Course Title: Engineering Design for Sustainability

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Engineering Design for Sustainability

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Code




Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)


City Campus


115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering


Sem 2 2015,
Sem 2 2016


City Campus


172H School of Engineering


Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2018

Course Coordinator: Dr Peter Stasinopoulos

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 4509

Course Coordinator Email:

Course Coordinator Location: City campus

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities


Course Description

This course aims to inspire sustainable thinking across the entire product lifecycle. Each decision a designer makes may be replicated hundreds or thousands of times, and may shape the realities of those who engage with their creations. Unfortunately, many designers are part of the sustainability problem. Through ignorance, cost-cutting, aesthetics, client priorities, or other reasons, products often waste energy and resources, and promote unsustainable lifestyles. It can be different with sustainable thinking.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development



1.5. Knowledge of contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline.

2.2. Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.

2.3. Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes.



3.3. Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour.

3.4. Professional use and management of information.

3.5. Orderly management of self, and professional conduct.

3.6. Effective team membership and team leadership.


Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

On completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Explain the role of sustainability in the design process
  2. Describe principles of materials selection based on sustainable principles
  3. Apply a systematic approach to system redesign in terms of energy efficiency, water efficiency and transport efficiency
  4. Give examples of engineering innovation
  5. Explain principles of disposal and recycling
  6. Work more effectively in teams
  7. Write engineering reports and present to small groups

Overview of Learning Activities

The textbook, lectures and workshops will support the project-based learning approach in this course.

Overview of Learning Resources

Textbook and online learning resources.

Overview of Assessment


X This course has no hurdle requirements.



Assessment tasks


Early Assessment Task: Workshop
Weighting 15%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 4, 5

Assessment Task 2: Group project
Weighting 45%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1-7

Assessment 3: Individual project
Weighting 40% 
This assessment supports CLOs 1-7