
Duration: 4 weeks, 2 units/week
Module Introduction
Municipalities, city planners, architects, engineers and contractors have to tackle the emerging challenges related to the increase in population and the growth of cities. The creation of resilient, ecological and regenerative solutions for urban environments requires investments in knowledge, education and interdisciplinary collaboration across the building sector. In order to mitigate the consequences of climate change and to reduce CO2 emissions in the construction sector there is a rising need of professional figures able to address energy efficiency, climate neutral design approaches and circular economy. The lead will be taken by those professionals who are trained to manage net-zero energy housing, adaptive building systems and positive energy districts in the framework of a new regenerative approach, therefore contributing to the transition to the post carbon era. A key role in that transition will be played by Green Buildings Managers.
Existing buildings and infrastructures are great assets of the urban built environment, and their regeneration are pivotal for the achievement of Sustainable Development. Urban mining, recycling and re-use of construction materials will become the most suitable solution for the building industry in the framework of smart resource management. These changes will require not only a new mindset but also advanced practices for re-defining the value chain of buildings in forecast of a significant reduction of carbon footprint.
Module Focus
The module goal is to provide an understanding of the principles, strategies and tools for the enforcement of green and sustainable buildings, from design stages to construction and operations. It introduces a wide range of topics including principles and historical development of passive house design their international development. It covers green building certifications such as BREEAM, LEED, WELL and Passivhaus, and provides an understanding of the role played by BIM in creating design constructs that can be carried on in collaboration with other professionals. It addresses innovation in the building industry, the transition to digital, and introduces the impact of advanced mobility strategies for the creation of more efficient urban districts.
The Structure
- Introduction to Green Buildings
- Introduction to Energy
- Sustainable Buildings
- Green Building certifications
- Building Information Modelling
- Sustainable Materials and Processes
- Design for Disassembly
- Water and Waste Management