MSc in Sustainable Energy Systems

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Course Information Package

Course Unit TitleSUSTAINABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Course Unit CodeMES521
Course Unit Details
Number of ECTS credits allocated6
Learning Outcomes of the course unitBy the end of the course, the students should be able to:
  1. Outline the theoretical foundations of sustainability in the built environment.
  2. Identify the role and the impact of the main parameters determining the environmental performance of buildings.
  3. Identify the role and the impact of the main parameters determining the environmental performance of open and public spaces.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, regulatory and normative framework.
  5. Implement solutions for the improvement of buildings’ energy and environmental performance, both of new and of existing buildings.
  6. Implement solutions for the upgrading of thermal comfort, habitability and sustainability of public and open spaces.
Mode of DeliveryFace-to-face
PrerequisitesNONECo-requisitesNONE
Recommended optional program componentsNONE
Course ContentsModule A - Urban microclimate and buildings

·  Microclimate, urban climate, and their interactions
·  The effects of current designing, planning and construction practice.
·  Urbanisation and the heat island effect
·  Street canyons and their impact on cooling loads

Module B - Sustainability in the built environment: Use of materials and resources.
·  Environmental impact of building materials
·  Ecological footprint of cities
·  Water and domestic waste management infrastructures and schemes
·  Demolition practices and waste management schemes

Module C - Energy and environmental performance of buildings
·  Measuring energy efficiency, evaluating environmental performance.
·  Energy audits, energy and environmental certification of buildings.

Module D - Utilization of renewable energy sources in the urban built environment.
·  Solar, wind and geothermal energy.
·  Centralized RES systems

Module E - Sustainability policies
·  The European legal framework
·  Legislation on the management of the building stock
·  Legislation on building materials
·  Strategies and aims for future developments.

Module F - Energy renovation strategies
·  Effective renovation policies for the building stock
·  Incentives, barriers and the utilisation of the energy conservation potential
·  Optimizing the use of restricted resources
Recommended and/or required reading:
Textbooks
  • Building, Energy and the Environment, (Kosmopoulos P., ed.), 2008, University Studio Press, Thessaloniki
  • Environmental design of urban built environment, M.Santamouris (ed.), 2003, James and James, London, UK
  • J. Yang, Peter Brandon, A.C. Sidwell, Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 2005, Wiley Blackwell
References
  • K.M. Fowler, E.M. Rauch, Sustainable Building Rating Systems, Department of Energy, 2006, USA.
  • Peter Graham, Building Ecology: First Principles for a Sustainable Built Environment, , 2002, Wiley Blackwell
  • Papadopoulos A.M. and Giama E. (2007), Environmental performance evaluation of thermal insulation materials and its impact on the building, Building and Environment 42, 5, 2178-2187
  • Papadopoulos A.M. (2007), Energy cost and its impact on regulating the buildings’ energy behaviour, Advances in Building Energy Research 1, 105-121
  • Papadopoulos A.M., Oxizidis S., Papandritsas G. (2008), Energy, economic and environmental performance of heating systems used in Greek buildings, Energy and Buildings 40, 224-230
  • Oxizidis S., Dudek A.V. and Papadopoulos A.M. (2008), A computational method to assess the impact of urban climate on buildings using modeled climatic data, Energy and Buildings 40, 215-223
  • Oxizidis S. and Papadopoulos A.M. (2008), Solar air conditioning: A review of technological and market perspectives, Advances in Building Energy Research 2, 123-158
  • Papadopoulos Α.M. and Giama E. (2009), Rating systems for counting buildings’ environmental performance, International Journal of Sustainable Energy 28, 01-03, 29-43.
  • Anastaselos D., Giama E. and Papadopoulos A.M. (2009), An assessment tool for the energy, economic and environmental evaluation of thermal insulation solutions, Energy and Buildings 41, 1165-1171
Planned learning activities and teaching methodsThe course is presented through theoretical lectures in class. The lectures present to the student the course content and allow for questions. The material is presented using visual aids (i.e. PowerPoint presentation slides, documentaries, etc.). The aim is to familiarize the student with the different and faster pace of presentation and also allow the instructor to present related material that would otherwise be very difficult to do. The learning process is enhanced with the requirement from the student to carry in-class discussions and tackling of hypothetical scenarios in small-group exercises. A final project, which is required as part of the students assessment for the course, allows students the opportunity to carry out independent research, synthesize basic concepts presented in class, as well as hone their writing and presentation skills. Besides from the notes taken by students in class, all of the course material is made available through the class website which is available through the University’s E-learning platform (“Moodle”). The instructors are available to students during office hours or by appointment in order to provide necessary guidance.
Assessment methods and criteria
Term project30%
Final Exam70%
Language of instructionEnglish
Work placement(s)NO
School of Architecture, Fine and Applied Arts School of Education School of Engineering and Applied Sciences School of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Health Sciences School of Economic Sciences and Administration