This project focuses on the development of an applied energy curriculum including field and laboratory training. The curriculum is comprised of traditional coursework, laboratory work, field study, internships, and analysis in energy efficiency, production, and life cycle assessment. Undergraduates use various instruments in the energy courses and in conducting research projects under the umbrella of existing faculty research programs. A number of simply designed experiments ranging from determining the heating load of a model domestic hot water heater, to using Infrared thermography to explore how different objects absorb and emit radiation with applications in residential energy auditing. Through the integration into course curricula and use in undergraduate research, purchased energy equipment offers powerful pedagogical tools for helping students learn and perform investigations in energy and sustainability. The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the NSF (DUE 0941778  ) for this project.

Applied energy curriculum at the University of Southern Maine

244th National Meeting (2012)

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