Course Title: Develop strategies to address environmental and sustainability issues in the energy sector

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2013

Course Code: EEET7031C

Course Title: Develop strategies to address environmental and sustainability issues in the energy sector

School: 130T Vocational Engineering

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6120 - Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology - Electrical

Course Contact: Program Manager

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4468

Course Contact Email: vocenengineering@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Luigi La Forgia
Phone: +613 99254864
Email: luigi.laforgia@rmit.edu.au
 

Nominal Hours: 20

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

Nil

Course Description

This unit covers developing strategies to address environmental and sustainability issues in the energy sector. It encompasses working safely, apply extensive knowledge of sustainable energy systems and components and their operating parameters, gathering and analysing data, applying problem solving techniques, developing and documenting alternatives solutions.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

UEENEEK132A Develop strategies to address environmental and sustainability issues in the energy sector

Element:

1. Prepare to develop strategies to address environmental and sustainability issues.

Performance Criteria:

1.1 OHS processes and procedures for a given work area are identified, obtained and understood
1.2 Established OHS risk control measures and procedures are followed in preparation for the work
1.3 The extent of the environmental and sustainability issues are determined from performance specifications and situation reports and in consultation with relevant persons
1.4 Activities are planned to meet scheduled timelines in consultation with others involved in the work
1.5 Effective strategies are determined to ensure solution development and implementation is carried out efficiently

Element:

2. Develop strategies to address environmental and sustainability issues.

Performance Criteria:

2.1 OHS risk control measures and procedures for carrying out the work are followed
2.2 Knowledge of sustainability is applied to developing strategies to address greenhouse gas and sustainability issues
2.3 Parameters, specifications and performance requirements in relation to environmental and sustainability issues are set in accordance with established procedures
2.4 Approaches to resolving environmental and sustainability issues are analysed to provide most effective solutions
2.5 Unplanned events are dealt with safely and effectively consistent with regulatory requirements and enterprise policy
2.6 Quality of work is monitored against personal performance agreement and/or established organisational or professional standards

Element:

3. Document strategies to address environmental and sustainability issues.

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Solutions to environmental and sustainability issues are tested to determine their effectiveness and modified where necessary
3.2 Adopted solutions are documented, including instructions for implementation that incorporates risk control measures to be followed
3.3 Appropriately competent and qualified persons required to implement solutions to environmental and sustainability issues are coordinated in accordance with regulatory requirements and enterprise policy (See Note)
3.4 Justification for strategies used to solve environmental and sustainability issues is documented for inclusion in work/project development records in accordance with professional standards


Learning Outcomes


Refer to Elements


Details of Learning Activities

  1. Presentations/Lectures
  2. Tutorials
  3. Research Assingments
  4. Project


Teaching Schedule

Wk
No
Topic Assessment
1 Topic 1
Principles of sustainability encompassing:
• ways in which ecosystems moderate climate.
ways in which ecosystems purify and store water.
• ways in which ecosystems recycle waste.
 
2 Topic 2
Problems in a sustainable world encompassing:
• changes to Australian forest cover since white settlement, and the resulting loss of ecosystem and human benefits.
• changes to Australia‘s soils since white settlement, and the resulting loss of ecosystem and human benefits.
• changes to Australia‘s waterways since white settlement, and the resulting loss of ecosystem and human benefits.
• place of environmental accounting in quantifying Australia‘s environmental losses.
• limits to Australia‘s population carrying capacity.
 
3 Topic 3
Sustainability principles encompassing:
• principles within sustainability including: environmental accounting and economies; full cost pricing; triple bottom line ethic; ecologically sustainable development; greenhouse gas abatement; energy efficiency; resource and water use efficiency; life cycle costing; renewable energy substitution, cleaner production; waste minimisation, reuse and recycling; ecological footprint.
Topic Learning Activity 1 (TLA)
Due
 
4 Topic 4
Addressing the problem of global warming encompassing:
• greenhouse gases and their sources and quantities that contribute to global warming.
• global warming impacts for Australia for 2030 and 2070 predicted by CSIRO modelling.
• requirements to achieve stable atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.
• ecologically and economically sustainable methods for achieving these stable concentrations.
 
5 Topic 5
Greenhouse gas emissions profile encompassing:
• goals and principles of the National Greenhouse Strategy
• what a greenhouse gas inventory is, why it is required, and the sectors to which it applies
• uses to which the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory can be applied.
 
6 Topic 6
Understanding and communicating climate change and its impacts encompassing:
• the possible impact of climate change in Australia.
• techniques for improving the understanding of climate change
• techniques for communicating to and educating the general public on greenhouse gas induced climate change.
 
7 Topic 7
Partnerships for greenhouse action encompassing:
• actions achievable by each level of government to implement the NGS.
• methods by which the community activity can be engaged in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
• initiatives that can be undertaken by the private sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• advantages of international partnerships.
• emissions trading system.
TLA 2
Due
TLA 3
Due
TLA 4
Due
8 Topic 8
Efficient and sustainable energy use and supply encompassing:
• techniques for reducing the greenhouse intensity of energy supply.
• types of renewable energy sources suitable for use in Australia.
• methods and technique for improving end-use efficiency.
TLA 5
Due
9 Topic 9
Efficient transport and sustainable urban planning encompassing:
• how integrating land use and transport planning can assist the greenhouse problem.
• how each of the following can be used to mitigate greenhouse gas; travel demand and traffic management strategies; encouraging greater use of public transport, walking and cycling; freight and logistics systems; improving vehicle fuel efficiency and fuel technologies;
TLA 6
Due
 
10 Topic 10
Greenhouse sinks and sustainable land management encompassing:
• how enhancing greenhouse sinks and encouraging sustainable forestry and vegetation management can complement the AGS.
• how greenhouse gas emissions are obtained from agricultural production and describe techniques to mitigate the emissions.
TLA 7
Due
11 Topic 11
Models of greenhouse best practice in industrial processes and waste management encompassing:
• types and methods of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from industry.
• methods of reducing methane emissions from waste treatment and disposal.
TLA 8
Due
 
12 Topic 12
Adaptation to climate change encompassing:
• salient points in each of the key sectors that require analysis and the strategies required in the need for adaptation to climate change
TLA 9
Due
 
13 The 12 topics may and would take longer than 1 week each to cover.

Wks 13 to 14 are overflow weeks.

TLA 10
Due
 
14 "   " TLA 11
Due
15 "   " TLA 12
Due
16 "   " Research Project Due
17 Final Exam
18


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Useful Reference Text (hard copy):
• Cleugh, H. …[et al]. (2011). Climate Change : science and solutions for Australia. CSIRO Publishing
• Wadhwa, Lal C. (2003) Transportation and urban sustainability. In: Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS): human settlement development. EOLSS Publishers
• Australia’s Renewable Energy Future, Australian Academy of Science, 2010
• The heat is on: The future of energy in Australia. CSIRO 2006
• McConnell, R. & Abel, D. (2008), Environmental Issues: An introduction to sustainability; Pearson Education, New Jersey.
• McConnell, R. & Abel, D. (1999), Environmental Issues: Measuring , analysing, and evalu-ating; Pearson Education, New Jersey.
• Sinclair, P. (2001), The Murray: A River and its People; Melbourne Uni Press.
• Yenken, D. & Wilkinson, D. (2000), Resetting the Compass: Australia’s Journey towards sustainability; CSIRO Publishing.
• Young, A. (1996). Environmental Change in Australia since 1788; Oxford Uni Press.

Useful Internet Websites:
http://adl.brs.gov.au/data/warehouse/pe_abares99001743/RR10.08_energy_intensity_REPORT.pdf
http://ageis.climatechange.gov.au/
http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/austn-farms-and-farming-communities
http://conservationbytes.com/2011/10/06/little-left-to-lose/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetland
http://greenhousegas.nsw.gov.au/
http://parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament%5Ccommit.nsf/(Evidence+Lookup+by+Com+ID)/376CD6DD513933AD48257831003
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4613.0Feature+Article1Jan+2010
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4628.0.55.001
http://www.australianpolitics.com/foreign/environment/ngs.pdf
http://www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au
http://www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.auhttp://www.csiro.au
http://www.csiro.au
http://www.csiro.au/greenhouse-gases/
http://www.csiro.au/Outcomes/Climate/Reducing-GHG/Carbon-Australian-agriculture_CLI.aspx
http://www.csiro.au/Portals/Multimedia/CSIROpod/Maines-Power.aspx
http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/forestry/environment-and-community/plantations-and-climate-change/understanding-greenhouse-gases
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/waste/index.html
http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/bus/resource_efficiency/casestudies/default.asp
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/articles/others/TakMar08.html
http://www.fi.edu/tfi/units/life/habitat/habitat.html
http://www.garnautreview.org.au/pdf/Garnaut_Chapter5.pdf
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/publications.nsf/0/1F2E3AD4859F8E4DCA256ECF000772D3/$File/0503.pdf
http://www.planning.org.au/documents/item/34
http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=CSIRO_CC_Chapter%203.pdf
http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AN10163.htm
http://www.ret.gov.au/resources/documents/lpsdp/bpemenergy.pdf
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378011000793
http://www.unescap.org/esd/publications/energy/end-use_series39/end-use_chapter3.pdf
http://www.urbanecology.org.au/topics/energyconservation.html
http://www.wentworthgroup.org/uploads/Accounting%20for%20Nature%20CSIRO%20Environmental%20Monitoring%20Workshop.pdf
http://www.wme.com.au/categories/waste_managemt/march2_01.php
www.australianpolitics.com/foreign/environment/ngs.pdf
www.epa.vic.gov.au/bus/accounting/whatisema.asp


Overview of Assessment

The assessment is conducted in both theoretical and practical aspects of the course according to the performance criteria set in the National Training Package. Assessment may incorporate a variety of methods including written/oral activities and demonstration of practical skills to the relevant industry standards. Participants are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment activities to their teacher/assessor. Feedback will be provided throughout the course. To successfully complete this course you will be required to demonstrate competency in each assessment task detailed under Assessment Tasks:

 

Assessment 1: Project 1 Report

Weighting towards final grade (%): 40

 

Assessment 2: Project 2 Report

Weighting towards final grade (%): 40

 

Assessment 3: Presentation and Reflective Journal

Weighting towards final grade (%): 20

these tasks assesses the following Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs):

Assessment Mapping Matrix

Element/

Performance Criteria Covered

Project 1 report

Project 2 report

Presentation and Reflective Journal

1.1

X

x

 x

1.2

X

x

 x

1.3

x

x

 x

1.4

x

x

 x

1.5

X

x

 x

2.1

x

x

 x

2.2

x

x

 x

2.3

X

x

 x

2.4

x

x

 x

2.5

x

x

 x

2.6

x

x

 x

3.1

x

x

 x

3.2

x

x

 x

3.3

x

x

 x

3.4

x

x

 x

 

 

 

 

 


Assessment Tasks

  1. Cumulative Assignment (Activities for 12 Topics) 30%
  2. Research Project 20%
  3. Final Exam 50%


Assessment Matrix

The Research Project relates specifically to all the Elements.

Other Information

Teaching hours.
4 hours of student directed hours involve completing activities such as reading online resources, assignments,project work, individual student-teacher course-related consultation and writing lab reports.
Study and learning Support:
Study and Learning Centre (SLC) provides free learning and academic development advice to all
RMIT students. Services offered by SLC include support for numeracy and literacy. For example, English language
development, assignment writing, thesis writing, and skills advice in maths and science.
Please Refer www.rmit.edu.au/studyandlearningcentre to find more information about Study and
learning Support
Disability Liaison Unit:
Students with disability or long-term medical condition should contact Disability Liaison Unit to seek
advice and support about their studies.
Please Refer www.rmit.edu.au/disability to find more information about services offered by Disability
Liaison Unit
Late submission:
Students requiring extensions of 7 calendar days or less (from the original due date) must complete
and lodge an Application for Extension of Submittable Work (7 Calendar Days or less) form and
lodge it with the Senior Educator/ Program Manager. The application must be lodged no later than
one working day before the official due date. The student will be notified within no more than 2
working days of the date of lodgment as to whether the extension has been granted.
Students seeking an extension of more than 7 calendar days (from the original due date) must lodge
an Application for Special Consideration form under the provisions of the Special Consideration
Policy, preferably prior to, but no later than 2 working days after the official due date.
Assignments submitted late without approval for extension will not be accepted or marked.
Special consideration:
Please refer to http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=riderwtscifm to find more information about special
consideration.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a form of cheating and it is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion
from the University.
Please Refer to www.rmit.edu.au/academicintegrity to find more information about plagiarism.
Email Communications:
All email communications will be sent to your RMIT email address and you must regularly check
your RMIT emails.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview