EDAD567 Building Operating Systems 3cr

Mechanical/electrical/plumbing/communication systems for domestic to tall buildings are introduced in the context of declining energy supplies and increasing global pollution. Lower energy systems for heating, ventilating, air conditioning, plumbing, and lighting for new and retro-fit applications are contrasted with traditional systems, and selections of architectural design and landscape elements which support more sustainable systems are covered. Students estimate heating, cooling, ventilating, lighting, electrical, elevator, sewage and pure water loads and gain some understanding of how handling these loads affects the space and layout of buildings and what sort of collaboration with engineers is to be expected. The principles of operation and code standards for the various environmental control systems are explained, together with relative costs and expected maintenance requirements. Issues of energy source availability, safety, pollution, storage and delivery are discussed from a local and global perspective. Field trips to local “”green”” buildings demonstrate the use of currently available lower energy systems.