COURSE TITLE: SUSTAINABILITY AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Assignment Weighting
This is an individual assignment representing 70% of the overall 100% marks available for the
Sustainability and the Environment
module on the MSc in Construction Project Management and
MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering.
Group Deliverable: Report and Presentation,
Report: Each report should be not more than 4000 words
(not including diagram, tables figures)
and submitted on or before May 4th at 23:55.
Interviews will take place online on May 19th and May 20th. The final Schedule will be issued in the next
couple of weeks. A time extension cannot be given to these dates as exam board dates are fixed.
Presentation/Interview:
Each person will be invited to a 10-minute interview to present their
strategy. This will consist of a 5 - minute presentation followed by 5 - minute questions and answers.
Marking Scheme
Report
- Quality of research and analysis (30%)
-
Evidence of critical thinking (20%)
- Clarity of writing and organization (10%)
Presentation 30%
The overall quality of presentation, writing and academic referencing 10%
Notes
You are required to use relevant and reputable literature sources in your report and cite appropriately.
References are expected where the material being used is not your own and copying will be heavily
penalized. Plagiarism is taken very seriously; Work that appears to have been copied will receive zero
credit and may lead to an academic integrity referral.
Penalties will apply for late submissions (certified mitigating circumstances excepted). A reduction of
10% per day will apply for each 0 – 24-hour period after the submission deadline.
Development of a Sustainability Strategy Framework and Road map
In recent years, several companies have announced climate pledges, environmental goals, social
responsibility initiatives and other CSR plans with the hope of addressing the climate and the broader
sustainability agenda and thriving into the future. Many companies see this as essential from an
environmental sustainability point of view but also as a way of attracting customers, creating a
positive reputation around their brand, and ensuring the long-term viability of the company.
Integrating sustainability into strategic initiatives is especially important because these issues play out
over the long term. It’s easier for companies where they are core concerns to understand trends and
make strategic bets in advance of consumer preferences, stakeholder pressure, or regulation.
Capturing sustainability’s full value potential can the complicated. While many companies understand
the impact of their own operations on issues from carbon emissions to human rights, they often have
little or no understanding of the impact of the entire value chain. Moreover, most companies do not
actively seek opportunities to invest in any area of sustainability and therefore miss potential growth
opportunities.
Sustainability is also about driving value for your business. Organizations that focus on sustainability can
see enhanced value in at least five areas:
1. Accelerated Growth
2. Reduced Cost
3. Managed Risk
4. Increased Productivity
5. Optimized Investments and Assets
To achieve these environmental sustainability and business goals a company must first determine its
baseline performance on sustainability issues and then decide on a portfolio of initiatives to create value
in those areas.
Required: You are required to develop a Sustainability Strategy Framework and Road map for a
company of your choice.
Ideally, it would be a company that you are familiar with. For large organizations, this may be just a
business region or unit of the organization you have chosen.
The framework should include, but not be limited to:
Current State Analysis
- An evaluation of the main energy uses and pollutants in the business
- Detail how the framework will mitigate their various environmental impacts, and their relationship to
climate change.
Comparison with Best Practice, National and International Strategic Goals
- Critically evaluate how your plan aligns with Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2021, and/or is relevant to
the sector your chosen business operates. Some examples include The National Retrofit Plan/ The
Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy 2022 – 2023 'Living More, Using Less'.
- Evaluate various reporting standards and approaches; choose at least one and propose a rationale for
your decision.
- Compare the Strategy and Framework for implantation to other businesses, nationally and
internationally.
- Consider mapping against the UN SDGs
Future State
- The roadmap should include indicative timelines
- Outline the anticipated effects on the economic, environmental, and social aspects of the organization.
- Outline the practical feasibility of your solution, including anticipated barriers and enablers.
Pointers
Be aspirational yet action-oriented
.
It is about finding the right balance between intention,
commitment through SMART targets, and measurement of impact is key.
Be data-driven.
The key lies in clearly identifying whether the organization can make progress in a
reliable, accurate, and non-biased way.
Be consistent and comparable.
Consistently reporting on efforts in relation to a benchmark is key and
the reporting style should be in line with corporate reporting.
Be authentic.
Your report should reflect material issues, company values, and strategy. Being authentic
will build trust, and show alignment as well as commitment.
Notes
You are required to
use relevant and reputable literature sources
in your report and cite
appropriately. References are expected where the material being used is not your own and copying will
be heavily penalized. Plagiarism is taken very seriously; Work that appears to have been copied or
produced by AI will receive zero credit and may lead to an academic integrity referral.
Penalties will apply for late submissions (certified mitigating circumstances excepted). A reduction of
10% per day will apply for each 0 – 24-hour period after the submission deadline.