Course syllabus - Buildings and Energy Systems

Objectives

The Building and Energy Systems course aims to provide students with a deep understanding of energy use in buildings and their role within the broader energy system. By integrating advanced technologies and sustainability principles, students develop the ability to critically analyze and enhance building energy performance. The course offers a broad introduction to energy-efficient solutions and sustainable strategies, providing a solid foundation for addressing the technical and societal challenges in the future of the building and energy sectors.

Learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate understanding of fundamental principles in heat transfer, thermodynamics, and energy flows within buildings to perform energy balance calculations essential for analyzing building energy performance. 
2. Describe and compare various energy sources (both electrical and thermal) that can be integrated into building systems and explain their operational principles, potential uses, and applicability based on the building's energy demands and integration feasibility. 
3. Evaluate building energy performance standards and classifications, including energy auditing procedures. Assess the role of these standards in maintaining energy efficiency, ensuring regulatory compliance, and optimizing energy consumption within buildings.  
4. Demonstrate proficiency in applying measurement data and software tools (e.g. Excel and Python, etc.) to assess energy efficiency and potential savings. 
5. Assess the economic impacts of integrating various energy solutions into buildings, considering aspects such as cost-efficiency and long-term energy management.  

Course content

This course provides an in-depth exploration of building energy use and its integration within broader energy systems. It begins with a concise yet intensive review of key building physics principles, including heat transfer fundamentals and a review of thermodynamic principles necessary for understanding energy systems integrated into buildings. 
The course includes lectures, project work, and assignments, where students will study the latest advancements in energy technologies that can be integrated into buildings. It also examines the socio-economic, environmental, and political frameworks that influence building energy conditions and system integration. 

Students will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, including: 
* Understanding energy flows within buildings 
* Evaluating energy efficiency and performance of integrated systems 
* Analyzing sustainability and environmental impacts of building technologies
* Engaging with real-world examples of energy systems, including renewable technologies. 

This combination of technical, environmental, and policy perspectives prepares students to navigate the complex, interdisciplinary challenges of modern energy systems in buildings. 

Specific requirements

A completed bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education of three years or more, equivalent to 180 credits, of which at least 60 credits are within construction and building engineering, civil engineering, architectural engineering, mechanical engineering or equivalent, including sum of any combination of courses heat transfer, control systems, structural mechanics and structural engineering, building technology, building materials and building physics equivalent to 15 ECTS credits. 
In addition, applicants need to have mathematics, numerical methods and/or programming equivalent to 22.5 ECTS credits.  

English proficiency 
English proficiency equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. You can meet the requirement with an English test, for example a TOEFL test result, with a minimum score 575 with a TWE score of at least 4.5 (PBT) or 90 with a TWE score of at least 20 (iBT), or an IELTS test result with an overall band score of at least 6.5 and no band score below 5.5, or equivalent is required. 

Examination

* Home exam (HEM1), 2.5 credits, grade scale (3,4,5) (Refers to learning objective 1, 2)  
* Project report (PRO1), 2.5 credits, grade Passed (U, G) (Refers to learning objectives 2,3)  
* Assignment (INL1), 2.5 credits, grade scale (3,4,5) (Refers to learning objective 2,4,5)  

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Pass with distinction, Pass with credit, Pass, Fail