101-0577-00L An Introduction to Sustainable Development in the Built Environment
| Semester | Autumn Semester 2024 |
| Lecturers | G. Habert, to be announced |
| Periodicity | yearly recurring course |
| Language of instruction | English |
Courses
| Number | Title | Hours | Lecturers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101-0577-00 G | An Introduction to Sustainable Development in the Built Environment | 2 hrs |
| G. Habert, to be announced |
Catalogue data
| Abstract | In 2015, the UN Conference in Paris shaped future world objectives to tackle climate change. This decarbonization strategy is additional to Sustainable Development goals formulated the same year by the UN general assembly. What does that mean for the built environment? This course provides an introduction to the notion of sustainable development when applied to our built environment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | At the end of the semester, the students have an understanding of the term of sustainable development, its history, the current political and scientific discourses and its relevance for our built environment. In order to address current challenges of climate change mitigation and resource depletion, students will learn a holistic approach of sustainable development. Ecological, economical and social constraints will be presented and students will learn about methods for argumentation and tools for assessment (i.e. life cycle assessment). For this purpose an overview of sustainable development is presented with an introduction to the history of sustainability and its today definition as well as the role of cities, urbanisation and material resources (i.e. energy, construction material) in social economic and environmetal aspects. The course aims to promote an integral view and understanding of sustainability and describing different spheres (social/cultural, ecological, economical, and institutional) that influence our built environment. Students will acquire critical knowledge and understand the role of involved stakeholders, their motivations and constraints, learn how to evaluate challenges, identify deficits and define strategies to promote a more sustainable construction. Notion of environmental justice and regenerative practices will be addressed. After the course students should be able to define the relevance of specific local, regional or territorial aspects to achieve coherent and applicable solutions toward sustainable development. The course offers an environmental, socio-economic and socio-technical perspective focussing on buildings, cities and their transition to resilience with sustainable development. Students will learn on theory and application of current scientific pathways towards sustainable development. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The following topics give an overview of the themes that are to be worked on during the lecture. - Overview on the history and emergence of sustainable development - Overview on the current understanding and definition of sustainable development and beyond Methods - Method 1: Life cycle assessment (planning, construction, operation/use, deconstruction) - Method 2: Life Cycle Costing - Method 3: Labels and certification - Method 4: Material Flow Analysis Main issues: - Operation energy at building, urban and national scale - Mobility and density questions - Embodied energy for developing and developed world Values: limits efficiency environmental justice regeneration - Synthesis: Transition to sustainable development | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | All relevant information will be online available before the lectures. For each lecture slides of the lecture will be provided. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | A list of the basic literature will be offered on a specific online platform, that could be used by all students attending the lectures. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Competencies |
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Performance assessment
| Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again) | |
Performance assessment as a semester course | |
| ECTS credits | 3 credits |
| Examiners | G. Habert, M. Devezeaux de Lavergne, E. Zea Escamilla |
| Type | end-of-semester examination |
| Language of examination | English |
| Repetition | A repetition date will be offered in the first two weeks of the semester immediately consecutive. |
| Mode of examination | written 90 minutes |
| Additional information on mode of examination | Exam themes discussed during the course. Critical thinking required. |
| Written aids | Open book exam |
| Digital exam | The exam takes place on devices provided by ETH Zurich. |
Learning materials
| No public learning materials available. | |
| Only public learning materials are listed. |
Groups
| No information on groups available. |
Restrictions
| There are no additional restrictions for the registration. |