Natural Cooling: Sustainable Design for a Warming Planet

3 credits · Graduate

Climate-responsive, person-centered design can reduce energy use, create experiential delight and connection to nature, and be more sustainable. This course covers design and operational strategies, low-and high-tech solutions, material choices, dynamic high-performance facades, natural ventilation, and a range of other integrated climate-control strategies most relevant to warm climates. Students will use interactive and experiential exercises, simulation tools, case studies, design exercises. Depending on the semester offered, students may also use the Building Science Wind Tunnel to test design solutions for natural ventilation.