Energy in Buildings

This module introduces the student to energy systems in buildings. The module describes the inter-relationships between building physics, human occupant behaviour and energy systems required to support the effective provision and maintenance of thermal comfort in buildings. Optimum states of comfort are defined including the necessary physical measurement and control infrastructure. Systematic procedures for the analysis of thermal comfort metrics and design principles of sustainable and smart buildings including conventional and renewable energy systems are presented. The content delivered is structured to consist of lectures in parallel with a team design project that provides the incremental development of energy simulation models that address the content in the lecture part, utilising real world buildings including a number of buildings on the NUI Galway campus.

Learning Outcomes
1. Define optimum comfort states in buildings
2. Calculate a range of building comfort metrics
3. Describe conventional and renewable energy systems in buildings
4. Analyse the energy requirements for specific zones in buildings
5. Size a number of energy systems in buildings
6. Describe the various sustainability indicators and weighting systems in sustainable assessment methodologies for buildings throughout their life-cycle
7. Develop validated energy simulation models for a variety of HVAC systems
8. Present a critiqued literature review of innovative energy concepts and technologies