Sustainability Through Architecture

New York City College of Technology, CUNY
Architectural Technology Department
ARCH 2450

Introduction to the fundamentals of sustainability in architecture. The course provides the student with an understanding of global climate change resulting from current waste, water, and energy practices, and introduces them to innovative technologies and policies to mitigate this change. Recognizing that sustainable building expertise is becoming widely sought after, this course introduces students to the language and basic principles of green design, and to the criteria by which green buildings are measured, assessed, and funded. This is a lecture course with a final project.

Course Project: Passive Solar Hot Water Heater Lab

Over the course of the semester we will investigate the design, construction and testing of a passive solar hot water heater. Students will work in groups during the course of the semester to produce the most functional, most compact, best-designed and most clearly presented project. Evaluation of these categories is determined by the work of your peers toward creating the best design. During each class period, time will be allotted to meet with the professor in your respective groups to discuss the progress of the project. In class discussions, exercises and tutorials will be performed to enhance the understanding and research of the project.