Course - Sustainability assessment - MIB4202
Sustainability assessment
New from the academic year 2025/2026
About
About the course
Course content
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a widely used methodology to assess the environmental impact of various goods and services, including components and constructions. The methodology has a framework that enables consistent comparisons of various system solutions and alternative technologies with respect to environmental properties. Such an assessment can take into account many different environmental impact categories, such as global warming, acidification and toxicity, etc. Such a broad perspective is important in order to avoid that measures to reduce global warming cause other significant environmental problems. An LCA requires system boundaries to be properly set out and designed to meet this type of challenge. The first part of the course consists of the theoretical methodology based on the ISO standards and the use of the Simapro software. In the second part, applications of LCA are presented.
Learning outcome
Knowledge: The course will give the student knowledge about:
- Life cycle assessments (LCA) for evaluation of the environmental impacts of various systems, technologies and products.
- Use of this method on various components and constructions.
- The course will give the student insight on how to carry out robust environmental assessments
Skills: The course will enable the student to:
- Conduct a simplified LCA as independent work, as well as more complex assessments under supervision.
- To use the software Simapro (faculty version).
- To write an LCA report.
- How to apply for obtaining the environmental product declaration (EPD).
General competence: The course will give the student an understanding on
- How to evaluate the environmental properties of different components and constructions.
Learning methods and activities
The course is taught using different learning methods (lectures, exercises, project work). The first part will mainly be conducted as lectures and discussions with the students. Students are required to contribute actively. Practical examples are performed using LCA computing tools and software. Independent project work is an important part of the learning, and guidance will be offered throughout the semester
Compulsory assignments
- Assignments
Further on evaluation
Compulsory assignments:10 mandatory hands-in (70% of them must be approved). Re-sit of exam in August. If the Project is not approved, a New Project must be done next time the course is run. Both parts must be approved.
Continuation and voluntary repetition / improvement can be carried out for some sub-evaluations without having to reassess both sub-evaluations in a topic. There is an opportunity to complain about partial assessments in this topic before all sub-evaluations have been completed.
Specific conditions
Admission to a programme of study is required:
Building Informatics and Wood Constructions (MIBIT)
Production and Product Development (MIPRODPRO)
Course materials
Will be given at start of semester
Subject areas
- Design for Sustainabiliy