The subject environmental and energy systems deals with the knowledge required to effectivise energy systems and minimise environmental impact. At Karlstad University the focus is on effectivising energy consumption in various ways, for example, through improving energy efficiency in a building or the water purification process.
It is often the case that the greatest advantages are made when different parts of a system interact in an efficient way, which is often overlooked. A heat pump, for example, can perform well but function badly if it does not fit in with the rest of the heating system and the building. This is the reason why we employ a system perspective, focusing on how the system can be improved and the technology changed to reduce environmental impact.
The technology treated will play an important role in the development towards a sustainable future. Several courses therefore include elements of the approaches necessary to complement the technical solutions, anything from obstacles and opportunities in the economic system to ethical discussions. Many subject courses have a close link to the research pursued at Karlstad University.
