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E P D 731

ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN BUILDINGS

3 credits.

Core principles of energy use and efficiency in the building sector (residential, commercial, institutional buildings.) Factors that influence energy demand (design, equipment, controls, operation, maintenance). Review of engineering fundamentals of heat transfer, heating and cooling loads, psychrometrics. Topics include building envelope principles (climate, orientation, materials, massing), heating and cooling systems, ventilation indoor air quality, plumbing water heating, lighting daylighting, and internal energy uses (plug loads, equipment). Zero energy building concepts, energy modeling, and energy benchmarking are also covered. Applications include existing building operation and improvement, and new building design and planning.

Topics

Topics explicitly listed in official catalogue description

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2025 Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify energy end-uses in commercial and residential buildings Audience: Graduate 2. Describe the purpose and operation of energy-using building systems Audience: Graduate 3. Create an energy model to simulate building energy performance Audience: Graduate 4. Calculate the impact of energy efficiency options Audience: Graduate 5. Use energy benchmarking tools such as Energy Star Target Finder Audience: Graduate 6. Analyze the causes of and solutions for the sustainability challenge of excessive energy use in commercial and residential buildings Audience: Graduate 7. Analyze sustainability issues and/or practices using a systems-based approach to identify opportunities for energy efficiency while maintaining human health Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify energy end-uses in commercial and residential buildings Audience: Graduate 2. Describe the purpose and operation of energy-using building systems Audience: Graduate 3. Create an energy model to simulate building energy performance Audience: Graduate 4. Calculate the impact of energy efficiency options Audience: Graduate 5. Use energy benchmarking tools such as Energy Star Target Finder Audience: Graduate 6. Analyze the causes of and solutions for the sustainability challenge of excessive energy use in commercial and residential buildings Audience: Graduate 7. Analyze sustainability issues and/or practices using a systems-based approach to identify opportunities for energy efficiency while maintaining human health Audience: Graduate

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