Thermal Performance and Comfort in Buildings

PURPOSE and OBJECTIVES:The course emphasizes understanding the impact that various environmental systems have on the building design and operation process:Environmental Technologies – A review of environmental technologies historically used in buildings to achieve human comfort will serve as an introduction to the objectives for the course. Environmental systems will consider temperature control and limits found within active and passive environments, and mechanical, forced and natural ventilation techniques.There will be a review of the fundamental physics that effect internal and external environmental conditions. Site and climate analysis will be the starting point for defining performance criteria of the built environment. Students will be introduced to analysis tools for interpreting weather data and the fundamentals of occupant comfort. Criteria used to define internal environmental conditions will be discussed as a design goal to which all building elements must strive to achieve through systems integration.Students will be challenged to engage the making of building systems through a design process that understands systems as complete assemblies with designed relationships to other systems (manmade and natural/internal and external). The content of the course will emphasis the tectonic aspects of architecture; however other aspects such as the technology and methods for maintaining comfort conditions and ecological balance within buildings will be reviewed with an emphasis on high performance sustainable design, human comfort, social responsibility, ecology, and sustainability. METHODOLOGY:Course material is presented in the following topics:-Indoor Environment-High Performance Building Considerations-Building Energy Use and Atmosphere-Active/Passive Heating and Cooling Systems-Ventilation Schemes-Construction Administration/Commissioning-Post Occupancy Operations and Maintenance