Aim
To reduce the energy use is a central goal in the society. Buildings designed for a low energy use is an important key to reduced environmental impact and the creation of a sustainable society. At the same time one must ensure that good thermal comfort and health is maintained in these buildings.

The course aims at providing practical knowledge about how different measures like architectural form, building orientation, adaptation to natural conditions, increased insulation, thermal mass, air-tightness, ventilation and heat recovery, design of construction details, energy-efficient windows, and passive solar gains, together can contribute to a low energy use and good thermal comfort.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to account for the factors which affect the energy demand for a building and identify possible energy conservation measures in both residential and commercial buildings

• be able to describe the difference between common terms and conceptions like energy and power, short and long-wave radiation, thermal insulation and capacity, heating and cooling demands etc.

• be able to discuss the difference between energy supply and energy use in buildings and describe the importance of low energy use from a life-cycle perspective

• understand the importance of exterior climate conditions (mainly temperature and solar radiation) and how these affect the energy balance and the indoor climate

• understand the importance of the activities in the building and how these affect the energy balance and the indoor climate.

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to establish the energy balance of a building

• be able to judge whether a building fulfils the requirements on energy use in the Swedish building code

• be able to establish solar paths and shadow length diagrams to evaluate solar radiation in the built environment

• be able to suggest and choose glazing systems and solar shading based on their thermal and optical performance

• be able to estimate the energy demand and indoor temperatures of a building by using simple computer based energy simulation tools.

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• learn to critically evaluate and analyse information

• learn how to draw specific and general conclusions about her own and others work

• acquire quality thinking and awareness about the importance of the building design regarding energy use.

Contents
Summary of course contents:

• energy use in Sweden and key numbers for energy use in buildings

• strategies and methods for energy-efficient buildings

• presentation of existing low-energy buildings

• climate conditions, energy transport phenomena, energy balance of buildings

• use of simple hand calculation methods and computer tools to calculate energy demands and indoor temperatures of buildings

• function of modern glazing types and solar shading devices

• overview of heating and ventilation systems in buildings

• design task of an energy-efficient building.

Literature
Adamson, B. & Hidemark, B. Sol Energi Form. Utformning av lågenergihus. Byggforskningsrådet T2:1986. 1986. ISBN: 91-540-4471-5.
Abel, E. & Ekberg, L. Energieffektivitet. (2003). Can be downloaded from the page www.effektiv.org
Articles and links distributed via the course home page.