This course focuses on understanding physical interactions between buildings and their natural environment. It covers fundamental topics in building physics such as psychrometrics, solar geometry, and heat transfer in buildings in order for students to learn how environmental aspects influence design performance and how they design strategies control and modify building performance.

The major objectives of this course are for students to:

• Understand key relationships between environmental variables and design elements
• Understand and evaluate key performance aspects associated with buildings in designing a building
• Use heating and cooling load calculation methods for assessment of building energy performance
• Understand principles associated with passive design strategies and appropriately utilize them for design of energy-efficient buildings
• Understand differences among various HVAC systems and design HVAC systems that meet performance requirements