JEI1901 Technology, Society, and the Environment
This course develops a conceptual framework for understanding technology-society-biosphere interactions and applies this to the development of preventive approaches for the engineering, management and regulation of modern technology in order to reduce burden imposed on society and the environment. Topics include: society as a cultural system; industrialization as a process that simultaneously transforms technology, society and the biosphere; technology as knowledge; the modern corporation; underdevelopment and technology transfer; and sustainable development. Exclusion: APS103H.
JEI1902 Technology, Society, and the Environment II
This course continues the development of the conceptual framework for understanding technology-society-biosphere interactions with the advent of high technology in general and computer-based technologies in particular. Their influence on knowledge and expertise, technology and society will be examined with applications to preventive engineering. Topics include: the rationalization of intellectual work; technology as life-milieu, social force and system; and, feedback in the technological system and its response to values.
JEI1902 Technology, Society, and the Environment II
This course continues the development of the conceptual framework for understanding technology-society-biosphere interactions with the advent of high technology in general and computer-based technologies in particular. Their influence on knowledge and expertise, technology and society will be examined with applications to preventive engineering. Topics include: the rationalization of intellectual work; technology as life-milieu, social force and system; and, feedback in the technological system and its response to values.
JPG 1404 Issues in global warming
This course presents a comprehensive overview of the greenhouse gas/global warming issue, its relationship to other atmospheric environmental problems, and policy options at the local to international scale.
JPG 1406 Energy supply and use
JPG 1407 Efficient Use of Energy
The course examines the options available for dramatically reducing our use of primary energy with no reduction in meaningful energy services, through more efficient use of energy at the scale of energy-using devices and of entire energy systems. Topics covered include generation of electricity from fossil fuels and energy use in buildings, transportation, industry, and agriculture. Each topic will cover (i) the underlying physical principles that determine the potential of and the limits to energy efficiency improvements, (ii) the difference in potential savings when focusing on individual energy using devices rather than entire energy-using systems, (iii) examples of efficiency improvements that have been achieved in practice in various countries around the world, and (iv) the cost and financing of energy efficiency improvements. As well, the role of the so-called rebound effect in eroding the energy-saving benefit of efficiency improvements will be discussed.
JPG 1408 Carbon-Free Energy
The course examines the options available for providing energy from carbon-free energy sources:
solar, wind, biomass, hydro, oceanic, and geothermal energy, as well as through sequestration of
carbon from fossil fuel sources. The hydrogen economy is also discussed. For each carbon-free
energy source, the physical principles, physical or biophysical limits, efficiencies, and other
constraining factors are discussed, as well as examples of current applications, current and
projected future costs, and possible future scenarios. The course concludes by combining the
main conclusions from JPG 1407F concerning the prospects for reducing energy demand through
improved energy efficiency, with the conclusions drawn in this course concerning the feasibility
of large-scale carbon-free energy, to generate scenarios of future greenhouse gas emissions,
showing the range of possible consequences for global mean temperature, sea level rise, and
ocean acidification.