 5% bonus. If any item is not required/graded for the whole class, the other items are prorated proportionally. Final Exam is comprehensive and its passing grade is required to pass the course (see Class/HW/Lab/Exam Policies).