Friday, May 9, 2014

Two Open-Access Books on Energy and Sustainability Published in 2014

I want to introduce two open access books on energy and sustainability that were published in 2014.

(1) Coyle, E. D., & Simmons, R. A. (Eds.). (2014). Understanding the Global Energy Crisis. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press. [Full-text at http://www.oapen.org/download?type=document&docid=469619]

(2) Thesis, T., & Tomkin, J. (Eds.). (2014). Sustainability: A Comprehensive Foundation. Houston, TX: Rice University. [Full-text at: http://cnx.org/content/col11325/latest]

And their tables of contents are:

(1) Understanding the Global Energy Crisis

Contents

Foreword ..................................................... xi
Preface .................................................... xiii
Introduction .................................................. 1

Part 1: The Global Energy Crisis in Context

Chapter 1: Reflections on Energy, Greenhouse Gases, 
           and Carbonaceous Fuels ............................ 11
 1.1. Introduction: Man’s Quest for Energy ................... 12
 1.2. Earth’s Atmosphere and Greenhouse Gases ................ 13

Chapter 2: Global Energy Policy Perspectives ................. 27
 2.1. Introduction: Energy Demand and Expected Growth ........ 28
 2.2. United States Energy and Climate Policy ................ 34
 2.3. Energy and Climate Policy in the European Union ........ 42
 2.4. China Energy and Climate Change Policy ................. 50
 2.5. Russia Energy and Climate Change Policy ................ 52
 2.6. Brazil Energy and Climate Change Policy ................ 54
 2.7. India Energy and Climate Change Policy ................. 58

Chapter 3: Social Engagement by the Engineer ................. 73
 3.1. Introduction ........................................... 74
 3.2. Social Systems ......................................... 75
 3.3. Common Authentic Values and Principles ..................78

Part 2: Energy Conversion Technology

Chapter 4: Harnessing Nature: Wind, Hydro, Wave, 
           Tidal, and Geothermal Energy ...................... 91
 4.1. Introduction ........................................... 91
 4.2. Wind Energy ............................................ 92
 4.3. Hydroelectric Energy ................................... 99
 4.4. Wave and Tidal Energy ................................. 102
 4.5. Geothermal Energy ..................................... 114
 4.6. Impact of Renewable Technologies on Electricity Grid
      Developments .......................................... 117

Chapter 5: Solar Power and the Enabling Role of
           Nanotechnology ................................... 125
 5.1. Introduction .......................................... 125
 5.2. Solar Power Overview .................................. 126
 5.3. Nanotechnology ........................................ 128
 5.4. Solar Photovoltaics ................................... 132
 5.5. Thermoelectrics ....................................... 135
 5.6. Nanotechnology in Other Energy Applications ........... 140

Chapter 6: Biofuel Prospects in an Uncertain World .......... 151
 6.1. Biofuels History ...................................... 152
 6.2. First Generation Biofuels ............................. 153
 6.3. Second Generation Biofuels ............................ 155
 6.4. Conclusions: Major Challenges and Opportunities ....... 162

Chapter 7: A Future Role for Nuclear Energy? ................ 167
 7.1. Introduction: Essentials of Nuclear Energy ............ 168
 7.2. History of Nuclear Engineering ........................ 171
 7.3. Current Status of Nuclear Energy ...................... 171
 7.4. Nuclear Energy Safety ................................. 175
 7.5. Nuclear Accidents and Impacts ......................... 177
 7.6. Challenges in Nuclear Waste Management ................ 180
 7.7. Future Role for Nuclear Power ......................... 182
 7.8. Social Engagement ..................................... 185
 7.9. Future for Nuclear Fusion ............................. 188

Part 3: Energy Distribution and Use

Chapter 8: Taking Emerging Renewable Technologies to Market . 193
 8.1 Introduction ........................................... 194
 8.2 Economic Factors ....................................... 194
 8.3 Political Factors ...................................... 196
 8.4 Social Factors ......................................... 199
 8.5 Maintainability Factors ................................ 202
 8.6 Economics of Energy .................................... 202
 8.7 Some Challenges for Emerging Wave Energy Technologies .. 204
 8.8 Conclusion ............................................. 209

Chapter 9: Transportation and Energy ........................ 215
 9.1 Transportation Energy Overview ......................... 216
 9.2 Electric and Hybrid Vehicles ........................... 225
 9.3 Aviation Fuels and Regulation .......................... 239

Chapter 10: Policy Challenges for the Built Environment: 
            The Dilemma of the Existing Building Stock ...... 255
 10.1 Introduction .......................................... 255
 10.2 Energy Conserving Building Retrofit Technologies ...... 257
 10.3 Complexity of Energy Efficiency Retrofit Strategies ... 261
 10.4 Policy Challenges to Energy Efficiency Retrofit Success 266
 10.5 Building Energy Reduction Programs Recently
     Employed in the US and EU .............................. 272
 10.6 Recommendations and Opportunities for
     Future Solutions ....................................... 276

Epilogue: Reflections on Our Path Forward ................... 283

Index ....................................................... 291


(2) Sustainability: A Comprehensive Foundation

Contents

Foreword....................................................... 1
Preface ....................................................... 3

1 Introduction to Sustainability: Humanity and the Environment
  1.1 An Introduction to Sustainability: Humanity and the
      Environment ............................................. 5
  1.2 What is Sustainability? ................................. 5
  1.3 The IPAT Equation ....................................... 8
  1.4 Human Consumption Patterns and the Rebound Effect ....... 9
  1.5 Challenges for Sustainability .......................... 11
  1.6 Chapter Review Questions................................ 14

2 The Evolution of Environmental Policy in the United States
  2.1 The Evolution of Environmental Policy in the United
      States Chapter Introduction ............................ 15
  2.2 The American Conservation Movement...................... 16
  2.3 Environmental Risk Management .......................... 27
  2.4 Sustainability and Public Policy........................ 35
  2.5 Public Health and Sustainability........................ 39

3 Climate and Global Change
  3.1 Climate and Global Change - Chapter Introduction........ 49
  3.2 Climate Processes; External and Internal Controls ...... 50
  3.3 Milankovitch Cycles and the Climate of the Quaternary .. 63
  3.4 Modern Climate Change .................................. 76
  3.5 Climate Projections .................................... 98

4 Biosphere
  4.1 Biosphere Chapter Introduction......................... 117
  4.2 Biogeochemical Cycles and the Flow of Energy in the
      Earth System........................................... 119
  4.3 Biodiversity, Species Loss, and Ecosystem Function..... 126
  4.4 Soil and Sustainability ............................... 135

5 Physical Resources: Water, Pollution, and Minerals
  5.1 Physical Resources: Water, Pollution, and Minerals -
      Chapter Introduction................................... 149
  5.2 Water Cycle and Fresh Water Supply..................... 151
  5.3 Case Study: The Aral Sea - Going, Going, Gone ......... 179
  5.4 Water Pollution ....................................... 184
  5.5 Case Study: The Love Canal Disaster ................... 209
  5.6 Mineral Resources: Formation, Mining, Environmental
      Impact................................................. 212
  5.7 Case Study: Gold: Worth its Weight? ................... 227

6 Environmental and Resource Economics
  6.1 Environmental and Resource Economics - Chapter
      Introduction........................................... 233
  6.2 Tragedy of the Commons................................. 234
  6.3 Case Study: Marine Fisheries........................... 243
  6.4 Environmental Valuation ............................... 246
  6.5 Evaluating Projects and Policies....................... 254
  6.6 Solutions: Property Rights, Regulations, and Incentive
      Policies............................................... 261

7 Modern Environmental Management
  7.1 Modern Environmental Management Chapter Introduction .. 267
  7.2 Systems of Waste Management ........................... 268
  7.3 Case Study: Electronic Waste and Extended Producer
      Responsibility......................................... 279
  7.4 Government and Laws on the Environment................. 281
  7.5 Risk Assessment Methodology for Conventional and
    Alternative Sustainability Options....................... 290

8 Sustainable Energy Systems
  8.1 Sustainable Energy Systems - Chapter Introduction ..... 303
  8.2 Environmental Challenges in Energy, Carbon Dioxide,
      Air, Water and Land Use ............................... 309
  8.3 Case Study: Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change ....... 333
  8.4 Energy Sources and Carriers ........................... 338
  8.5 Energy Uses ........................................... 385
  8.6 Applications of Phase Change Materials for Sustainable
      Energy................................................. 397

9 Problem-Solving, Metrics, and Tools for Sustainability
  9.1 Problem-Solving, Metrics, and Tools for Sustainability
      - Chapter Introduction................................. 409
  9.2 Life Cycle Assessment ................................. 410
  9.3 Derivative Life Cycle Concepts......................... 424
  9.4 Sustainability and Business ........................... 470

10 Sustainability: Ethics, Culture, and History
  10.1 The Human Dimensions of Sustainability: History,
       Culture, Ethics....................................... 476
  10.2 It's Not Easy Being Green: Anti-Environmental
       Discourse, Behavior, and Ideology..................... 478
  10.3 The Industrialization of Nature: A Modern History
       (1500 to the present)................................. 483
  10.4 Sustainability Studies: A Systems Literacy Approach .. 490
  10.5 The Vulnerability of Industrialized Resource Systems:
       Two Case Studies ..................................... 494
  10.6 Case Study: Agriculture and the Global Bee Colony
       Collapse ............................................. 498
  10.7 Case Study: Energy and the BP Oil Disaster ........... 501
  10.8 Sustainability Ethics................................. 503

11 Sustainable Infrastructure
  11.1 Sustainable Infrastructure - Chapter Introduction..... 511
  11.2 The Sustainable City ................................. 512
  11.3 Sustainability and Buildings ......................... 535
  11.4 Sustainable Energy Practices: Climate Action Planning  551
  11.5 Sustainable Transportation: Accessibility, Mobility,
       and Derived Demand ................................... 566
  11.6 Sustainable Stormwater Management..................... 576
  11.7 Case Study: A Net-Zero Energy Home in Urbana,
       Illinois ............................................. 588

Glossary..................................................... 591
Index ....................................................... 619
Attributions................................................. 626