EGB422 Energy Management and Sustainability

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Global energy issues are having a profound effect on engineering practice in relation to energy utilisation. Energy management is generally regarded as an effective solution for immediate energy consumption reduction and to address global warming. It is also concerned with increasing productivity, improving standards of living and saving money. You will learn how to apply the principles of thermodynamics, heat transfer and electricity along with an introduction to financial analysis and managerial practice. This will enable them to conduct an audit of energy systems and develop a sustainable energy management plan. This unit also details energy auditing of commercial buildings, industrial energy systems and processes, and explore their energy-saving opportunities. It equips students with the skills and knowledge required to conduct energy audits, analyse data, and provide reports for their energy-related customers. This unit also includes guest lectures from industry experts.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Explain and apply principles of an energy management program to a range of energy.
2. Analyse energy systems including cycles and typical industry applications.
3. Conduct an energy audit of major energy consuming items (plant, processes and equipment) and develop an effective, sustainable energy management plan.

Content

Learning Approaches

Teaching Mode:
Hours per week: 4
Lectorials: 3
Tutorials: 1
Field trip: 1 (3-4 hrs)
Lectures cover theoretical concepts followed by practical application and problem solving in tutorials with real world contexts supported by a site visit related to energy. Learning is reinforced using an energy audit of a site as a substantial activity for assessment, along with a literature review report. The energy audit is generally very enthusiastically received.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will be provided with ongoing oral feedback in tutorials and labs with written feedback on literature reviews and reports. You will also be encouraged to review your work to identify personal gaps in knowledge and skills, related to the concepts covered in each assessment item.

Assessment

Overview

Assessment develops theoretical and practical understanding of energy management. It consists of a literature review, a technical report (energy audit) and a final exam.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Literature Review

Complete a literature review on a specific energy topic.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Report

Energy Audits and Presentations

You complete an Energy Audit according to specified criteria.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Examination (written)

Explain concepts and solve problems related to principles of energy management, energy audits, and analysis of energy systems, cycles and applications (all material covered in unit).

“If campus access is restricted at the time of the central examination period/due date, an alternative, which may be a timed online assessment, will be offered. Individual students whose circumstances prevent their attendance on campus will be provided with an alternative assessment approach.”

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

You will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.

You will be required to undertake practical sessions in the laboratory under the supervision of the lecturer and technical staff of the School. In any laboratory practicals you will be advised of requirements of safe and responsible behaviour and will be required to wear appropriate protective items (e.g. closed shoes or steel capped shoes).

You will undergo a health and safety induction before the commencement of the practical sessions and will be issued with a safety induction card. If you do not have a safety induction card you will be denied access to laboratories.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineer

1: Knowledge and Skill Base

1. 
   Relates to: Report, Examination (written)
2. 
   Relates to: Literature Review, Examination (written)
3. 
   Relates to: Literature Review

2: Engineering Application Ability

1. 
   Relates to: Examination (written)
2. 
   Relates to: Literature Review, Report

3: Professional and Personal Attributes

1. 
   Relates to: Report
2. 
   Relates to: Literature Review

Course Learning Outcomes

EN50 Master of Engineering

1. Apply advanced discipline knowledge, concepts and practices in engineering systems and processes.
   Relates to: Literature Review, Examination (written)
2. Critically analyse and evaluate complex engineering problems to achieve research informed solutions.
   Relates to: Report, Examination (written)
3. Apply systematic approaches to plan, design, execute and manage an engineering project.
   Relates to: Literature Review, Report
4. Communicate complex information effectively and succinctly, presenting high level reports, arguments and justifications in oral, written and visual forms to professional and non-specialist audiences.
   Relates to: Literature Review, Report
5. Organise and manage time, tasks and projects independently, and collaboratively demonstrating the values and principles that shape engineering decision making and professional accountability.
   Relates to: Report

EN55 Master of Professional Engineering

1. Apply advanced and specialist knowledge, concepts and practices in engineering design, analysis management and sustainability.
   Relates to: Literature Review, Report, Examination (written)
2. Critically analyse and evaluate complex engineering problems to achieve research informed solutions.
   Relates to: Literature Review, Report, Examination (written)
3. Communicate complex information effectively and succinctly, presenting high level reports, arguments and justifications in oral, written and visual forms to professional and non specialist audiences.
   Relates to: Literature Review, Report
4. Organise and manage time, tasks and projects independently, and collaboratively demonstrating the values and principles that shape engineering decision making and professional accountability.
   Relates to: Report

EN60 Graduate Certificate in Communication for Engineering

1. Demonstrate and apply specialised knowledge and technical skills in at least one Engineering discipline.
   Relates to: Literature Review, Report, Examination (written)
2. Critically investigate real world engineering issues and solve complex problems drawing on specialised creative skills, analysis, evaluation and synthesis of discipline knowledge, theory and practice.
   Relates to: Report, Examination (written)
3. Employ effective written and oral professional communication skills across social, cultural and discipline domains.
   Relates to: Literature Review, Report
4. Exercise responsibility and accountability in applying knowledge and skills for own learning and effective practice including working independently, ethically and collaboratively.
   Relates to: Report