Course Description
Economic analysis of energy and development, including renewable and non-renewable energy systems, and how they influence the development of sustainable urban and industrial systems.
Athena Title
ECON SUSTAIN DEVEL
Prerequisite
ENVE 3520
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will have an understanding of: (1) How energy is closely tied to the development of a sustainable society and economy. (2) The economic factors that influence energy technology development and energy policies, both as barriers to development and incentives. (3) The economic factors that influence the technology and policies connected with the development of a more sustainable society, both as barriers and incentives. (4) Recent trends in free market as well as regulatory factors which are helping to accelerate development of a more sustainable society, and what barriers (primarily economic) still exist.
Topical Outline
1) Overview of key concepts in economics of technological development and urban systems as a whole. 2) A review of the economic history of energy systems in the U.S. and globally since 1900. 3) The key metrics for ascertaining sustainability in a modern society context. 4) Recent trends in the development of a more sustainable society, and the barriers (primarily economic) that exist. 5) How economic analysis is used in the planning and evaluation of projects and urban systems as a whole, to include benefit-cost analysis as well as legal and organizational considerations. 6) Case studies of several energy technologies and representative regions that represent an overall progress in sustainable development.