Environmental science in building construction: new course development for undergraduate students

In response to a growing awareness of the environmental impacts of construction, anew undergraduate course - Environmental Science in Building Construction - was developed and incorporated into architectural engineering and construction management programs at Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). This senior-level required course is offered concurrently with senior design. Course development included surveying the AGC of Greater Milwaukee and completing a NSF sponsored project to assess environmental impacts of a campus construction project. Course elements include introducing students to drivers of the sustainable construction movement (climate change, ozone depletion, environmental degradation and resource depletion); introducing students to the LEED (TM) suite of standards and scientific evidence that LEED (TM) strategies reduce environmental impacts; and requiring students to complete a research project on technologies that have the potential to reduce environmental impacts. If environmental impacts of construction are to be reduced, future engineers must understand a wide range of sustainability-related issues.