BEE 3800 - Sustainability and Sustainable Energy Systems

(CU-ITL, CU-SBY)

Spring. 1 credit. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: basic physics, basic mathematics. Permission of department required. Offered in Shanghai, China.

N. Scott.

This course is offered as part of the CALS Signature Semester: “Toward a Sustainable Future and Emerging Technologies in China” on site in Shanghai, China. The major challenge facing our society is to create sustainable communities that are supported and encouraged via policies that integrate energy, environment and natural resources. The focus is interconnectivity of housing, transportation, environmental impacts, economic development and social wellbeing “that meets a community’s current needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can continue to be met in the future”. A systems approach will be utilized integrating analysis of urban design, “green” buildings, renewable energy, transportation, economic development, agriculture and food systems, water management, waste management, and communication/governance.

Outcome 1: Evaluate and assess the technical and economical value of various practices leading to development of sustainable and resilient communities.

Outcome 2: Identify and determine benefits of energy conservation and efficiency options.

Outcome 3: Evaluate the various options of renewable energy options of bioenergy, solar, wind and geothermal designs.

Outcome 4: The students from China (SJTU) and from Cornell University (CALS) will interact such that they will learn from each other intellectually and culturally.