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Building Systems I
Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:07:42
Abstract
This course introduces the fundamentals of building systems with a focus on ventilation and heating during fall and winter. Students investigate real buildings, analyze comfort needs, and design interventions that integrate passive and active strategies. Emphasis is placed on user well-being, resource consumption, and sustainable concepts for air supply and heat.
Objective
This course explores how buildings breathe and stay warm. Through case studies and hands-on analysis, students learn to evaluate ventilation and heating systems, propose sustainable interventions, and assess their impact on comfort and energy performance. Specific Learning Goals: - Explain interactions between building systems, structure, and aesthetics. - Evaluate effects on comfort, health, and environmental footprint. - Select sustainable concepts for heating and air supply. - Discuss technologies for energy generation and storage. - Estimate performance indicators and propose integrated design approaches.
Content
This first part of the series focuses on how buildings breathe and stay warm during the colder seasons. Students begin with building forensics, investigating the case study building (HIL at ETH Zürich) through measurements and data collection to understand real-world performance. Fall: Breathing Buildings – Explore air quality, natural ventilation, and passive heating strategies. Students analyze user comfort needs, identify local climatic potentials, and propose interventions that reduce reliance on mechanical systems. Winter: Active Warmth – Examine active heating systems, ventilation technologies, and solar thermal solutions. Students learn how these systems interact with building structure and aesthetics, and how to optimize them for energy efficiency and comfort. The course emphasizes problem framing and iterative design processes, guiding students to deeply understand user comfort requirements, climatic conditions, and system interactions. Students develop design interventions, ranging from quick, practical improvements to innovative concepts, and assess their feasibility and environmental impact using comfort metrics, measurements, and user feedback.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise |
Building Systems I
No course on October 21] (seminar week).
|
No time listed | 3 h weekly |
Offered In
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Electives (These courses are particularly recommended, other ETH-courses from the field of Energy Science and Technology at large may be chosen in accordance with your tutor.)
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