CEM610: Principles of Sustainable Construction

Module code: CEM610

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

ECTS credits: 10

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Double Presentation: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Florence Phua, email: f.phua@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Shu-Ling Lu, email: s.lu@reading.ac.uk

Additional teaching staff 1: Dr Eugene Mohareb, email: e.mohareb@reading.ac.uk

Additional teaching staff 2: Dr Shahab Kabiri Renani, email: s.kabirirenani@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list:

Last updated: 25 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is designed to equip students with a broad understanding of sustainability in construction, focusing on the three distinction of and balance between the pillars of economic, environmental, and social sustainability. The construction industry is increasingly focusing on sustainability to address key challenges in the sector. This 20-credit module provides a holistic foundation, preparing students to assess, apply, and advance sustainable construction understanding and practices at both the project, firm and industry levels.

The module draws on diverse interdisciplinary knowledge areas, including project management, financial appraisals, organisational management, and environment management. This approach enables students to critically evaluate how sustainability informs and influences economic, environmental and social outcomes.

By the end of the module, students will have an understanding of the role that sustainability plays in shaping the future of construction, empowering them to address real-world challenges with innovative and holistic solutions. Students will also develop reflective learning skills as part of their learning practice for personal and professional development.

Part 1: Sustainable construction – Dr Phua and Dr Lu

This section explores the concept of sustainability / sustainable construction which consists of the three pillars of economic, environmental, and social sustainability; and, then articulates the need for transition management, multi-level perspective to bring a balanced perspective to these three pillars.

Aims:

• Understand the principles of sustainability / sustainable construction.
• Identify the opportunities and explore the challenges construction firms, clients and the supply chain face in embedding and delivering sustainable construction.
• Examine how to address these challenges from a transition management, multi-level perspective.

Part 2: Social Sustainability – Dr Phua and Dr Lu

This section explores social sustainability, including how  different management approaches, governance and community engagement impact sustainable construction. It also covers Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), social value and the role of the community as stakeholders and end-users of the built environment.

Aims:

• Understand the importance of social sustainability in construction.
• Explore CSR, social value and community engagement in construction projects.
•  Understand how management approaches  promote or hinder social sustainability.

Part 3: Economic Sustainability – Dr Kabiri Renani

This section focuses on economic sustainability within the construction sector, emphasising financial viability, cost management, and the economic impact of sustainable construction projects. Students will learn financial appraisal techniques, project investment methods, and the core economic principles that influence construction markets.

Aims:

• Provide foundational knowledge of economic sustainability in construction.
• Equip students with the skills to evaluate the financial viability of construction projects.
• Introduce investment and financial modelling techniques for sustainable project appraisal.

Part 4: Environmental Sustainability – Dr Eugene Mohareb

This section examines environmental sustainability and construction circularity, focusing on sustainable design, material selection, energy efficiency, and the integration of renewable technologies into construction projects. Students will be introduced to the concept of construction circularity and will gain insights into how to reduce the environmental footprint of buildings and infrastructure throughout their lifecycle.

Aims:

• Introduce the fundamental principles of environmental sustainability in construction.
• Equip students with the knowledge of sustainable materials, technologies, and energy-efficient practices.
• Provide students with the skills to evaluate the environmental impact of construction projects.

Module learning outcomes

Part 1: Sustainable construction – Dr Phua and Dr Lu

1. Understand how the principal characteristics of the construction sector affect the delivery of sustainable construction.
2. Critically evaluate the nature and role of transition management approaches in managing the multi-level, multi-phase, multi-actor dimensions in delivering sustainable construction.

Part 2: Social Sustainability – Dr Phua and Dr Lu

1. Critically assess how social sustainability principles influence construction projects and organisations.
2. Evaluate approaches and strategies for effective sustainability management, including, governance, leadership, CSR and social value in construction.
3. Understand the role of the community as key stakeholder in sustainable built environments.

Part 3: Economic Sustainability – Dr Kabiri Renani

1. Understand and apply economic principles and financial techniques in construction sustainability.
2. Evaluate the financial performance and sustainability of construction projects.
3. Use appraisal techniques to assess the viability of sustainable construction projects.

Part 4: Environmental Sustainability – Dr Eugene Mohareb

1. Assess the environmental impact of construction practices and materials.
2. Apply Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) to construction projects.
3. Understand the principles of construction circularity in the adoption of sustainable design and energy-efficient technologies in construction.

Module content

Part 1: Sustainable construction – Dr Phua & Dr Lu

• Principles of sustainability / sustainable construction: overview of three pillars of economic, environmental, and social sustainability to promote sustainable construction.
• Transition management: multi-level perspective (MLP) of system innovation.

Part 2: Social Sustainability – Dr Phua and Dr Lu

•  Effective management of sustainability:  Management approaches and strategies to promote social sustainability.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Construction: Exploration of CSR principles and community engagement.
• Social Value in Construction: The concept and importance of social value in public sector procurement, and the design, delivery and measurement of social value in construction projects.
• Community as Stakeholder: The role of stakeholders and local communities in shaping sustainable construction.

Part 3: Economic Sustainability – Dr Kabiri Renani

• Basic Economic Principles: Supply, demand, and economic structures in construction.
• Economic Indicators: Understanding inflation, interest rates, and their effect on construction costs.
• Financial Appraisal Techniques: Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and discounted cash flow models.
• Project Financing: Loans, joint ventures, and sustainable financial models.

Part 4: Environmental Sustainability – Dr Eugene Mohareb

• Sustainable Design Principles: Overview of sustainable design and materials.
• Energy Efficiency in Construction: Integration of energy-efficient practices and renewable energy systems.
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Understanding environmental and social sustainability assessments.
• Construction circularity and lifecycle of Buildings and Infrastructure: Sustainable management from design to operation and maintenance.ement from design to operation and maintenance.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be delivered through a combination of lectures and seminars, providing a balanced approach to both theoretical and practical learning. Lectures will introduce key concepts and principles of sustainable construction, supported by real-world case studies to demonstrate current industry challenges and solutions. Seminars will offer students the opportunity to engage in discussions, group work, and problem-solving activities, allowing them to critically apply their knowledge to practical scenarios and deepen their understanding through collaborative learning.

This module is taught twice to two different cohorts of students - first in Semester 1 and then repeated in Semester 2. The study hours are listed for the first iteration of teaching in Semester 1, and these same study hours are repeated for the second iteration of teaching in Semester 2.

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The below information applies total full time and flexible modular students on taught PGT programmes in SBE.

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline, excluding self-certified extensions): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Level 3 (i.e. foundation modules for Part 0) and Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline, excluding self-certified extensions), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline, excluding self-certified extensions): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline, excluding self-certified extensions): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline, excluding self-certified extensions): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to a self-certified extension, it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e. considered to be more that three calendar days late).

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

There will be a range of formative assessment methods embedded within the module delivery. Principally, the formative assessment feedback will take place during lecture and tutorial interaction. 

Reassessment

Additional costs