With a focus on Iceland, Stefán Arnórsson lectures about energy resources around the world by first discussing the differences between renewable and nonrenewable energy resources, and then by introducing the various types of geothermal systems and how their energy is used globally.

This lecture video was recorded in Iceland as a part of the Gund Institute Ateliers program titled "Measuring Genuine Economic Progress: a Travel-Study to Iceland".

Spring 2010

Following the global financial system collapse of 2008-09, the world's nations are looking for new measures of genuine economic progress that capture the full range of economic, social, and environmental benefits and costs of economic growth. The nation of Iceland was one of the countries hit the hardest by the global recession, but they are also perhaps best prepared to reorient their macroeconomic indicators and policy around a new era of sustainable development. This problem-based course will investigate the history and evolution of macroeconomic indicators, and design and calculate the first genuine progress indicator for Iceland. The course will have a particular focus on energy systems design and greenhouse gas emissions as Iceland tries to become the first net carbon neutral economy in the world. Currently over 70% of Iceland's primary energy comes from hydroelectric and geothermal, however this is posing its own challenges in the next phase of economic development.

Meets online during Spring 2010 semester, followed by a travel-study portion of the atelier in Iceland from May 15-29, 2010. Taught jointly with the University of Iceland.

For more information, contact Professor Jon Erickson at jon.erickson@uvm.edu.

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