Building Sustainability

This subject is not offered in 2013.

120 hours

Entry into the Melbourne School of Design or approval from the subject coordinator.

702-444 Building Sustainability (UG)

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject provides a multi-disciplinary overview of the design of sustainable buildings and considers the design from an architectural, services engineering, facade engineering, environmental engineering and structural engineering, tenants and owners perspective. Topics include: ecological sustainable design, life cycle analysis, planning for sustainable buildings and cities, regulatory environment, barriers to green buildings, green building rating tools, material selection, embodied energy, operating energy, indoor environmental quality (noise, light and air), facade systems, ventilation systems, transportation, water treatment systems, water efficiency, building economics, and staff productivity.

A number of industry based case study examples will be introduced to complement the lectures.

On successful completion, students should be able to:

• identify the critical sustainability issues that should be addressed in planning a building or new development;
• estimate the green star rating of a new building;
• identify the issues effecting indoor environmental quality;
• select different heating and cooling ventilation systems and justify the selection;
• calculate the embodied energy of different structural systems including recycled materials and faade systems;
• calculate the utilisation energy and greenhouse gas production of different building conceptual designs;
• carry out conceptual designs for the design of a water supply system for a building with a focus on water conservation and recycling measures and estimate the expected water consumption requirement;
• undertake cost studies of different green star rated buildings using life cycle cost analysis techniques.

• One two-hour written exam (40%).
• One written assignment of approximately 4,000 words or equivalent (60%).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• Self-directed learning.
• Written, verbal and visual presentation of ideas.
• Essay and report writing.
• Graphic communication skills.
• Ability to analyse social and cultural contexts.
• Critical thinking and analysis.
• Appropriate use of design terminology.