Details
Code 22772
Level of study Second Year
Credit value 10
Semester 1
Module description
This module focuses on two main areas, supplemented by topical issues that vary from year to year.
1. Legislation and building sustainable industries and communities. The influence of Government legislation on technology and the growth of sustainable businesses will be emphasised. The module presents a discussion of the future vision for sustainable economies and argues that new businesses must be encouraged to provide this economy in 20 years time. The way in which legislation has achieved this in the past by forcing society to accept clean technologies is contrasted with legislation to introduce the hydrogen economy which currently has not been successful. This will be supplemented by a case study of communities that have succeeded or failed such as those on Tristan de Cunha and Easter Island.
2. Recycling. The module introduces the technology associated with recycling. Established technologies such as metal, paper and glass recovery will be contrasted with newer approaches. Good and bad examples such as doorstep sorting will be described from around the UK and the world. The packaging problem will be evaluated. Processes and practices will be investigated. There will be a coursework project on Resource Recycling.
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures, web-based learning, tutorials, workshops and problem solving sessions