Sustainability and Energy Simulations
Sustainability and Energy Simulations
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Course Overview:
This module aims to teach computer-based skills that help in the application of sustainable strategies to real world designs. A range of sustainable issues will be discussed and where in these it would be appropriate to use software based analytical tools to help improve the design. 3D modelling software will be used to quantify the geometry of a physical space and environmental energy simulation software (IES) will be used to compare the difference between alternative design options. Students will also discuss the limits of computer-based analysis and when such analysis would be less helpful.
Upon completion students will have acquired the skills to undertake complex analysis of the environmental performance of building fabric allowing them to develop strategies at the conceptual design stage for the delivery of high performing buildings.
This computer analysis can be used to provide comparative performance estimates to justify investment in the materials and services required to deliver low impact buildings. Developing the financial feasibility and considering risks in post occupancy performance are examined further in the module Energy Management and Performance Evaluation.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
• Assess the thermal response of buildings under dynamic conditions and estimate the impact on thermal comfort of potential design alternatives. (Assessment A,B).
• Perform simulations of building services performance and fluid flows. (Assessment B).
• Assess a buildings energy and carbon footprint using methods approved for regulation compliance. (Assessment B).
• Identify the risks and opportunities associated with using rating systems designed to quantify sustainability. (Assessment A).
• Define the computational tasks associated with quantifying sustainable use of energy, water, materials, light and sound. (Assessment A).
Training Course Content:
This module is designed to give students an opportunity to develop critical analysis skills in the design of high performing building services. The principles of low carbon building services are well understood, the driving factor for their importance and adoption being the environmental consequences of climate change and the commitment governments have made to reducing carbon emissions in the coming years. Although the principles of energy efficient sustainable design are well understood many barriers remain to putting them into practice and it is appropriate that these are studied at level 3 where students can use critical thinking to identify issues and develop appropriate problem solving frameworks.
Setting energy efficiency and low carbon performance as important design constraints for buildings and has a number of consequences for the role of building services engineer.
Firstly, building services engineers get involved more intensively, early in the design process as issues such as building orientation, choices of building fabric and use of glazing become important decisions that affect the low carbon capabilities of the services that are selected. In this module students will learn how to use dynamic simulation software to optimise the performance of building fabric. This would typically be done with the architect at the conceptual stage of the design when the building's form is in development.
Secondly, often low carbon services involve new technologies and new services strategies, which can be perceived as being a higher risk to budgets, to space requirement, to performance, to constructability, to maintainability and to usability. For this reason critical thinking is required when establishing the energy strategy for the services design, to ensure that the approach is appropriate to the building and that these risks are managed and clearly communicated to the building owner. In this module, students will learn how to critically compare different low carbon services strategies and to use qualitative and quantitative analysis to develop appropriate decision making frameworks.
