Page last updated 28 October 2024
Funding is available for applicants who meet the eligibility criteria.
The Zero Carbon Building (Technology and Modelling) course will enable you to gain technical knowledge on the application of principles relating to zero carbon dwellings (such as Passivhaus), including site analysis, fabric evaluation, services selection and renewable energy options.
It will be delivered as a stand-alone credit-bearing short course and meets the criteria for Higher Education Short Course (HESC) loans, available to apply for once your application has been approved.
This course forms part of a portfolio of HESC funded courses which include:
If you are unfamiliar with higher education settings, full support will be given and the course has been designed to meet the highest standard of inclusive design, with a mix of in-person teaching and an online learning environment where material is available in digital formats, including recordings of live sessions, learning material and online reading lists in accessible formats.
Learning will be divided into short presentations on theory, followed by interactive learning activities, using technology enhanced learning, detailed session plans and related reading lists.
The use of hands-on learning equipment and real-world case studies will be used to give the learning a professional focus.
For a given case study site, develop the conceptual design of a residential dwelling using zero carbon principles, including the evaluation of the site's microclimate opportunities and constraints, a comparison of different environmental strategies, and the identification of potential design risks.
Evaluate, contrast and select appropriate construction technology relating to a zero carbon dwelling for a given site, supporting choices with quantitative data relating to predicted performance of operational energy use and related carbon emissions, and identifying potential risks to actual post-occupation performance.
Present a design proposal that is appropriate for a professional audience, demonstrating an ability to articulate the process of how zero carbon theory was applied and answer questions relating to how key design issues could be resolved.
Applicants joining this level 5 course are expected to have fundamental knowledge of building physics (such as the heat-balance equation), as covered in the level 4 course Zero Carbon Building (Environments and Materials).
a) completion of the related level 4, 30 credit, short course Zero Carbon Buildings (Environments and Materials);
or,
b) completion of 120 credits of level 4 in a related technical programme of the built environment;
or,
c) evidence of experiential learning that map to the learning outcomes of the level 4 short course Zero Carbon Buildings (Environments and Materials).
You will learn about the relationship between buildings and energy supply systems, including the electrical grid, gas systems, liquid and solid fuels. You will compare and contrast fossil fuels to those derived from carbon neutral processes.
You will learn how to apply the principles of the passive design of buildings, using computer aided design systems to help evaluate the impact of design on energy performance.
You will evaluate and apply heat generation, storage and recovery systems. These will include boilers, heat pumps, district systems, solar thermal systems, ventilation heat recovery systems and thermal stores. Case study of a commercial boiler house shall be used to understand heat flows at a large scale.
You will learn to evaluate and apply a range on-site electricity generation and storage: Solar PV generators; battery systems; uninterruptable power supplies; combined heat and power; trigeneration; fuel cells and hydrogen cycles
Energy Modelling: Energy benchmarking; CO2 emissions; compliance software.
Regular online (flipped) lectures are used to introduce topics, define the scope of learning required and provide initial conceptual development.
Lectures are followed by supervised face-to-face tutorial/seminar sessions to reinforce cognitive development and provide feedback. Supervised tutorials provide guidance in applying quantitative methods required for solving problems, and provide feedback on independent learning and activities undertaken in support of the planned site visits. Software workshops are used to support student learning simulation software.
Directed independent learning in this module includes time engaged with essential reading, completion of tutorial exercise drills, preparation for, and completion of, summative assignment.
Assessment will include a poster presentation and submission of a portfolio.
UWE Bristol is superbly equipped with libraries and computer labs, and an excellent campus environment. Our online learning environments deliver an integrated learning experience to you and you also have access to a vast number of professional and academic journals and databases online through the UWE Bristol library.
Find out more about the facilities and resources UWE Bristol has to offer.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Architecture facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
This course is planned to run again in 2023/24. Course dates, updated fees and online booking forms will be published here in the summer of 2023. Please complete our online enquiry form below to be notified once these details are made available. Should government restrictions be enforced this module will move to online delivery.
| Cohort | Time | Location |
| TBC | TBC | TBC |
As an indication, the cost of this course was £2,310 in 2022/23. Please complete our online enquiry form below to be notified once these details are made available.
Higher Education Short Course Loan Applications
Funding for this course is available from the Student Loans Company (Student Finance England).
To be eligible for this funding you must first check you meet the loan eligibility criteria below and then make an application using the link below in the How to Apply section.
At the point of booking with us you will not be asked to pay any fees.
Once we have confirmed your place you will be eligible to apply to the Student Loans Company via GOV.UK for a HESC loan to cover the course fees. You cannot make an application for a loan until we have confirmed your place.
Each loan application covers the fee for one course. Loan applications can take 4-6 weeks to be processed so please complete the booking with us as soon as you are able to.
Loan Eligibility Criteria
You can apply for a HESC loan if all of the following are true:
Please see our Higher Education Short Course Loans page for further details.
To apply there is a three-step process:
1. Complete the booking process by clicking on the Apply Now link below. You will then be sent an email requesting the supporting documents listed below.
2. The Course Leader will review your application form and documents and then offer/decline a place on the course.
3. If successful you will receive an offer letter. This can be used to support your application for the HESC loan.
| Cohort | ||
| TBC | Booking Closed | Enquire now |
Supporting documents to be submitted with your application form
As this module carries university accreditation, once you have submitted your booking form, you will be required to provide the following supporting information to the administration team for the Course Leader to be able to review and formally accept your application as required by the university.
Funding is available for eligible applicants to attend this short course which will cover the application of principles relating to zero carbon dwellings (such as Passivhaus), including site analysis, fabric evaluation, services selection and renewable energy options.