MSc Low Energy Building Services Engineering degree

The module explores the key principles and practice involved in the design of the indoor environment for diverse international contexts. The module focus on occupant thermal comfort, visual and acoustic comfort and air quality in all types of buildings. The students will gain a knowledge and understanding of the factors that influence human productivity, indoor air quality, and their impact on people’s wellbeing in buildings worldwide.

Good design of heating system requires a good understanding of building thermal load. The students will analyse building thermal load, learn the design of different air distribution systems with detailed analytics techniques designed to tackle complex psychrometric analysis of HVAC systems.

Building energy modelling is used widely in research and consultancy and for a range of different clients and purposes. However, the question of how well these models represent reality is sometimes ignored and is often misunderstood. This module will introduce students to different modelling techniques, including 3D BIM, help them to discover the underlying methods, and guide them in choosing appropriate modelling tools with awareness of their limitations.

This module enhances students’ skills in communicating research ideas and building performance using wide range of media. Students learn how to use online literature databases, formulate research proposals, review any literature by critical constructive synthesis and make oral presentations. The students will be able design and carry out field studies and simulation exercises to assess particular aspects of building performance.

The key principles of electrical and power distribution systems in building including renewable systems are covered. The students will be able to assess the building electrical power systems for various design of HVAC and associated related equipment. Balancing the building electrical load and the renewable generation and storage will be discussed and appropriate methods for reducing the energy demand will be explored.

The principals and practical design and analysis of air condition systems, district heating, CHP and systems for heat recovery are discussed. The module covers the latest innovation in Building Renewable systems, Heat networks generation, storage and thermal load distribution in buildings. The latest low energy supply systems and their operation using integrated low temperature are presented.

The Research Dissertation will be carried out throughout the year and is based on individual projects. It provides an opportunity to study a particularly interesting aspect of energy and building performance in depth with close supervision from experts in the field. Students have undertaken full-scale trials, conducted monitoring and questionnaire studies in buildings across the campus, run laboratory experiments using state-of-the-art equipment and applied novel energy modelling tools. The research is often aligned with our large collaborative research projects and the best work is published in conferences or academic journals.

This module focuses on the current issues of improving human thermal comfort and building energy use through automatic control, smart meters and control strategies applied to a wide range of buildings worldwide. The students will be able to evaluate and apply the latest procedures used for the commissioning of building energy systems, Soft landings and Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE). The latest remotely controlled sensors, outstations and Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) are demonstrated.

The principles and key areas of the building design for passive house, low and zero energy will be covered in details. Students learn about the complex role of the architect and energy consultant in building design and the multidisciplinary aspect of the concept design. This module provides the requisite training and preparation for students to become a BREEAM Accredited Graduate.

This modules aims to develop students understanding of the principles of design management and techniques for cost and value management. On completion of the module students will have a knowledge and understanding of the design process and techniques used to manage design in construction projects and manage design costs.

Content covered in the module will include:

• Managing the design team
• Value management
• Roles and workings of Conceptual, Schematic and Detail design phases
• Process protocol
• Process mapping techniques
• Dependence structure matrix
• Design economics

This module is assessed by a group coursework report and presentation (50%) alongside an exam (50%).

This module aims to introduce students to the range of techniques and strategies for managing people and teams within the context of the construction sector and provides students with the opportunity to apply this knowledge within individual and team-based exercises. On completion of the module the students should have a knowledge and understanding of the key fundamental management principles and theory (such as motivation, teamwork, leadership, task management and how they can be applied to managing people within the context of the construction project environment. 

This module aims to deliver hands-on practical skills on the use of BIM technologies (i.e. design software and collaboration tools) for real-time collaboration of federated/aggregated 3D BIM models. The theories of group working; workspace awareness and shared situational awareness within design teams/processes will be explored.