Building Energy Efficiency: Fundamentals of Heat Transfer

Energy consumption in buildings is a major concern for sustainability and operational costs. Understanding how heat moves through materials is crucial for designing structures that minimize waste and maintain comfortable indoor conditions. This course provides a foundational understanding of classical thermodynamics and its direct application to building science. You will gain the analytical skills necessary to calculate heat loss, evaluate insulation effectiveness, and make informed decisions about construction materials that lead to significant energy savings. What you'll learn: * Understand the foundational laws of thermodynamics (0th, 1st, 2nd) and their relevance to static building systems * Master the mechanisms of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation * Calculate thermal resistance (R-value) and overall heat transfer coefficients (U-value) for composite building components * Apply steady-state heat flow analysis to predict heat loss and gain through walls, roofs, and windows * Analyze the impact of material selection and thermal bridging on building envelopes and energy performance * Learn fundamental concepts of building energy modeling and sustainable design metrics We begin with essential thermodynamic definitions and laws, progressing through detailed explanations of heat transfer mechanisms before focusing on practical calculations for common building assemblies and envelope analysis. This course is designed for absolute beginners in engineering, architecture, or environmental science. No prior knowledge of thermodynamics or building physics is required. Start your journey toward designing truly sustainable and efficient buildings today.