Course Title: Design sustainable buildings
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2015
Course Code: ARCH5203
Course Title: Design sustainable buildings
School: 320T Architecture & Design
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6136 - Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural)
Course Contact: Catherine Ciavarella
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 9819
Course Contact Email: catherine.ciavarella@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Andrew Rodda:
e: andrew.rodda@rmit.edu.au
Skype: andrewRMIT
Nominal Hours: 90
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to apply the principles of sustainability to building design. It includes the application of sustainable practices to minimise negative impacts of the construction process and land use on the environment, incorporate passive design, sustainable water use and energy efficiency into a building design and select suitable materials for the construction of the building. It requires compliance with relevant legislation, Australian Standards and the Building Code of Australia (BCA).
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VU21593 Design sustainable buildings |
Element: |
1. Determine the impacts of building development on the natural environment. |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Impacts of building development on surrounding |
Element: |
2. Incorporate sustainable criteria into building design |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Location specific climates and their characteristics |
Element: |
3. Select sustainable materials |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Characteristics of sustainable materials are identified |
Element: |
4. Incorporate systems for sustainable water use |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Systems for water collection, storage, use and reuse |
Element: |
5. Incorporate energy efficiency into building design |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Energy efficient design principles are identified in |
Learning Outcomes
This unit supports the attainment of the skills and knowledge required for building designers to design sustainable buildings within the context of relevant legislation, the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and Australian Standards.
Details of Learning Activities
A range of activities including:
- online content modules
- regular online tutorial and chat sessions
- directed and self guided learning
- Group project work
- Individual assessment tasks
Teaching Schedule
The current teaching schedule is located within the course shell of the RMIT Distributed Learning System (D.L.S), (Blackboard).
The following schedule is indicative only.
Semester 1 | |
Week | Topic |
1 | Course Introduction: Face to Face |
2 | DLS familiarisation |
3 | Site Recording |
4 | Orientation |
5 | Sun Angles |
6 | Green Building History |
7 | Legislative History |
8 | Course Feedback + Information Q&A |
9 | Materials- General |
10 | Materials- Waste Minimisation |
11 | Wall type final approvals/ confirmation |
12 | Materials- Thermal Mass |
13 | Materials- Insulation |
14 | Materials- Toxicity |
15 | Water- Harvesting |
16 | Water- Gutter & Downpipes |
Semester 2 | |
1 | Landscape- Permaculture |
2 | Energy- Context |
3 | Energy- Generation |
4 | Energy-Conservation |
5 | Energy- Embodied + Operational |
6 | Energy- Legislation |
7 | Assessment Task Checkup (optional) |
8 | Ventilation |
9 | Sunlight + Shading |
10 | Global Sustainability |
11 | Design- Exemplars |
12 | Course Feedback Survey (online) |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
All relevant Australian Standards |
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
This unit of competency could be assessed in the workplace or a close simulation of the workplace environment, provided that simulated or project-based assessment techniques fully replicate design drafting workplace conditions, materials, activities,
responsibilities and procedures. Holistic or project-based assessment with other related units is recommended.
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the ability to:
• apply the principles of sustainable building design in accordance with current legislation and government policies
• evaluate and recommend sustainable materials suitable for the construction of a specific building design in accordance with client brief and specifications
• research, evaluate and report on data and findings, make recommendations and develop strategies for the design of sustainable buildings for at least one building development project that complies with the applicable local government authority, relevant legislation and the Building Code of Australia (BCA).
Assessment Tasks
A range of assessment tasks covering theory and application of the content topics.
- Weekly online topic quizzes (20% of course grade)
- Office Practice Interview (10% of course grade)
- Materials Research Project (10% of course grade)
- Alternative wall construction (30% of course grade)
- Design Project (30% of course grade)
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix is located within the course shell of the RMIT Distributed Learning System (D.L.S), (Blackboard).
Other Information
Academic Progress:
At the end of each academic period individual student progress will be reviewed by the Student Academic Progress Review Committee and students will be advised of their eligibility for progression.
Student Charter:
The Student Charter, in association with the University’s statutes and law, indicates what the University and its students can expect from each other. The University’s mission is to create and disseminate knowledge to meet the needs of industry and the community and to foster in students the skills and passion to contribute to and engage with the world.
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=tkn8wtd23h84z (unresolved)
Student Responsibilities:
In undertaking this course students are required to be responsible for:
•The time management of the course work in order to complete all work requirements satisfactorily and on time.
•RMIT encourages students to attend all scheduled classes to optimise academic success.
•To ascertain what content or assessment has been missed, and gather the information prior to next class.
•To be proactive in mastering the academic material of the course by challenging, questioning and extending course outcomes.
•To be responsible for the maintenance of a non-disruptive and scholastic attitude in the learning environment.
See RMIT Academic progress information, responsibilities and support for current students:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=nzasms4pljer (unresolved)
Extension of Time for Submission of Assessable work Procedure:
Students must refer to the RMIT policy for eligibility and procedures.
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=7usdbki1fjf31;STATUS=A?QRY=extension%20of%20time%20form&STYPE=ENTIRE (unresolved)
Equitable Assessment:
Students must refer to the RMIT policy for eligibility and procedures.
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=id0959jyz9mx (unresolved)
Special Consideration:
Students must refer to the RMIT policy for eligibility and procedures.
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y (unresolved)
Assessment Decisions:
Final assessment decisions can be reviewed and or appealed.
See RMIT Assessment Policies:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ikqkqdh2zf5n1 (unresolved)
Employability skills:
Employability skills describe non-technical skills and competencies that are an important part of effective and successful participation in the workplace.
The following Employability Skills are an inherent part of this course:
Communication, Teamwork, Problem solving, Initiative and enterprise, Planning and organising, Self management, Learning and Technology.
Plagiarism:
Refer to the RMIT policy on plagiarism which is reference under Academic Integrity atRMIT
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kw02ylsd8z3n;STATUS=A?QRY=Plagiarism%20-%20student%20information&STYPE=ENTIRE (unresolved)
Course Overview: Access Course Overview