EPN-V2

MAEN5200 Energy design and building physics Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Energidesign og bygningsfysikk
Weight
10.0 ECTS
Year of study
2025/2026
Course history
Curriculum
FALL 2025
Schedule
  • Introduction

    The course Energy design and building physics will give the students a comprehensive knowledge of analysis of building physics. The course has a special focus on the façade's impact on climate adaptation, heat transport, moisture, thermal comfort and daylight.

  • Recommended preliminary courses

    MAEN4100/MAEND4100 Thermodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer

    MAEN4200/MAEND4200 Energy use and indoor climate

    MAEN4300/MAEND4300 Fluid dynamics and computational methods

  • Required preliminary courses

    None other than admission requirements

  • Learning outcomes

    After completing this course, the student has achieved the following learning outcomes, defined as knowledge, skills and general competence:

    Knowledge

    The student has in-depth knowledge of

    - how to design a facade that provides good indoor climate and low energy consumption

    - moisture and heat transport through the building envelope including windows, walls, ceilings and floor slabs

    - elements of passive house design, on the topics of indoor climate and energy use

    - the roles and processes of integrated building design

    - the most important criteria and calculation methods for daylight design and energy efficient lighting

    - airflow in buildings and how to achieve airtight buildings

    - principles and challenges of heat recovery

    Skills

    The student is capable of

    - performing calculations and analysing results for U- and g-values for windows, walls, ceilings and floor slabs

    - performing calculations and analysing results for thermal comfort in case of solar radiation and low outdoor temperatures

    - performing calculations and analysing results for thermal bridges

    - performing calculations and analysing results for moisture transport through structures

    - performing calculations and analysing results of daylight conditions in rooms and energy savings by daylight control

    - designing buildings which meet criteria for good indoor climate and low energy demand

    - designing and analysing ventilation and infiltration in conjunction with pressure conditions, and designing energy optimal solutions

    - designing façades with optimal performance on thermal comfort, daylight, energy demand and cost-efficiency

    General competence

    The student is capable of

    - analysing buildings and solving problems related to detailed design of building parts, considering thermal comfort, daylight, moisture and energy demand

    - considering the extent and distribution of thermal bridges and proposing measures to avoid condensation and achieve good thermal comfort and low energy demand

    - evaluating and choosing the right tool for the problem

    - planning and performing an analysis of relevant building physics problems, and provide relevant advice for a client

  • Teaching and learning methods

    Lectures, exercises and project work in Groups

  • Course requirements

    The following required coursework must be approved before a student can take the exam:

    • Meet all deadlines during the semester for submission of all 5 project reports.
  • Assessment

    The exam consist of two parts:

    1) Project portfolio, which consists of 5 reports, weighted 50%. The students will work in groups of 2. The total length of the portfolio (all 5 reports) are expected to be approx. 60-80 pages, without appendices.

    2) Individual written exam (3 hours), under supervision, weighted 50%.

    All assessment parts must be awarded a pass grade (E or better) in order for the student to pass the course.

    Both the project protfolio and the written exam can be appealed.

  • Permitted exam materials and equipment

    1. All aids permitted.

    2. All written aids (including lecture notes) are permitted.

  • Grading scale

    Graded scale A-F

  • Examiners

    Two internal examiners

    Additional external examiners will be used with regular intervals.

  • Course contact person

    Dimitrios Kraniotis