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ECMM163
Sustainable Engineering
Sustainability assessment
This coursework constitutes 70% of the total module mark.
The aim of this project is to apply sustainability to the real world. You will need to submit an
individual report which (a) outlines your case study area and problem that you will solve, (b)
implement a sustainability assessment which will consider the extent to which zero-carbon
can be achieved in the aspect as chosen by you, and finally, (c) evaluate how much low
carbon/renewable energy could be generated.
For part (b) you are expected to choose an aspect of the built environment based around a
town or city and the surrounding area of your choice and consider how it could be made
more sustainable with the aim of achieving net zero carbon. The assessment will be based
on the constraints of the real urban area including the local climate, availability and demand
of resources, the city demographics, the typical building construction, and any other data
which is pertinent.
It is expected that you will target the aspect of the urban environment to your program of
study. For example, you can analyse:
• construction
• retrofit strategies of buildings
• the implementation of smart devices and automated systems
• the implementation of exemplary standards
• Water
• Impacts of extreme weather
• Sustainable transport
• Logistics (eg storage, transportation and handling);
This list is not exhaustive. Please note well established strategies such as the installation of
LED lighting is not a suitable topic. Likewise, simply comparing an electric vehicle to a petrol
vehicle does not answer the set question. This aspect (part b) should also not be about
energy generation (e.g. swapping coal to gas power) as this is tackled in addition (in part c).
Also note in some developing countries, making improvements may well come at a higher
carbon cost but will provide other benefits.
The overall submission will be a single report and will be assessed on the following sections:
a) The context of the chosen urban area and surroundings. (10 marks)
Here you should outline the nature of the problem demonstrating the need for change.
What are the key considerations for sustainability for your case study? These could be
related to climate, population, resource supply or demand, air quality but must outline the
constraints on the system.
b) Determine how your aspect of the built environment can be targeted to become zero
carbon by 2050 (50 marks)
Consider how your case study could be made more sustainable. Choose an appropriate unit
of performance. Compare a range of options. In considering these options you must assess
the whole life performance over a range of metrics. All calculations must be justified. Are
there any limitations which constrain choices?
In many cases zero carbon can’t be achieved in the aspect alone but reductions in energy
and demand (optimisation) should be significant enough that zero carbon could be
achieved.
c) What is the technical potential of low carbon energy? (30 marks)
For zero carbon to be possible all energy will need to come from low carbon sources.
Propose a low carbon strategy for providing energy to your urban area which provides a full
evaluation. What renewable sources are available? Are there any competing resources?
What would be the carbon footprint of energy supply? Consider how the technical potential
might change over time. Justify all calculations. This is not about supplying energy to the
aspect considered in part b but a much more comprehensive overview of the options
available.
Assume that all previous assessments in the region are out of date if they exist at all.
d) Presentation of the report (10 marks)
Presentation, organisation, use of visual aids, and clarity of your report will be considered.
Use relevant references and a consistent referencing format.
Its length will be a maximum of 7 pages. The page limit does not include a contents page,
appendix or references. More complicated and in-depth calculations can be included in an
appendix if required (of 4 pages). Work over the 7-page limit will not be read or marked.
Note on typical reasons for lower marks
• Work does not show awareness of the subject material.
• Analysis is based on secondary sources or is relatively superficial or no analysis.
• The work is physically or fundamentally flawed.
• Critical analysis is weak or non-existent.
• No personal contribution to the analysis – a simple review is presented
• Generic ideas are presented without appropriate support and lacks application
• A section is not attempted e.g. part c.
• The work concentrates on descriptions of technology.
• Assumptions are inappropriate.
• Analysis and discussion are incoherent.
• The work is incoherent (part a introduces Beijing but part b is focussed on London).
• Conclusions are not justified/don’t follow from the analysis.
• The work is presented badly.
• Work contains no references.
Mark Scheme
Section Content (guide)
a) The context of the chosen case
study. (10 marks)
Module ILOs assessed: 8, 11
Level 7 assessment categories:
• knowledge and understanding of subject (80%)
• Use of research informed literature (20%)
80-100 Knowledge: Highly focussed work with outstanding all-round understanding of the
material and its application. The context is clear and a case for change is overwhelming.
Research informed literature: exceptional level of arguments from relevant, high
quality literature. Argument is coherent and a non-specialist could understand,
Overall work forms the basis of a publishable introduction.
70-80 Knowledge: Work with a good focus demonstrating a high level of understanding of the
material and is applied appropriately to the case study. Context is clear and the need
for change is well articulated.
Research informed literature: High level arguments formed from high quality literature
throughout. Communicated such that non-specialists could understand.
60-70 Knowledge: Systematic understanding of the material with a clear focus. The
requirements for the area are described to a good standard
Research informed literature: A range of appropriate literature, which is critically
applied to communicate effective arguments, mostly primary sources.
50-60 Knowledge: good knowledge of the material and provides the detail to show what will
be studied. The area is outlined to a reasonable standard, but some key details are
either less clear or some important information missing.
Research informed literature: consistent use of literature with some critical awareness.
Some primary sources.
40-50 Knowledge: some understanding but limited evidence, key points missing, unclear what
is going to be studied and why.
Research informed literature: some examples from literature but no/limited critical
awareness.
0-40 Knowledge: Little understanding of the application of material demonstrated by the
work presented. Area is not introduced, or the focus of the study is not described.
Research informed literature: No examples from literature or irrelevant.
b) Determine how your case study
could be made more sustainable
in terms of carbon emissions,
energy demand, human health or
environmental impact. (50 marks)
Module ILOs assessed: 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12
Level 7 assessment categories:
• knowledge and understanding of subject (30%)
• Cognitive and intellectual skills (30%)
• Research skills (30%)
• Use of research informed literature (10%)
80-100 Knowledge: Clear understanding of the issues around how to carry out the
sustainability assessment throughout. Knowledge of the problem is presented to a
publishable standard.
Cognitive skills: As below but analysis is flawless and of publishable standard.
Research skills: High degree of originality, conclusions are logical and are critical of the
work performed.
Literature: Proficient and appropriate use of high-quality sources.
Overall the approach is near a publishable standard
70-80 Knowledge: Appropriate methodology is used to inform the analysis applying high level
knowledge of sustainability principles throughout.
Cognitive skills: High quality analysis where appropriate comparisons are made with
logical arguments throughout. Complex issues are handled systematically and
creatively.
Research skills: Good originality, appropriate conclusions are drawn, with a clear
understanding of limitations.
Literature: All primary sources
60-70 Knowledge: Good understanding of how to apply sustainability principles to the
problem.
Cognitive skills: Good quality analysis is used which is highly quantitative using
appropriate data and assumptions are logical. Critical analysis used throughout.
Research skills: good personal contribution, work is logical and correct conclusions
follow from the analysis.
Literature: Some primary sources to support analysis
50-60 Knowledge: Appropriate knowledge of how to carry out an assessment is presented.
Understanding that the topic is complicated and appropriate comparisons are
discussed.
Cognitive skills: Some analysis with critical awareness, an attempt at analysis but only
limited quantitative analysis or has some clear flaws or is incomplete.
Research skills: some personal contribution, solution is interpreted, and appropriate
conclusions are drawn.
Literature: Some literature to support analysis, a mix of sources.
40-50 Knowledge: Some appropriate knowledge of sustainability assessments but notable
weaknesses.
Cognitive skills: Some analysis but inconsistent in the approach and limited critical
ability. Work is only qualitative, or assessment is fundamentally flawed.
Research skills: limited personal contribution. Conclusion not drawn or is inconsistent
with what has been presented.
Literature: limited use of literature, literature is from poor quality sources.
0-40 Knowledge: No/little knowledge of the field, reproduces the knowledge without
understanding
Cognitive skills: poor, inconsistent analysis
Research skills: no personal contribution to interpret the knowledge
Literature: little to no literature, literature is highly inappropriate
c) What is the technical potential
of renewable energy for your case
study (and wider) area? (30
marks)
Question reflects energy
availability (not power).
Module ILOs assessed: 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12
Level 7 assessment categories:
• knowledge and understanding of subject (30%)
• Cognitive and intellectual skills (30%)
• Research skills (30%)
• Use of research informed literature (10%)
80-100 Knowledge: High level of understanding of renewable energy technologies and how
they could be deployed in the area. Clear understanding of insights/opportunities of
the technologies.
Cognitive: Exceptional, primary analysis is used to evaluate the potential which is
applied appropriately throughout. Analysis is unquestionable.
Research skills: Exceptional degree of originality, assumptions are unquestionable.
Literature: All primary sources + scientific literature
70-80 Knowledge: Extensive understanding across renewable energy technologies and its
application to the case study region. Clear awareness of the limitations of their
application.
Cognitive: Primary analysis used to a high standard with critical ability evident
throughout.
Research skills: Approach shows a high degree of originality in tackling the problem and
interpreting the solution.
Literature: All primary sources.
60-70 Knowledge: Good understanding across renewable energy technologies. Some
omissions or some parts handled a bit weaker.
Cognitive: Primary analysis is used appropriately with limited errors in approach or
answers, appropriate assumptions used throughout.
Research skills: Approach shows some originality and results are interpreted
appropriately.
Literature: Mostly primary sources
50-60 Knowledge: Some understanding of a limited number of technologies is demonstrated.
Cognitive: Some primary analysis. Some appropriate assumptions with solutions that
are interpreted well.
Research skills: Some originality in tackling the question but some clear weaknesses or
inconsistencies.
Literature: all secondary sources
40-50 Knowledge: Limited knowledge of the technologies required.
Cognitive: limited analysis or work has significant flaws. Analysis is based on secondary
assessments.
Research skills: limited original contribution. Limited conclusion reached
Literature: limited literature all secondary sources.
0-40 Knowledge: little/no knowledge of energy generation.
Cognitive: little analysis – simple discussion of the potential with no evaluation or
critical analysis
Research skills: No original contribution – all from secondary sources
Literature: No literature.
d) Presentation of the report (10
marks)
Module ILOs assessed: 13
Level 7 assessment categories:
• Skills for life and professional employment (100%)
As per LV7 marking criteria.
At the highest level (>70%) demonstrates very high level communication skills in a range of complex
contexts, and ability to write at publishable standard. Demonstrates autonomy and notable
originality in tackling and solving demanding problems
80-100 Good structure, easy to read, material is highly logical, if appendix used it is used well
no deficiencies.
70-80 good structure, easy to read, material is logical, if used an appendix is appropriate and
supports the main submission
60-70 good structure, some aspects harder to read, appendix is mostly used well
50-60 structure is ok, some information is missing to complete arguments, appendix used
badly.
40-50 Poor structure, significant lack of clarity throughout. Main arguments in appendix or
not given at all.
0-40 Poor structure, significant gaps, appendix is not relevant or confusing.
