Environmental Science for Architects 2
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| ABEE2036 | Architecture and Built Environment | 2 | 10 | Autumn UK, Spring UK |
- Code
- ABEE2036
- School
- Architecture and Built Environment
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Autumn UK, Spring UK
Summary
Building upon the themes covered in ABEE1004, this module looks more specifically at the flows of energy that occur out with & within buildings & how these relate to & integrate with some of the numerous systems employed that may help with their control. When combined with module teaching delivered in spring semester, the module is delivered as seven inter-related teaching themes:
1. Challenges to the Profession: topics include environmental impact assessment and the role/use of energy and its reflection in key performance metrics such as PassivHaus, SAP, Approved Document L, etc. as ways to understand/explore/appreciate building design
2. Heat Transfer through the Envelope. Homogenous heat flows in buildings exploring heat gains/losses via steady state & dynamic heat transfer through building envelopes/elements, including issues such as design detailing, etc.
3 Heat Transfer through Ventilation: The role of ventilation as a gain/loss mechanism, its relationship with the Approved Documents, the design of appropriate passive/mixed mode & active strategies, ventilation sizing, etc.
4. Heat Gains to Buildings: The key heat gains to buildings via occupancy profiling & scheduling, including solar, lighting, metabolic & appliance gains.
5. Dynamic Thermal Behaviour of Buildings: The role of thermally heavyweight and lightweight construction in moderating heat flow.
6. Bringing it Together - Energy and Carbon Assessment. Ways to assess the building's balance point degree days, energy consumption and carbon emissions.
7. Heating & Cooling, Energy Efficient Technologies and Renewable Energy Systems: The systems, technologies and their application in the heating / cooling of buildings.
Target Students
Available to 2nd year BArch students.
Assessment
- 100% Coursework 1: Report
Assessed in both autumn & spring semest
Educational Aims
This module, seeks to give students the ability to explore & appreciate the energy flows that occur out with & within a building & be able to address these in a rigorous manner using a range of analytical tools & techniques. The content of this module is broadly split across seven inter-related teaching blocks dealing with key steady state & dynamic energy flows. Over both semesters it seeks to provide the student with a comprehensive understanding of the heat loss / gain mechanisms that occur within buildings. Following this, the integrated ‘servicing’ required to manage these flows is explored therefore equipping students with a fundamental knowledge of heating and cooling and how this may be achieved by renewable and energy efficient technologies and systems and building services. By combining both components, students should be in a position togenerate suitable, energy efficient design proposals that respond to user requirements and the climate and following this be able to perform a basic energy / carbon assessment on any building.Learning Outcomes
1. an understanding of the heat / energy flows that take place within buildings and how they affect the operation of a building, its energy consumption (and resultant carbon emissions) and occupant comfort / satisfaction (GC5.1; GC 5.2; GC5.3; GC8.3; GC9.1)
2. an ability to account for these flows in a rigorous manner, assess their relative importance, explore them in detail and reflect critically on them using a range of analytical, technical and observational tools and techniques (GC 5.2; GC5.3; GC8.3; GC9.1)
3. an awareness of the low-energy / energy efficient technologies / systems / approaches and how they may help offset the energy / carbon demands associated with these flows (GC5.2; GC9.1; GC9.2)
4. an ability to identify synergies between the flows and the technologies / systems / approaches in a manner that is coherent, rigorous and relevant to the context within which they sit (GC5.2; GC5.3; GC9.1; GC9.2)
5. an ability to perform a basic energy / carbon audit of a building that considers carefully points 1 to 4 of these learning outcomes (GC5.2; GC5.3; GC8.3; GC9.1; GC9.2)
6. organisation skills, group / team working skills and an ability to manage time carefully.
7. an ability to interpret, manage, manipulate and communicate complex and interrelated information in a manner that is appropriate, rigorous, creative and legible.