Sustainable Energy and Society: A Scientific Apology for Energy Reform

Joseph P. Peltack III, Chemistry,  Myers Park High School

Curriculum Unit (pdf)

Synopsis:
The pursuit for clean sustainable energy will continue to dominate the twenty-first century and the sprint to conquer a cleaner society will steadily increase as resources are depleted at an astonishing rate. The following Curriculum Unit will not only give an overview of the present energy systems but will also look at where we will find energy in the future – will it be the use of cleaner fossil fuels or renewable energy sources? As the United States entered into the Paris Agreement in September 2016

[i] and President Obama took a stand and agreed to fight climate change and reduce emissions, the fight for a cleaner climate is now a national fight. The purpose of the Curriculum Unit is for students to gain an understanding of Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy and use the information learned in various types of informal and formal assessments. Students will be prompted with visual projects, case and situational studies, and laboratory applications by building an Electrochemical Cell and Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell. At the end of the Curriculum Unit, students will have analyzed the various types of energy and the advancement of renewable energies with the growth of nanotechnology and nanoparticles.

 

[i] Somanader, Tanya. “President Obama: The United States Formally Enters the Paris Agreement.” The White House. September 3, 2016. Accessed October 8, 2016. https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016/09/03/president-obama-united-states-formally-enters-paris-agreement

In September 2016, President Obama signed the Paris Agreement, which joined the United States with other nations in the fight against climate change. The Paris Agreement outlines how these countries will reduce emissions and increase the use of renewable resources as energy sources in their respective countries.