Development of a course in energy management for engineering and technology programs

Abstract

The energy management field is experiencing significant growth, due to the restructuring of the utility industry, the building automation, and increasing demand for energy services. There is a growing need for engineers with skills in energy, environmental, and facilities management. This paper presents the development of an undergraduate course in the area of energy management and industrial energy systems. The objective of this course is to study energy management methods, procedures and functions as performed in modern residential, commercial and industrial facilities. "Energy management" is a broad term that has a number of different meanings. However, energy management is about managing available resources and equipment to make the most efficient use of energy. Courses with "energy management" in their names or descriptions often cover broader environmental and economic issues as well the implementation of practical solutions. Energy Studies and Energy Management are all about how to make best use of our present and future energy sources, by addressing critical economic and environmental issues, by considering the technical, economic and social factors, affecting energy demand. Our course is focusing more on technical and engineering aspects of energy management, rather than environmental or economic aspects. The course aims are to train students to use process integration methods and analysis and optimization tools necessary for identifying and designing efficient industrial energy systems that contribute to sustainable development. The paper describes our efforts and challenges, course contents, pedagogical approaches to enhance student comprehension of the concepts involved. The course goals and objectives are to provide students with methods, tools and procedures to identify the cost-optimal mix of different energy technologies to satisfy a given energy demand in most efficient way.