ES4A8-15 Design for Sustainability
Introductory description
ES4A8-15 Design for Sustainability
Module aims
Ecological and ‘green’ constraints weigh significantly on engineering designers already and these pressures are likely to increase very significantly during the careers of today’s students. This module examines the need for significant change in the design philosophy employed in industrialised manufacture and civil construction in terms of energy and resource use. It then examines responses to those pressures including legislation and standards, alternative processes and materials and design for resource economy at small and large scale.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Introduction - understanding definitions of sustainability, what are the key problems, different roles and perspectives of stakeholders
Energy - role of energy generation in industry, transportation and domestic use cases
Materials - sustainability in use of metals, polymers and composite materials
Design - how bad design prevents usage, design in construction, disassembly, repair, recycling
End of life - recycling and the circular economy, looking at metals, polymers, glass and paper
Assessment - life cycle assessment and life cycle costing
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced understanding of the significance and importance of material resource and energy limitations to professional design engineers. (M5, M7)
- Systematically apply lower energy and resource demanding materials and technologies for small scale products and large scale projects. (M5, M6, M7)
- Critically assess the significance of environmental law and other standards for large and small businesses. (M7, M15)
- Evaluate the environmental impact of engineering decisions on factors such as global warming (M1, M7, M13, M15)
- Show systematic understanding of the effect of location, orientation and form on environmental economies, adaptability and flexibility of use or reuse. (M7)
Indicative reading list
Reading lists can be found in Talis
Research element
Students are tasked with research on how to improve the sustainability of a product or process of their choice.
Subject specific skills
Sustainable Engineering
Sustainable Design
Materials & Process Selection
Transferable skills
Critical thinking: Make informed decisions on the value of a range of sources allowing an evidence-based conclusion based on this analysis.
Problem-solving: Use rational and logical reasoning to deduce appropriate and well-reasoned conclusions
Communication - Verbal: Communicate orally in a clear and sensitive manner which is appropriately varied according to different audiences.
Communication - Written: Present arguments, knowledge and ideas, in a range of formats.
Teamwork: Operate within, and contribute to, a respectful, supportive and cooperative group climate.
Sustainability: Understands the climate emergency and committed to an active contribution to a sustainable world.
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 30 sessions of 1 hour (20%) |
| Other activity | 2 hours (1%) |
| Private study | 118 hours (79%) |
| Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
118 hours of guided independent learning
Other activity description
Guided revision sessions at the start of Term 3, used to catch up/refresh material taught in Term 1.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.
Assessment group A1
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
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| Case Study Group Presentation | 40% | No | |
|
Group case study presentation, including peer assessment |
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Reassessment component |
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| Assignment | No | ||
|
Assignment 10 pages maximum |
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Assessment component |
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| Individual report | 60% | Yes (extension) | |
|
12-page individual report |
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Reassessment component is the same |
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Feedback on assessment
Written individual feedback on essay submissions and cohort level feedback on the oral presentation and written exam.
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 4 of UESA-H163 MEng Biomedical Systems Engineering
- Year 5 of UESA-H164 MEng Biomedical Systems Engineering with Intercalated Year
-
UESA-H211 MEng Civil Engineering
- Year 4 of H211 Civil Engineering
- Year 4 of H20A Civil Engineering with Business Management
- Year 4 of H20C Civil Engineering with Fluid Dynamics
- Year 4 of H20B Civil Engineering with Sustainability
-
UESA-H212 MEng Civil Engineering with Intercalated Year
- Year 5 of H212 Civil Engineering with Intercalated Year
- Year 5 of H20N Civil Engineering with Intercalated Year with Appropriate Technology
- Year 5 of H20G Civil Engineering with Intercalated Year with Business Management
- Year 5 of H20J Civil Engineering with Intercalated Year with Fluid Dynamics
- Year 5 of H20H Civil Engineering with Intercalated Year with Sustainability
- Year 4 of UESA-H114 MEng Engineering
- Year 5 of UESA-H115 MEng Engineering with Intercalated Year
- Year 5 of UESA-HH78 MEng Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering with Exchange Year
- Year 4 of UESA-HH77 MEng Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering with Intercalated Year
-
UESA-HH31 MEng Systems Engineering
- Year 4 of HH31 Systems Engineering
- Year 4 of HH35 Systems Engineering
- Year 5 of UESA-HH32 MEng Systems Engineering with Intercalated Year
This module is Optional for:
- Year 4 of UESA-H336 MEng Automotive Engineering
- Year 5 of UESA-H337 MEng Automotive Engineering with Intercalated Year
-
UESA-H316 MEng Mechanical Engineering
- Year 4 of H315 Mechanical Engineering BEng
- Year 4 of H316 Mechanical Engineering MEng
- Year 5 of UESA-H317 MEng Mechanical Engineering with Intercalated Year
- Year 1 of TESA-H341 Postgraduate Taught Advanced Mechanical Engineering