1. Basics of building physics 1.1. Passive house principlesBasics of building physics needed to understand the interrelations of the major principles in DER. Introduction to the passive house principles and how they work together |
2. Optimal solar gainsSituation and sizes of openings/shading and natural ventilation |
3. Building envelope 1.2. Thermal insulation 1.3. Minimizing thermal bridges 1.4. Highly efficient windowsBuilding envelope exterior and interior insulation. Thermal bridges through structural building elements, windows and doors, through cracks and gaps in building envelope. Use of highly efficient window frames/insulating doors/positioning of windows and doors. |
4. NZEB Neighbourhoods 1.5. Energy cooperatives 1.6. Distributed energy production systems and energyUnderstanding the NZEB Neighbourhood. Energy cooperatives as isolated business or connected to a local smart grid or the national grid. Distributed energy sources. Microgrid solutions. District level distribution grids. Impacts and benefits of the grid integration of distributed energy production. Energy Management Systems (EMS). Assessment of the extended built boundary and energy balance of the bounded area. |
5. Airtightness, vapour and moisture movement, wind tightnessInfiltration and/or exfiltration heat losses, quality assurance and blower door test. Vapour movement through the construction fabric, relevant properties of different materials. |
6. Building services 1.7. Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) 1.8. Heating and Cooling 1.9. Domestic Hot Water (DHW) 1.10. Automation – Regulation 1.11. LightingEmerging technologies in building services for high performance residential projects. |
7. Conservation of historic building fabricDifferent levels of conservation, concept of authenticity, technical concerns in DER of buildings of historic value – suitable materials and techniques. |
8. RES in building renovation 1.12. Long- and short-term energy storageInstallation of RES systems in DER without interfering with NZEB principles and requirements. Possibilities of long and short-term storage of energy in the building. |
9. Cost-effectivenessProvision of solutions with proven cost-effectiveness within the whole life cycle of the building, economic efficiency of a package of measures. |
10. Planning and design instrumentsNationally recognized software tools/other available software planning tools. BIM tools. |
Topic and subtopic |
11. Comfort, health and safety requirements in buildings, incl. indoor air quality 11.1. Summer comfort/passive cooling 11.2. Fire protectionComfort, health and safety requirements in buildings, indoor air quality, condensation, humidity and mould appearance, CO2eq levels, draught elimination, productivity and health impact, light, acoustic. Fire protection issues. Summer comfort. |
12. Step-by-step retrofit plansEconomic assessment, energy audit, design and implementation issues. Step-by-step strategies as well as suitable components and alternative solutions. |
13. Energy efficiency and building renovation policiesNational and EU strategic goals; financing schemes and opportunities; relevant legislation acts in NZEB construction and DER. |
14. Achieving measurable resultsEnergy audits; required parameters of the building components; energy performance certificates (EPC). Monitoring and evaluation of the results of the retrofit projects. International retrofitting standards (e.g. EnerPHit). |
15. Engaging stakeholdersBenefits of energy efficiency to different target groups – energy and financial savings, increased comfort, sanitary and health conditions, better indoor air quality, ecological and climate change mitigation, broader economic and social benefits, energy security, etc. |
16. Project management 16.1. Quality assuranceIntroducing basic principles – Initiating; Planning; Executing; Monitoring; Controlling of project. Increase knowledge of investment efficiency, multicriteria assessment, life cycle assessment, energy efficiency legislation used for project management and evaluation. |
17. Ecology and sustainabilityEcology as a starting point for energy efficiency in building; climate change and CO2eq levels; building materials. |