Low-energy sustainable building design is not just the result of applying one or more isolated technologies. Rather, it is an integrated whole-building process that requires advocacy and action on the part of the design team throughout the entire project development process. This course discusses what low-energy design means, specific strategies to be considered, when and where to apply these strategies, and how to evaluate their cost effectiveness. This course is based on the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Federal Energy Management Programs document DOE/EE-0249, “Low-Energy Building Design Guidelines,” July, 2001.

Learning Objectives

• Selecting energy-saving strategies appropriate for the building type
• Integrating low-energy concepts into the design process
• Reducing cooling loads by eliminating undesirable solar heat gain.
• Reducing heating loads by using desirable solar heat gain.
• Using natural light as a substitute for (or complement to) electrical lighting
• Using natural ventilation
• Using more efficient heating and cooling equipment to satisfy reduced loads
• Rank-ordering design technologies
• Benefiting from multiple use
• Learning from case studies.