INTS 221
Sustainability At the Castle
Course Outline
If it’s business as usual, earth is going out of business.
Gunther Pauli is scornful in his new book The Blue Economy of the "do less bad" school of
environmentalism.
"A thief who tells a judge he is stealing less than before will receive no leniency. So why do companies get
environmental awards for polluting less - even though they are still polluting?"
"Humanity has fabricated the illusion that somehow we can get by without biodiversity or that it is somehow
peripheral to our contemporary world: the truth is we need it more than ever on a planet of 6 billion
[people], heading to over 9 billion by 2050. Business as usual is no longer an option if we are to avoid
irreversible damage to the life-support systems of our planet."
Achim Steiner, the executive director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
The UN report can be read here
You are part of a grand experiment. This course has three contributors:
1. You
2. Your Instructor
3. The Castle
Process
Most courses focus down, we will open up.
Most courses look inward, we will look outward.
Readings, lectures, tours, projects
Reading Intensive: downloadable, most from website
Participation Intensive: 10% of grade on participation
Team Intensive: 27.5% of grade by peer evaluation
Aims
1.
2.
3.
4.
Making the Castle more sustainable
Making society more sustainable
Questioning some unquestionable assumptions
Asking some tough questions: Is our current system sustainable?
This is no place for babbitts: A self-satisfied narrow-minded person who conforms to conventional ideals
of business and material success. (After the main character in Sinclair Lewis's 1922 novel Babbitt
<http://wordsmith.org/awad/archives/0508>)
INTS 221
BISC Summer 2010
Syllabus
Page 1 of 10
Within the unique university context, the most crucial of all human rights are the rights of freedom of
speech, academic freedom, and freedom of research. And we affirm that these rights are meaningless
unless they entail the right to raise deeply disturbing questions and provocative challenges to the
cherished beliefs of society at large and of the university itself.
University of Toronto
Instructor
Steven Moore
Email:
smoore@business.queensu.ca
Office:
Room 242
Office Hours: Bone hour before each class
Steven Moore earned his Masters Degree in Environmental Studies from York University and has pursued
interdisciplinary environmental and energy theories and practices for over 25 years. He has taught at several
post-secondary institutions and has practiced sustainability for the last 11 years by producing solar power to
live off-the-grid and develop an organic farming business. He is currently building a sustainable earthsheltered home powered by micro-hydro. You can follow his progress on his blog for Kingston Life or at
Notes from the Underground.
At QSB, Steven teaches an undergraduate course in Sustainability, and he is Communications Coach for the
MBA Program and the Master of Global Management Program. He has taught in the MBA Program, the
MGM Program, the AMBA Program, and the Executive Development Program. Steven’s teaching experience
also includes the Laurentian University, University of Toronto, Queen’s School of English, and Loyalist
Training and Development Centre.
He has over 125 popular publications to his credit in the fields of communication, environment, and energy.
He owns and operates Moore Partners, a marketing and communications company. He has consulted to
corporate and business clients such as RBC Funds, CI Funds, Toronto Dominion Bank, CBC Radio, AT&T,
Scotiabank, Canada Life, Empire Life, Bell Canada, Loyalist College, CIBC, Ontario Hydro, Lansing Buildall,
the Canadian Cancer Society, Conservation Ontario, the Nature Conservancy, and several of Ontario's
Stewardship Councils.
Course Website
Session: Readings
Repository: Resources on various topics
Assignments: Deadlines, tips, schedules, etc.
Announcements: As needed
Course Materials
1. Download Textbook: Plan B 4.0
Chapters 1, 4, 5, 6, 10
http://www.earth-policy.org/index.php?/books/pb4
2. Download Textbook: Winning the Oil Endgame
http://www.rmi.org/rmi/Library/E04-07_WinningTheOilEndgame
INTS 221
BISC Summer 2010
Syllabus
Page 2 of 10
3. Subscribe to Delancy Place (http://delanceyplace.com/signup.htm)
Delanceyplace is very simply a brief daily email with an excerpt or quote we view as interesting or
noteworthy, offered with commentary to provide context. There is no theme, except that most excerpts
will come from a non-fiction work, mainly works of history, and we hope will have a more universal
relevance than simply the subject of the book from which they came.
4. Subscribe to at least one of the following:
Dominion (Canada, World)
http ://www.dominionpaper.ca/about
Truthout Environment (U.S., World)
http://www.truthout.org/issues/environment
Common Dreams NewsCenter) (U.S., World)
http://www.democracyinaction.com/dia/organizations/CD/signUp.jsp?key=1439
Alternet Environment (U.S., World)
http://www.alternet.org/environment/?ses=bc3369d81ed2fa1773439fd933bebfe3
SEED Magazine
http://seedmagazine.com/page/subscribe/
Corporation Watch
www.corpwatch.org
Crocodyle
http://www.crocodyl.org/
Please email Prof. Moore to register your subscription(s) for 408.
Other Key Websites
 Worldchanging Canada
http://www.worldchanging.ca/
Worldchanging was founded on the idea that real solutions already exist for building the future we want. it’s
just a matter of grabbing hold and getting moving.
•
350
http://www.350.org/
Our mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis--to create a new sense of
urgency and of possibility for our planet.
 Sourcewatch Climate Change
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Portal:Climate_Change
Welcome to the SourceWatch portal on climate change policy, the citizen’s encyclopedia on global climate
change policy that you can edit. The portal aims to build the best information resource investigating key
aspects of climate change policy and debate ahead of the November 2009 United Nations’ Climate Change
Convention in Copenhagen. The conference, referred to as COP15, aims to establish “an ambitious global
climate agreement for the period from 2012”.
INTS 221
BISC Summer 2010
Syllabus
Page 3 of 10
 WiserEarth
www.wiserearth.com
WiserEarth serves the people who are transforming the world. It is a community directory and networking
forum that maps and connects non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses, governments, and
individuals addressing the central issues of our day: climate change, poverty, the environment, peace, water,
hunger, social justice, conservation, human rights and more. Content is created and edited by people like
you.
 Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.nrdc.org/greenbusiness/
NRDC is a U.S.-based environmental action group, combining the grassroots power of 1.2 million members
and online activists with the courtroom clout and expertise of more than 350 lawyers, scientists and other
professionals.
 Orion
http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/list/C17/
“It is Orion‘s fundamental conviction that humans are morally responsible for the world in which we live,
and that the individual comes to sense this responsibility as he or she develops a personal bond with
nature.”
 Tar Sands Watch
http://www.tarsandswatch.org/
Tar Sands Watch is a part of the Polaris Institute. Polaris is designed to enable citizen movements to act for
democratic social change on major public policy issues in an age of corporate driven globalization.
 AASHE
http://www.aashe.org/about/about.php
AASHE is an association of colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada working to create a sustainable
future. It was founded in 2006 with a mission to promote sustainability in all sectors of higher education from governance and operations to curriculum and outreach - through education, communication, research
and professional development. Businesses, NGO's, and government agencies can participate as AASHE
partner members.
5. Please observe the rules of professional engagement

Attend class. If you don’t learn anything from me, you will learn something from your colleagues.

Once you are here, please stay. I’m a fan of technology but not of disrespect. Turn your cell phones
off. Laptops are not required for this course. If you do have one open, be prepared for me to bolt
around behind you to see what you are doing. Research shows that multitasking usually inhibits
performance.

Be prepared. I do my homework and I expect you to do yours. Be familiar with the required readings
for each session. I’ve reduced the assignments to put more emphasis on the readings so be prepared
to discuss them, Delancey Place, and your website subscription. I’ll call on you to do so.

Email is good. Send me your questions and comments. I am happy to discuss your evaluations with
you anytime but I do not negotiate marks. Please point out any math errors or obvious goof-ups and
I will correct them.
INTS 221
BISC Summer 2010
Syllabus
Page 4 of 10
Assignments
1) Case Study of Sustainability (BP Gulf of Mexico Oil Disaster)
Using class material and readings as your foundation, describe:



The scope and the ecosystem damage that is being done by the BP disaster
Reasons for the disaster and what should specifically be done to prevent another one
Your analysis of the BP response and how it should have handled the disaster
Evaluation:
Weighting
Assignment
Individual
Case Study:
BP Disaster
30%
Written Six-sided Formal
Report
Including a One-sided
Executive Summary
Professor Evaluation
Student
Evaluation
300
2) Team Sustainable Castle Project 40%
Your team has been nominated as a blue-ribbon panel to develop a 20-minute presentation to BISC
staff on how to make the Castle more sustainable.
This is the top-priority visioning exercise for BISC. Your presentation and report is crucial to your BISC’s
future. Be specific about plans, timelines, budgets, and suggested sources of funds.
Choose from the following systems:




Energy System Wind Power Feasibility
Waste Reduction, Management, Composting, and Energy Generation
Food Production for BISC Cafeteria
Heating and Air Conditioning System
Evaluation:
Weighting
Assignment
Professor Evaluation
Group Sustainable
Castle Project
Written
Formal Report
200
INTS 221
BISC Summer 2010
Syllabus
Page 5 of 10
Student
Evaluation
40%
Presentation
100
100
4) Individual Peer Evaluation 15%
At the end of the term you will be asked to anonymously and honestly evaluate the contributions and
cooperation of the other members of your team.
5) Individual Class Participation/Citizenship 15%




Attendance
Quantity and quality of your in-class and “Discussion” contributions
a) Relevance – on topic, on issue
c) Substance – reflect active listening to the comments of other class members, make a contribution
to the ideas being exchanged
c) Persuasiveness –well articulated, argued, and supported, so that others take note
d) Questioning –reasonably question or challenge comments of others or without disparaging the
person who made them
Evidence of preparation
Respect, good humour, and enthusiasm
Evaluation Summary
Weighting
Assignment
Professor
Evaluation
Case Study:
BP Oil Disaster
30%
Written Six-sided Formal Report
Including One-sided Executive
Summary
300
Sustainable Castle
Project
40%
Written Six-sided Formal Report
Including One-Sided Executive
Summary
200
Presentation
100
Individual Peer
Evaluation 15%
150
Totals
750 points
BISC Summer 2010
100
150
Individual Class
Participation 15%
INTS 221
Student
Evaluation
Syllabus
Page 6 of 10
250 points
INTS 221
BISC Summer 2010
Syllabus
Page 7 of 10
Session Topics and Readings
Date
Topic
Speaker
Readings
Jun 16
Intro & Assignments
Prof. Moore
11301250
Castle Tour
Story of
Bottled
Water



13301450
Jun 21
15001750
Discuss Intelligent
Life on Earth
Story of
Stuff
Deadline to report to
Prof. Moore on your
subscription decision
Guidelines for
Sustainability
(Bubble concept)
Jun 22
15001750
Prof. Moore
Paola
Antonelli
Moonwalking Bear
Case Study
BP Disaster
Prof. Moore
Scope and Ecosystem
Damage
Jeremy
Jackson
Castle Project
Jun 23
11301250
13301450
Intelligent Life on Earth?
WWF Living Planet Report
Ecological Footprint
Sustainable Building
Earth-Sheltered
House
Prof. Moore
William
McDonough
Castle Project








Plan B Chapter 1
The Delusion Revolution
Brussels Wants Wider Measure of Well-Being Than GDP
Economists Appraise Bhutan
Largest Economic Entities
The Revolution will Begin with a Textbook
Needed: A Copernican Shift
How Did Economists Get It So Wrong?









10 Things You Need To Know About the BP Oil Spill
Gulf Oil Spill Is Public Health Risk
BP's Oil Disaster: The Numbers Will Shock You
BP Rig Survivors Felt Coerced To Sign Waivers
What the Spill Will Kill
Reproductive Health Concerns of the Gulf Oil Disaster
Dispersant Disaster
New oil spill total is bad news for BP, wildlife
Slow-Motion Tragedy Unfolds for Marine Life








Plan B Chapter 4
Green Building Basics
The Five Elements of Green Building
Commissioning: In Pursuit of the Truly Green Building
12 Crazy Futuristic Water Buildings
Life-Cycle Studies: Concrete
Energy Efficient Facelifts for Buildings
Sustainability Learning Lab
Notes from the Underground
http://www.moorepartners.ca/notes.cfm
Jun 25
INTS 221
Field Studies
BISC Summer 2010
London City Hall
Foster + Partners
Syllabus
Page 8 of 10
Jun 28
15001750
Case Study - BP
Disaster
Chaplin
Mask
Reasons and
Prevention
CBC Futures


Big Oil Fought Off New Safety Rules Before Rig Explosion
BP Risks More Massive Catastrophes in Gulf
BP: The Gulf Between Image & Reality
BP's Terrible Record on Environmental and Human Health
Slick Operator: The BP I've Known Too Well
Who Is to Blame for the Disaster?
Years of Internal BP Probes Warned That Neglect Could Lead
to Accidents
It’s not just BP
Devastating BP Oil Spill was Inevitable
CBC Futures















What Not to Say When Your Company Is Ruining the World
A Spill’s Dirty Secret
Want to Prevent Oil Spill Disasters? Stop Driving
Big Oil Wreaks Havoc in the Amazon
BP Alaska Risks Disaster
BP And Halliburton Attempt To Buy Off Government Officials
How Exxon Tried to Avoid Paying for Its Massive Oil Spill
Six Reasons Not to Trust BP
Putting BP Under Temporary Receivership
Exxon Valdez Lawyer: Louisianans Are 'Just F--ked'
BP spill response plans severely flawed
BP gears up to win over Washington and the rest of us
BP, Coast Guard, Law Enforcement Block Reporting on Spill
Plan to Burn Excess Oil From BP Well Raises Health Questions
BP's 8 dumbest mistakes
Sustainable
Cities
Prof. Moore
BP Paper Due
Red State
Road Trip







Plan B Chapter 6
Designing a Zero-Waste City
How Can Bright Green Cities Thrive Without Capital?
Parking Lots To Parks
Urban Resilience
What Makes It Green?
Zero-Carbon Buildings
Castle Project
Jun 29
15001750
Case Study – BP
Disaster
BP Response
Castle Project
Jun 30
11301250







13301450
July 2
Field Studies
July 5
Alternatives to Oil
15001750
CBC Futures
Beddington Zero-Carbon Project
Amory
Lovins


Oil spill casts doubts on deep water exploration
Winning the Oil Endgame pps. 33-125
CBC Futures
July 6
15001750
INTS 221
BISC Summer 2010
Syllabus
Page 9 of 10
July 7
Individual Action
Prof Moore
11301250
13301450
July 12


Individual Action
Prof. Moore
15001750
July 13
15001750
INTS 221









Final
Presentations
Taking Shorter Showers Doesn't Cut It
Getting rid of hope and faith
10 Ways to Change Your Life
Stop Hand-Wringing About Peak Oil and Climate Change
and Do Something
On Rebellion
The BP Disaster Marks the End of the Age of Arrogance
About the Environment
Plan B Chapter 10
Can Switching to Hybrid Cars and Organics Really Save the
World
Adequate, Negative, Sustainable: What Kind of Growth?
LOVE for the Environment
How Do We Solve the Environmental Crisis?
Prof. Moore
Submit Peer
Evaluations
BISC Summer 2010
Syllabus
Page 10 of 10