Net-Zero Building Fundamentals from Coursera

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.

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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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

Reviews summary

Comprehensive net-zero building principles

According to students, this course offers a comprehensive and well-structured exploration of net-zero building fundamentals. Many found the lectures clear and concise, with engaging animated videos enhancing understanding. Learners particularly valued the coverage of timely topics like embodied carbon and resilient design, alongside practical areas such as HVAC load calculations. While some experienced professionals desired deeper dives into topics like cost estimation, the course generally provides a strong theoretical foundation with practical insights. It is widely considered a valuable resource for those seeking a foundational understanding, though some novices might find certain technical details challenging without prior background.

Some seek more in-depth exploration or advanced tools.

"I felt some parts, especially on cost estimation, could have gone into a bit more depth."

"As a practitioner, I was looking for more advanced tools and case studies."

"The financial feasibility module felt a bit light for my advanced needs."

Recent reviews indicate the course remains timely and valuable.

"I found this course incredibly well-structured and comprehensive, providing critical information for my work."

"The content is truly excellent and comprehensive; I feel much more confident in net-zero strategies after taking it."

"This is a foundational course that lives up to its name, a must for anyone looking to refresh knowledge or start in net-zero."

Provides insights directly applicable to professional work.

"The section on HVAC load calculations was particularly useful for my work."

"I learned a lot and feel much more confident discussing net-zero strategies."

"It really hammered home the importance of an integrated design approach."

Explanations are clear, concise, and visually supported.

"The lectures are clear, concise, and the animated videos truly enhance the learning experience."

"The instructors explain complex topics in an easy-to-understand manner."

"The modules are well-paced and build upon each other logically."

Addresses a broad spectrum of fundamental topics.

"This course is incredibly well-structured and covers a vast amount of critical information for anyone serious about sustainable building."

"Excellent course! The content is comprehensive, covering everything from passive design to water sufficiency."

"The breadth of topics covered is impressive, from energy to water to embodied carbon."

Best for those with some prior technical background.

"I found some of the technical details a bit overwhelming without prior knowledge in certain areas."

"It's definitely for those with some background in engineering or architecture."

"Some of the explanations were too high-level for a beginner, yet too basic for someone with a background."

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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Net-Zero Building Fundamentals

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive net-zero building principles

Activities

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