PrintSummary & Activities
When considering specific technologies in the context of sustainability, the ideal expectation is that they score equally well on all three evaluation domains – environmental, economic, and social. The scoring metrics should be chosen wisely, with primary consideration of the main stakeholders’ interests. When comparing different technologies as alternatives for a project, go with the same set of metrics. Collection of location-specific and accurate data is critical for accurate assessment. Multi-metric assessment may not give you a simple answer, but may provide a more realistic ground for decision making. Resources listed in this lesson will be especially useful in choosing the path for the assessment study in your final course project.
| Type | Assignment Directions | Submit To |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | Complete all necessary reading assigned in this lesson. | |
| Activity |
Environmental Metrics. In this activity, you will be asked to apply the Sustainability Index method to an example household system. See more details in the Lesson 3 Activity Sheet - Environmental Metrics on Canvas. Deadline: Check Canvas calendar for specific due dates. |
Canvas: Lesson 3 Activity - Environmental Metrics |
| Activity |
Economic metrics. In this activity, you will be asked to apply basic cost analysis to a few example problems. See more details in the Lesson 3 Activity Sheet - Economic Metrics on Canvas. Deadline: Check Canvas calendar for specific due dates |
Canvas: Lesson 3 Activity - Economic Metrics |
| Individual Course Project |
Prepare an outline for your course project, identifying the technology of your choice, background information, motivation and goals of your evaluation, and ideas for technology implementation. The outline should be done in the form of PowerPoint presentation (5-8 slides) with audio commentary and will be the way of introducing your project topic to the class audience. Please see more instructions and guidance in the Lesson 12 of this course. Please submit your presentation to the "Project Outlines" discussion forum in Canvas. Deadline: Check Canvas calendar for specific due dates. Further, you will be asked to review and provide feedback on other projects in the class. At the same time, you will receive peer comments on yours. |
Canvas: Course Project Module |
References and Resources:
Bell, S. and Morse, S., Sustainability Indicators: Measuring Immeasurable?, 2nd Ed., London - Sterling VA, 2008.
Brown, M.T. and Ulgiati, S, Emergy-based indices and ratios to evaluate sustainability: monitoring economies and technology toward environmentally sound innovation, Ecological Engineering 9 51–69 (1997).
Hammond, G.P. and C.I.Jones, Embodied Energy and Carbon Footprint Database, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath, United Kingdom (2006).
Odum, H.T., Environmental Accounting, John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
Short, W., Packey, D.J., and Holt, T., A Manual for the Economic Evaluation of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technologies, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 1995.
Vanek, F.M., and L.D. Albright, Energy Systems Engineering. Evaluation and Implementation, McGraw Hill, 2008.