Comfort in Buildings

Subject Matter Expert

The course provides a comprehensive overview of sustainability in construction, emphasizing the depletion of natural resources, global energy utilization, and challenges faced. It explores site selection parameters, the impact on the environment, and methods for preserving site resources. The integrated design approach and its benefits are discussed, along with the importance of basic amenities and the urban heat island effect. The course covers various aspects of building environmental considerations, focusing on heat transfer, thermal and visual comfort, and sustainable building practices. Heat transfer is explained through conduction, convection, and radiation, with a specific emphasis on heat gain in buildings, both internal and external. The discussion extends to thermal comfort, considering factors influencing human perception of heat and cold, and includes models for air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned spaces. Visual comfort is explored in terms of lighting design, covering daylighting strategies and artificial lighting parameters in compliance with building codes.

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Syllabus

Green development

The module offers a comprehensive overview of sustainability, highlighting its significance and the challenges encountered in the field of construction. It delves into the depletion of natural resources resulting from human activities, analyzes global energy consumption across various sectors, and anticipates future energy demands in India, all while exploring diverse energy sources. The discussion encompasses criteria for site selection, emphasizing its importance and examining various types of sites and their environmental impacts. The module also imparts knowledge on strategies for preserving site resources such as topsoil, water bodies, and plantations. Additionally, it provides a concise introduction to the integrated design approach, aligning project requirements with its associated benefits. The importance of basic amenities in proximity to buildings and an exploration of the urban heat island effect are also included in the discourse.

Heat Transfer in Buildings

Heat transfer involves the exchange of thermal energy between two distinct systems. The principles of thermodynamics elucidate the modes of heat transfer, namely conduction, convection, and radiation. This module focusing on heat transfer within buildings provides an overview of internal and external heat gain. External heat gain, originating from building components like roofs, walls, fenestration, as well as through ventilation and air leakage, is thoroughly explained, accompanied by examples and precise calculations of the heat absorbed by these elements. Additionally, the reasons behind internal heat gain in a building are explored, along with the determination of the heating and cooling loads necessary to condition a space for the occupants' comfort.

Thermal Comfort

Thermal comfort pertains to the subjective sensation experienced by the human body resulting from the influence of heat and cold sources in the surrounding environment. This module commences with a fundamental introduction to thermal comfort, elucidating the key parameters that shape its perception. The module also explores factors contributing to local thermal discomfort. Psychrometry, the study of thermodynamic properties of air and water vapor mixtures, is comprehensively explained using a psychrometric chart. The application of psychrometry in processes such as heating, cooling, humidification, and dehumidification is detailed, accompanied by illustrative examples. Thermal comfort models are examined for both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned spaces.

Visual Comfort

Visual comfort encompasses an individual's response to the lighting conditions within a space, characterized by adequate illumination, contrast, color, and the presence or absence of glare. This module on visual comfort introduces the fundamentals of lighting and the terminology employed in lighting design. Strategies for both daylighting and artificial lighting within a building are elucidated. The module delves into the aspects of daylighting for buildings, offering a detailed explanation of daylighting control strategies. Additionally, it outlines the various types of artificial lighting based on tasks. The design of artificial lighting is explored, and the necessary parameters, in accordance with the provisions outlined in the National Building Code (NBC), 2016, and the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), are elaborated upon with the aid of examples.

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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 Comfort in Buildings with these activities:

Organize and review course materials.

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Enhance your understanding and retention of course content by regularly organizing, reviewing, and summarizing the materials provided in the course.

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Create a system for organizing notes, assignments, and other course materials.
Review materials after each class or lecture.
Summarize key concepts and ideas in your own words.

Explore online tutorials on sustainable building materials.

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Expand your knowledge of sustainable building materials and their applications by following guided tutorials, broadening your options for environmentally conscious construction.

Browse courses on Sustainable Building Materials

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Identify reputable online platforms offering tutorials on sustainable building materials.
Watch and take notes on tutorials covering different types of sustainable materials, their properties, and construction methods.

Read 'Sustainable Construction: Principles and Practices' by Charles J. Kibert.

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Gain a comprehensive understanding of sustainable construction principles and practices through this authoritative text, enriching your knowledge of the field.

View Sustainable Construction on Amazon

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Read and summarize key chapters on sustainable building concepts, materials, and design strategies.
Identify and analyze real-world case studies of sustainable buildings.

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Review building codes and standards.

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Familiarize yourself with the established rules and regulations governing building construction, ensuring compliance and enhancing your understanding of sustainable building practices.

Browse courses on Building Codes

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Obtain the relevant building codes and standards applicable to your region or project.
Review the sections pertaining to green building, sustainability, and energy efficiency.
Summarize the key requirements and recommendations outlined in the codes and standards.

Calculate building heat transfer and thermal comfort.

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Reinforce your understanding of heat transfer principles and thermal comfort models through repetitive calculations, enhancing your ability to apply these concepts in real-world scenarios.

Browse courses on Thermal Comfort

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Review the principles of heat transfer and thermal comfort.
Solve practice problems involving heat gain, thermal resistance, and indoor air quality.
Use psychrometric charts to analyze and control indoor air conditions.

Design a sustainable building plan.

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Apply your knowledge of sustainability principles to develop a comprehensive plan for a hypothetical building project, showcasing your understanding of integrated design and environmental considerations.

Browse courses on Sustainable Building Design

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Select a building type and location.
Research and incorporate sustainable design strategies.
Create a detailed plan outlining the building's sustainable features and materials.