Urban Energy Infrastructure Policy and Climate Impacts
Carnegie Mellon University, Spring 2019
This course studies how urban infrastructure - its urban form, transportation, and building stock in particular - impacts energy consumption and environmental emissions and explores different policy mechanisms for reducing those impacts. For graduate students and junior/senior undergrads.
Key Topics:
Urban energy consumption and environmental impact
Policies and infrastructure improvements for reducing urban environmental impact
Critique of climate action policy in U.S. cities
Course Documents:
Syllabus
Literature Reading List
Homework List and Due Dates
Week 1 - Urban Energy and Emissions Overview
Slides
1.1 Slides - Urban Emissions
1.2 Slides - Urban Emissions Sources
Homework
Evaluating Your Carbon Footprint
How to Read the Academic Literature
Extra:
Literature Reading Template
Student Data Spreadsheet - fill out at the beginning of the first class
Week 2 - Broad Strategies for Urban Climate Change Mitigation
Slides
2.1 Slides - Broad Strategies for Urban Climate Change Mitigation
2.2 Slides - Broad Strategies: Shifting Transportation Modes
Homework
Metro Station Critique
Literature Review Presentations
Extra:
Giving a Short Presentation
Week 3 - Broad Strategies for Urban Climate Change Mitigation, continued
Slides
3.1 Slides - Broad Strategies: Reducing Building Energy Consumption
3.2 Slides - Broad Strategies: Reducing Power Sector Emissions
Homework
Policy Type Research
Searching the Academic Literature
Week 4 - Climate Action Plans - Theory Overview and Assessment
Slides
4.1 Slides - Climate Action Plans: Theory Overview
4.2 Slides - Climate Action Plans: Assessment of U.S. Cities
Homework
Assess Pittsburgh’s Climate Action Plan
Executive Summary Outline
Extra
4.1 Data - Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan
Week 5 - Supplementary Topics
Slides
5.1 Slides - Consumption Based Accounting
5.2 Slides - Spillover, Regional Planning, and Strategic Growth
Homework
Recommendations for Pittsburgh’s Climate Action Plan
Project Presentation Slides
Week 6 - Supplementary Topics
Slides
6.1 Slides - Co-benefits
6.2 Slides - Course Overview
Class Project
Project Overview
Last updated February 19, 2019