Sustainable development and life cycle assessment in the construction sector (5 ECTS)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course the student will be able to apply the methods of investment calculation in the financial administration of an apartment house and real estate company. The student will have an overall understanding of the principles of sustainable development and environmental protection in construction. The student can perform life cycle analysis (LCA) and life cycle cost calculations. The student will understand how the life cycle costs are formed, and will be able to calculate them.

Content

Target of sustainable development in real estate sector. Target setting for LCA and LCC calculations. Inventory and impact analyses and interpretation of results. Environmental product declarations (EPD). Environmental classification systems for buildings. Tools for LCA, carbon footprint and LCC calculations and their sensitivity analysis.

Teaching methods

This is a web course on sustainable development and life cycle assessment in the construction sector.
The course is divided into 9 modules, each to be completed in one week. The course consists of learning materials and individual learning assignments, as well as forums on the different topics where students can interact with each other and with the teacher.
At the end of the course, the student has 4 weeks to take an exam at Metropolia or any other Finnish university where the Exam-platform is available.

Location and time

This online course can be done from anywhere because it is online. The course is divided into nine modules, with a new module opening every week. Students have one week to complete the module, and nine weeks to complete the entire course. After the course, the student has four weeks to take the exam at any Finnish university that offers the Exam-Platform. The course is offered twice per year: at the start of the fall and spring terms.

Learning materials and recommended literature

The learning materials are in the form of videos recorded by the teacher or materials to read that the teacher has selected or that the students must search for on their own.

Alternative completion methods of implementation

The course covers these subjects:
The course will cover the following topics:
1 Climate change and biodiversity loss
2 Sustainable Construction
3 RTS environmental classification
4 LCA, life cycle assessment
5 Low carbon construction in Finland
6 Environmental impacts of housing
7 Renewable energy solutions
8 Building materials
9 Designing a low carbon house

Exam dates and retake possibilities

You can take the exam at any of the Metropolia campuses or at other campuses that are part of the Exam Network. You can find a list of the campuses where you can take the exam at this link: https://e-exam.fi/exam-tenttivierailu/
The teacher will provide the link to sign up for the exam before the end of the course.
You can take the exam three times in a four-week period.

Student workload

5x27= 135 hours

Further information for students

By returning the online exam or online assignment, students confirm that their demonstration of competence is based on independent work and ethical behaviour. Failure to do so may result in suspension from the UAS for up to one year. Act on Universities of Applied Sciences 932/2014, Section 38. In order to ensure the independent demonstration of competence in online learning, the teacher may, at his/her discretion, require the demonstration of competence under supervised conditions or by means of an oral examination. The teacher will inform the student of the method of demonstrating competence at the latest at the beginning of the course.

Assessment methods and criteria

The final grade will be based on the performance on the final exam. The exam will have multiple choice questions about the topics covered in the course.
To take the exam, the student must complete all the weekly assignments on time.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Opiskelija tunnistaa opintojaksoon liittyvät peruskäsitteet ja -lait sekä osaa ratkaista niihin liittyviä yksinkertaisia tehtäviä.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Edellisen lisäksi opiskelija osaa selittää opintojaksoon liittyvät peruskäsitteet ja -lait sekä osaa soveltaa niitä laajempien tehtävien ratkaisemisessa.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Edellisten lisäksi opiskelija osaa ratkaista vaativimmat analysointia tai perusteluja edellyttävät tehtävät lähes virheettömällä tasolla.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Opiskelija tunnistaa opintojaksoon liittyvät peruskäsitteet ja -lait sekä osaa ratkaista niihin liittyviä yksinkertaisia tehtäviä.