IRMGR42718 Materials for Energy Efficient Buildings (Autumn 2021)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Master in Green Energy Technology (Elective).

Recommended requirements

Passed the courses Adapting Technology to the Circular Economy (10 ECTS) and Materials for Energy Technology (10 ECTS).

Lecture Semester

Third semester (autumn).

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

Knowledge:

The student

• has advanced knowledge regarding materials for energy efficient buildings

• is able to analyze scientific problems of materials for energy efficient buildings

• has advanced knowledge regarding the energy efficiency of buildings from a life cycle perspective

 

Skills:

The student

• is able to conduct computer simulations to evaluate how different material strategies influence the embodied energy of the building

• is able to conduct computer simulations of buildings containing use phase materials

• is able to plan and conduct a limited research project under supervision

 

General competence:

The student

• is able to collaborate and contribute to team projects

• is able to present results from a research project in writing and discuss the project orally.

Content

The students will learn about how different materials can be utilized to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings, keeping in mind the life cycle assessment of the building and environmental considerations. The students will learn how to utilize models and simulations to predict the energy efficiency of buildings and building materials.

 

The following topics will be covered:

• Energy efficiency in buildings from a life cycle perspective

• Utilization of the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for choosing materials with low embodied energy

• Optimizing the choice of heat insulating materials in a lifecycle perspective

• New materials with extremely good heat insulation properties based on nanotechnology

• Materials for airtight structures in buildings for reducing heat loss

• Reduction of building temperature fluctuations by utilization of materials with high thermal mass and with phase change materials

• Computer simulations of the energy efficiency in buildings, including the use of phase change materials (PCM) as one of the components

• Utilization of BIM (building information models) to register and control the use of different building materials.

Forms of teaching and learning

• Lectures

• Project work in groups

• Screencasts

• Supervision

 

The students will conduct three projects working in the same groups.

Project 1. Computer simulation of the energy saved during the operative phase by including phase change materials (PCM) in a building material. Simulation of only this material, without taking the rest of the building envelope into account. The computer simulations will be conducted utilizing measured parameters of the material. The project is research-based, and accordingly each group will conduct simulations that should result in new knowledge. The groups will conduct several computer simulations, either varying different aspects of the material, or examining the effects of different outdoor conditions (daily temperature variations, seasonal temperature variations, different climatic zones, variations in solar radiation, etc).

Project 2. LCA analysis of the materials utilized in Project 1, including the energy efficiency aspects.

Project 3. Computer simulation of the energy efficiency of buildings (the whole building envelope) during the operative phase, where the effect of the materials studied in Project 1 and 2 is included in the simulation. The project is research-based, and accordingly each group will conduct simulations that should result in new knowledge. When possible, variations of the same parameters as in Project 1 should be included.

 

The results from the three projects should be combined into one report, which clearly illustrates the connection between the three projects. The students can choose whether they deliver a classical project report, or a report in the form of a research article. This combined report is part of the exam in the course.

Workload

250-300 hours.

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

• Approved results from computer simulation of Project 1

• Approved results from LCA analysis of Project 2

• Approved results from computer simulation of Project 3

Examination

1. The group project report on the combined results from the three projects.

2. Individual oral exam, 0.5 hours. The students will be examined in both the theoretical part of the curriculum and regarding the content of the project report. 

In order to take the oral exam, the group project must be passed.

The students will receive one final grade for the course as a whole; grades on sub-evaluations will not be shown.

Grades from A to F, where A is the best grade, E is the lowest passed grade, and F is failed.

Examiners

Two internal examiners.

Conditions for resit/rescheduled exams

If the student fails the oral exam, they can re-take this exam maximum two more times. The students do not need to deliver a new report in order to re-take the oral exam.

 

If the project report is graded as failed, the students will be given one more chance to improve the report.

Course evaluation

The course will be evaluated by a standardized electronic form.

Literature

Last updated 05.10.2018. The reading list may be subject to change before the semester starts.

• Shukla and Sharma, ed. (2018), Sustainability through Energy-Efficient Buildings, CRC Press. ISBN 9781138066755

• Woods and Samdal, ed. (2017), ZEB Zero Emission Buildings - Final report, ISBN 978-82-690808-0-3. Including references within the report.

• Vinh Duy Cao, Shima Pilehvar, Carlos Salas-Bringas, Anna M. Szczotok, Tri Quang Bui, Manuel Carmona, Juan F. Rodriguez, and Anna-Lena Kjøniksen. "Thermal analysis of geopolymer concrete walls containing microencapsulated phase change materials for building applications", Submitted Manuscript.

• Vinh Duy Cao, Shima Pilehvar, Carlos Salas-Bringas, Anna M. Szczotok, Tri Quang Bui, Manuel Carmona, Juan F. Rodriguez, Anna-Lena Kjøniksen. "Thermal performance and numerical simulation of geopolymer concrete containing different types of thermoregulating materials for passive building applications." Energy and Buildings, (2018), 173, 678-688.

• Screencasts showing usage of computer simulation software.