Building design strongly influences the quantity of heating, cooling and electricity needed during building operation. Therefore, a correct thermal design is essential to achieve low energy and low carbon buildings, with good indoor air quality.
This course will enable you to understand the basic principles of the energy chain: demand, supply and distribution; and how they relate to design principles for sustainable and energy-efficient buildings.
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Building design strongly influences the quantity of heating, cooling and electricity needed during building operation. Therefore, a correct thermal design is essential to achieve low energy and low carbon buildings, with good indoor air quality.
This course will enable you to understand the basic principles of the energy chain: demand, supply and distribution; and how they relate to design principles for sustainable and energy-efficient buildings.
Building design strongly influences the quantity of heating, cooling and electricity needed during building operation. Therefore, a correct thermal design is essential to achieve low energy and low carbon buildings, with good indoor air quality.
This course will enable you to understand the basic principles of the energy chain: demand, supply and distribution; and how they relate to design principles for sustainable and energy-efficient buildings.
Second, you will discover what type of heat losses and gains take place in buildings’ operations. You will learn how to estimate these flows using simple meteorological data and construction properties. You will acquire knowledge on how to estimate heat transfer through construction, ventilation, solar radiation or caused by internal sources or heat storage in the construction.
Third, you will learn to make estimates of buildings’ energy needs on an hourly basis by using simple static energy balances: how much energy comes in and out and which air temperature is needed? When is there heating or cooling? How much electricity is needed?
Fourth, you will discover how to extend your estimates to yearly energy demand, which is essential to make sure that a building is energy efficient and to estimate energy savings and energy costs. You will then also be able to determine the size of the needed heating and cooling equipment (which determines the costs of equipment).
Finally, you will learn how to optimize building design and will be able to find out the optimal window size or the optimum insulation thickness for your building. You will know why putting windows on the south façade is not always energy-efficient. You will understand the thermal interactions between building components and be able to make informed decisions on how to increase the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings.
This course is part of the PCP Buildings as Sustainable Energy Systems. In the other courses in this program you can learn how to choose low carbon energy supply, how to create a comfortable indoor environment, and how to control and optimize HVAC systems.
The development of this course is supported by Climate-KIC.
What's inside
Learning objectives
- All about the energy chain approach, which is a powerful tool to achieve low energy and low carbon buildings.
- To estimate the most important heat losses and gains in a building.
- How to achieve thermal balance of the building and determine its space heating and cooling needs.
- How to estimate the heating energy demand for hot tap water and the electricity needs for appliances and lighting.
- How to achieve a low energy demand by optimizing window size, insulation, orientation and ventilation while taking into account building occupancy.
- All about the energy chain approach, which is a powerful tool to achieve low energy and low carbon buildings.
- To estimate the most important heat losses and gains in a building.
- How to achieve thermal balance of the building and determine its space heating and cooling needs.
- How to estimate the heating energy demand for hot tap water and the electricity needs for appliances and lighting.
- How to achieve a low energy demand by optimizing window size, insulation, orientation and ventilation while taking into account building occupancy.
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Activities
Organize and Review Course Materials
Show steps
Enhance your comprehension by organizing and regularly reviewing course materials, solidifying your knowledge and making it readily accessible for future reference.
Show steps
-
Create a filing system or digital folder to store lecture notes, readings, and assignments.
-
Review the materials periodically to reinforce your understanding and identify areas where you may need additional support.
Discuss Energy-Efficient Building Design with Peers
Show steps
Consolidate your understanding and expand your perspectives by engaging in discussions with peers about energy-efficient building design principles and practices.
Browse courses on
Energy Efficiency
Show steps
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Join a study group or online forum dedicated to energy-efficient building design.
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Participate in discussions, share your ideas, and ask questions to deepen your understanding.
Estimate Heat Transfer through Construction
Show steps
Reinforce your knowledge of the principles of heat transfer through building construction, which forms the foundation of energy-efficient building design.
Browse courses on
Heat Transfer
Show steps
-
Gather data on the thermal properties of different building materials, such as conductivity, specific heat, and density.
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Use the data to calculate the heat transfer rate through different building components, such as walls, roofs, and windows.
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Analyze the results of your calculations to identify areas where heat loss can be reduced.
Three other activities
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Model Building Energy Demand with EnergyPlus
Show steps
Develop practical skills in using EnergyPlus, a leading building energy modeling software, to simulate and analyze building energy performance, helping you optimize designs for energy efficiency.
Show steps
-
Follow online tutorials or take a course on EnergyPlus to learn the basics of the software.
-
Create a simple EnergyPlus model of a building and run simulations to analyze its energy performance.
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Use the results of your simulations to identify opportunities for improving the energy efficiency of the building.
Contribute to an Open-Source Energy Modeling Project
Show steps
Gain hands-on experience in energy modeling and contribute to the development of open-source software, advancing your knowledge and supporting the community.
Browse courses on
Open Source
Show steps
-
Identify an open-source energy modeling project that aligns with your interests.
-
Join the project's community and learn about their goals and processes.
-
Contribute to the project by writing code, testing features, or documenting the software.
Design an Energy-Efficient Building
Show steps
Apply your knowledge of energy-efficient building design to create a detailed design for a building that meets specific energy performance goals.
Browse courses on
Building Design
Show steps
-
Research different energy-efficient building technologies and strategies.
-
Develop a design concept for a building that incorporates these technologies and strategies.
-
Create detailed construction documents for the building, including plans, sections, and elevations.
-
Estimate the energy performance of the building using building energy modeling software.
Organize and Review Course Materials
Show steps
Enhance your comprehension by organizing and regularly reviewing course materials, solidifying your knowledge and making it readily accessible for future reference.
Show steps
- Create a filing system or digital folder to store lecture notes, readings, and assignments.
- Review the materials periodically to reinforce your understanding and identify areas where you may need additional support.
Discuss Energy-Efficient Building Design with Peers
Show steps
Consolidate your understanding and expand your perspectives by engaging in discussions with peers about energy-efficient building design principles and practices.
Browse courses on
Energy Efficiency
Show steps
- Join a study group or online forum dedicated to energy-efficient building design.
- Participate in discussions, share your ideas, and ask questions to deepen your understanding.
Estimate Heat Transfer through Construction
Show steps
Reinforce your knowledge of the principles of heat transfer through building construction, which forms the foundation of energy-efficient building design.
Browse courses on
Heat Transfer
Show steps
- Gather data on the thermal properties of different building materials, such as conductivity, specific heat, and density.
- Use the data to calculate the heat transfer rate through different building components, such as walls, roofs, and windows.
- Analyze the results of your calculations to identify areas where heat loss can be reduced.
Model Building Energy Demand with EnergyPlus
Show steps
Develop practical skills in using EnergyPlus, a leading building energy modeling software, to simulate and analyze building energy performance, helping you optimize designs for energy efficiency.
Show steps
- Follow online tutorials or take a course on EnergyPlus to learn the basics of the software.
- Create a simple EnergyPlus model of a building and run simulations to analyze its energy performance.
- Use the results of your simulations to identify opportunities for improving the energy efficiency of the building.
Contribute to an Open-Source Energy Modeling Project
Show steps
Gain hands-on experience in energy modeling and contribute to the development of open-source software, advancing your knowledge and supporting the community.
Browse courses on
Open Source
Show steps
- Identify an open-source energy modeling project that aligns with your interests.
- Join the project's community and learn about their goals and processes.
- Contribute to the project by writing code, testing features, or documenting the software.
Design an Energy-Efficient Building
Show steps
Apply your knowledge of energy-efficient building design to create a detailed design for a building that meets specific energy performance goals.
Browse courses on
Building Design
Show steps
- Research different energy-efficient building technologies and strategies.
- Develop a design concept for a building that incorporates these technologies and strategies.
- Create detailed construction documents for the building, including plans, sections, and elevations.
- Estimate the energy performance of the building using building energy modeling software.
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Professor of Architecture
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