ENGG941 Sustainability for Engineers, Scientists and Professionals Assignment 1 Autumn 2025 | UoW

Analysis of Building Sustainability 

Australia generates about 1.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, on a per capita basis, Australia is one of the world's largest polluters. It is reported that 23% of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions are a result of energy demand in buildings. Since 2002, parts of Australia have been subject to mandatory water restrictions in response to drought conditions. Therefore, the rapid enhancement of water and energy performance of the building sector can significantly add to the environmental, social and economic benefits across the country, timely reduce global energy usage and promote environmental sustainability. Appropriate analysis of building water performance, energy performance, and indoor thermal comfort is among the key steps towards the sustainability of the built environment. 

ENGG941 Assignment Task 

This is a group assignment, and each group should have 4 members. The assignment is designed to use Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) online tool to analyse building water and energy performance and indoor thermal comfort by using different technical options to reduce water and energy consumption and improve indoor thermal performance, and optimise the design of buildings such as landscape, water resource system, hot water system, and heating, ventilation, and air- conditioning (HVAC) system. BASIX was developed to facilitate the implementation of minimum sustainability targets for all new houses, home units and renovations across New South Wales. 

In this assignment, your group will need to improve the water performance of the case study building provided to BASIX score of over 40%, 50% and 60% respectively, improve the thermal comfort of the case study building to BASIX score of PASS; and improve the energy performance of the case study building to BASIX scores of over 60%, 70% and 80%, respectively. In addition, you will need to develop a roadmap for building deep decarbonisation and sustainability. 

Sub-Task 1

Building water performance. In this sub-task, your group needs to assess the water performance of the case study building provided, analyse the potential solutions to improve the water performance of the case study building by taking into consideration the economic investment. This will consist of four steps: 1) to calculate the BASIX score of "water" of the original case study building, and analyse the reasons why the building fails to satisfy the BASIX PASS requirement (i.e. BASIX score of 40%); 2) to develop three solutions with combinations of appropriate sustainable technical options to improve the water performance of the case study building to BASIX score of over 40%, 50% and 60% respectively, and explain the reasons why you have chosen these solutions; 3) to estimate the likely investment required for your developed three solutions and; 4) to compare the three solutions you developed and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each solution. 

Sub-Task 2

Building thermal comfort. In this sub-task, your group needs to evaluate the indoor thermal comfort of the case study building provided, select appropriate technical options to improve the thermal comfort of the case study building to PASS the BASIX thermal comfort requirement and explain why you have chosen these technical options. 

Sub-Task 3

Building energy performance. In this sub-task, your group needs to assess the energy performance of the case study building provided, and analyse the potential solutions to improve the energy performance of the case study building by taking into consideration the economic investment. This will consist of four steps: 1) to calculate the BASIX score of "energy" of the original case study building, and analyse the reasons why the building fails to satisfy the BASIX PASS requirement (i.e. BASIX score of 72%); 2) to develop three solutions with combinations of appropriate sustainable technical options to improve the energy performance of the case study building to BASIX score of over 60%, 70% and 80% respectively, and explain the reasons why you have chosen these solutions; 3) to estimate the likely investment required for your developed three solutions and; 4) to compare the three solutions you developed and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each solution. 

Sub-Task 4

Develop a roadmap to achieve deep decarbonisation and sustainability of buildings in Wollongong in 2050. In this task, you will need to do some research and use what we have introduced in Weeks 3 -6 to develop a roadmap for achieving carbon neutrality and sustainability in the building sector in Wollongong by 2050. The roadmap should set out specific goals for different times by taking the local conditions into consideration.