49028 Policy and Planning of Energy Conservation
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Subject handbook information prior to 2023 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
Energy conservation is an important aspect of energy planning and policy analysis. This subject introduces students to the rationale and context for energy conservation planning and policy; historical perspective of energy conservation; public and private sector interventions and mechanisms for rationalising the design of energy conservation policies; examples and case studies of energy conservation programs at national, sectoral and enterprise levels in developing and industrialised countries; and decision methods for program design.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Describe the rationale, nature, characteristics, and criticality of energy conservation. |
|---|---|
| 2. | Explain basic concepts, principles and frameworks for assessing energy conservation potential. |
| 3. | Analyse factors influencing energy consumption. |
| 4. | Assess the comparative effectiveness of energy policies aimed at conserving energy. |
| 5. | Analyse and critically appraise energy conservation policies and programs. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, and influence stakeholders, and apply expert judgment establishing and managing constraints, conflicts and uncertainties within a hazards and risk framework to define system requirements and interactivity. (B.1)
- Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design thinking and decision-making methodologies in new contexts or to novel problems, to explore, test, analyse and synthesise complex ideas, theories or concepts. (C.1)
- Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply theoretical, conceptual, software and physical tools and advanced discipline knowledge to research, evaluate and predict future performance of systems characterised by complexity. (D.1)
- Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating autonomously within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)
- Reflective: FEIT graduates critically self-review their own and others' performance with a high level of responsibility to improve and practice competently for the benefit of professional practice and society. (F.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject is offered in block mode, involving three (two day each) modules, spread over a 12 week session.
Each block follows a similar structure, in that students are required to access pre-class review of subject reading/viewing material on UTSOnline. The material is designed to enable students to engage in meaningful discussions in class. Communication is integral to each class and the pre-reading material informs these conversations.
In class, students will have a formal lecture to re-assess understanding of concepts and methods and their applications in real-life situations using case studies. Students engage in extensive consultations to complete set exercises. These exercises provide opportunities for developing an understanding of concepts and methods relevant to the subject. They also provide opportunities for critical evaluation of presented information. Assignments are issued in each Block and are to be handed in before the next Block so that verbal feedback and relevant examples can be provided to guide each Block. Each Block follows an assignment and feedback, hence increasing understanding and increased opportunity for feedback. The assignments are designed to test students’ ability to apply concepts and methods in specific contexts, analyse policy trade-offs and, develop constructive critique. Quizzes are designed to assess knowledge and understanding of subject content. By completing these before each Block, students will receive verbal feedback on their progress in the following Block.
Content (topics)
- Policy and planning context for energy conservation
- Definition and interpretation of energy conservation
- Rationale behind conservation
- Historical perspective and experience
- Institutional context
- Overview of selected measures and interventions in the public and private sectors
- Conceptual backdrop
- Energy Efficiency V Energy Productivity V Energy Intensity – physical and economic perspectives
- Technical V Economic V Market potential for energy conservation
- Methodologies for analysing energy consumption changes
- Concepts, Energy decomposition approaches
- Disaggregated V Aggregated analyses at sectoral (industrial, transportation, commercial, residential, and agricultural sectors), regional, national and global levels
- Analyses of factors influencing energy use
- Assessment of the potential for energy conservation
- Policy frameworks for promoting energy conservation
- Regulatory V Market-oriented V hybrid – foundations, concepts, procedures, impacts
- Sectoral, regional, national and global contexts
- Behavioural response at the consumer level – monitoring the effects of conservation
- Case studies
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Assignment 1
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1, C.1, D.1, E.1 and F.1 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 15% |
Assessment task 2: Quiz 1
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1, C.1, D.1 and F.1 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
Assessment task 3: Assignment 2
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1, C.1, E.1 and F.1 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 15% |
Assessment task 4: Quiz 2
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1, D.1 and E.1 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
Assessment task 5: Assignment 3
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1, C.1, E.1 and F.1 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
Assessment task 6: Class Participation
| Intent: | To demonstrate students’ participation to critically engage with materials covered in this subject, and their ability to confidently engage in meaningful discussion in the class. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): E.1 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 10% |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.
Required texts
None prescribed. Selective lecture notes, journal articles and other readings are provided below.
References
Ang (2004), Decomposition analysis for policy making in energy: which is the preferred method?, Energy Policy 32, 1131-1139.
Ang (2006), Monitoring changes in economy-wide energy efficiency: From energy-GDP ratio to composite efficiency index, Energy Policy 34(5), 574-582.
Berndt, Ernst R. (1978) Aggregate Energy, Efficiency, and Productivity Measurement, Annual Rev. Of Energy, 1978: 3, pp.225-73.
Croucher, M. (2011), Potential problems and limitations of energy conservation and energy efficiency, Energy Policy, Vol. 39, pp.5795-5799.
Hirst, Eric; Marlay, Robert; Greene, David; and Barnes, Richard (1983) Recent Changes in U.S. Energy Consumption: What Happened and Why, Annual Rev. of Energy, 1983:8, pp.193-245.
IEA (1997), Indicators of energy use and efficiency: Understanding the link between energy and human activity, International Energy Agency, Paris.
Patterson, Murray G (1996) What is energy efficiency? Concepts, indicators and methodological issues, Energy Policy, Vol. 23, No. 5, pp. 377-390.
Sandu, S. and Petchey, R. (2009), End use energy intensity in the Australian economy, ABARE research report 09.17, Canberra.
Sorrel, S.; O’Malley, E.; Schleich, J.; and Scott, S. (2004), The economics of energy efficiency: barriers to cost-effective investment, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK.
Sorrell, S. (2009), Jevons’ Paradox revisited: The evidence for backfire from improved energy efficiency, Energy Policy, Vol. 37, pp.1456-1469.
Tanaka, Kanako (2008) Assessing measures of energy efficiency Performance and their Application in Industry, International energy agency, Paris.
Wirl, Franz (1997) The Economics of Conservation Programs, Kluwer Academic Publishers, London.