Net-Zero Building Fundamentals from Coursera

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Syllabus

Course Introduction

Welcome to the course, Net-Zero Building Fundamentals. Mr. Prasad Vaidya, the lead instructor of this course, who is also the Director of Solar Decathlon India (SDI) and Advisor for the Sustainable Energy Lab at IIHS, introduces you to this course in the video below. We hope you will learn from this course and also enjoy the animated videos.

Energy Performance of your Building

The module will help to understand the concept of net-zero-energy buildings, how buildings use energy, and the typical range of energy performance of residential and commercial buildings. You will understand how energy performance of buildings is measured and how buildings can be made super energy efficient. You will also get an introduction to renewable energy technologies. You will understand the importance of building energy simulation studies and why we use them during design.

Heat Transfer and your Building Envelope

This module will explain why heat transfer through the envelope is important to consider in building design. The modes of heat transfer will be discussed, and you will understand how to identify heat gain/loss sources in the building envelope and learn to quantify the heat gains/losses through the building envelope. You will also understand design decisions that impact the envelope heat gain/loss such as orientation, sizes of surfaces, and choice of materials. In addition, you will learn what U-value and SHGC are, and the values of some typical materials.

Passive Design and Shading

Through this module, you will understand the definition of passive design and its importance for net-zero energy and resilience. You will understand the 3-tier pyramid approach and the importance of the first 2 tiers, and also learn about the natural sources and sinks for passive heating and cooling. The module will discuss passive solar heating strategies, passive cooling strategies, and solar movement and shading.

Thermal Comfort, IAQ, Ventilation for Occupants

This module will discuss the definition of Thermal Comfort, its benefits, and biological and behavioural adaptations. You will get an introduction to the parameters of Thermal Comfort, the variation in preferences across seasons, locations, and cultures. The module will also introduce you to the Adaptive Thermal Comfort model. Further, you will learn to identify sources of pollutants and understand the need for good indoor air quality and the ventilation needs according to the National Building Code of India.

Natural Ventilation

This module will help you understand how natural ventilation provides thermal comfort and improves Indoor Air Quality. The module will explain how Operative Temperature is affected by air movement, and the magnitude of the indoor air speeds and outdoor wind speeds. The driving forces for Natural Ventilation and some simple calculations for sizing openings will also be discussed. You will also get introduced to tools for evaluating ventilation effectiveness, and some design strategies for Natural Ventilation.

Designing Rightsized HVAC with Load Calculations

This module will discuss envelope and internal loads and strategies to reduce loads. It will deep dive into the different approaches to HVAC load estimation, and how systems can be sized correctly using precise information of your building design. You will get introduced to load calculation using an excel tool, and also see how the size and cost of the HVAC system can be reduced.

Water Sufficiency

This module will discuss the need for creating an abundance of local water resources, end-uses of water, standards for water provision, and water quality requirements for different end-uses. You will get introduced to the concept of net-zero-water for a building and learn about by reducing consumption and creating a closed water cycle on-site. You will also get an introduction to water cycle calculations.

Mechanical HVAC and LEC systems

This module will explain the use of HVAC systems and the projected growth of cooling energy. It will explain the basic refrigeration cycle and its modification in different types of mechanical cooling systems. You will get an introduction to the basics of radiant cooling and air distribution cooling systems, and explore Low Energy Cooling (LEC) systems such as radiant cooling, evaporative cooling, and heat pumps for heating as well as cooling. You will also learn about some common Energy Conservation Measures for cooling systems.

Cost Estimation and Affordability

Through this module, you will understand the expectations of returns by owners or developers from their buildings, the different cost components of CAPEX and OPEX, and the levels of cost estimates and their purpose at specific stages of a project. You will also learn about three approaches to Affordability and Financial Feasibility, and Lifecycle Cost Estimation of a building.

Resilient Design

This module will discuss the concept of resilience and its importance for the built environment, different types of hazards and their impacts. The following questions will also be discussed: What makes buildings and communities resilient?What are the principles of resilient design?What are the resilience metrics for a building?

Embodied Carbon

Through this module, you will understand the impact of building materials and construction on carbon emissions. It will help you identify the stages in the lifecycle of a building and the scope of emissions from these stages. You will learn the basic concepts of emissions factors and data sources available for calculating embodied emissions. The module will also teach you to identify strategies for the reduction of embodied carbon in buildings.

Conclusion

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores decarbonization, high performance, and climate resilient buildings, which are highly relevant to the built environment industry

Taught by Sreejith Jayaram, Sanjay Prakash, Prasad Vaidya, Amanda Thounaojam, Ashok Lall, and Swati Puchalapalli, who are recognized for their work in sustainable architecture

Offered by the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) and the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), who are recognized for their work in energy efficiency and sustainable development

Covers the fundamentals of passive comfort, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and low carbon and resilient design, which are core skills for architects and engineers involved in sustainable building design

Develops knowledge of building science, design, engineering, and finance, which are essential for working on high performance building design

Emphasizes evidence-based design process, which is important for creating energy-efficient and sustainable buildings

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Net-Zero Building Fundamentals with these activities:

Engage in peer-to-peer learning and discussion forums

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Connect with peers, share knowledge, and engage in discussions related to course topics. This enhances your understanding through diverse perspectives and collaborative learning.

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Participate in online forums or discussion groups.
Organize study sessions with peers to review materials.
Collaborate on projects or assignments with other students.

Volunteer for community projects or organizations related to sustainable building practices

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Apply your knowledge and contribute to real-world projects that promote sustainable building practices. This deepens your understanding, builds practical skills, and makes a tangible impact on your community.

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Identify volunteer opportunities with organizations focused on sustainable building.
Participate in building projects, energy audits, or community outreach initiatives.
Share your knowledge and skills with others involved in the project.

Design and present a building energy efficiency proposal

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Develop a comprehensive proposal for improving the energy efficiency of a building. This helps you synthesize your knowledge, apply design principles, and communicate your recommendations effectively.

Browse courses on Energy Efficiency

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Select a building and conduct an energy audit.
Identify energy-saving opportunities and develop design solutions.
Prepare a detailed proposal outlining your recommendations and justifications.
Present your proposal to a panel or stakeholders.

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Contribute to open-source projects or tools related to building design and sustainability

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Engage with the open-source community to advance the field of building design. This provides hands-on experience, fosters collaboration, and contributes to the development of innovative solutions.

Browse courses on Renewable Energy

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Identify open-source projects or tools that align with your interests.
Contribute to code development, documentation, or testing.
Participate in discussions and provide feedback to the community.

Career center

Learners who complete Net-Zero Building Fundamentals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

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