A portfolio of three critical summaries of topics related to sustainable construction, drawing on examples from practice. This should be around 3,000 words in total, witheach summary being about 900 words and a short introduction and conclusion.

This is worth 100% of your overall mark.

Learning Outcomes to be Assessed:

1    Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between climate change and the concept of sustainability and its implication to the built environment.

2    Evaluate sustainable construction/design solutions and critically reflect on good practice examples (national and international).

3    Explore and analyse the role of the Project Manager/ Quantity Surveyor/ in the delivery of sustainability in a construction context.

4    Critically analyse future opportunities and threats for sustainable construction solutions nationally and internationally.

Title:Portfolio evaluating sustainable construction solutions

Style:Portfolio

Rationale: 

Sustainability is a holistic concept where multiple elements (which can be in tension with each other) must be addressed.  True sustainability can be counterintuitive, so proposed sustainable solutions for the built environment must be properly evaluated and critiqued. Therefore, a portfolio containing critical evaluations ofseveral sustainability issues is an appropriate vehicle for assessment. The use of a portfolio also splits the assessment into more manageable pieces, helping you to tackle the work.

Description:

You are required to choose three topics related to construction, that offer a more sustainable future. Examples of the types of topic area you might choose from include renewable energy applications;low and zero carbon technologies; materials; design considerations; climate change mitigation measures;and management practices. A well-balanced portfolio is likely to cover at least two of these topic areas.

For each topic, you must undertake a SWOT analysis and provide at least one case study example that illustrates the application and relevance of the topic to modern construction and professionals working within the industry.

The portfolio should include a short introduction or rationale that sets the scene and links your three topics to climate change and the need for more sustainable solutions. There should be a short conclusion which summarises the main points.You should use the Harvard format for referencing.

The portfolio should be approximately 3,000 words, allowing around 900 words for each topic and 300 words for the introduction and conclusion.

Additional information: 

A suggested format for the portfolio is:

Title Page

1. Rationale for Sustainable Construction

2. Topic 1

Introduction

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

(Any of the above sections must be illustrated with a case study example)

3. Topic 2

Introduction etc., …

4. Topic 3

Introduction etc., …

5. BRIEF Conclusion

General References

Details of SWOT analysis and related techniques will be explained during the lectures. Opportunities for practising these will be provided during the seminars.

Each chosen topic should be focused to allow for an appropriate depth of analysis, e.g. ‘the use of solar photovoltaic panels in UK residential housing’ rather than ‘solar power’ or ‘renewable energy’. Sustainability is a worldwide issue so examples chosen from outside the UK areencouraged. Feedback on the appropriateness of your topic choices will be provided during the seminars. 

Exemplar portfolios from previous years will be made available on Moodle. 

To help with development of your portfolio, you are asked to do two pieces of formative assessment:

1. An informal poster presentation to your classmates on a sustainable construction topic of your choice 
2. An informal presentation to your classmateson a sustainable material.

These are designed to give you feedback from your lecturer and classmates that will help improve your final submission. You are allowed to develop the work you do for the formative assessments and include it in your final portfolio (i.e., you use the same topics). No marks are associated with the formative assessments, but they are an opportunity to test your ideas and practise your presentation skills. Experience has shown that the best marks tend to come from students that have taken full advantageof this opportunity.

For advice on writing style, referencing and academic skills, please make use of the Centre for Academic Success: https://icity.bcu.ac.uk/celt/centre-for-academic-success

Workload: 

The assessment is 3,000 words (+/-10%)

This should take a typical student about 35 hours to complete.

Transferable skills: 

• Critical evaluation
• Report writing 
• Referencing skills
• Presentation skills

              Marking Criteria:

Table of Assessment Criteria and Associated Grading Criteria

Format:

The portfolio should be uploaded to Moodle as a MS Word document using the link provided.

Regulations: 

• The  minimum pass mark for a module is 50%  

• Re-sit marks are capped at 50% 

   

  Full academic regulations are available for download using the link provided above in the IMPORTANT STATEMENTS section

   

Late Penalties:

If you submit an assessment late at the first attempt, then you will be subject to one of the following penalties:

• if the submission is made between 1 and24 hours after the published deadline the original mark awarded will be reduced by 5%. For example, a mark of 60% will be reduced by 3% so that the mark that the student will receive is 57%.;
• if the submission is made between 24hours and one week (5 working days) after the published deadline the original mark awarded will be reduced by 10%. For example, a mark of 60% will be reduced by 6% so that the mark the student will receive is 54%. 
• if the submission is made after 5 days following the deadline, your work will be deemed as a fail and returned to you unmarked.

The reduction in the mark will not be applied in the following two cases:

• the mark is below the pass mark for the assessment. In this case the mark achieved by the student will stand
  • where a deduction will reduce the mark from a pass to a fail. In this case the mark awarded will be the threshold (i.e., 50%)

Please note:

• If you submit a re-assessment late then it will be deemed as a fail and returned to you unmarked.