Course Syllabus
Planning for Urban Energy
PLA 4010
GSAPP Columbia University
Semester: Spring 2023
Days/time: Thursday 9:00 – 11:00 am
Location: Avery Hall
Instructor: Peter J. Marcotullio
Office hours: By appointment
Response policy: Email is preferred: peter.marcotullio@hunter.cuny.edu (primary) pjm12@columbia.edu (secondary)
Course overview
Urbanization has been associated with increasing energy use and related GHG emissions and climate vulnerabilities. Yet, in the USA and other parts of the world, urban energy systems have almost been a taken-for-granted infrastructure system, outside the realm of urban planning. Due to climate change as well as threats of “peak energy use” however, these systems are coming under increasingly intense scrutiny. Understanding and planning for urban energy may be one of the most important tasks for planners in the future. This class explores urban energy systems, their components, development pathways, transitions and related planning issues.
Course description and learning objectives
This class introduces students to concepts and issues related to planning for urban energy systems. Initial lectures explore the global energy system. We later use this framework for analytical purposes to examine urban and metropolitan energy systems. The course will cover an introduction to the trends and current state of urban energy systems in developed and developing cities, transitions in energy systems, vulnerabilities and adaptation and mitigation theories and practices. We end with a discussion of plausible urban energy futures
The learning objectives for the course include student ability to:
- Identify and describe general components of urban energy systems (both hard and soft infrastructure)
- Explain shifts in urban energy system infrastructure and energy use through the use of the concept of energy transitions
- Evaluate contemporary local energy planning and policy related to climate change vulnerability and mitigation
- Synthesize current urban energy system trends and states as the basis for projecting future challenges
Student evaluations
Evaluations are based upon:
- Class attendance and participation. Participation in class discussion is vital for learning. As mentioned, a significant portion of class time is devoted to discussion of readings and class lectures. 10%.
- The completion of four further assignments.
- Students are required to present on a specific critical urban energy issue for part of a seminar (15-minute presentation and 10-minute discussion). They may work alone or in groups depending upon the size of the class and student interest in the topic. Expectations are to bring experiences or specific interests to the class. Presentations should last about 15-20 minutes 15%.
- Students will prepare two short policy briefs based upon, or related to any topic directly covered during the seminar (critical energy systems). The policy briefs will be due during second and thrid months of class (early October and early November) (~1000 words) 20%.
- The students are required to submit a final paper which is due at the end of the semester. The final paper should be approximately ~3,000 - 5,000 words including bibliography, tables and charts. The paper could include a case study of an individual city and critical urban energy sectors or overview of a particularly important issue for cities at the national, regional or global scales (i.e., infrastructure transitions to urban energy sustainability) 40%.
- During the semester, short lectures, given by the instructor, on aspects of writing the final paper with short assignments. These assignments will be peer-reviewed by other students for critical feedback. All students are required to submit material and peer review at least one other student’s work. The assignments are directly related to the student research project final papers. Examples of assignments include topic sentences, research question, literature review, annotated bibliography, data sources, methods, paper outline, etc., 5%.
- Students will present their final papers to the entire class at the end of the semester. 10%.
Percent of
Class activity final grade Due date
Class participation 10% Throughout
Assignment 1 – Class energy presentation 15% Once during semester
Assignment 2 – Individual policy briefs 20% (March)
Assignment 3 – Low risk paper parts 5% Throughout
Assignment 4 – Final paper 40% End of semester
Assignment 5 – Paper presentation 10% Last classes
Class policies
We expect you to come to class on time and thoroughly prepared. We will keep track of attendance and look forward to an interesting, lively and confidential discussion. If you miss an experience in class, you miss an important learning moment and the class misses your contribution. Engagement with your peers will be an important part of the course. Through posts on the course website and participation in the live sessions, you need to actively contribute to course discussions. In addition, you will have the opportunity both to present before your peers and to respond to their presentations in small group work. You are also expected to complete all assigned readings, attend all class sessions, and engage with others. If you need to miss a class for any reason, please discuss the absence with me in advance.
Participation and Attendance
You are expected to complete all assigned readings, attend all class sessions, and engage with others in online discussions. Your participation will require that you answer questions, defend your point of view, and challenge the point of view of others. If you need to miss a class for any reason, please discuss the absence with me in advance.
Late work
Work that is not submitted on the due date noted in the course syllabus without advance notice and permission from the instructor will be graded down 1/3 of a grade for every day it is late (e.g., from a B+ to a B).
Citation & Submission
All written assignments must, cite sources, and have full bibliographic references. Papers cannot be solely based newspaper or web-site references. Each paper must have at least 15 references, three quarters of which must come from scholarly journal, books and or government reports. All assignments will be submitted to the course website (not via email)
Readings
All readings will be provided on Canvas or through citations that can be found in the Columbia University library.
Office hours
I am available for discussion most Thursdays. I do not, however, have an office here on campus, so we will meet in common spaces at Columbia. Note that while I respond to email as promptly as possible, if you send me an email late on Friday I may not respond until Monday.
Academic integrity
Columbia University regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The University is committed to enforcing its Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to the Academic Integrity Procedures. Plagiarism, dishonesty, or cheating in any portion of the work required for this course will be punished to the full extent allowed according to Columbia University College regulations.
Tentative subject titles
- Introduction
- The global energy system 1 (physical infrastructure)
- The global energy system 2 (social infrastructure)
- Transition theories and energy systems
- Urban energy infrastructure
- Urban energy equity issues
- Urban energy system case studies (global)
- Urban energy vulnerability
- Global urban projections to heat exposure
- Urban energy adaptation
- Urban GHG emissions
- Urban energy mitigation policies
Course Summary:
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