Syllabus academic year 2007/2008
SOLAR ARCHITECTUREAEB015

Higher education credits: 3. Grading scale: UG. Level: G2 (First level). Language of instruction: The course will be given in English on demand. Optional for: A4. Course coordinator: Björn Karlsson, bjorn.karlsson@ebd.lth.se, Energi- och ByggnadsDesign. Recommended prerequisits: Experience from the use of calculation program like Matlab and Excell. The course might be cancelled if the numer of applicants is less than 10. Assessment: Written examination, approved assignsments and approved design task. Further information: The course is part of a course package which also includes the courses "Design for Energy-efficient Construction" and "Daylight in Buildings". Together, the courses give a broad knowledge regarding different aspects of solar energy, but they can also be taken individually in arbitrary order. Home page: http://www.ebd.lth.se.

Aim
Solar energy is becoming an increasingly obvious part of current architecture, for example in the shape of large glazed areas, or as building integrated solar thermal energy and photovoltaics (PV). An uncritical use can however lead to different problems such as overheating, bad comfort or low energy exchange.

The course aims at providing the student with an understanding of the solar energy potential and its consequences for building design and user comfort. Insights in how the sun and window areas affect the energy balance of buildings, as well as how buildings can be equipped with solar thermal panels and PV-systems to produce heat and electricity. The architectural integration of the systems plays a central role in the course.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

Contents
The nature of solar radiation and other climate conditions. Energy use in Sweden and key numbers for energy use in buildings. Historic examples of solar architecture. Energy-efficient buildings - strategies and methods. Solar heating and solar electricity – understanding of the function and knowledge of products. Simple design of solar thermal and PV-systems regarding orientation, slope, area demands etc. Simple simulations to estimate energy balance and solar availability.

Design task which will be integrated with the student’s individual studio work

Literature
Solar house. A Guide for the Solar Designer, (2004). Terry Galloway. Architectural press, ISBN: 0750658312.
Articles and links distributed via the course home page. Winsun and ParaSol simulation program.