Activities to infuse sustainability and renewable energy concepts in electrical and computer engineering

Several engineering programs have introduced courses related to sustainability following the Brundtland Commission report in 1987. Available literature suggests that environmental engineering programs have initiated most of such activity, but only a few activities are reported in electrical and computer engineering programs. To fill this gap, a project to infuse sustainability into the electrical and computer engineering curriculum was initiated in 2009 in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at Kansas State University with support from the National Science Foundation. The goal of the project is to prepare engineers, who are equipped to meet the growing needs of society, as well as to bolster enrollment by aligning the curriculum with needs of the current generation of students, who wish to involve themselves in work that benefits society. The paper describes activities related to sustainability including hands-on experiments in renewable energy, development of a rooftop solar and wind generation system, and associated outreach activities. Finally, results of assessments conducted in freshman classes provide a view of student knowledge related to sustainability and renewable energy as they enter their college experience.