Audeliz Matias, Center for Distance Learning, SUNY Empire State College writes:

“During the last decade, energy has been at the forefront of all sectors of society: local government and communities, industry, international government and organizations, academia and private organizations. How we produce, distribute and consume energy today is fundamental to future issues of human health, development, the environment and climate change. Sustainable energy is defined as energy which has minimal negative impacts on human health and the environment during production or consumption.

“Clean, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy is an important part of any country’s sustainable development and the environment. Some forms of energy are renewable resources that are replenished at a rate equal to or greater than the rate at which we use them, whereas nonrenewable energy resources such as coal and crude oil are not replenished as fast as they are utilized, or are completely gone once consumed. Renewable energy sources such as solar, hydroelectric, wind, wave and tidal power and geothermal are becoming more prominent in our society as they meet current energy needs without compromising the needs of future generations.

“Information and data on energy production and consumption is available from a number of institutions, including the United Nations, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Energy Council.”

Below is a list of resources on this topic. Find a more complete list of resources with links for learning and teaching about this topic on our Pinterest site:
Follow Sustainability’s board Energy on Pinterest.

Books

Energy for Sustainability: Technology, Planning, Policy 2nd Edition, John Randolph PhD, Gilbert M. Masters

Reinventing Fire: Bold Business Solutions for the New Energy Era, 2011 by Amory Lovins and Marvin Odum

Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air, David JC MacKay

Sustainable Energy: Choosing Among Options, 2005, Jefferson W. Tester, Elisabeth M. Drake, Michael J. Driscoll, Michael W. Golay, William A. Peters

Articles

Energy for a Sustainable Future: The 2010 summary report and recommendations from the secretary-general of the United Nations Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change (AGECC).

Is the Fit Right? Considering Technological Maturity in Designing Renewable Energy Policy, the World Resources Institute

Websites:

epa.gov/greenpower/pubs/resourcelibrary.htm – Green Power Partnerships from the Environmental Protection Agency.

www.nyserda.ny.gov – New York State Energy Research & Development Authority

se4all.org– Sustainable Energy for All from the United Nations and the World Bank

www.wri.org/our-work/topics/climate- World Resources Institute

eai.gov U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

statistics.gov.uk– UK National Statistics