U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Building Science Education
Description
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® Building Science Education series is designed to educate students and working professionals on building science principles that are paramount to the successful design of high-performance, energy-efficient buildings. AIAU offers architects and design professionals the opportunity to earn 7.25 LU|HSW credits across six Solar Decathlon Building Science Education courses that aim to educate on:
- Where/how energy is used in buildings
- How to define zero energy buildings
- How to apply the fundamentals of thermodynamics to building envelope design
- How to explain the science of how/why buildings use energy
- How to apply this knowledge to design comfortable energy efficient buildings
Brought to you in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.
Save up to 15% when you purchase the full series.
Learning Objectives
- Where/how energy is used in buildings
- How to define zero energy buildings
- How to apply the fundamentals of thermodynamics to building envelope design
- How to explain the science of how/why buildings use energy
- How to apply this knowledge to design comfortable energy efficient buildings
Courses
Buildings and Energy
This session presents the fundamental physics of power and energy and discusses how and where buildings use energy. Topics addressed include the impacts of buildings using energy, measuring power and energy, energy flows in the United States, buildings and the electricity grid, reading an electricity bill, and energy codes.
Course expires 03/05/2025
Zero Energy Buildings
This session on zero energy buildings introduces their foundational terminology, concepts, and strategies. Topics covered include defining zero energy, understanding site energy vs. source energy, the cost of zero energy buildings, setting goals, historically informed architecture, and passive design strategies.
Course expires 03/05/2025
Building Envelope
This session discusses thermodynamics and the laws of heat transfer and the application of these concepts to buildings to show how, where, and why heat flows through walls. Topics addressed include Fourier's Law, R-values and insulation, windows and fenestration, infiltration, control layers, and commissioning.
Course expires 03/05/2025
HVAC Systems
This session explains why and how to provide heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to buildings. Beginning with a discussion of various efficiency metric and ending with an examination of thermal energy storage, additional topics in this session include COP, SEER. and EERs, heating systems, heat pumps, load calculations, ventilation air, water heating science and technologies, and controls.
Course expires 03/05/2025
Lighting
This session is an introduction to lighting technologies and their energy impacts. Topics include the history of lighting, lighting technology comparisons, essential terms and definitions, and practical lighting applications.
Course expires 03/05/2025
Plug Loads
This focused nano-session discusses plug, process, and other miscellaneous loads in a building to demonstrate why they are an important part of the design problem.
Course expires 03/05/2025