Unit ENERGY PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE EFFICIENCY
- Course
- Mechanical engineering
- Study-unit Code
- A005742
- Curriculum
- Energy
- Teacher
- Anna Laura Pisello
- Teachers
-
- Anna Laura Pisello
- Hours
- 48 ore - Anna Laura Pisello
- CFU
- 6
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2025
- Offered
- 2026/27
- Learning activities
- Affine/integrativa
- Area
- Attività formative affini o integrative
- Sector
- ING-IND/11
- Type of study-unit
- Opzionale (Optional)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- English
- Contents
- This course provides students with a multidisciplinary understanding of
climate change, sustainability, and environmental management in the
context of infrastructure planning and design. Students explore the
social, scientific, and policy dimensions of sustainability and are
introduced to tools for evaluating and managing the environmental
impact of engineering solutions. The course emphasizes climate
resilience, ethical responsibility, and long-term sustainability goals in
infrastructure and urban development. - Reference texts
- Teacher/Lecture Notes (pdf)
- Educational objectives
- By the end of the course, students will be able to: • Understand climate
systems and environmental change drivers • Evaluate sustainability
metrics and perform life cycle assessments • Analyze regulatory
frameworks and apply policy tools • Critically assess the environmental
impact of infrastructure • Communicate solutions to sustainability
challenges effectively - Prerequisites
- Basic knowledge in environmental science and systems thinking is
recommended to fully engage with the course material. - Teaching methods
- •Theoretical classroom lectures •Individual or group term papers on
sustainability-related case studies - Learning verification modality
- The final evaluation includes a written examination and a short report.
The written exam consists of multiple-choice questions to assess
understanding of key theoretical and applied course topics, including
sustainability principles, environmental policy, climate change, and
resource management. Students must also submit a brief written report
on a topic related to the course, developed in small groups. The report
should demonstrate the ability to apply course concepts to practical or
case-based contexts and must be submitted before the exam. Both
components are mandatory and contribute to the final grade. Students
who achieve a score of 26 or higher on the written exam may request to
take an optional oral examination. - Extended program
- 1. Introduction to Sustainability • What is sustainability? • Human
consumption and limits to growth • Major sustainability challenges 2.
Climate and Global Change • Climate system fundamentals:
internal/external controls • Modern climate change and projections 3.
Ecosystems, Physical Resources and Environmental Pollution •
Freshwater supply and water cycle • Water pollution and major
environmental disasters • Mineral resource extraction and impact •
Biodiversity and ecosystem services • Soil sustainability and ecosystem
vulnerability 4. Modern Environmental Management • Evolution of
environmental regulation in the EU • Waste management systems •
Government and environmental law • Risk assessment for sustainability
solutions • Producer responsibility 5. Sustainability Metrics and Tools •
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and derivative methods • Footprinting:
carbon, ecological, and water • Environmental indicators and
sustainability rating systems • Case studies on GHG emissions and
university sustainability 6. Ethics, Culture, and Sustainable Infrastructures
• Historical and ethical perspectives on sustainability • Industrialization
and the environment • Principles of sustainable cities and urban planning
• Transportation systems and stormwater management - Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile
- 6 Clean Water and Sanitation 7 Affordable and Clean Energy 9 Industry,
Innovation and Infrastructure 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities 12
Responsible Consumption and Production 13 Climate Action