Module Details

Module Code: DSGN
Module Title: Environmental Building Design
Title: Environmental Building Design
Module Level:: 8
Credits:: 5
Module Coordinator: Eoin Homan
Module Author:: Sujana Sudhir
Domains:  
Module Description: The aim of this module is to: • To develop students understanding of designing healthy, comfortable and secure environments in and around buildings that place a minimal strain on global resources • To develop students understanding of environmental principles and their application to build high performance, energy efficient built environments.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Discuss basic concepts in environmental physics that underpin human comfort in buildings;
LO2 Discuss the principles and theories of Passive design to achieve high performance, comfortable and energy efficient buildings,
LO3 Critically evaluate and choose appropriate building envelope and fenestration designs based on their performance and sustainability credentials
LO4 Critically evaluate and derive environmental design strategies in response to global and local climate analysis
LO5 Examine and interpret the readings and graphical data generated from climate analysis software.
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is recommended before enrolment in this module.
No recommendations listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Additional Requisite Information
No Co Requisites listed
 
Indicative Content
Outdoor environments
• Elements of climate and their impacts on built environment • Site microclimate study • Environmental Site analysis techniques • Sun and wind study and its applications.
Building envelope and indoor environments
• Factors influencing envelope design • General concepts, Theory & principles influencing façade design, • Intelligent building skins and their characteristics • Theory and principles of High performance facades-Twin shell facades etc. • Day lighting theory and principles o Climate and light o The daylight factor concept o Daylight factor calculations o Day lighting strategies for buildings in relation to building orientation, building form and site context o Daylight directing systems-including side lighting and top lighting options. • Behaviour of building envelopes to thermal and moisture gradients. • Types of condensation and condensation risk evaluation • Psychrometric chart and its applications in the context of passive building design
Building Ventilation
• Principles of ventilation and air movement • Means of natural ventilation: wind driven and buoyancy driven or combined. • Design considerations; position of openings, external features, size of openings, control of openings. • Measurement and sizing of ventilation opening for buildings. • Ventilation strategies for buildings: natural and mixed mode, single sided, cross ventilation, stack ventilation etc.
Thermal design of buildings
• Heat exchange processes in buildings • High performance glazing and windows • Passive heating concepts and principles • Passive Solar gain strategies for buildings • Solar shading devices
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Project60.00%
End of Module Formal Examination40.00%

Assessments

Full Time

No Continuous Assessment
Project
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 60
Timing n/a Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4
Non-marked No
Assessment Description
Project
No Practical
End of Module Formal Examination
Assessment Type Formal Exam % of Total Mark 40
Timing End-of-Semester Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5
Non-marked No
Assessment Description
End of semester exam
Reassessment Requirement
Repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a coursework element.
Reassessment Description
Exam & CA reassessment in certain coursework elements.

SETU Carlow Campus reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Workload Category Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact No Description 12 Weeks per Stage 4.00 48
Independent Learning Time Non Contact No Description 12 Weeks per Stage 3.33 40
Project Non Contact No Description 12 Weeks per Stage 3.33 40
Total Weekly Contact Hours 4.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Mark DeKay,G. Z. Brown. (2014), Sun, Wind, and Light: Architectural Design Strategies, 3rd edition. John Wiley & Sons, p.432, [ISBN: 9780470945780].
  • Randall McMullan. (2012), Environmental Science in Building, 7th edition. Palgrave MacMillan, p.420, [ISBN: 9780230290808].
  • S. V. Szokolay. (2014), Introduction to Architectural Science, 3rd edition. [ISBN: 9780415824989].
  • Randall Thomas. (2006), Environmental design: an introduction for architects and engineers, 3rd edition.
  • Norbert Lechner. (2014), Heating, Cooling, Lighting, John Wiley & Sons, p.720, [ISBN: 9781118582428].
  • David V. Chadderton. (2013), Building Services Engineering, 6th edition. [ISBN: 9780415699327].
  • Fred Hall,Roger Greeno. (2013), Building Services Handbook, 7th edition. [ISBN: 9780415631402].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Michael Wigginton,Jude Harris. (2002), Intelligent Skins, Routledge, p.176, [ISBN: 0750648473].
  • Peter Burberry. (2008), Mitchells Environment and services, 9th edition. [ISBN: 9780582432321].
  • Peter Frederick Smith. (2007), Sustainability at the cutting edge: emerging technologies for low energy, Architectural Press.
  • Nick Baker,Koen Steemers. (2002), Daylight Design of Buildings, Earthscan, p.250, [ISBN: 1873936885].
  • Nick Baker, Koen Steemers. Energy and environment in architecture: a technical design guide.
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources
  • CIBSE. (2006), CIBSE Guide A, Environmental Design,7th edition,.
  • CIBSE. (2005), Applications manual,AM10, Natural ventilation in non-domestic buildings, ISBN 1 903287 56 1,.
  • CIBSE. (2006), Knowledge series, Comfort, ISBN-10: 1-903287-67-7,.
  • CIBSE. (2011), Knowledge Series, KS17, Indoor air quality and ventilation; ISBN: 978-1-906846-19- 0,.
  • CIBSE. (2012), Knowledge Series: KS20 Practical psychrometry ISBN: 978-1-906846-26-8,.
  • BSRIA guide. (2005), BG 2/2005, Wind-driven natural ventilation systems, ISBN 0860226476,.
Discussion Note: