CEM340: Carbon Management and Life Cycle Assessment

Module code: CEM340

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Michael Peters, email: m.d.peters@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Eugene Mohareb, email: e.mohareb@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Climate change presents a pressing and complex global challenge, which can be addressed through some combination of adapting human systems to withstand future impacts and mitigating the worst effects of climate change by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. This module has two complementary parts: carbon management and life cycle assessment (LCA). The carbon management component concentrates on the role of managing carbon dioxide emissions for countries, businesses, individuals and communities in responding to the need for climate change mitigation. Attention is given to the latest scientific understanding of climate change, noting how clear understanding of scientific uncertainty is fundamental in developing appropriate carbon management policy and actions at global and local levels. Policy tools for achieving carbon reduction and the role of the energy supply system are explored, alongside technological options for carbon sequestration. There is a special focus on the potential for community action in tackling the complexities of climate change locally and contributing to the transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon future. 

In the LCA component, the concept of LCA and its value in assessing the environmental impacts of products or services will be explored. Students will gain an understanding of key LCA concepts, structures, methodological approaches, and the implications of these approaches. At the end of the course, students will have the ability to interpret and critically review an LCA study. Students will also develop LCA knowledge and skill from a suitable level of analytical enquiry-based challenges. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Recognise the uncertainties inherent in climate science and be able to explain the implications of these for energy policy and business strategy and discuss the issues that policy makers must understand and/ or address. 
2. Explain the thermodynamic limits of fossil fuel power generation, the associated implications for carbon emissions and the role of other technological solutions. 
3. Recognise the range of carbon footprinting approaches, together with the role of whole life cycle assessment and be able to assess carbon and energy flows associated with specific processes and projects. 
4. Describe the LCA framework and the different stages of a product or project lifecycle and explore the different methodologies used. 
5. Examine case studies using different methodologies, and apply a variety LCA tools to critically assess an LCA study and provide recommendations on how to address shortcomings 

Module content

• Introduction to the carbon cycle and calculation of personal carbon footprint; 
• Introduction to climate science and examination of international climate negotiations;  
• Exploration of different fossil fuel generation technologies including full consideration of challenges and opportunities associated with each one; 
• Understanding carbon policy from an energy supplier’s perspective, including the carbon intensity of electricity grids; 
• Business/corporate responses to carbon management; 
• Biosequestration of carbon; 
• Carbon capture and storage. 
• Examination of local-level approaches to carbon management and sustainability, including engagement in community initiatives, eco-villages, story-telling and co-creation; 
• An exploration of the LCA framework and the different stages of a product or project lifecycle; 
• LCA methodologies used, such as process-based, input-output, and hybrid approaches; 
• Consequential and attributional LCA; 
• System boundaries and allocation approaches used in LCA studies; 
• Trade-offs when applying different methodologies; 
• Case studies using different methodologies; 
• LCA tools used in construction.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will apply a combination of lectures, seminars, problem-based learning, group discussions, and workshops to present module content. During the Carbon Management element of the module students engage in varied interactive group exercises including a debate, a world climate simulation role play activity, and a workshop on corporate responses to carbon reduction. This will be followed up by assessments that enable students delve into the topics covered in these, using a critical review of an LCA study as well as a low carbon community project.  

Study hours

At least 40 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The below information applies toall full time and flexible modularstudents on taught PGT programmes in SBE

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

A presentation may be provided by students in the last day of the LCA session to gain feedback prior to completion of the report. 

Reassessment

Additional costs