Foreword -- Preface -- Introduction -- Part 1: The Global Energy Crisis in Context -- 1: Reflections on Energy, Greenhouse Gases, and Carbonaceous Fuels -- 1.1. Introduction: Man�s Quest for Energy -- 1.2. Earth�s Atmosphere and Greenhouse Gases -- 2: Global Energy Policy Perspectives -- 2.1. Introduction: Energy Demand and Expected Growth -- 2.2. United States Energy and Climate Policy -- 2.3. Energy and Climate Policy in the European Union -- 2.4. China Energy and Climate Change Policy -- 2.5. Russia Energy and Climate Change Policy -- 2.6. Brazil Energy and Climate Change Policy -- 2.7. India Energy and Climate Change Policy -- 3: Social Engagement by the Engineer -- 3.1. Introduction -- 3.2. Social Systems -- 3.3. Common Authentic Values and Principles -- Part 2: Energy Conversion Technology -- 4: Harnessing Nature: Wind, Hydro, Wave, Tidal, and Geothermal Energy -- 4.1. Introduction -- 4.2. Wind Energy -- 4.3. Hydroelectric Energy -- 4.4. Wave and Tidal Energy -- 4.5. Geothermal Energy -- 4.6. Impact of Renewable Technologies on Electricity Grid Developments -- 5: Solar Power and the Enabling Role of Nanotechnology -- 5.1. Introduction -- 5.2. Solar Power Overview -- 5.3. Nanotechnology -- 5.4. Solar Photovoltaics -- 5.5. Thermoelectrics -- 5.6. Nanotechnology in Other Energy Applications -- 6: Biofuel Prospects in an Uncertain World -- 6.1. Biofuels History -- 6.2. First Generation Biofuels -- 6.3. Second Generation Biofuels -- 6.4. Conclusions: Major Challenges and Opportunities -- 7: A Future Role for Nuclear Energy? -- 7.1. Introduction: Essentials of Nuclear Energy -- 7.2. History of Nuclear Engineering -- 7.3. Current Status of Nuclear Energy -- 7.4. Nuclear Energy Safety -- 7.5. Nuclear Accidents and Impacts -- 7.6. Challenges in Nuclear Waste Management -- 7.7. Future Role for Nuclear Power -- 7.8. Social Engagement -- 7.9. Future for Nuclear Fusion -- Part 3: Energy Distribution and Use -- 8: Taking Emerging Renewable Technologies to Market -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Economic Factors -- 8.3 Political Factors -- 8.4 Social Factors -- 8.5 Maintainability Factors -- 8.6 Economics of Energy -- 8.7 Some Challenges for Emerging Wave Energy Technologies -- 8.8 Conclusion""; ""Chapter 9: Transportation and Energy -- 9.1 Transportation Energy Overview -- 9.2 Electric and Hybrid --10: Policy Challenges for the Built Environment: The Dilemma of the Existing Building Stock -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 Energy Conserving Building Retrofit Technologies -- 10.3 Complexity of Energy Efficiency Retrofit Strategies.

We are facing a global energy crisis caused by world population growth, an escalating increase in demand, and continued dependence on fossil-based fuels for generation. It is widely accepted that increases in greenhouse gas concentration levels, if not reversed, will result in major changes to world climate with consequential effects on our society and economy. This is just the kind of intractable problem that Purdue University's Global Policy Research Institute seeks to address in the Purdue Studies in Public Policy series by promoting the engagement between policy makers and experts in fields such as engineering and technology. Major steps forward in the development and use of technology are required. In order to achieve solutions of the required scale and magnitude within a limited timeline, it is essential that engineers be not only technologically-adept but also aware of the wider social and political issues that policy-makers face. Likewise, it is also imperative that policy makers liaise closely with the academic community in order to realize advances. This book is designed to bridge the gap between these two groups, with a particular emphasis on educating the socially-conscious engineers and technologists of the future. In this accessibly-written volume, central issues in global energy are discussed through interdisciplinary dialogue between experts from both North America and Europe. The first section provides an overview of the nature of the global energy crisis approached from historical, political, and sociocultural perspectives. In the second section, expert contributors outline the technology and policy issues facing the development of major conventional and renewable energy sources. The third and final section explores policy and technology challenges and opportunities in the distribution and consumption of energy, in sectors such as transportation and the built environment. The book's epilogue suggests some future scenarios in energy distribution and use.