CEM360: Energy in Buildings and Building Simulation

Module code: CEM360

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Mehdi Shahrestani, email: m.shahrestani@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Emmanuel Essah, email: e.a.essah@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The aim of this module is to provide a broad understanding of the extent of energy consumption in buildings, its patterns, and profiles as well as to introduce the concept of building energy performance assessment. Students will also learn about the policies and socio-technical issues relating to building energy systems and they will develop an understanding and skills required to critically analyse different approaches toward reducing energy consumption and energy-related CO2 emissions in buildings. In addition, this module introduces the theory of heat transfer and an overview of building simulations to equip students through training and demonstration of an Industry standard building simulation software, with skills in building computational modelling and simulation techniques. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Understand energy demand and load profiles, policies, and socio-technical issues relating to building energy systems
2. Analyse the energy performance of energy and environmental systems in buildings
3. Perform simulations using computer software packages
4. Analyse results and propose optimum solutions

Module content

This module is structured to be delivered in two weeks of one block week sessions. One week focusing on the aspect of energy in building theory and application and the other week developing the context and know-how through building simulation. Contents of this module include:  

• Introduction to energy in Buildings 
• Energy performance assessment 
• Heat transfer theory and application  
• Energy policy and social issues 
• Combined Heat and Power (CHP) in buildings 
• Intelligent buildings, concept, and application  
• Solar energy systems 
• Domestic energy demand and supply load profile 
• Heating ventilation and air conditioning systems 
• Sustainable materials in building design 
• Introduction to building simulation- theory  
• Application of theories and concepts acquired in the aspect of energy in buildings in the design and modelling of buildings. 
• Developing a functional building simulation model  
• Evaluation and analysis of the data obtained including varied scenarios against potential benchmarks 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module is to be delivered through a series of lectures and seminars, practical classes. Students will be offered an opportunity to consolidate their knowledge and understanding gained in this module by visiting the latest building sustainable technologies. Both in-person sessions and digital methods are used in this module to introduce the concepts and theories relevant to energy in buildings as well as to demonstrate their applications. For building simulation, students will be provided with demonstration and hands-on step by step training of how the software is used.

Study hours

At least 15 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The below information applies toall full time and flexible modularstudents on taught PGT programmes in SBE

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Practice questions will be provided in the tutorial sessions in order to provide students with an opportunity to test their understanding of the topics discussed in lectures and prepare students for summative assessments. 

Reassessment

Additional costs