B. Tech.
1st Semester
(2023-24 onwards)
Course Code : CHIC101 (Common for all branches)
Course Title : Energy and Environmental Science
L T P Total
Number of credits :
2 0 1 3
Prerequisites (Course code) : Nil
Course Type : IC
Course Learning Objectives:
To discuss the complexity of issues and challenges relating to energy and environmental
science
To explore the environmental impact of various energy sources and also the effects of
different types of pollutants.
To introduce the principal renewable energy systems.
To discuss the human impact on the environment and human exposure to environmental
contaminants.
Course Content:
L
Unit Course Description
(Hrs.)
Environment, Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Environment: Multidisciplinary nature, scope and importance, Need for
public awareness.
Unit 1 Ecosystems: Concept, types, structure and functions, Producers, consumers
6
and decomposers, Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids, Energy
flow in an ecosystem.
Biodiversity: Values of biodiversity, hot spots and threats to biodiversity,
conservation.
Natural Resources
Renewable and non-renewable resources: Natural resources and associated
Unit 2 8
problems.
Forest resources: Use and over-exploitation, deforestation, case studies,
Timber extraction, Mining, Dams and their effects on forest and tribal people.
Water resources: Use and over-exploitation of surface and ground water,
floods, droughts, conflicts over water, Dams – benefits and problems.
Mineral resources: Use and exploitation, Environmental effects of extracting
and using mineral resources, case studies.
Food resources: World food problems, Changes caused by agriculture and
overgrazing, Effects of modern agriculture, Fertilizer-pesticide problems,
Water logging, Salinity, case studies.
Energy resources: Present energy resources in India and its sustainability,
Energy demand scenario in India, Growing energy needs, Renewable and non-
renewable energy sources, Use of alternate energy sources.
Solar energy: Basics of solar energy, solar thermal energy, photovoltaic (PV)
solar cells, advantages and disadvantages, environmental impacts and safety.
Wind energy: Energy fromwind turbines, India’s wind energy potential, off
shore wind energy, environmental benefits and impacts.
Environmental Pollution
Air pollution: Sources and effects of pollutants, primary and secondary
pollutants, controlmeasures. Acid rain: Impacts on human communities and
agriculture. Green-house effect: Definition, causes and consequences.
Depletion of ozone layer, destruction of ozone layer by CFC, consequences,
effect of ozone modification, Photochemical smog, Bhopal gas tragedy.
Unit 3 Water pollution: Water characteristics, water quality (WHO standard),
natural water pollutants their origin and effects: oxygen demanding wastes, 10
pathogens, nutrients, salts, heavy metals, pesticides, volatile organic
compounds. River/ lake/ ground water pollution: DO, BOD, COD, pH and
eutrophication.
Thermal pollution: Causes, effects and control measures.
Solid waste management: Causes, effects and control measures of urban and
industrial wastes.
Nuclear hazards: Causes, effects and control measures.
Social Issues and the Environment
From unsustainable to sustainable development: Urban problems related to
Unit 4 energy, Water conservation, Rain water harvesting, Watershed management. 6
Environmental Ethics: Issues and possible solutions, consumerism and waste
products, Acts: Environment Protection Act, Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, Public
awareness, Population explosion, Environment and human health, Role of
Information Technology in environment and human health.
Total 30
Reference Books:
1. A. Basak, Environmental Studies: Pearson Education; 1st Edition, 2009.
2. E. Bharucha, Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses of all Branches of Higher
Education for University Grants Commission, 2013.
3. D. Dave and S.S. Katewa, Text Book of Environmental Studies: Cenage Learning India Private
Limited, 2nd Edition, 2012.
4. S. Somvanshi and R. Dhupper, Fundamentals of Environmental Studies: S. K. Kataria
and Sons, Reprint 2019.
5. A. K. De, Environmental Chemistry: New Age International (P) Limited, 8th Edition, 2017.
6. R. J. Daniels and J. Krishnaswamy, Environmental Studies: Wiley India Private Limited,
Reprint, 2013.
7. B. Joseph, Environmental Studies: McGraw-Hill Education (India) Private Limited, 3rd Edition,
2017.
8. A. Kaushik and C.P. Kaushik, Perspectives in Environmental Studies: New Age International
(P) Limited, 7th Edition, 2021.
Course Outcomes:
At the end of the course students will be able to:
CO-1 Know the environmental pollutants and their health effects and environmental
remediation and management.
CO-2 Understand the principles of renewable energy systems and explore theenvironmental
impact of various energy sources
CO-3 Understand interrelationships among science, technology, and environment
CO-4 Appreciate the Importance of saving energy and environment.
Energy and Environment Science Lab
Course Learning Objectives:
To learn about laboratory skills.
To get a knowledge about some important laboratory techniques used in assessing the
amount of different pollutants in water and air.
Laboratory Experiments
1. Determination of alkalinity in the water sample
2. Determination of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the water sample.
3. Determination of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the water sample.
4. Determination of residual chlorine in the water sample.
5. Determination of total dissolved solids in water/effluent sample.
6. Determination of total Ca2+ and Mg2+ hardness in water.
7. Determination of strength of nitrite ions in water samples.
8. Analysis of BTX through Gas-Chromatography in air samples.
9. Analysis of heavy metal ions in industrial effluent by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
(AAS).
10. Determination of moisture and pH of soil sample.
Reference Books
1. O. P. Virmani and A. K. Narula, Applied Chemistry-Theory and Practice: New Age India
Publishers, New Delhi, 2nd Edition, 2017.
2. S. Chawla, Essentials of Experimental Engineering Chemistry: Dhanpat Rai Publishing
company Ltd., New Delhi, 2006.
