SCHOOL  OF  ARCHITECTURE

Course Number: ARC 461e/561e
Year: Elec
Credit Hours: 3
Semester(s): Spring   
Prerequisites: Prior completion of ARC 461d/561d strongly recommended
Instructor(s): Nader Chalfoun   

Course Description:

A series of lectures and computer laboratory sessions that emphasize sustainability by focusing on green building technologies and energy efficient and passive solar design.  Description of the United States Green Building Council's "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" (LEED©) Initiative is presented and studied to allow students to achieve high performing energy efficient designs in a methodic way, and to help prepare them to take the exam and become LEED© Accredited Professionals.  The design process is assessed through the use of advanced computer energy simulation programs.  The Department of Energy's eQUEST computer program is introduced and explained as a modeling tool.  Also, ComCheck software is used to achieve ASHRAE 90.1, 2004 compliance.  Students will select different mixed-use or commercial projects to evaluate.  Undergraduate students may investigate their capstone design studio projects and graduate students may evaluate their thesis design/research projects.  In addition, students will conclude their design by integrating, insofar as possible, LEED© design recommendations to accumulate sufficient LEED© points to certify their designs

Objectives
1. Awareness of the principles and theories that deal with environmental context and the architect's responsibility with respect to global environmental issues, including sustainability, relevant codes, regulations and standards and their application to physical and environmental systems.
2. Understanding of major environmental systems that emphasize energy conservation and passive solar techniques, including investigation of human factors, climate/microclimate and building envelopes.
3. Acquisition of the necessary skills to conduct site surveys, use of analytical tools and instruments and to run computer energy simulation programs as means of analyzing the energy performance of existing residential and commercial buildings and/or new design projects.

Course Structure & Topics
The course will be divided into three modules. The first module introduces the LEED© criteria as a guiding force towards the design of green and energy efficient buildings.  These criteria are: 1) sustainable sites; 2) water efficiency; 3) energy and atmosphere; 4) materials and resources; and 5) indoor environmental quality.  Students read, present and discuss each of these criteria.  The second module engages the students with the design process as well as learning how to use two state-of-the-art computer energy compliance and simulation software applications:  ComCheck and eQUEST.  Students will select a project and create a basecase design that complies with ASHRAE 90.1, 2004.  The third module requires student to further develop the design based on LEED recommendations and use advanced computer simulation techniques to accumulate credit points towards ranking their design.

Course Requirements
Attendance is mandatory; in addition, students must complete all skill development exercises, a midterm report ,and a final presentation and report.
Assignments:
Module 1: Six take-home skill development exercises.  Students will write short essays and create a presentation on each criterion, to be discussed and presented the next class.  In-class exams will be administered for each criterion.
Module 2: In-laboratory computer exercises emphasizing performance prediction and code compliance using ComCheck and eQUEST computer software.
Module 3: Parametric analysis for performance optimization, cost analysis, and LEED© documentation, with special submittal forms used for ranking the design.  A final presentation and a final report are required.
Reading:
The LEED reference package is required, as well as class handouts and computer software manuals.  Additional reading assignments are chosen from different sources.  In-class notes are strongly recommended.
Materials:
1. Personal laptops are highly recommended
2. 3-ring notebooks with front cover insert and section dividers for keeping all handouts
3. Media storage materials such as jump drives or cds.  A digital copy of each final report is required..

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