Environment Energy & Climate

Catalog description

The United Nations Sustainability Goals identifies pathways for a sustainable planet, where resources are utilized responsibly while meeting the needs of living organisms. This course explores architectural design methodologies and solutions that are ecologically and environmentally responsible. Throughout the semester, the course lectures will explore architectural and engineering solutions to maximize occupant comfort, well-being, health and productivity, while also minimizing energy consumption. The course will provide an overview of passive and active solutions and how their interactions influence the metrics of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). During the course, students will gain a deeper understanding of how lighting, air, thermal, acoustical, and spatial decisions impact energy consumption and building occupants. The lectures will explore the human and environmental implications of solutions that respond to current and future climate conditions, and acknowledge the interconnective relationship between living organisms and their environment.