Energy and Environmental Sustainability
Objectives
1. To recognize and define the importance of the UN''''''''s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
2. To identify how the Ph.D. project contributes to the SDGs.
3. To get the know-how on how to identify and analyze the problems associated with the internalization of environmental costs in business organizations.
4. Tools for internalizing environmental impacts in business organizations.
5. To recognize the main characteristics of different methodologies for assessing environmental sustainability: Ecological Footprint, Carbon Footprint, Water Footprint, Eco-Labels; Life Cycle Analysis.
6. To recognize concepts of the Material Flow Analysis tool. To get the know-how on how to use STAN software.
7. To recognize in detail the Life Cycle Analysis as a fundamental tool for the assessment of environmental sustainability.
8. To get skills in using the openLCA software in Life Cycle Analysis modeling, at the intermediate user level.
General characterization
Code
9621
Credits
6.0
Responsible teacher
Nuno Carlos Lapa dos Santos Nunes
Hours
Weekly - 2
Total - 42
Teaching language
Português
Prerequisites
Not aplicable.
Bibliography
J. F. Santos Oliveira (2005) Gestão Ambiental. Lidel - Edições Técnicas Lda (Ed.), 344 pp.
P. Ferrão (2012) Ecologia industrial: princípios e ferramentas. Engenharia Sanitaria e Ambiental 17, IST (eds), Lisboa.
T. Graedel, and B. Allenby (2010) Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Engineering. Prentice-Hall (eds.), USA.
European Commission - Joint Research Centre - Institute for Environment and Sustainability: International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook - General guide for Life Cycle Assessment - Detailed guidance. First edition March 2010. EUR 24708 EN. Luxembourg. Publications Office of the European Union; 2010.
Teaching method
Theoretical classes are based on a previous study of the teaching materials and on the critical discussion of the topics covered in each class. Theoretical classes are also used to explore some sustainability tools, such as Ecological Footprint, Carbon Footprint, and Water Footprint calculators. The STAN (Material Flow Analysis) and openLCA software are also explored in significant parts of the theoretical classes, based on the "hands-on" principle. It is sought that students gain autonomy in the use of these computer tools to support the assessment of the impact of the Life Cycle.
If there are ERASMUS students enrolled who do not speak Portuguese, the classes will be taught in English.
Evaluation method
Preparation, presentation, and discussion of three works (TP1, TP2, and TP3) carried out independently.
The approval in the course requires a minimum classification of 9.50 values (out of 20 values).
Subject matter
1. UN Sustainable Development Goals.
2. Environmental sustainability; Linear economy; Circular economy: A more balanced system; Conventional model of the economy; Open economic system; Law of supply and demand.
3. Environmental impacts as externalities; Production and Pollution; Cost of pollution per unit of product; Internalization of environmental impacts on the cost of the product.
4. Instruments for internalizing environmental impacts: Limiting emission levels; Pollutant emission rates; Emission trade markets; Effect of eco-taxes on companies and the economy; Eco-Labels.
5. Methodologies for Life Cycle Impact assessment: The IPAT equation; Ecological Footprint, Carbon Footprint, Water Footprint, Eco-Labels; Life Cycle Analysis.
6. Material Flow Analysis (MFA): Principles; STAN software (stan2web.net).
7. Life Cycle Analysis: Introduction; Mass and Energy; Mass and energy balances; openLCA software (Greendelta, Berlin, Germany).
8. Life Cycle Analysis: LCA Methodology; The 4 phases of LCA; Purpose and scope; Functional Unit.
9. Life Cycle Analysis: Life Cycle Inventory; System boundary; Flow diagram; Data collection; Quality Indicators; Data processing; Inventory Table.
10. Life Cycle Analysis: Multifunctionality and Allocation.
11. Life Cycle Analysis: Problem-oriented and damage-oriented LCA impact assessment methods.