Certificate in Environmental Sustainability

Distance Learning Course -Sustainability Certificate

A ONE OF A KIND ENVIRONMENTAL COURSE

Students who study this course benefit from the unique blend of disciplines that will provide them with the skills necessary to work in the field of environmental sustainability.    This course provides a foundation in environmental ecology and conservation as well as an understanding of sustainability in relation to water, agriculture, development and energy. 

Environmental Sustainability has become a major concern in recent decades, now being a guiding principle for government, business, industry and individuals all over the world.   The term 'Ecologically Sustainable Development' has been coined to represent the concept of making use of our environment in a way that allows us to meet our needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.  Sustainability experts are thus likely to be in high demand over coming decades as resources become increasingly scarce and the need to manage the effects of environmental degradation increases.

Modules

Note that each module in the Certificate in Environmental Sustainability is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Introduction to Ecology

1. Ecosystems & Populations

• components of an ecosystem
• biomes
• detrital and grazing webs
• trophic levels within a food web
• energy flow through an ecosystem

2. The development of life

• life spans
• natural selection
• genetics
• theories of evolution
  

3. Animals, Parasites and Endangered Species

• comparitive anatomy
• animal niches within an ecosystem
• parasites
• animal and human interactions and coexistence
  

4. Fungi, Tundra, Rainforests and Marshlands

• physiology
• anatomy
• classification
• ecology
• location and
• climate

5. Mountains, Rivers and Desert

• Formation eg. erosion, volcanic formation of mountains
  
• Ecology
• Importance

6. Shallow Waters

• shore lines
• coral reefs
• intermediate reefs
• estuaries
• sandy shores
  

7. Ecological Problems

• Global Warming
• The Role of the Ozone Layer
• The effects of Poisons and Waste Materials
  

Sustainable Agriculture

1. Introduction

• Scope
• Nature of Sustainability
• Whole Farming
• Hydroponics

2. Soil

• Soil Quality
• Growing Media
  
• Problems with Soils
• Water Erosion
  
• Wind Erosion
• Salinity
• Soil Acidification
  

3. Water

• Water Storage
• Livestock Requirements
• Water Quality
  
• Water Saving Measures
• Recycling Water
• Swales and Keylines
  

4. Land Care

• Weeds
• Weed Control
  
• Grazing
• Tree Management
• Plantations
• Windbreaks
  

5. Financial Sustainability

• Economic Principles
• Scale of Economics
• Financial Planning
• Value Adding
  
• Financial Records
  

6. Broad Management Strategies

• Towards better planning
• Analysing the Marketplace and Industry
• Production

7. Enterprise Selection & Management: Plants

• Crop Management
• Hay and Silage
• Considering New Crops
• Site Preparation
  
• Production
  

8. Enterprise Selection & Management: Animals

• Choosing the right species eg. deer, alpacas, goats, emu
  
• Aquaculture
• Intensive Production
  

Water Conservation and Management

1. Introduction to Water Conservation

• the water cycle
• effective rainfall
• evaporation
• importance of water
• water sources and storage
• water uses
• water conservation

2. Water conservation at home

• in Australia, UK and US
• how we can save water at home
  
• water saving equipment

3. Water conservation in the workplace

• general principles
• implementing water saving strategies
• appliances for saving water
  
• waterwise industry
• waterwise workplace
  

4. Water Management

• maintaining water quality
• salinity
• chemical contamination
• controlling use and quality of water
• testing water quality
  
• minimising water loss
• water audits
  
• water management plans
  

5. Water conservation in Primary Production I

• strategies for water conservation
• water saving measures
• waterwise landscaping
• waterwise irrigation systems
• equipments, structures and tools to save water
  

6. Water conservation in Primary Production 2

• use of water in primary production
• methods of water storage
• rainwater collection and storage
• bore water
  
• farm dams
  
• farm water requirements
• contamination and disposal of water
• reduce/reuse/recycle
• irrigation system design
• surface/flood irrigation
• sprinkler irrigation
  
• swales and keylines
• maintenance procedures and scheduling

7. Water conservation in the Services Industry

• Use of water in service industry
• contamination and disposal of water
• reduce/reuse/recycle
• technologies available

8. Water conservation and Health

• water use in the Health Industry
• Laboratories, Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Clinics, Research
• characteristics of water use in health industry
• water efficiency

9. Water conservation in other industry sectors

• use of water in manufacturing, construction and heavy industries
• examples of water use including cooling towers, ponds, dust control
• cleaner production
• benefits of cleaner production

10. Water treatment, reuse and recycling

• water sanitation
• water reuse and recycling
• wastewater and sewage treatment
• classification and composition of wastewater
• wastewater treatment
• constructed wetlands
• plants for wetlands
  
• treating saline water
• tastes and odours
  

Permaculture Systems

1. Permaculture Principles

• nature and scope
• function
• diversity
• sustainability
• organics
• composting
• crop rotation
• pests and disease prevention and management
  

2. Design Principles

• ecosystems
• abiotic and biotic components
• understanding climate
• minimising water needs
• irrigation
• arid landscapes
• rainfall
• succession

3. Zone and Sector Planning

• Five standard zones
• landscape profiles
• site selection
• pre-planning
• concept design
• recording site and locality details

4. Permaculture Techniques

• Forests and Trees
• Establishment
• Fire-resistant plants
• water body design
• water containment

5. Animals in Permaculture

• location for animals
• functions of animals in permaculture systems
• bees, poultry, pigs and cattle
• grazing animals
• fencing
• water supply for animals
• shelter for animals
• birds
• aquaculture - scope, production systems, species and management
• harvesting fish

6. Plants in Permaculture

• growing organic vegetables
• physical characteristics of soil
• chemical characteristics of soil
• soil nutrition and fertilisation
• nitrogen fixation
• identifying nutrient deficiencies
• mulch types
• weed management
• plant culture
• pest and disease management

7. Appropriate Techniques

• solar energy
• wind energy
• methane
• biofuel power
• composting toilets
• energy efficent housing
• living fences
• water recycling
• alternative energy and management
• waste disposal
• biological filtration systems
• waster water
• conservation and recycling
• solar energy
• solar greenhouses

8. Preparing a plan

• scope, nature and methods
• designing for natural disasters
• drawing a plan
• developing the final design
  

Healthy Buildings I (Building Construction and Health)

1. Introduction to Building Biology

• Building Biology
• Environmental considerations when building
• Clean interiors
• Attitudes and trends towards building biology
  

2. Building Materials

• dangerous building materials
• asbestos
• paints and finishes
• cladding, timber, weatherboard
  
• health concerns with initial installation
  

3. Construction

• Roofs
• Floors
• Pests in Buildings
• Hygiene
• Building design factors

4. Services

• Water
• Electricity
• Waste Disposal
• Temperature Control

5. Temperature: Heating and Cooling

• Heating and Cooling methods
• Energy conservation
• Solar energy
• Impact of building design on interior building temperature

6. The Internal Environment: Ventilation

• Air Filtration
• Carbon Dioxide
• Interior Ventilation Characteristics
• Health Impacts of Air Conditioning
  

7. Light

• Internal light in buildings
• Natural light
• Combustion systems
• Electric Lights
• Location of light sources
• Impact of building design on interior light

8. Acoustics

• Impact of construction on how noise is absorbed
• Echo and Clarity
• Management of noise in buildings
  

9. Ergonomic Considerations

• Relationship between human body and surroundings
• Ergonomics
• How ergonomics impact productivity

10. Psychological Considerations

• Psychological Considerations of buildling design
  
• Colour
• Psychology of building interiors

Alternative Energy

• Scope and Nature
• Terminology
• Energy consumption throughout history
• Climate Change
• Energy units
• Problems with Fossil Fuels
• Problems with other energy sources
  

2. Understanding Energy

• Terminology
• Understanding Electricity
• Conductors and Non-conductors
• Measuring Electricity
• Ohm's Law
• Kirchoffs Law
• Circuits
• Power
• Magnetism
• Electromagnetism and Solenoids
• Inductors
• Lenz's Law
  

3. Generating Electricity

• Turbines
• Generators
• Fuel Cells
• Solar Energy
• Positioning Solar Cells
• Small scale Solar
• Future developments in Solar
  
• Wind Power
  
• Large and Small Scale Wind System Design
• Geothermal energy
• Steam Power Plants - dry and flash
• Binary Cycle Power Plants
• Hydropower
• Geothermal heat pumps
• Tide and Current power
• Tide barage and turbines
  
• Wave power
• Nuclear energy
• Fission reactors
• Fusion
• Half lives and radioactivity
• Waste to energy

4. Storage and Use of Electricity

• Terminology
• Cells
• Batteries and their requirements
• Inverters
• Alternators and regulators
• Converters
• System types
• EMR and Electricity Use
• Recommended Exposure Limits
• Safety with Electricity
  

5. Non-electric Systems

• passive solar
• fire wood
• creosate formation
• biofuels
• ethanol
• passive solar energy
• solar hot water
• greenhouses
• night insulation

6. Energy Consumption

• pricing
• population growth
• large scale reduction of energy consumption

7. Energy Conservation

• reducing energy consumption in the home
• temperature control
• minimising light energy consumption
• minimising appliance energy consumption
• insulation
• water conservation
• solar house design

8. Converting to Alternative Systems

• estimating energy needs
• building efficiency
• system design
• system designers

SAMPLE

Extract from Course Notes - Healthy Buildings

Building biology, bio-house design, biological architecture and ecological building all refer to the construction of a building along lines of more natural, renewable resources and health of the occupants. In other words buildings become more people-friendly. It aims to establish a balance between technology, culture and biology.

"Building Biology deals with the study of living organisms in and around the building environment which have direct or indirect effect on the health of the building fabric, its materials, structures, environments and occupants."

To a human-being the walls of a building can be regarded as a third skin (the first is our own skin, the second is our clothing). Most buildings do not breathe like our natural skin and unfortunately in the USA this has been shown to lead to a build-up in radioactive radon gas and reduce the benefits of passive solar energy in spring and autumn. If a building is to be sealed (which most are) then it needs to be well ventilated to remove unhealthy pollutants.

Many buildings contain hazardous materials or substances without the owner's knowledge. Freshly constructed cement homes have high levels of moisture, homes built in the 60's contain asbestos cement which is known to be carcinogenic and old piping systems are frequently painted with lead paints. In addition the household disinfectants, fly sprays, paints, varnishes, and other fumes released from a large range of furnishings and commodities are of no benefit to the occupant's health.

Environmental costs are considered from the very first stage of planning. If products need to be transported a good distance, then they are usually rejected due to pollution, energy and costs for transportation. Even non-renewable resources are avoided.

Building Biology also deals with the environment in general and the climate of living. The climate of living can be determined by things such as:

• installations and furnishings
• noise and acoustics
• lighting and colours
• radiation, avoiding disturbed areas
• radioactivity
• space, form and proportion
• physiology and psychology of living and working
• city planning with biological, ecological and sociological aspects.

Bio-houses and bio-settlements have been sprouting up throughout Europe over the years. They frequently contain solar temperature-control systems or insulated winter gardens for heating. Sites are surveyed with divining rods to ensure the area is free of ground water veins and other electromagnetic disturbances.

Biotechture utilizes vegetation to reverse the harsh processes caused by buildings. Plants usually intercept between 70% and 90% of incoming solar radiation. Deciduous trees can provide a 5 degree C reduction in heat in summer but allows the sun through in winter thereby reducing energy loss by up to 30%.

Many plants have characteristics that can be used for the benefit of construction. Leaves defoliate and remove air pollution, foliage that closes and opens can act like a ventilator, etc. It is advisable to use plant as much as possible to complement the house not only aesthetically but also functionally.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Opportunities to work in this industry are limited, but expanding. Legislation (particularly in parts of Europe), is leading to increasing significance being given to health issues in the way buildings are constructed. Study of building biology factors is being included increasingly into relevant courses (eg. Architecture), throughout many parts of the developed world.

WHY CHOOSE US?

• Reputation: well-known and respected in environmental and biological sciences
• Industry focus: courses designed to suit industry needs and expectations
• Different focus: develop problem solving skills that make you stand out from others
• Hands on: develop practical as well as theoretical skills
• Lots of help: dedicated and knowledgeable tutors (Faculty of internationally renowned horticulturists)
• Efficient: prompt responses to your questions
• Reliable: established in 1979, independent school with a solid history
• Up to date: courses under constant review
• Resources:  huge wealth of constantly developing intellectual property
• Value: courses compare very favourably on a cost per study hour basis
• Student amenities: online student room, bookshop, ebooks, acs garden online resources.