Environment, Energy & Climate

The United Nations Sustainability Goals identify pathways for a sustainable planet, where resources are utilized responsibly while meeting the needs of living organisms. This course explores architectural design methodologies and solutions that are ecologically and environmentally responsible. Throughout the semester, the course lectures explore architectural and engineering solutions to maximize occupant comfort, well-being, health and productivity, while also minimizing energy consumption. The course provides an overview of passive and active solutions and how their interactions influence the metrics of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). During the course, students gain a deeper understanding of how lighting, air, thermal, acoustical and spatial decisions impact energy consumption and building occupants. The lectures explore the human and environmental implications of solutions that respond to current and future climate conditions, and acknowledge the interconnective relationship between living organisms and their environment.