Environmental Building Systems

This module progresses a learner from an understanding of energy efficient services gained in stage 1 and 2, to explore more advanced environmental and  sustainable design, energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies to meet the Irish building regulation requirements. This module draws attention to the juxtaposition between space heating and ventilation requirements, with particular emphasis on the use of heat pumps and photovoltaic arrays, as part of the overall energy equation. On completion, the learner will be able to complete, as a design-exercise, a Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment of a dwelling house, or of an apartment. This will help inform a learners' training as an architectural technologist on the fabric-first approach to energy conservation and environmental services used in the built environment. It will also assist in exploring cold bridges and detailing using the Acceptable Construction Details, alongside certified psi values, and psi values created by individuals on the national thermal modeller scheme.

1. Demonstrate an understanding of building services in relation to building design, performance, environmental impact, integration of engineering solutions and sustainability principles in the built environment.

2. Contribute to the development of technical designs that respond to a range of environmental and technological design challenges while meeting regulatory requirements and reflecting on the influence of the architectural technologist on the design of sustainable development and the natural environment.

3. Demonstrate an ability to apply a focussed range of statutory and regulatory requirements pertaining to building and buildings.

4. Investigate building performance design solutions applying appropriate tools including statutory metrics and measure an aspect of as-built building performance to evaluate the effectiveness of design solutions.