Module Details

Module Code: INTR8017
Title: Sustainability Engineering
Long Title: Engineering for Sustainability
NFQ Level: Advanced
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2021/22 ( September 2021 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 5
Field of Study: 5213 - Interdisciplinary Engineering
Module Delivered in: 2 programme(s)
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:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Assess the sustainability strategy of a company, as described by their sustainability or corporate social responsibility report.
LO2 Discuss the evolution of energy technologies and their role in society. Critique academic literature relating to Innovation strategies.
LO3 Assess the methods of determining the economic impacts of an energy related activity.
LO4 Assess the processes and strategies required to implement an innovative change to an energy related system.
Dependencies
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 MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
15196 ELEC7008 Energy Systems Management
15417 INTR6011 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
 
Indicative Content
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.
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.
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.
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.
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Written Report % of Total Mark 30
Timing Week 5 Learning Outcomes 1,3
Assessment Description
Assessement of the adequacy of a sustainability or corporate social responsibility report.
Assessment Type Presentation % of Total Mark 30
Timing Week 9 Learning Outcomes 2,4
Assessment Description
Presentation of a group study on a specified topic, normally a scientific paper discussing aspects of innovation
Assessment Type Written Report % of Total Mark 40
Timing Week 13 Learning Outcomes 3,4
Assessment Description
Prepare a scoping document and roadmap to the introduction of an innovative energy related product into the Irish marketplace, using real case studies to develop your strategy.
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.

The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Presentations and discussions Every Week 3.00 3
Directed Learning Non Contact Active learning exercises, conducted by students, led by lecturer Every Week 1.00 1
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Specified reading and exercises, possibly in groups Every Week 2.00 2
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Student independent reading and exploration Every Week 1.00 1
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact Presentations and discussions Every Week 2.00 2
Tutorial Contact Review of themes and topics as required Every Week 1.00 1
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Students working on or reviewing a theme as specified by lecturer or as required. (May be partially in groups) Every Week 4.00 4
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Mulder, K. (Ed.). (2006), Sustainable development for engineers, Greenleaf, [ISBN: 1874719195].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • 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. 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, CE, Delft, [ISBN: CE PUBLICATION NO. 07.4288.52].
  • Tristan Claridge Social Capital Research & Training, Dunedin, New Zealand. (2019), Solving sustainability with social capital? A paradoxical reframing of modernity?.
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
  • Diana Bairaktarova and Anna Woodcock. (2017), Engineering Student’s Ethical Awareness and Behavior: A New Motivational Model, Sci Eng Ethics ) :, 23.
  • Clarke, Roger. (1999), A Primer in Diffusion of Innovations Theory,
    http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clark e/SOS/InnDiff.html
  • NESF Ireland. (2003), NESF_28(1)%20Irish%20Social%20Capital%20 Report.pdf.
Supplementary Article/Paper Resources
  • Dept of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources. (2007), Delivering a sustainable energy future for Ireland: 2007 - 2020.
  • EC Joint Research Centre. (2007), Well-to-Wheels analysis of future automotive fuels and powertrains in the European context, Ver 2c.
Other Resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_ESENT_8 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Sustainable Energy Engineering 8 Mandatory
CR_EENEN_8 Certificate in Environmental and Energy Engineering 2 Elective