Universitas Indonesia

Faculty of Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
ASSIGNMENT AS MID-TERM TEST
COURSE: SUSTAINABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENT S4/2013; 2 SKS
Lecturer: El Khobar M. Nazech
Assignment should be collected: Tuesday March 25, 2014

BE HONEST TO YOURSELF.
1. Make a list of things you do that are consistent with a sustainable society.
What area could use some improvement?
2. List and describe the factors that contribute directly to animal and plant
extinction. Which ones the most important?
3. Discuss the ecological factors that contribute to species extinction.
4. Define the term deforestation and list the effect of deforestation. What are
the steps taken by the government of Indonesia to tackle the deforestation
problem?
5. Describe several ways to use forest more sustainably.
6. What is the relationship between oxygen cycle and carbon cycle?
7. Explain the human influence on nitrogen cycle and hydrological cycle.
8. Discuss the tragedy of the commons. Give some specific examples of
commons and how they are mistreated?
9. What are the factors leading to the increased resource consumption on earth
in recent years?
10. Explain the hierarchy of Municipal Solid Waste Management options.
11. Describe how we can reduce waste and pollution?

12. For 1 (one) week, keep a list of the solid waste you throw away. What
percentage of this waste consists of materials that should be reduced, reused,
recycled and disposed?
13. In what ways can you personally reduce paper and wood waste and increase
recycling?
14. How to manage construction waste and demolition debris?
15. What are the major arguments for and against wilderness preservation?
16. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy.
17. Using your critical thinking skills, debate the statement conservation is our
best and cheapest energy resource
18. How is geothermal energy formed? How can it be tapped? Describe the
benefits and risks of geothermal energy?
19. Define nonrenewable and renewable mineral resources, and give examples
of each. How are they different?
20. What are the chronic health effects of air pollution? Which pollutants are
thought to be the cause of these effects?
21. Describe the greenhouse effect. What causes it? What are its effects? How
can be done to lessen its impacts?
22. Explain the possible impacts of ozone depletion on ecosystem. How can we
avoid it?
23. Identify the core causes of current water crisis in the word.
24. Water could be the source of the worlds next big conflict Please explain
(consider movie: Quantum of Solace)
25. Make a complete list of your ideas for controlling air pollution in your city
or town, and rank them according to their effectiveness and their feasibility.
Which ones are practical?

26. Describe the major characteristics of a more environmentally sustainable

and livable eco-city or green city.
27. Classify the rainwater harvesting. Find out the rainwater harvesting
methods currently being adopted in your locally and try to propose
suggestion for improvement.
28. What are the causes and effect of acid rain? How can we avoid it?
29. Discuss the various water conservation techniques that can be practiced by
individuals.
30. Explain the consequences of population growth on the following: a. food
resources; b. water resources; c. energy resources.
31. Explain the various popular definitions of the term of sustainable
development and what is the concept of sustainable development?
32. What are the major obstacles in the path sustainable development in
Indonesia?
33. What are the greatest strengths and weakness of the system of government
in your country with respect to: a. protecting the environment and b.
ensuring environmental justice for all? What the major changes? If any,
would you make in this system?
34. What is the role of science and engineering in the protection of the
environment?
35. Describe the benefit of green development and explain the process elements
of green development.
36. Give a brief explanation of the design, construction and operation of
sustainable buildings.
37. Suppose you have a dream to build an ideal house for your own family,
describe your design criteria of your house. You are going to reuse and
recycle all of water, explain your plan. How are going to manage your solid
waste at your home? You also planned to harvest rain water. Illustrate your
house lay-out.

38. The UNCED conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 was the last major
international conference on sustainability. Research what has been done
since the Rio conference to implement its recommendations, and prepare a
paper summarizing your findings.
39. The concept of sustainability maintains that prevent should be designed to
insure that future generations will have the ability to meet their own needs.
However, based on past experience, it can be argued that people are
adaptable and find way to cope with a changing world. For example, known
petroleum reserves may soon (in a few decades) run out. Some argue that
this is not a reason to conserve on gasoline usage now, because by then other
undiscovered petroleum reserves may be found or alternative fuels will be
developed. Petroleum-based fuels may be of little value in the future. Discus
the pros and cons of this argument and give your views.
40. We are now in position to make a substantial contribution to the greening
of the planet through ecological and ecosystem restoration. We find
ourselves in a retrospective period of human history, both politically and
ecologically, where although not necessarily questioning all we have built
and engineered to date, we are determining 1. Whether to continue practices
as usual (and whether we can afford to do so); and 2. What new approaches
are available for restoring the bodily function of nature, on which we
depend. Please explain your opinion regarding this condition.

File://elkhobar/sbe/midterm2014