Understand Energy

Energy is the number one contributor to climate change and has significant consequences for our society, political system, economy, and environment. Energy is also a fundamental driver of human development and opportunity.

In taking this course, students will not only understand the fundamentals of each energy resource - including significance and potential, conversion processes and technologies, drivers and barriers, policy and regulation, and social, economic, and environmental impacts - students will also be able to put this in the context of the broader energy system. Both depletable and renewable energy resources are covered, including oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, biomass and biofuel, hydroelectric, wind, solar thermal and photovoltaics (PV), geothermal, and ocean energy, with cross-cutting topics including electricity, storage, climate change and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), sustainability, green buildings, energy efficiency, transportation, and the developing world.

The 4 unit course includes lecture and in-class discussion, readings and videos, homework assignments, one on-campus field trip during lecture time and two off-campus field trips with brief report assignments. Off-campus field trips to wind farms, solar farms, nuclear power plants, natural gas power plants, hydroelectric dams, etc.

Those who enroll for 5 units, also attend the Workshop, an interactive discussion section on cross-cutting topics that meets once per week for 80 minutes (Mondays, 12:30 PM - 1:50 PM)

This course is cross listed with CEE107A, EARTHSYS103 and ENERGY107A/207A

Learn more about Understand Energy

How will the course work? You will

Watch the recorded lectures asynchronously
Complete one homework assignment per week, 8 total due Fridays at 5 pm PT (your lowest score will automatically be dropped, first assignment due at the end of week 2)
Post one and respond to one energy-in-the-news article via Slack
Either join an off-campus field trip and write a field trip report, or write a Local Energy Research Report
Complete the midterm and final exam (timing TBD)

Topics Include