Designing Low-Energy Buildings: An Energy Efficiency Training Course (Online / Remote)
1Summary
A poorly designed building keeps paying for its mistakes for decades — every winter it loses heat through a weak envelope, every summer it fights to stay cool, and every month the energy bill reflects choices that were locked in before construction even started. Energy-efficient design is how architects and engineers avoid that trap from day one.
Buildings account for a huge share of global energy consumption and carbon emissions, which makes design decisions — the envelope, the insulation, the systems, the materials — some of the most consequential choices in the fight against climate change and rising operating costs alike.
The Arab British Fellowship Training Academy's "Designing Low-Energy Buildings: An Energy Efficiency Training Course" gives architects, engineers and design professionals the practical knowledge to design buildings that use less energy, cost less to run, and stay comfortable — from passive design fundamentals through to renewable energy integration.
2Objectives and target group
What You Will Gain
- A firm grasp of the fundamental concepts and principles behind energy-efficient building design.
- The ability to analyse how the building envelope, insulation and material choices shape energy performance.
- Skills for evaluating energy-efficient technologies, building systems and renewable energy sources for integration into a design.
- Practical strategies for cutting energy consumption without compromising comfort or functionality.
- An understanding of how to weave sustainability — environmental and economic — into building design, and familiarity with international energy efficiency standards and certification systems.
Who Should Attend
- Architects and building designers looking to incorporate energy-efficient principles into their projects.
- Civil and mechanical engineers involved in designing, constructing or renovating energy-efficient buildings.
- Sustainability consultants, building inspectors and project managers seeking a deeper, practical understanding of energy efficiency in building codes and standards.
- Students in relevant fields looking to build practical knowledge of energy-efficient building design.
3Course Content
Module 1: The Case for Energy-Efficient Buildings
- The environmental and economic benefits energy-efficient buildings deliver.
- How energy efficiency in buildings connects to climate change and broader sustainability goals.
- Global energy consumption trends and what they mean for how buildings are designed today.
Module 2: Core Design Principles: Passive and Active Strategies
- Passive design strategies that make the most of natural heating, cooling and lighting.
- Active design strategies: integrating energy-efficient systems and technologies into a building.
- Striking the right balance between energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness and occupant comfort.
Module 3: Energy Codes, Standards and Certifications
- An overview of international energy efficiency standards such as LEED, BREEAM and Energy Star.
- How local and national building regulations push energy-efficient design forward.
- What it takes to meet the requirements for energy-efficient building certification.
Module 4: The Building Envelope: Walls, Roofs, Floors and Windows
- How the building envelope shapes energy efficiency and thermal comfort.
- The components of a high-performance envelope: walls, roofs, floors and windows.
- Strategies for optimising the envelope to conserve energy.
Module 5: Insulation and Moisture Control
- Why insulation matters for reducing heat loss and heat gain.
- Types of insulation materials — fibreglass, cellulose, spray foam, reflective insulation — and how to choose between them for different climates and building types.
- Air sealing, vapour barriers and moisture control techniques that protect building performance.
Module 6: Heating Systems That Save Energy
- An overview of energy-efficient heating technologies: heat pumps, radiant heating and condensing boilers.
- Matching the heating system to building size, climate and energy needs.
- The benefits of zone heating and programmable thermostats.
Module 7: Cooling and Ventilation for Comfort and Efficiency
- The role passive cooling plays in cutting energy consumption, alongside active systems such as energy-efficient air conditioning and evaporative cooling.
- Design strategies for reducing cooling loads.
- Why ventilation matters for indoor air quality, and how energy and heat recovery ventilation (ERV/HRV) systems support both efficiency and comfort.
Module 8: Choosing Sustainable Materials: Lifecycle, Local and Green Options
- Selecting eco-friendly, energy-efficient construction materials and understanding their lifecycle impact on performance.
- The role local materials play in reducing a building's carbon footprint.
- The benefits of recycled and upcycled materials, including bamboo, cork, recycled steel and low-VOC products.
Module 9: Reflective, Insulating and Thermal Mass Materials
- How reflective roofing and exterior materials contribute to energy conservation.
- Insulating materials for energy-efficient windows and doors.
- Using thermal mass in building materials to keep internal temperatures stable.
Module 10: Integrating Solar Power
- The different solar technologies available: photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal systems.
- Design considerations for integrating solar panels into building roofs.
- The benefits and challenges of solar energy for residential and commercial buildings.
Module 11: Wind and Geothermal Energy for Buildings
- The potential of small-scale wind turbines in urban settings, and the design considerations involved.
- Combining wind and solar systems for stronger overall energy performance.
- Geothermal heating and cooling, including how ground-source heat pumps (GSHP) work and where they perform best.
Module 12: Smart Building Systems: Automation and Energy Storage
- How Building Automation Systems (BAS) control energy use through smart thermostats, lighting systems and occupancy sensors.
- The value of real-time monitoring and control in cutting consumption.
- Energy storage options — batteries, thermal and mechanical storage — and how to integrate them with renewable energy systems.
Module 13: Buildings in the Smart Grid: Connectivity and Future Trends
- How smart grids enable better energy management and demand response.
- The role buildings play within the wider smart grid ecosystem.
- Emerging trends in energy efficiency, including the growing role of the Internet of Things (IoT) in building design.