ENE2021 - Energy and the environment

Overview

Energy is all around us. From powering household appliances and gas heaters to driving a car across town, it is responsible for making everything that involves movement or activity happen. Although energy cannot be created or destroyed, it is still important for the available energy within our environment to be … For more content click the Read More button below. This unit provides a qualitative and quantitative survey of the physics behind conventional and alternative energy sources. The choice of energy source is also assessed in terms of its environmental impacts, its dependence on critical or scarce resources and the social or political consequences of reliance on that energy source concerning long-term sustainability. Building services and transport are among the largest end-use sectors responsible for energy consumption. Their energy efficiency and decarbonisation will be reviewed. Electricity is one of the most important energy commodities. The discussion on its generation, supply and demand will be expanded.

This unit provides a qualitative and quantitative survey of the physics behind conventional and alternative energy sources. The choice of energy source is also assessed in terms of its environmental impacts, its dependence on critical or scarce resources and the social or political consequences of reliance on that energy source concerning long-term sustainability. Building services and transport are among the largest end-use sectors responsible for energy consumption. Their energy efficiency and decarbonisation will be reviewed. Electricity is one of the most important energy commodities. The discussion on its generation, supply and demand will be expanded.

Offerings

S1-01-CLAYTON-FLEXIBLE

Requisites

Prohibition

Contacts

Chief Examiner(s)

Dr Jenny Zhou

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Jenny Zhou

Teaching approach

Active learning

Problem-based learning

Enquiry-based learning

Assessment summary

Continuous assessment: 50%

Final assessment: 50%

This unit contains threshold hurdle requirements that you must achieve to be able to pass the unit. You are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final assessment component. The consequence of not achieving a hurdle requirement is a fail grade (NH) and a maximum mark of 45 for the unit.

Assessment

1 - Quiz

2 - Assignment

3 - Project

4 - Final assessment

Scheduled and non-scheduled teaching activities

Practical activities

Workshops

Workload requirements

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.

Learning resources

Required resources

Recommended resources

The class content is drawn upon multiple reference books, scholarly and non-scholarly resources. The relevant books listed below are for further readings only. The continuous and final assessment questions are designed based on the content delivered in the classes, not the further reading materials.

Hinrichs, Roger A. and Kleinback, Merlin H., "Energy: Its Use and the Environment" (5th Edition),
Beggs, Clive, "Energy: Management, Supply and Conservation" (2nd Edition)
Brimblecombe, Robin, "Positive Energy Homes: Creating Passive Houses for Better Living" (1st Edition)

Technology resources

You should have access to a WINDOWS 10 computer (either laptop or desktop) as a simulation tool to be used in the assignments can only be installed and run on a Windows 10 operating system (Note: Mac OS is not supported). Accessing the software through Lab PC/MoVE has NOT been confirmed yet (as of 24th Nov 2020). You should regularly check the Moodle site and Monash emails for updates and information related to this unit.

Availability in areas of study

E3001 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Specialisation: Environmental engineering
Minor: Environmental engineering
Minor: Sustainable engineering
Minor: Transport