AR7027 - Energy Comfort and Buildings (2016/17)
Module specification | Module approved to run in 2016/17 | |||||||||||||||
Module title | Energy Comfort and Buildings | |||||||||||||||
Module level | Masters (07) | |||||||||||||||
Credit rating for module | 20 | |||||||||||||||
School | School of Art, Architecture and Design | |||||||||||||||
Total study hours | 200 | |||||||||||||||
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Assessment components |
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Running in 2016/17(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
This module covers the basic principles of environmental sustainability and comfort in housing and non residential buildings in a range of climates. It introduces simple methods of surveying comfort preferences together with field measurements, and statistical interpretation of results.
Assessment: 100% Case Study Essay
Prior learning requirements
None
Module aims
To develop an understanding of the necessity for low energy buildings in the context of global warming
To develop an understanding of occupant comfort in buildings
To appreciate the techniques and design principles for energy efficient buildings.
Syllabus
The evidence for global warming. The impact of buildings on climate change and the impact of climate change on the design of buildings. Environmental footprinting and other methods of environmental impact assessment. Renewable energies.
Introduction to sustainable building strategies through an understanding of:
• Renewable energy in buildings
• Active and passive systems, for space heating and cooling
• Water heating, recycling and collection
• Waste recycle
• Zero-energy buildings
• Materials and embodied energy
• Pullution and ecology.
Comfort and health in Buildings. The interactive nature of the relationship between buildings and their occupants. The role of buildings in achieving comfort in different climates and the part which energy use plays in this interaction. Acoustic problems in relation to passive strategies. Sick building syndrome.
Learning and teaching
Lectures will cover specific syllabus topics and may act as introductions to seminars. Seminars will focus on specific topics and will require students to prepare presentations and engage in discussion and debate. Group and individual tasks may be set in preparation for seminars.
Learning outcomes
An understanding of the interaction between of global warming and buildings and the ability to make an environmental impact assessment for a building, knowledge of renewable energy sources and of active and passive solar design for buildings in different climates.
An understanding of occupant comfort in buildings and the building-occupant interaction.
An ability to make critical judgements regarding design strategies.
Knowledge of renewable energy sources and of active and passive solar design for buildings in different climates. An understanding of occupant comfort in buildings and the building-occupant interaction. An ability to make critical judgements regarding design strategies.
Assessment strategy
Analysis of the real energy performance and monitoring of several variables, such as illuminance and luminance levels, temperature and humidity of an existing building including a post Occupancy survey. Work will involve a group survey and an individual assessment.
Work will be an essay evaluated against the following criteria:
• Scope and ambition
• Degree of rigour
• Relevance
• Quality of analysis and interpretation
• Quality of documentation.
Modes of documentation may include drawings, text, multi media if appropriate. All documentation must be appropriate for assessment purposes.
Bibliography
• Anink D, Boonstra C. and Mak J. (1996) Handbook of Sustainable Building: an environmental preference method for selection of materials for use in construction and refurbishment,London: James and James.
• Bougdah H. and Sharples S. with Smith PF. (2010) Environment, Technology and Sustainability TOA 2, London and New York: Taylor & Francis.
• Eicker U. (2009) Low Energy Cooling for Sustainable Buildings, Great Britain: John Wiley and Sons Ltd.
• Givoni B.(1994)Passive and low energy cooling of Buildings, New York; London: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
• Kwok, AG. and Grondzik, WT. (2007) The green studio handbook: environmental strategies for schematic design, Oxford : Architectural.
• Lewis O. and Goulding J. (eds) (1997) European Directory of Sustainable and Energy Efficient Building, London: James and James.
• Nicol, J.F. and Roaf, S. (2007) Progress in passive cooling: adaptive thermal comfort and passive architecture, in Santamouris, M. (ed) Advances in Passive Cooling, London, Earthscan.
• Nicol F. (1993)Thermal Comfort, a handbook for field surveys towards an adaptive model, London, University of East London. (reprint by Earthscan in press 2012)
• Parker D. (2009)Microgeneration: Low energy strategies for larger buildings, United Kingdom: Architectural Press.
• Smith PF. (2006)Architecture in a Climate of Change, 2nd Edition, United Kigdom: Architectural Press.
• Smith PF. (2007)Sustainability at the Cutting Edge: Emerging Technologies for Low Energy Buildings, 2nd edition, Oxford: Architectural Press.
• Santamouris M. et al (1996)Passive Cooling of Buildings, London: James and James.
• Szokolay SV. (2008) Introduction to architectural science: the basis of sustainable design, 2nd Edition, Amsterdam; Boston; London: Elsevier/Architectural Press.
• World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future (1991) London: Oxford University Press.
• www.learn.londonmet.ac.uk (for coursework developed for this module).