| Title: | Sustainability Engineering |
|---|
| Long Title: | Engineering for Sustainability |
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| Field of Study: |
Interdisciplinary Engineering
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| Valid From: |
Semester 1 - 2011/12 ( September 2011 ) |
| Module Coordinator: |
MICHAEL J O MAHONY |
| Module Author: |
NOEL DUFFY |
| Module Description: |
This module aims to provide a world view to engineers, whereby they will take a perspective on their impacts that is wider than technical or economic. It guides them to act as change agents for sustainability. An active learning approach will be followed, with major student participation. |
| Learning Outcomes |
| On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to: |
| LO1 |
Discuss the evolution of energy technologies and their role in society. |
| LO2 |
Assess the economic impacts of an energy related activity. |
| LO3 |
Assess the impacts of an energy system. |
| LO4 |
Assess the sustainability strategy of a company, as described by their sustainability or corporate social responsibility report. |
| Pre-requisite learning |
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named CIT module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s). |
| Students should have taken a module on the Principles of Sustainable Development. |
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list. |
| No incompatible modules listed |
Co-requisite Modules
|
| No Co-requisite modules listed |
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section. |
| No requirements listed |
Co-requisites
|
| No Co Requisites listed |
Module Content & Assessment
| Indicative Content |
|
Sustainability assessment of energy supply chains
Impacts of extraction (sourcing), generation, distribution and consumption of energy carriers. Tools e.g. environmental impact assessment, life cycle assessment, eco-compass, etc. Identification of chain hot-spots. Sustainable design strategy.
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Environmental economics
Economic dimension of sustainability. Environmental management accounting. Significance of project evaluation measures: time value of money based assessments; cost benefit analysis. Life cycle costing. Activity based costing. Internalisation of external costs.
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Corporate and engineers leadership
Social dimension of sustainability. Evolution of corporate behaviour from end of pipe treatment, through cleaner production and eco-design to corporate social responsibility and sustainable product service systems. Corporate social responsibility. Sustainability reporting. Personal Code of ethics.
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Technology innovation patterns
Contribution of technology to sustainability: culprit or saviour? Technology assessment as a tool. Scientific and technological progress - impact on economic, social and political structures. Drivers of technological change. Innovation processes. Innovation diffusion. Stakeholder analysis and trend analysis. Sustainable technologies.
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| Assessment Breakdown | % |
|---|
| Course Work | 40.00% |
| End of Module Formal Examination | 60.00% |
| Course Work |
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| Assessment Type |
Assessment Description |
Outcome addressed |
% of total |
Assessment Date |
| Written Report |
Assessement of the adequacy of a sustainability or corporate social responsibility report. |
4 |
20.0 |
Week 9 |
| Presentation |
Presentation of a group study on a specified topic, normally a scientific paper discussing aspects of innovation |
1 |
20.0 |
Every Second Week |
| End of Module Formal Examination |
|---|
| Assessment Type |
Assessment Description |
Outcome addressed |
% of total |
Assessment Date |
| Formal Exam |
End-of-Semester Final Examination |
1,2,3,4 |
60.0 |
End-of-Semester |
| Reassessment Requirement |
Repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a coursework element.
|
The institute reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment
Module Workload
| Workload: Full Time |
| Workload Type |
Workload Description |
Hours |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
| Lecture |
Presentations and discussions |
2.0 |
Every Week |
2.00 |
| Tutorial |
Active learning exercises, conducted by students, led by lecturer |
2.0 |
Every Week |
2.00 |
| Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) |
Specified reading and exercises, possibly in groups |
2.0 |
Every Week |
2.00 |
| Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) |
Student independent reading and exploration |
1.0 |
Every Week |
1.00 |
| Total Hours |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Learner Workload |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Contact Hours |
4.00 |
| This module has no Part Time workload. |
Module Resources
| Recommended Book Resources |
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- Mulder, K. (Ed.), 2006, Sustainable development for engineers, Greenleaf [ISBN: 1874719195]
| | Supplementary Book Resources |
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- United Nations Division for Sustainable Development 2001, Environmental managment accounting: procedures and principles, United Nations Division for Sustainable Development
- Azapagic, A., & Perdan, S. 2011, Sustainable Development in Practice: Case Studies for Engineers and Scientists, 2nd Ed Ed., Wiley Blackwell [ISBN: 9780470718728]
- Danish Environmental Protection Agency 2003, An introduction to life-cycle thinking and management, Danish Environmental Protection Agency
- Maibach, M., et al 2007, Handbook on estimation of external costs in the transport sector, Ver. 1.0 Ed., CE Delft [ISBN: CE PUBLICATION NO. 07.4288.52]
| | Recommended Article/Paper Resources |
|---|
- Clarke, Roger 1999, A Primer in Diffusion of Innovations Theory
- Institution of Engineers of Ireland 2003, Code of Ethics
| | Supplementary Article/Paper Resources |
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- Dept of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources 2007, Delivering a sustainable energy future for Ireland: 2007 - 2020
- Institution of Chemical Engineers 2002, Sustainable Development Progress Metrics - recommended for use in the process industries
- EC Joint Research Centre 2007, Well-to-Wheels analysis of future automotive fuels and powertrains in the European context, Ver 2c
| | Other Resources |
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- Website: EIONET European Topic Centre on Resource
and Waste Management
- Website: World Business Council for Sustainable Development WBCSDWorld Business Council for Sustainable
Development WBCSD
- Website: European CommissionEnvironmental Technologies Action PLan
(ETAP)
- Website: Corporate RegisterDatabase of CSR reports
- Website: Global Reporting InitiativeGlobal Reporting Initiative
- Website: Wuppertal Instituten/a
- Website: Smith, M. K. 2001, Chris argyris: theories of action,
double-loop learning and organizational
learning
, the encyclopedia of informal education
- Website: Redefining ProgressFootprint of nations
- Website: Global footprint networkFootprint standards
- Website: Association for the study of peak oil
& gas Ireland
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Module Delivered in
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