Sustainability: Pursuing an Energy and Environmental Balance

Sustainability is a buzzword capturing much attention these days. But “It’s not easy being green!”- thank you Kermit. Ongoing concerns over natural disasters and the climate are stirring up passions and action groups. What are the real issues and what can we do? Since the industrial revolution, we have been dealing with the social and environmental ramifications of the growth of technology. We will look at the role of industry, government, and private citizens in communication and cooperation. We will also delve into the social, economic, and environmental impacts of our standard of living and energy dependence. Important issues such as the impact of datacenters, alternative energy sources fuel, and solid waste management will be discussed. The issues are both global and local. During the last session of the course, we will visit a waste management facility and take a tour. The facility will be within a 45-minute drive of the campus.