Course Meeting Times
Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session
Overview
Engineers can fundamentally change the environmental footprint of modernity. To effect change, engineers require tools to identify “better” design and operational options. This course examines the use of life-cycle thinking and assessment tools to identify product and system design options that balance environmental and economic performance.
Prerequisites
ESD.10 or 3.56.
Readings
Because the course covers a broad range of topics, there is no textbook. Students will be expected to consult the assigned readings, lecture notes, and other handouts.
Coursework
Students are expected complete the homework assignments. Additionally, students will work in teams on two unit projects, producing a case study report and in-class presentation for each.
Grading
Grades will be based on various assignments throughout the term. Their approximate weights are:
| ACTIVITIES | PERCENTAGES |
|---|---|
| Assignments | 35% |
| Case 1 Presentation / Report | 20% |
| Case 2 Presentation / Report | 30% |
| Class Participation | 15% |
The final grade will be modulated by an appreciation of the participant’s progress throughout the semester, giving extra weight to those that finish strongly and demonstrate that they have mastered the material, in the end.
Course Policies
Absences
Students are expected to complete all assignments on time. Unexcused late assignments will be marked down. Reasonable excuses (sickness, unavoidable professional absences, family emergencies, etc.) will of course be accepted when presented near the event.
Work in Teams
Students will likely work in teams for the unit projects. Indeed, we encourage this collaboration because it can lead to more interesting results. We require each student to turn in individually written interpretations of the common analysis.
Academic Honesty
To avoid any potential confusion that might result from different expectations in other courses or establishments, please note the standards that apply in this subject:
- Anyone found cheating during the in-class exam will receive a zero for the exercise.
- Assignments turned in for grading are to be done individually, although it is expected that students will discuss the issues involved in problem sets and often learn best collectively. In practice this means that students may lead each other to the proper understanding of the material, and collaborate on setting up computer runs, but should ultimately prepare reports for each assignment individually, in their own format and words. Demonstrated evidence of copying (exactly the same presentations, same wording of sentences, etc.) will result in zeros for each paper with this evidence.
Class Schedule
| Lec # | TOPICS | KEY DATES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | |
| Part 1: Views on Industrial Ecology | ||
| 2 | What is Industrial Ecology? | Assignment 1 due |
| 3 | Environmental Paradigm | Assignment 2 due |
| 4 | Sustainability: Concepts and Metrics | |
| 5 | Resource Economics | |
| 6 | Resource Economics (cont.) | |
| 7 | Resource Econ Group Presentations | Assignment 3 due |
| Part 2: LCA: Method Basics | ||
| 8 | Life-cycle Assessment - Overview | |
| 9 | Using the Software | |
| 10 | LCA - Scope | |
| 11 | LCA - Inventory | |
| 12 | LCA - Inventory Allocation | Assignment 4 due |
| 13 | LCA - Recycling | |
| 14 | Materials Flow Analysis | |
| Part 3: Environmental Evaluation and Advanced Methods | ||
| 15 | Overview of Case 2 | |
| 16 | LCA - Impact Assessment - EPS | |
| 17 | LCA - Impact Assessment - EcoPoints | |
| 18 | LCA Research | |
| 19 | Case 1 Presentations | |
| Part 4: Aggregate Materials Flows | ||
| 20 | National Materials Flows | |
| 21 | Material Flow Case Study | |
| Part 5: Environmental Policy Strategies | ||
| 22 | Environmental Policy Making (Part 1) | |
| 23 | Environmental Policy Making (Part 2) | |
| 24 | Industrial Ecology Research @ MIT | |
| 25 | Final Presentations | |
