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Net-Zero Building Fundamentals

Sreejith Jayaram, Sanjay Prakash, Prasad Vaidya, Amanda Thounaojam, Ashok Lall, and Swati Puchalapalli

Interested in decarbonisation, high performance, and climate resilient buildings? Then this course is for you.

Our future is low-carbon, net-zero buildings that are super-efficient and self-sufficient in terms of their energy and water use. Decarbonisation, digitisation, and deglobalisation are driving the infrastructure revolution over the next 20 years.

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Interested in decarbonisation, high performance, and climate resilient buildings? Then this course is for you.

Our future is low-carbon, net-zero buildings that are super-efficient and self-sufficient in terms of their energy and water use. Decarbonisation, digitisation, and deglobalisation are driving the infrastructure revolution over the next 20 years.

This course, offered jointly by the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) and the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), will enable you to reap the benefits of this revolution and work on climate change. You will learn the fundamentals of passive comfort, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and low carbon and resilient design. These fundamentals include building science, design, engineering, and finance.

Learn these to work on high performance building design, with evidence-based design process. These fundamentals will equip you to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team.

There are 11 modules: energy performance, heat transfer for the building envelope, passive design, thermal comfort and indoor air quality, natural ventilation, load calculation for right-sizing HVAC systems, HVAC system types and low-energy cooling, cost estimation and financial feasibility, water sufficiency, resilient design, and embodied carbon.

Enrol in this course and arm yourself to lead the global infrastructure transition.

Enroll now

What's inside

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.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
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

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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
Connect with peers, share knowledge, and engage in discussions related to course topics. This enhances your understanding through diverse perspectives and collaborative learning.
Show steps
  • 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
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.
Show steps
  • 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
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
Show steps
  • 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.
One other activity
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all four activities
Contribute to open-source projects or tools related to building design and sustainability
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
Show steps
  • 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:

Reading list

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Effort
26 hours to complete
Level
Intermediate
Via
Coursera
Institution
Indian Institute for Human Settlements
Instructors
Sreejith Jayaram
Sanjay Prakash
Prasad Vaidya
Amanda Thounaojam
Ashok Lall
Swati Puchalapalli
Session
August 5, 2024 - November 11, 2024
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
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
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