Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
E S D004.
Course Title (CB02)
Energy, the Environment, and Society
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
Energy plays a dominant role in our modern global industrialized society. Rapid growth of human populations worldwide, combined with increases in fossil fuel related energy to support human activities have caused social, environmental, health and safety, political and economic ramifications. Damage to land, sea, and air, nuclear and oil spill disasters, global political strife, greenhouse gas emissions, species extinction and habitat degradation, and economic inflation are all associated with our need to have abundant amounts of energy in our lives. Many issues faced in the world we live in are the result of the extraction, production, transmission, distribution and consumption of energy. Energy and its negative impacts know no social, economic, cultural, racial, gender, religious, political, geographic or environmental boundaries. This course examines how our energy demands and its ramifications affect everyone on the planet. <br /> <br /> (Field trip outside of scheduled class time may be required for this course.)
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course meets a general education requirement for °®¶¹´«Ã½, CSUGE and IGETC and provides general education foundation skills in science with a focus on an interdisciplinary study of energy extraction, transmission, distribution and consumption and its impact on the environment and social equity. It is UC and CSU transferable and belongs on the Energy Management and Building Science degree.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GDX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area D - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
2GES°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE - Environment Sustainability and Global CitizenshipApproved
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGDYCSU GE Area D - Social SciencesApproved
IGETCArea(s)StatusDetails
IG4XIGETC Area 4 - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Current event videos

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

In-class exploration of Internet sites

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Collaborative projects

Final Assessment

Assignments

  1. Reading assignments from the text and other pertinent readings
  2. Writing assignments involving summary, synthesis and critical analysis of data and information
  3. Team project (including written summary and presentation) on an assigned topic
  4. Team assessment that will require students to demonstrate the ability to summarize, integrate and critically analyze principles and concepts

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Completion of reading and writing assignments including an assessment (quiz) process to evaluate student comprehension of concepts and principles
  2. Completion of team project including an assessment process to evaluate student comprehension of concepts and principles
  3. An individual, written energy use reflection/assessment detailing student's current energy choices, impacts on the environment and society and ways to conserve, reduce and/or migrate to cleaner forms of energy
  4. A final assessment (exam) that will require students to demonstrate the ability to summarize, integrate and critically analyze principles and concepts examined throughout the course

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • None.

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Schobert,Howard, H. "Energy and Society: An Introduction", 2nd Edition, CRC Press. 2014

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Worldwatch Institute. "State of the World 2009: Into a Warming World". Worldwatch Institute
Ehrlich, P. and Ehrlich, A. "The Population Explosion" (sequel to 1971's "The Population Bomb" by P. Ehrlich). Touchstone Books. 1991.
Gore, A. "Earth in the Balance." Rodale Books. Re-release Edition. 2006
Smith, Eric R.A.N. "Energy, the Environment and Public Opinion" 2000th Edition. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. 2001
Vaitheeswaran, Vijay, V. "Power to the People: How the Coming Energy Revolution Will Transform an Industry, Change Our Lives, and Maybe Even Save the Planet" 1st Edition. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2001

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Assess and examine the evolution of our energy driven society
  • Analyze the history and culture of energy generation and consumption
  • Analyze energy and pollution in the transportation sector
  • Examine energy, pollution and resource depletion in the built environment (buildings)
  • Explore power plants and the impacts of energy generation, transmission and distribution
  • Examine fossil fuels and their impact on the environment and society
  • Assess nuclear energy and its impact on the environment and society
  • Explore global energy consumption and its impact on pollution, waste and greenhouse gas emissions
  • Examine and assess the positive impact of renewable energy, conservation and reduction of energy.
  • Analyze energy and its overall impact on global society
  • Explore and examine educational and sustainable career opportunities in Energy Management, Pollution Prevention, and Environmental Science/Biodiversity

CSLOs

  • Examine the evolution of energy over time and its impact on earth's resources and environmental degradation.

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the actions individuals can take to reduce energy consumption, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Examine and analyze the wide ranging impact of energy on the triple bottom line of sustainability- People Planet and Profit.

Outline

  1. Assess and examine the evolution of our energy driven society
    1. The history of energy
    2. Population increase and its affect on energy use
    3. Industrialization and the introduction of fossil fuels
    4. Air and water pollution / toxic waste
    5. The shrinking technology cycle and the explosion of products in our lives using electricity
  2. Analyze the history and culture of energy generation and consumption
    1. Fire as a source of energy and light
    2. The energy potential of the sun
    3. Windmills and passive solar energy
    4. The discovery of electricity to do work
    5. Powering villages,towns,cities and countries
    6. Increased energy generation to support growing worldwide demand and high tech products
  3. Analyze energy and pollution in the transportation sector
    1. The invention of the steam engine
    2. The discovery of fossil fuels and the gasoline combustion engine
    3. Consumerism and the transportation of goods
    4. Imported and exported oil; domestic drilling
    5. Air travel and its impact on the delivery of goods and services
  4. Examine energy, pollution and resource depletion in the built environment (buildings)
    1. The resource intensity of buildings
    2. The energy and pollution footprint of buildings
    3. Heat islands and greenhouse gas emissions
    4. Large cities and metroplexes
    5. The thermodynamics of building materials- concrete, steel and other materials
    6. Waste in buildings and building operations and its environmental impact
  5. Explore power plants and the impacts of energy generation, transmission and distribution
    1. Energy generation equals energy wasted
    2. The environmental and social impact of generating energy
    3. Greenhouse gases- NOX, SOX, Mercury, CO2
    4. Power Grids and energy monopolies
    5. Coal, big oil and profit
    6. Energy policy and government subsidies
  6. Examine fossil fuels and their impact on the environment and society
    1. Energy policy and energy politics
    2. Lobbyists and their impact
    3. Energy disasters, environmental damage and social justice issues
    4. Global strife and military intervention over oil
    5. OPEC and the oil driven economy
  7. Assess nuclear energy and its impact on the environment and society
    1. The advent of nuclear power
    2. The environmental issues and health concerns of nuclear waste
    3. Nuclear energy disasters and their impact on people and planet
    4. Disposal of nuclear waste and its associated issues
  8. Explore global energy consumption and its impact on pollution, waste and greenhouse gas emissions
    1. Tragedy of the commons
    2. Species extinction and degradation of habitat
    3. Energy's affect on earth's biogeochemical cycles and earth services
    4. Global environmental initiatives and climate change resolutions and regulations
  9. Examine and assess the positive impact of renewable energy, conservation and reduction of energy.
    1. Use less energy- reduce your energy bill
    2. The Energy Star program
    3. Breaking our addiction to fossil fuels with cleaner forms of energy
    4. Moving away from fossil fuels- technological advances and the infrastructure needed to support alternatives
    5. The growing adoption of renewable energy systems and hybrid and electric vehicles
  10. Analyze energy and its overall impact on global society
    1. Climate change, rising sea levels, higher medical costs and environmental justice
    2. Environmental legislation- Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, AB 32, SB350
    3. Rising energy costs and its impact on discretionary income
    4. Consumption of energy in industrialized countries vs. third world countries
  11. Explore and examine educational and sustainable career opportunities in Energy Management, Pollution Prevention, and Environmental Science/Biodiversity
    1. Energy Management and Building Science Education and Career Paths
    2. Facility Management Education and Career Paths
    3. Environmental Resource Management Education and Career Paths
    4. Waste Management and Pollution Prevention Education and Career Paths
    5. Environmental Science Education and Career Paths
    6. Biodiversity and Environmental Stewardship Education and Career Paths
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