Unit Outline

Sustainable Technologies investigates the implications of various design strategies, materials, construction systems, and procurement methods for planetary and environmental health. Through research, case studies, and hypothetical projects you will evaluate the environmental impacts of buildings and components and justify environmentally preferable design approaches. Key topics include embodied and operational carbon, lifecycle thinking, climate change and resilience, legislative and environmental assessment frameworks and sustainable environmental systems. Assessment tasks emphasise rigour in research, critical thinking and the ability for collaboration and coordination in the production of professionally presented reports. This unit responds to competencies related to sustainability in the requirements for architectural accreditation.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Evaluate the environmental performance of a building from a lifecycle perspective
2	Justify design approaches, strategies and systems for sustainability in relation to specific contexts, professional values and practices, and disciplinary knowledge
3	Produce professionally presented reports through collaboration and coordination with peers

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Material Debate	Week 4	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Case Study Report	Week 8	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Expression of Interest	Week 14	40 %	LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Material Debate

Task Description:

Research and report on the environmental benefits and impacts of a building material, component or system including (but not limited to) its carbon footprint. Present an argument for the sustainability of its future use within specified contexts. Due week 4-6.

Task Length:

Verbal presentation (2-5 minutes), short report (2-4 A4 pages + references)

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain the concepts of operational and embodied carbon through the analysis of a building material, component or system	LO1
2	Analyse building sciences and technology and environmental sciences research	LO1
3	Argue a case for the sustainable use of a building material, component or system considering carbon footprint and quality and performance standards	LO2
4	Compile findings in a professionally presented report	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Case Study Report

Task Description:

Employ a case study approach to explore the environmental performance of a building considering context, architectural design response, environmental consultant reports and climate futures. Make recommendations for improvements in relation to specified environmental topic and lifecycle stage(s). Due week 8-9.

Task Length:

Report (8-10 A3 pages + references)

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analyse environmental factors for a building in relation to the brief, site, climate, building type, users and regulatory context	LO1
2	Assess climate change implications in relation to building codes, standards and planning controls	LO1
3	Identify environmental benefits and impacts of building design in relation to specified topic and lifecycle stage	LO1
4	Propose solutions to optimise the performance of a building drawing on knowledge from building sciences and technology and environmental sciences	LO2
5	Compile findings in a professionally presented report	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Expression of Interest

Task Description:

As a hypothetical architectural practice, collaboratively develop and present an EOI submission in response to a given project brief.

The EOI submission should include:
• Information on the design philosophy of the practice in relation to sustainability;
• Identification of key environmental priorities for the project including the Whole of Life Carbon (WLC) implications of procurement methods, materials, components and construction systems;
• Project planning approach in relation to environmental sustainability objectives including engagement of stakeholders and external consultants across the project timeframe;
• Risk management approach and mitigation strategies for climate change; and
• Precedents that illustrate relevant best practice design strategies and environmental systems. Due week 13-14.

Task Length:

Illustrated Expression of Interest (15-20 A3 pages + references) (Group) + Evidence of individual contribution (Individual)

Due Date:

Week 14

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain environmental design priorities in relation to professional values and project context	LO2
2	Recommend project planning approaches that relate to environmental sustainability priorities	LO2
3	Identify risk management approaches and strategies to mitigate against the impacts of climate change	LO2
4	Illustrate design strategies and systems that extend from sustainability priorities	LO2
5	Collaborate and coordinate with peers to produce of a professional report	LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.