Mechanical Systems Design for Sustainable Buildings

3 credits · Graduate

This class will focus on how to design integrated mechanical systems for sustainable buildings. The building sector plays an important role in global warming, and it is critically important to reduce building energy use in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Roughly one-third of the primary energy consumed in buildings is used for controlling the indoor environment through Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and lighting systems. Achieving net-zero or positive energy or carbon buildings demands the integration of architecture, structure, and building systems to optimize both passive and active systems.