CE3RES-Resource Efficient Built Environments

Module Provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2020/1

Module Convenor: Dr Eugene Mohareb

Email: e.mohareb@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module describes the interdependency between the built environment and the natural environment, and explore solutions towards improving urban resource efficiency.

Aims:

To demonstrate the role of natural systems & processes in cities and how they affect the sustainability of urban areas.

Assessable learning outcomes:

• Evaluate the ways in which built-environment practitioners are reliant upon natural systems;


• Evaluate the sustainability of resource consumption in the built environment;


• Describe the resource cycles and material flows that influence the built environment;


• Evaluate an urban metabolism case study;


• Compare and contrast carbon footprints of different cities;


• Discuss ways in which cities can be modelled a fter natural ecosystems to improve resource efficiency;


• Demonstrate the limitations imposed on urban areas through thermodynamic principles.

Additional outcomes:

Students should be able to present the outcome of their work to course staff and other members of the class.

Outline content:

• Assignment in which students examine an urban metabolism case study and propose context-specific improvements to the resource flows


• Students will be given 5 hours of tutorial related to project supervision, where they will have the opportunity to receive one-to-one and group guidance about the project

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	15
Tutorials	5
Project Supervision	5
Guided independent study:	75
Total hours by term		0	0
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	50
Report	10
Oral assessment and presentation	40

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

2 group presentations,  1 individual report, and a series of oral in-class and online assessments to determine engagement on the module material.

Formative assessment methods:

Students will submit a proposal in week 4-6 describing their chosen city, some of the issues the city has with resource consumption, and a list of relevant literature.

Penalties for late submission:

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 40% overall

Reassessment arrangements:

A 3000-word essay (40%) dealing with sustainability topics in the built environment.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 4 April 2020