12-090 Technology and the Environment

Instructor

Deanna H. Matthews

Course Schedule

Last Updated: March 26, 2002

Following is the most up to date course schedule. Lecture notes are linked in the 'Topic' column. While lecture notes might be available ahead of time, they may be changed before or during class (e.g. if we do not cover all material). So check back after class to ensure no content was changed. Not all classes will have lecture notes.

Links with * are excel spreadsheets. If you are using a Mac, you should have no problem downloading the files. (ahh, Macs...) If you are using a PC, Netscape is not cooperating and will give you a denied access error if you download and try to open the file; Explorer will show the file in the browser if you click on it, or download the file if you right-click and select "save target as."

Date Topic Reading Assignments
15-Jan Overview of course, syllabus review Rubin Chap.1, p. 1-17  
17-Jan Overview of environmental issues Rubin Chap. 2, p. 18-78 Assignment 1 due
22-Jan Units, conversions, and estimation techniques Eide Chap. 6, p. 201-226; Eide Chap 5, p. 183-200  
24-Jan CFCs and ozone depletion Rubin Chap. 11, p. 199-233 Assignment 2 due
29-Jan CFCs and ozone depletion Concentration Curve Spreadsheet*    
31-Jan CFCs and ozone depletion    
5-Feb Automobiles and environmental impacts Rubin Chap. 3, p. 79-124 Assignment 3 due (4 Feb option)
7-Feb Test 1 - 15-Jan through 31-Jan material    
12-Feb Automobiles and life cycle assessment Handouts  
14-Feb Automobiles and life cycle assessment    
19-Feb Automobile wrap-up   Assignment 4 due
21-Feb Field Trip – Tube City automobile shredder and recycler    
26-Feb Computers – product impacts Handouts  
28-Feb Computers – product impacts   Assignment 5 due
5-Mar Electricity – generation, transmission, various sources - Guest Lecturer Rubin Chap. 5, Sections 5.3, 5.4, p. 143-160  
7-Mar Mid-semester Break    
12-Mar Computer - use impacts Monitor Power Spreadsheet* Wired vs. Wireless Spreadsheet* Handouts  
14-Mar Electricity - various sources, environmental impacts Rubin Chap. 5, Sections 5.1, 5.2, p. 126-143; 5.5, p. 160-174 Assignment 6 due
19-Mar Electricity - environmental and other impacts, policy issues Rubin Chap. 5, Sections 5.6, 5.7, 5.8 p. 174-193  
21-Mar Test 2 - 5-Feb through 12-Mar material    
26-Mar Green Buildings - Guest Lecturers Peg Hart and Steven Guenther, FMS    
28-Mar Energy conservation and efficiency, Intro to Industrial Ecology Handouts Assignment 7 Due
2-Apr Spring Break    
4-Apr Spring Break    
9-Apr Field Trip - NRG Facility    
11-Apr Industrial water use and treatment CLASS MEETS IN PORTER 107 Handouts  
16-Apr Industrial water use and treatment, emissions trading   Assignment 8 due
18-Apr Technology to solve environmental problems    
23-Apr Genetically modified organisms   Assignment 9 due 22-Apr at 12:00pm
25-Apr Test 3 - 5-Mar, 14-Mar through 16-Apr material    
30-Apr Forecasting environmental problems Rubin Chap. 15, p. 234-280  
2-May Summary of course   Assignment 10 due

Links to Course Materials

Course Syllabus

Assignments and Solutions

Reminder - links with * are excel spreadsheet files. See note at top of page.

Assignment 1
Assignment 2
Assignment 2 Solutions*
Assignment 3
Assignment 3 Solutions*
Assignment 4
Assignment 5
Assignment 5 Solutions*
Assignment 6
Assignment 6 Solutions-written
Assignment 6 Solutions-problems*
Assignment 7
Assignment 8
Assignment 9
Water System Handout
Assignment 10