ARC 327R.17 / ARC 386M.19 Seminar
Mon 7:00 – 10:00pm, SUT 2.112
Open to all SOA and non-SOA students
Dason Whitsett: dwhitsett@utexas.edu
Solar Geometry and Energy Flow in Buildings examines the relationship between buildings and the energy that flows around and through them. Developing a strong understanding of the principles that govern this interaction is important for anyone involved with the built environment. The class begins by looking at the source of all Earth’s renewable energy—the sun. Students learn about its apparent motion, how its energy strikes and interacts with our buildings, and how we may exploit these principles in our building practice. Students demonstrate their mastery of the topic by designing and building a solar oven, then using it to cook something for the class to share. From there, the class proceeds to an examination of the concept of human comfort and various models for assessing whether an environment is “comfortable.” The final segment of the course focuses on the transfer of heat, solar radiation, and moisture through the building envelope and how these flows affect comfort and energy use. The relationship of these fundamentals to the methodology of the Passive House certification system will be a theme throughout the semester. Students analyze these phenomena through exercises and experiments that involve drawings, hand calculations, physical models, and computer simulations. The exercises form a “tool box” of methods that may be applied to future projects. The course provides a good foundation for students to understand and apply principles of building performance, and for those who plan to move on to the study of whole-building energy simulation.
