REMF55-Sustainability and Real Estate
Module Provider: Real Estate and Planning
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2
Module Convenor: Dr Jorn Van De Wetering
Email: j.t.vandewetering@reading.ac.uk
Summary module description:
This module focuses on developing a conceptual understanding of sustainable development models and their applications in real estate markets. The focus is on the adoption of sustainability in the UK property industry throughout real estate life cycles, including how the concept is relevant to and manifests itself at various life cycle stages, i.e. development, design, construction, operation, refurbishment, retrofitting and regeneration. The module also focuses on drivers and barriers for the adoption of sustainable development principles in the property industry, including the business case for sustainability.
Aims:
This module aims to provide insights into the adoption of sustainable development principles in the property industry. Specifically, students will develop a systematic understanding and critical awareness of sustainable development concepts, policy actions, building energy and environmental assessment methods, building construction methods and important property sustainability debates and their relevance to a range of stakeholders in the built environment.
Assessable learning outcomes:
Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:
demonstrate an academic and practical understanding of relevant sustainable development concepts and literature and how these relate to the built environment;
demonstrate a critical awareness, knowledge, and understanding of a range of views from real estate market stakeholders on the significance of sustainabl
e developments in real estate practices, particularly property investors and occupiers;
explain and critique different mandatory and voluntary energy and environmental assessment methods for new and existing buildings in the built environment;
identify significant drivers that facilitate the implementation of sustainable development in real estate markets and analyse their
importance;
demonstrate a critical awareness, knowledge, and understanding of significant barriers and challenges related to the adoption of sustainability in real estate markets, including their relevance.
Additional outcomes:
deal with complex ‘real world’ issues relating to the impacts of sustainability concerns on the efficient use of property, both systematically and creatively;
develop essay writing and critical analysis skills through appropriate coursework, and communicate conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
Outline content:
Introduction to Sustainable Development
Global Sustainability Goals
Policy Frameworks and Regulatory Impacts
Mandatory and Voluntary Energy and Environmental Building Assessment Methods (including balanced scorecards)
Sustainability Issues for New and Existing Buildings
Construction, ‘Green’ Buildings and Sustainability
Sustainable construction methods and commonly used design principles and materials
The Business Case for Sustainable Buildings
Environmental Social Governance (ESG), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Socially Responsible Property
Investment (SRPI)
Sustainability and Property Valuation
Global context:
This module looks at the UK property industry, as well as applications of sustainable development adoption across global real estate markets.
Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The module comprises lectures and practitioner-led seminars. The overall objective of the assessment is to provide insights into sustainability practices in the real estate sector, benchmark sustainability performance and to capture appropriate examples of best practice. The coursework comprises a group presentation and an individual written academic essay.
Summative Assessment Methods:
| Method |
Percentage |
| Written assignment including essay |
75 |
| Oral assessment and presentation |
25 |
Summative assessment- Examinations:
Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
The outputs are:
One group presentation, which examines the importance of sustainable development in a real estate context for a specific stakeholder (25%) - to be presented in spring term week 11 (timetable week 30)
One individual written assignment, which examines the adoption of sustainable development in real estate markets. Guide length: 3,750 words (75%) - to be submitted in summer term week 1 (timetable week 34)
Penalties for late submission:
The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy “Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes”, which can be found here: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmissionPGflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:
- where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
- where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.
The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at:
http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.
Assessment requirements for a pass:
The pass-mark for this module is 50%.
Reassessment arrangements:
Reassessment will be by the same method as for the module’s original assessment requirements, subject to variation by the Examination Board where appropriate.
Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
Last updated: 8 April 2021
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MODULE DESCRIPTION DOES NOT FORM ANY PART OF A STUDENT'S CONTRACT.