Presenters
Govind Maksay, Project Specialist - Residential Buildings, Moreland Energy Foundation
Mathew Sullivan, Technical Advice Specialist, Moreland Energy Foundation
Course outline
1) Introduction and theory
- National and international trends and policies influencing building standards
- Key elements of passive design and introduction to thermal modelling tools
2) Heat and the nature of heat transfer
- Principles of thermodynamics, thermal stratification and types of heat transfer
- Energy from the sun and other sources (eg long-wave, shortwave radiation)
3) Australian climate zones and their impacts on design strategies
4) Orientation
- Principles of good orientation
- Impact on building performance and renewable energy accessibility
5) Ventilation
- Cross ventilation and window positioning
- Designing floor plans to allow for ventilation
6) Thermal mass
- How thermal mass differs from insulation
- Thermal ratings and why mass is not magic
- Disadvantages: when to avoid thermal mass
- Adding thermal mass to lightweight buildings
- Phase change plasterboard
7) Thermal envelope and thermal bridging
- Theory of thermal bridging and common problem areas
- Overview of building techniques and technologies to reduce thermal bridging
8) Insulation
- Types of insulation and applications
- Understanding R values (i.e. added R value vs. total R value)
- Correct installation and the impact of gaps
9) Overview of air leakage
- Impacts of air leakage
- Identifying and measuring sources of leakage
- Building techniques to reduce air leakage
- Desired air leakage (ventilation) vs infiltration/ex-filtration
- Use of mechanical heat recovery ventilation
10) Glazing
- Principles of glazing and understanding U values
- Thermal performance and recommended glazing to floor area ratios
- High performance glazing, skylights and shading devices
- Understanding Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS) technical specifications (SHGC etc.)
11) Innovative approaches and products: understanding and evaluating new technologies
12) Thermal modelling tools
- How rating tools work: NatHERS energy rating protocols and introduction to FirstRate5
- Case study: pathways to improving energy ratings
- Using FirstRate5 as a thermal modelling research tool
Recommended for
Tradespeople, designers, local government officers, owner-builders and renovators. Suitable for people with non-technical backgrounds. Group courses can be tailored to particular audience requirements.
Course Length
Half day
Cost
$350 per person
