Net-Zero Building Fundamentals

Welcome to the course, Net-Zero Building Fundamentals. Introduction to course structure and overview of content.

The module will help to understand the concept of net-zero-energy buildings, how buildings use energy, and the typical range of energy performance of residential and commercial buildings. You will understand how energy performance of buildings is measured and how buildings can be made super energy efficient.

This module will explain why heat transfer through the envelope is important to consider in building design. The modes of heat transfer will be discussed, and you will understand how to identify heat gain/loss sources in the building envelope.

Through this module, you will understand the definition of passive design and its importance for net-zero energy and resilience. You will understand the 3-tier pyramid approach and learn about the natural sources and sinks for passive heating and cooling.

This module will discuss the definition of Thermal Comfort, its benefits, and biological and behavioural adaptations. You will get an introduction to the parameters of Thermal Comfort and the Adaptive Thermal Comfort model.

This module will help you understand how natural ventilation provides thermal comfort and improves Indoor Air Quality. The module will explain how Operative Temperature is affected by air movement, and the magnitude of indoor air speeds and outdoor wind speeds.

This module will discuss envelope and internal loads and strategies to reduce loads. It will deep dive into the different approaches to HVAC load estimation, and how systems can be sized correctly using precise information of your building design.

This module will discuss the need for creating an abundance of local water resources, end-uses of water, standards for water provision, and water quality requirements for different end-uses. You will get introduced to the concept of net-zero-water for a building.

This module will explain the use of HVAC systems and the projected growth of cooling energy. It will explain the basic refrigeration cycle and its modification in different types of mechanical cooling systems.

Through this module, you will understand the expectations of returns by owners or developers from their buildings, the different cost components of CAPEX and OPEX, and the levels of cost estimates and their purpose at specific stages of a project.

Through this module, you will understand the impact of building materials and construction on carbon emissions. It will help you identify the stages in the lifecycle of a building and the scope of emissions from these stages.

Final module wrapping up the course content.

This module will discuss the concept of resilience and its importance for the built environment, different types of hazards and their impacts. The module covers principles of resilient design and resilience metrics for buildings.