REAL 602: Sustainable Real Estate Development Master Syllabus
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University Catalog Description
This course provides an in-depth exploration of sustainable real estate development, with a focus on green building practices, the role of technology, and the increasing importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the industry. The course is designed for practitioners and students who seek to understand and implement sustainable practices in real estate development and investment.
Syllabus Course Description
This course provides an in-depth exploration of sustainable real estate development, with a focus on green building practices, the role of technology, and the increasing importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the industry. The course is designed for practitioners and students who seek to understand and implement sustainable practices in real estate development and investment.
Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the environmental, social, and governance aspects of real estate, and how these factors contribute to sustainable development. The course covers a wide range of topics, including green building technologies, sustainable site planning, energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, and the impact of climate change on real estate. Students will also explore various rating systems, certification programs, and building codes that govern sustainable development.
Through a combination of lectures, case studies, and guest speakers, students will develop critical thinking skills that will enable them to make informed, sustainable investment decisions. The course emphasizes the nexus between real estate development and climate change, and how real estate professionals can contribute to mitigating environmental impacts while enhancing social equity and governance practices.
Learning Objectives
- Understand Sustainable Practices: Gain a deep understanding of sustainable real estate practices, including green building technologies, energy efficiency, and renewable energy integration.
- Analyze ESG Principles: Explore the role of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in real estate development and investment.
- Evaluate Rating Systems: Learn about various rating systems, certification programs, and building codes that promote sustainable development.
- Examine the Climate-Real Estate Nexus: Understand the impact of climate change on real estate development and how the industry can adapt to and mitigate these impacts.
- Develop Critical Thinking Skills: Build a mindset that encourages informed, sustainable investment decisions in real estate.
- Apply Knowledge Practically: Engage in hands-on projects and case studies that apply sustainable practices to real-world real estate development scenarios.
Approach to Learning
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Core Course Topics:
- Introduction to Sustainable Real Estate Development: Overview of the course and introduction to key concepts in sustainable real estate.
- Topics: Definition of sustainability in real estate, the triple bottom line, overview of green building practices and their importance to society.
- Green Building Technologies and Practices: In-depth exploration of technologies and practices that contribute to sustainable building.
- Topics: Energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable materials, indoor environmental quality, material selection and waste reduction.
- Sustainable Site Selection, Planning and Design: Examination of sustainable site selection, planning and design principles.
- Topics: Sustainable land use, transit-oriented development, parking, bicycles, EV charging, stormwater management, open space, outdoor lighting, and urban heat islands.
- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Integration and Integrated Design: Focus on energyefficient building design and the integration of renewable energy sources.
- Topics: Passive and active solar design, energy-efficient HVAC systems, on-site renewable energy generation, net-zero buildings, importance of an early and integrative design process.
- Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) in Real Estate: Exploration of ESG principles and their application in real estate development and investment.
- Topics: Corporate social responsibility, ethical investment, stakeholder engagement, transparency, bonus density, local government incentives, policies, and regulation, reporting.
- The Nexus of Climate Change and Real Estate: Analysis of the relationship between climate change and real estate development.
- Topics: Climate risk assessment, resilience planning, adaptation strategies, carbon footprint reduction, energy and atmosphere.
- Rating Systems and Certification Programs: Review of various rating systems and certification programs that promote sustainable development.
- Topics: LEED, WELL, BREEAM, Living Building Challenge, ENERGY STAR, Green Globes, passive homes, and other relevant standards.
- Building Codes and Regulations: Examination of building codes and regulations that support sustainable development.
- Topics: International Green Construction Code (IgCC), Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS), local sustainability ordinances, and incentives for green building.
- Sustainable Investment Strategies: Discussion of investment strategies that prioritize sustainability in real estate, cost benefit analysis, and financing.
- Topics: Green bonds, Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, impact investing, ESG funds, and the financial performance of sustainable buildings.
- Case Studies in Sustainable Real Estate: Application of course concepts through real-world case studies of sustainable real estate projects.
- Topics: Analysis of successful and unsuccessful projects, lessons learned, best practices in sustainable development.
- Future Trends in Sustainable Real Estate: Exploration of emerging trends and future directions in sustainable real estate development.
- Topics: Smart buildings, green infrastructure, circular economy, and the role of technology in sustainability.
Representative Text and Learning Materials
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Methods of Student Evaluation
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