Building Energy Systems Engineering Specialization
This specialization is designed for engineers and architects who want to develop skills in designing efficient, low-carbon building energy systems. Across three courses, you will learn core engineering principles, HVAC system design, and strategies to improve energy performance and integrate buildings with renewable-powered electric grids. Graduates are prepared for roles in design, analysis, and R&D within the building industry, with opportunities at consulting firms, manufacturers, utilities, developers, contractors, and research organizations.
Building energy system design is best learned through application. In the third course, Electrification of Building Energy Systems, you will complete a comprehensive design project that builds on earlier coursework. The project focuses on converting an office building into a mixed-use space, with emphasis on the residential portion. You will design ventilation, heating, and cooling systems, select key components, and explore strategies to electrify and decarbonize building energy systems.
In this specialization, you will learn how to:
Apply methods to calculate design heating and cooling loads and analyze the impact of key environmental and design variables.
Apply engineering principles to the design of air and water distribution systems and the evaluation of heat and mass exchangers in buildings.
Analyze low energy technologies and heat pump applications in buildings and explore energy flexibility through building-to-grid integration.
Courses
- Engineering Foundation for Building Energy Systems
- Design of HVAC Distribution and Delivery Systems
- Electrification of Building Energy Systems