Course syllabus

Passivhus – integrering av termiska aspekter och fuktsäkerhet
Passive House – Integrating Thermal and Moisture Issues

AEBN10, 15 credits, A (Second Cycle)

Valid for: 2016/17
Decided by: Education Board D
Date of Decision: 2016-04-08

General Information

Main field: Energy-efficient and Environmental Buildings.
Compulsory for: MEMB1
Language of instruction: The course will be given in English

Aim

This course will allow explorations of passive design principles. The students will have the opportunity to concretely apply and test these principles using a holistic approach encompassing building technology, building physics, indoor climate and building services. The course also aims to show the potential of thermal and climatic constraints as a guide in explorations and development of configurations and solutions in case study projects. In addition, the course will allow the application of rules of thumb and tools (computer, hand calculations) - acquired in theoretical courses - for thermal balance, thermal comfort and moisture safety predictions. These tools will be used to feed the iterative design process and inform wise design decisions. Finally, students will also learn to present passive concepts and strategies using graphic methods in a productive way supported by data (results from simulations or hand calculations).

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

Contents

 "Passive Houses" were defined as buildings which, in the Central European climate, have a negligible heating energy requirement and therefore need no traditional heating system. Such houses can be kept warm "passively", using mainly the existing internal heat sources, solar energy admitted by windows and by heating the fresh air supply. The theoretical proof for the feasibility of such houses was furnished in the thesis, "Passive Houses in Central Europe" through computerized simulations of the energy balance of buildings.
Passive design is not the attachment or supplement of architectural design, but an integrated design process within the architectural design. Although it is mostly applied to new buildings, it has also been used for refurbishments.
This course is an advanced practical course on passive house concept, principles and strategies, with a special focus on thermal and moisture aspects i.e. thermal comfort and thermal balance of buildings.
The students will design a residential passive row house considering the energy-efficiency, sustainability, thermal comfort and moisture safety. The assignment will include qualitative and quantitative methods to achieve a long term satisfactory result. The assignment is based on the two theoretical courses which are associated with this practical course (“AEBF10: Energy use and thermal comfort in buildings” and “VBFF05 Moisture safety design”).
An extensive report shall be delivered at the end of the course. The results will be presented orally and critically reviewed by other students.

Examination details

Grading scale: TH
Assessment: Active participation and attendance at lectures, tutorials, group meetings, presentations etc is compulsory. The final grade is to 70% based on the written report, to 20% based on the oral presentation and to 10% on the opposition to other's work.

Admission

Admission requirements:

The number of participants is limited to: No

Reading list

Contact and other information

Teacher: Maria Wall, maria.wall@ebd.lth.se
Teacher: Birgitta Nordquist, birgitta.nordquist@hvac.lth.se
Course coordinator: Jouri Kanters, jouri.kanters@ebd.lth.se
Teacher: Akram Abdul Hamid, akram.abdul_hamid@byggtek.lth.se
Course coordinator: Vahid Nik, vahid.nik@byggtek.lth.se
Teacher: Susanne Gosztonyi, susanne.gosztonyi@ebd.lth.se
Course homepage: http://www.ebd.lth.se/master