AR50455: Buildings, people and environment
 Academic Year: | 2019/0 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering |
| Credits: | 9 [equivalent to 18 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 180 |
| Level: | Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
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| Assessment Summary:
| CW 100% |
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
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| Description:
| Aims: The aim of this unit is firstly to introduce students to thinking in terms of low carbon design. It will stress the precedence of design decisions over choices of heating and cooling systems or low and zero carbon technologies. It also provides a comprehensive understanding of the principles of human comfort and air quality in buildings, the relevance of design and the impact on people's health and productivity. Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the unit students will be able to: * Understand the issues necessitating low carbon bihldings and carefully consider complex arguments and dfifernet viewpoints in the scientific debate. * Critically assess the effect of different environmental conditions and design parameters on comfort and health in the indoor environment and identify potential design conflicts. * Specify the building related aspects (such as design, fabric and services) that affect the quality of the internal environment related to comfort conditions and human health. * Knowledge and understanding. * A critical understanding of the debate on low carbon technologies and buildings, demonstrating an ability to carefully consider complex arguments and balance opposing viewpoints in the scientific debate. * A clear understanding of current and future energy trends and the relative impact of different energy options on buildings' carbon emissions. * A critical awareness of the various standards, ratings and labels that can influence the carbon performance of buildings, including emerging UK and international trends. Skills: Knowledge and Understanding 1. A critical understanding of the debate on low carbon technologies and buildings, demonstrating an ability to carefully consider complex arguments and balance opposing viewpoints in the scientific debate. 2. A clear understanding of current and future energy trends and the relative impact of different energy options on buildings' carbon emissions. A critical awareness of the various standards, ratings and labels that can influence the carbon performance of buildings, including emerging UK and international trends. 3. A critical awareness of the various standards, ratings and labels that can influence the carbon performance of buildings, including emerging UK and international trends. Intellectual 1. The ability to apply analytical skills, interpreting diagrammatic information, e.g. daylight factor calculation, shading assessment and daylight planning and measurement. 2. The ability to critically analyse environmental technologies and systems, respond to emerging trends and future policies and strategically plan design options that reflect their long term financial and environmental cost. 3. The ability to diagnose problems in design and performance of buildings that have an impact on comfort conditions and human health. Professional / Practical Skills * The ability to independently test design options and strategically respond to complex design requirements whilst simultaneously optimizing carbon emissions. * The ability to systematically undertake post-occupancy evaluations in order to critically provide mitigation measures. Transferable Skills * Presentation skills, particularly the ability to present critically reasoned design decisions with clarity. * Report writing skills. * Group working skills. Content: 1. Potential for low carbon design (e.g. energy use, energy efficiency, materials, on-site generation and storage). 2. Threats to low carbon design (e.g. comfort seeking, space utilization, lights and appliances). 3. Standards and regulation (influence of standards, UK and international trends - Building regulations, comfort standards, system efficiencies, lights and appliances, best practice standards & ratings (BREEAM), energy performance of buildings directive & labelling). 4. Passive technologies and costs of measures (life cycle costs, paybacks, percentage costs oof new build / retrofitting). 5. Principles of human comfort, thermal comfort standards, adaptation theory. 6. Post-occupancy evaluations, means of statistical analysis, 7. Indoor air quality, indoor air pollution and health. |
| Programme availability: |
AR50455 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
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Notes:
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