ENEN2000 Sustainability Case study assessment

Semester 2 2020
(Group Assignment) Total marks /40.

The group assignment will be discussed in the Tutorial classes to assist students with the
assessment. Assignments are expected to be submitted online via Blackboard by the assessment
date. Plagiarism is considered a serious matter with the submission of assignments.
The assignment should be written in Times New Roman font with size 12 point and must use
Chicago style referencing. The page limit excluding the references is 15 pages and any page(s)
after this limit will not be assessed.
Each group consisting of 6 students will receive a case study on a lottery basis in the first
tutorial class for conducting this group assignment on a contemporary engineering
sustainability issue. In order to analyse this case study, you are required to address the
following questions and each group must review at least 20 scholarly articles (i.e. journals,
conference proceedings, documents published by recognized bodies) in an effort to answer and
address these questions.

1. Describe the Sustainability case study being examined. (Max 3 pages) (20%)
a. How is it responsible for contributing to climate change? Discus the emissions
emitted from the processes/activities resulting global warming (5%)
b. How will it affect land use changes and the biodiversity? (5%)
c. What could be some water pollution issues with these activities? (5%)
d. What are the main economic, and social consequences associated with these
activities? (5%)

2. What are the main engineering challenges inherent in this sustainability challenge?
(Max 3 pages) (20%)
a. Analyse these challenges to examine what role engineers have played in
creating the challenge/problem, e.g. poor design, lack of systems thinking, over-
engineering, old technology etc.) (10 marks, approx. 500 words). Also ask the
question – what other issues have created this sustainability challenge (lack of
regulations, lack of product stewardship, poor understanding of energy
efficiency)? (10%)
b. Discuss whether these engineering challenges are largely focused on solving
economic, technological, environmental impact or social problems? (5%)
c. Discuss where the responsibility for solving/managing these challenges lie (i.e.
with industry, government, the consumer, or society at large). (5%)
3. Through a literature review, discuss the value of life cycle thinking in helping to
address engineering sustainability challenges. (Max 4 pages) (25%)
a. Describe the life cycle of the engineering process or product involved in your
case study. (10%)
b. Where are the triple bottom line (TBL) hotspots in the production and or process
that are creating the sustainability challenge? (5%)
c. Diagnose the causes of TBL hotspots on the basis of the reviewed articles (10%)

4. Discuss how engineering life cycle management and design in this case study can help
to alleviate/reduce or eliminate this sustainability challenge Discuss the potential
application of at least five (5) of the following industrial ecology strategies as
applicable: (Max 4 pages) (25%)
a. Cleaner production
b. Waste management and zero waste, closed loop production principles
c. Eco-efficiency principles Industrial symbiosis
d. Design for the environment
e. Green engineering
f. Biomimicry
g. Renewable energy

5. Discuss how life cycle management can assist engineers in achieving circular economy.
(1 page) (10%)

END OF ASSIGNMENT QUESTION