The course covers carbon reduction planning, sustainable business choices, and environmental impacts across the life cycle of infrastructure and products. These topics are taught alongside examples of sustainability-related practices and legislation. The course is based around hands-on workshops and we teach participants how to use state-of-the-art life cycle analysis software.

No formal entry requirements.

The course is designed for qualified professionals working in engineering and the built environment. It equips participants with a strong understanding of sustainability principles, sustainable supply chain management, and practical expertise in SimaPro, OneClick and open source GHG calculators

1. Welcome, introduction, safeguarding, overview and introduction to RICS WLCA. Definition of overall (overarching) assignment leading to report presentations. The overarching assignment is centred around a chosen work-related group project and will involve a final report (underpinned by RICS WLCA) and a presentation
2. Introduction to sustainability lecture followed by short in-class group assignment. Topics covered: CSR, underlying sustainability principles; Sustainable Development Goals, Planetary Boundaries and Circular Economy concept. Design and production for sustainability, regulations and industry standards. Practical – sustainability task applied to client projects. 
3. Introduction to Lifecycle Assessment methodology followed by a short in-class group assignment. 
4. Introduction to LCA software – SimaPro followed by a guided LCA exercise. 
5. Practical. Building an LCA model using SimaPro software to assess the environmental impact of a selected product group. Participants will be required to Carry out product disassembly and create lifecycle inventories. At the end of the session, groups will share their results. Participants will be asked to collect product information related to their chosen work-related projects to assess during the following 2 weeks. 
6. Practical. Building an LCA model for their chosen project-related products, using SimaPro software and previously prepared product information related to their chosen projects. At the end of the session, groups will share their results. The lecture will include a guest speaker.
7. Continued from the previous week. Building an LCA model for their chosen project-related products, using SimaPro.
8. Sustainable supply chain with a focus on sustainable procurement.  Practical – analysis of client-chosen project supply chain sustainability. Paper-based group exercise followed by presentations. 
9. Introduction to Sustainability-related policy. Emphasis on construction and LCA. In-class group practical applied to client projects: Part 1 developing a summary report understanding the operation and purpose of policy and regulatory instruments to influence construction sector projects, critically appraising the impact of policy on the project. The lecture will include a guest speaker.
10. Practical group assignment, policy-related tasks: Part 1 continued followed by Part 2 –reporting LCA results in line with BS EN ISO 14044 & BS EN ISO 14040. At the end of the session, groups will present Parts 1 & 2 summary as well as summary comparing the LCA standards with RICS WLCA principles highlighting key similarities and differences and critically appraising the pros and cons of each method. 
11. Introduction to Greenhouse Gas Protocol, related UK legislation, climate science and related risks, opportunities and action. Introduction to basic carbon reporting in line with SECR regulations, basics of scope 1, 2 and 3 methodology, leading to an overview of GHG accounting (examples of GHG calculators) – preparing a carbon report: incl. carbon reduction planning. Different GHG calculation tools. The lecture will include a guest speaker.
12. In-class group task: compare different GHG calculator tools available and calculate GHG emissions of a given example using different calculator tools. Identify the preferred tool for the task, highlight the pros and cons, present summary. 
13. In-depth scope 1, 2, 3 emissions – key 5 Scope 3 subcategories.
14. Practical - application of GHG calculation tools. Work on the final report (in line with RICS WLCA). Prepare final presentations. Group discussion.
15. Group presentation of outcomes from practical sessions – presenting overarching assignment report summary. The report structure must reflect RICS WLCA core  principles and components. Feedback from participating lecturers. Summary, general feedback, Q&A, conclusions

Participants will be prepared to take on additional responsibilities related to carbon accounting, sustainability reporting, and emissions reduction planning. They will also be able to present and interpret measurement data in a form suitable for inclusion in a report such as the RICS WLCA.

Kristina Kerwin

Practicals, lectures, guest lectures and group work.

9-5pm on Fridays from 13th December to 21st February with a break for Christmas.

The course is assessed through participation and group presentation.

Not currently accredited.

Go to our CarbonSmart webpage and apply via the link.

If you have a question that we haven’t answered here, please contact sbitraining@lsbu.ac.uk and we will respond to your query within 48 hours.