Energy and comfort in buildings

ENG-445 / 5 credits

Teacher(s): Khovalyg Dolaana, Licina Dusan, Sonta Andrew James

Language: English

Summary

The course presents the fundamentals of energy demand in buildings while emphasizing the need for the comfort and well-being of occupants. In addition, prioritizations and trade-offs between energy and comfort are discussed.

Content

  • Energy concepts in buildings
  • Building simulation: theory and course project
  • Indoor thermal comfort
  • Indoor air quality
  • Building ventilation
  • Occupant behavior in buildings
  • Passive strategies (solar, thermal mass, natural ventilation, etc.)
  • Heat balance at the building level, building envelope
  • Heating and cooling demand in buildings

Keywords

Energy demand; human comfort; indoor environmental quality; building envelope, building simulation

Learning Prerequisites

Recommended courses

  • Elementary building physics
  • General physics: thermodynamics PHYS-106
  • Fundamentals of indoor climate CIVIL-212
  • Urban thermodynamics CIVIL-309

Important concepts to start the course

  • Heat transfer, psychometrics
  • Human comfort and indoor climate

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

  • Estimate heat flows and energy demand in buildings
  • Assess / Evaluate interactions between comfort needs of occupants, building envelope and HVAC systems
  • Interpret indoor environmental quality standards
  • Use building energy simulation software to assess energy and comfort performance of buildings

Transversal skills

  • Plan and carry out activities in a way which makes optimal use of available time and other resources.
  • Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
  • Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking
  • Take feedback (critique) and respond in an appropriate manner.
  • Communicate effectively, being understood, including across different languages and cultures.
  • Make an oral presentation.

Teaching methods

Lecture presentations, group discussions, exercises, course project

 

Expected student activities

To actively participate in lectures, class discussions, and group projects

Assessment methods

2 x written tests on the course material: 35%+35%

1 x course project: 30%

 

Supervision

Office hours Yes
Assistants Yes
Forum Yes

Resources

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)

No

Bibliography

  • Lecture notes (primary source)
  • Edward Allen. How Buildings Work: The natural Order of Architecture, 3rd ed.
  • ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals, 2018
  • Different building standards such as ISO 17772, ISO 6946, ASHRAE 55, ASHRAE 62.1, SIA 380/1, SIA 2024.
  • Peer-reviewed papers and websites (will be provided throughout the semester)

 

 

Ressources en bibliothèque

Moodle Link

Prerequisite for

  • Thermodynamics of comfort in buildings CIVIL-450
  • Indoor air quality and ventilation CIVIL-460

 

In the programs

  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Energy and comfort in buildings
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Project: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Energy and comfort in buildings
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Project: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Energy and comfort in buildings
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Project: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Energy and comfort in buildings
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Project: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Energy and comfort in buildings
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Project: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Energy and comfort in buildings
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Project: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Energy and comfort in buildings
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Project: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Energy and comfort in buildings
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Project: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Energy and comfort in buildings
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Project: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Fall
  • Exam form: During the semester (winter session)
  • Subject examined: Energy and comfort in buildings
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Project: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional

Reference week

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