This will be updated frequently.

Week Zero

  • Class 1 (Thursday, September 7): Introduction to the course. Introductory discussion of energy, conservation of energy, and power. [class worksheet]

Week One

  • Class 2 (Monday, September 11): Read Chapter 1 of SEWTHA (MacKay) and the Preface of SEFAS (Feldman). Bring questions and comments on the MacKay reading. Focus on pp. 11-16 of MacKay. In class we will discuss the reading and then delve into into energy/power and ways of making sense of large numbers. [class worksheet]
  • Homework Zero due on Monday, September 11.
  • Class 3 (Thursday, September 14): More energy and power. Introduction to Windpower.
  • Homework One due on Friday, September 15.

Week Two

  • Class 4 (Monday, September 18): Further discussion of windpower. Areas and proportionality.
  • Class 5 (Thursday, September 21): Finish windpower. Start solar PV.
  • Homework Two due on Friday, September 22.

Week Three

  • Class 6 (Monday, September 15): Finish Solar PV. Start thermal energy.
  • Class 7 (Thursday, September 28): Efficiencies. Home Heating.
  • Homework Three due on Friday, September 29.

Week Four

  • Class 8 (Monday, October 2): More home insluation. Efficiencies. Furnaces and heat pumps.
  • Class 9 (Thursday, October 5): Finish home heating. Time Value of Monday.
  • Homework Four due on Friday, October 6.

Week Five

  • Class 10 (Monday, October 9): Valuing Investments (payback time, ROI, IRR). Spreadsheets.
  • Class 11 (Thursday, October 12): Finish valuing investments. Start transportation: cars.
  • Homework Five due on Friday, October 13.

Week Six

  • Class 12 (Monday, October 16) Cars and Trains
  • Class 13 (Thursday, October 20)
  • Finance Report due on Friday, October 20.
  • Homework Six due on Friday, October 20.

Week Seven

  • Class 14 (Monday, October 23) Production and Consumption. Life-cycle assessments. Meter classes.
  • Class 15 (Thursday, October 26) Solar Thermal. Nuclear power.

Week Eight

  • Class 16 (Monday, October 30) Nuclear Safety. Food and Agriculture.
  • Homework Seven due on Wednesday, November 1.

Week Nine

  • Class 17 (Monday, November 6) Biofuels.
  • Class 18 (Thursday, November 9) Carbon capture and negative emissions.
  • Homework Eight due on Friday, November 10.

Week Ten

  • Class 19 (Monday, November 13) Grid fluctuations and storage.
  • Class 20 (Thursday, November 16) Conclusions
  • Homework Nine due on Friday, November 17.


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