Courses:

Energy, Environment, and Society >> Content Detail



Syllabus



Syllabus



Description


Energy – where to get it from, how to use it efficiently, and how to reduce negative environmental impacts from its production, conversion, distribution and use – is arguably the most critical environmental and social challenge facing the globe today. MIT President Susan Hockfield has committed the Institute to embark on an ambitious research and education program aimed squarely at the pressing problem of improving energy management. An important component of MIT's Energy Initiative is aimed at "walking the talk" on the MIT campus: improving campus energy management to increase efficiency and reduce both costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

"Energy, Environment and Society" is an opportunity for first-year students to make direct contributions to energy management at MIT and in local communities. The class takes a project-based approach, bringing student teams together to conduct studies that will help MIT, Cambridge and Boston to make tangible improvements in their energy management systems. Students will develop a thorough understanding of energy systems and their major components through guest lectures by researchers from across MIT and will apply that knowledge in their projects. Students are involved in all aspects of project design, from the refinement of research questions to data collection and analysis, conclusion drawing and presentation of findings. Each student team will work closely with experts including local stakeholders as well as leading technology companies throughout the development and implementation of their projects.

Projects are centered on renewable energy, building efficiency, and transportation. Specific project options include:

  • Assessment of MIT wind power options
  • Study of MIT fleets to assess feasibility of increasing vehicle efficiency and switching to alternative, lower-carbon fuels
  • Assessment of energy recovery options for the MIT nuclear reactor
  • Investigation of green building technologies at MIT (i.e. solar thermal, ground source heat pump)
  • Investigation of renewable energy options at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School
  • Assessment of green building technologies at the Bowdoin Community Center in Dorchester Bay

The real-world nature of projects in this class means that they are inherently multidisciplinary. The intensive teamwork is an ideal opportunity to build valuable skills in addressing real-world problems in a structured environment. Student teams will prepare a project proposal and management plan, a design notebook (in electronic format) a technical report, and a public presentation. Students will also submit four short papers, periodic written and oral progress reports, one peer critique, one presentation of reading highlights, and two homework assignments. Class participation is expected.



Grading


Grades for the subject will be based on a total of 900 points as follows:


ASSIGNMENTSPOINTS
Individual assignments400 points total
8 Progress reports (15 points each)120 points
10 Minute oral project briefing70 points
Participation (group 40 points, class 35 points)75 points
3 Reflection papers (20 points each)60 points
Reading highlights50 points
Thermodynamics Practice Problems15 points
Personal Energy Calculator Homework10 points
Team assignments500 points total
Design notebook150 points
Project proposal and management plan100 points
Final report and oral presentation250 points
Total 900 points



Calendar


The course is organized into the following four units:

  1. Energy basics
  2. Energy sources, uses, and infrastructure
  3. Community energy project
  4. Presentation and reporting

Project work (Unit 3) was completed throughout the term.


WEEK #SES #UNITTOPICSKEY DATES
111.1Introductions/energy basics
21.2Energy basics (cont.)
231.3Energy basics (cont.)Personal energy calculator due
41.4Energy basics (cont.)
53.1Project workDraft of team code of conduct due
361.5ClimateProgress report #1 due
71.6Energy economics
83.2Project work

Revised team code of conduct due

Rough outline of team project proposal and management plan due

Thermodynamics practice problems due

491.7Project workProgress report #2 due
102.1Alternative/renewable energy
112.2Building energy
5122.3Mobility

Progress report #3 due

Draft of team project proposal and management plan due

132.4Energy conversion
142.5Energy storage/distributionReflection paper #1 due
6152.6A systems perspective

Progress report #4 due

Final team project proposal and management plan due

164.1Practicum on public speakingInformal TA check-in on design notebooks
172.7Local energy systems - MIT
7182.8Local energy systems - CambridgeProgress report #5 due
193.3Project workInformal TA check-in on design notebooks
203.4Project work
8213.5Project workProgress report #6 due
223.6Social dimensions
233.7Oral briefing; Project workReflection paper #2 due
9244.2Practicum on writing for the publicProgress report #7 due
253.8Project workFormal review of design notebooks
263.9Oral briefing; Project work
10273.10Project workProgress report #8 due
283.11Oral briefing; Project workReflection paper #3 due
11293.12Project workProgress report #9 due
303.13Project work
313.14Oral briefing; Project work
12323.15Project work
333.16LAST project work day
344.3Presentation "dry-run"Draft of final report due
13354.4Refine presentations
364.5Presentation dress rehearsal
374.6Public presentations
14384.7Teams finalize reports
394.8Evaluation and wrap-up

Final report due


 








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