Buildings Courses

The Buildings specialization in the Green Technology Diploma program provides in-depth knowledge in sustainable practices for building design, construction, operation, and demolition processes. It offers both quantitative and qualitative tools for design and evaluation of performance of new and existing buildings including: materials, envelope, heating, cooling, and ventilation systems that provide comfort, good air quality, and building energy demands. Moreover, it offers essential knowledge of green building concepts needed for rating buildings and minimizing their impact on the environment, and the depletion of natural resources. 

PRGR 630 Sustainable Preservation and Restoration of Existing Buildings - 2 credits

The course examines the benefits of green existing buildings and covers sustainable restoration processes involving: energy audits, construction materials, structural elements, electromechanical systems, site improvement, water conservation, and indoor environmental quality; in addition, to associated operations, management, and costs.

Course Syllabus

PRGR 631 Low Energy Architecture and Passive Building Design - 2 credits

This course centers on issues surrounding the integration of sustainable and passive design principles into conceptual and practical building design. Topics include: solar geometry, climate/regional limitations, natural lighting, passive design and sustainability initiatives, insulating and energy storing material, bio-climatic design, and concepts. Case studies will be used extensively as a vehicle to discuss the success/failure of ideas and their physical applications.

Course Syllabus

PRGR 632 Sustainable Building Materials - 2 credits

The course covers the description of sustainable building materials and products, such as, categories and types, factors and criteria for evaluation and selection, specifications and standards, life cycle assessment concepts and tools, and integration into projects.

Course Syllabus

PRGR 633 Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency in Buildings ** - 2 credits

The course focus is on HVAC design optimization and energy conservation measures in a built-in environment to enhance the building’s energy efficiency while maintaining space thermal comfort and indoor air quality requirement. In addition, it includes concepts of district cooling/heating systems, dehumidification and personalized ventilation systems. It also covers renewable energy integration in building systems including: photo-voltaic, solar-thermal, and geothermal.

Performance and energy consumption of the conventional air conditioning system (constant and variable air volume) as well as the hybrid integrated air conditioning systems will be discussed and compared. The course will include several demonstrations of concept experiments.

**Can be counted as an Energy concentration course.

Course Syllabus

PRGR 634 Moisture and Control of Humidity in Buildings - 2 credits
This course covers sources of moisture and factors affecting its entry and buildup inside buildings, such as, construction practices and choice of building materials, and furniture. Other topics including: impact of moisture on thermal comfort and energy performance of the air-conditioning system, solid/liquid desiccant dehumidification, and hybrid air-conditioning systems are discussed. This module also covers modeling of moisture transport, the industrial need to control indoor humidity, and moisture-caused health issues, including, mold formation and growth.
PRGR 637 Green Building Basics and Building Rating Practices - 2 credits

This course covers assessment building design and construction operations, such as, project rating systems (LEED, BREEAM, QSAS, etc.). Other topics include: embodied energy, carbon content and emission of CO2, SO2 and NOx of building materials, elements, and construction process. Water conservation, water management systems, water efficient landscaping, green roofing, rainwater harvesting, sanitary fixtures and plumbing systems, wastewater treatment and reuse, and process water strategies are also discussed.

**Students cannot receive credits for both PRGR 637 and PRGR 647

Course Syllabus

PRGR 639 Construction and Demolition Waste Management - 2 credits

This course covers building disposal techniques including deconstruction, as well as, selective and partially selective demolition, design and construction for deconstruction, and reuse. Other topics include: waste minimization through prefabrication, preassembly, and modular construction. Sustainable waste management including: recycling and reuse of waste materials, and components are also discussed.

Course Syllabus 

PRGR 643 Refrigeration and Heat Pumps - 2 credits

This course is designed to introduce students to refrigeration and heat pump theory. Topics introduced include: basic mechanical vapor-compression cycle, refrigerant properties, multistage vapor compression cycles, compressors types, condensers and evaporators, expansion devices, refrigeration piping material, selection and proper sizing, and simulation of heat pumps and cost-effective design options.

Course Syllabus

PRGR 645 Building Energy System Modeling - 2 credits

The course covers indoor space thermal models and the analysis and modeling of building energy systems involving: applications of thermodynamics, economics, heat transfer, fluid flow, and optimization. The use of modern computational tools to model thermal performance characteristics of components of HVAC systems including: chillers, recovery systems, flow control devices, heat exchanges, solar panels, dehumidification systems, boilers, condensers, cooling towers, fans, duct systems, piping systems, and pumps are also discussed.

Course Syllabus

PRGR 646 Energy Management System of Buildings ** - 2 credits

The Building Management Systems course provides the necessary tools to control, monitor and optimize the building’s facilities, mechanical and electrical equipment for comfort, safety, and efficiency. It covers the principles of the building automation systems (BAS) applied to commercial HVAC equipment, lighting systems, fire and security systems; with a keen emphasis on the control routine for energy efficiency.

**Can be counted as an Energy concentration course

Course Syllabus

PRGR 647 Sustainable Building Design and Construction - 2 credits

This course covers the implementation of sustainability principles throughout the building’s lifecycle including: building rating systems (LEED, BREEAM, ESTIDAMA etc.), embodied energy, carbon content, and emission of COx, SOx, and NOx of building materials, elements, and construction process. Energy efficiency, water and wastewater management, indoor environmental quality, materials, and location/transportation measures are also discussed.

**Students cannot receive credits for both PRGR 637 and PRGR 647

Course Syllabus