Environmental Sustainability in Construction

Aims and objectives

• Understand the basic concepts of sustainability, sustainable development and sustainable construction
• Have an appreciation of the international and local regulation developments in the area of sustainability
• Have an appreciation of the causes and effects of climate change
• Understand the effects of energy usage on greenhouse gas production and relevance of energy efficiency in buildings
• Have an appreciation of the practical measures that can be implemented in design
• Gain knowledge on sustainability tools and indicators available, their scopes and limitations

On completion of this unit the participant should be able to:

• understand the basic concepts of sustainability, sustainable development and sustainable construction
• have an appreciation of the international and local regulation developments in the area of sustainability
• have an appreciation of the causes and effects of climate change
• understand the effects of energy usage on greenhouse gas production and relevance of energy efficiency in buildings
• recognize the attributes of different materials and resources used in buildings from sustainability point of view
• assess and design for good indoor environment
• assess the functionality, durability and adaptability of buildings
• understand the impacts of a building on its surrounding environment and vice versa
• have an appreciation of the practical measures that can be implemented in design
• gain knowledge on sustainability tools and indicators available, their scopes and limitations

Teaching methods

Assessment

Generic skills outcomes

• ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals
• ability to communicate effectively, not only with engineers but also with the community at large
• in-depth technical competence in at least one engineering discipline
• ability to understand problem identification, formulation and solution
• ability to utilise a systems approach to design and operational performance
• ability to function effectively as an individual in a project team, have the capacity to be a leader or manager as well as an effective team member
• understanding of the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities of the professional engineer, and the need for sustainable development
• understanding of the principles of sustainable design and development
• understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities and have a commitment to uphold these responsibilities
• expectation of the need to undertake lifelong learning, and capacity to do so

Content

• Basic Concepts: Terminology, International Developments, National Developments.
• Sustainability issues: Climate change, Energy, Resources and materials, Indoor Environment, Quality of building services, Outdoor Environment.
• Implementation: Strategies, Design Issues, Tools and Indicators.