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MJ2462 Achieving Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings 6.0 credits

This course will provide the student with basic knowledge regarding energy use in existing buildings and how surveys may be performed to attain the information required to achieve energy efficient buildings.

The energy use in the build environment accounts for about 36 % of the total energy demand in Sweden and about 15 % of total carbon dioxide emissions.

Most of the buildings that will be used in the next 20 years are already built and their energy performance are often much lower than the requirements of the modern building codes. To achieve the environmental goals the energy performance of these existing buildings needs to be increased. Therefore it is important to identify the energy conservation possibilities and evaluate their potentials.

Increasing energy prices and political decisions increases the real estate owner’s incentive to reduce the energy use in their buildings. Many of the buildings erected in Sweden during the 60´s and 70’s in the so called “Miljonprogrammet” are in urgent need of renovation, this provides an opportunity to increase the energy performance of these buildings. Identifying measures and combinations of measures that may be implemented when buildings are to be renovated are discussed in the present course

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Application

For course offering

Autumn 2024 Start 26 Aug 2024 programme students

Application code

51325

Headings with content from the Course syllabus MJ2462 (Autumn 2019–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )

Content and learning outcomes

Course contents

The course will give a fundamental understanding on how energy technology can be applied to reduce energy demand of buildings. Thermodynamics, heat transfer, thermal indoor climate, measurement technology, building simulation software and problem solving will be applied in surveys to find the possibilities to increase the energy performance of buildings.

The course is divided in two parts; one theoretical part that consist of a series of lectures and one practical part where the student will work with surveys of real energy systems in buildings. The course focuses on typical buildings in the Swedish building stock, but the knowledge attained in this course can be adapted to any building and energy system in the world.  

Intended learning outcomes

Upon successfully completing the course, the student should be able to:

  1. Make a plan and perform an energy audit in buildings according to the degree of detail needed
  2. Understand how to evaluate energy using systems in buildings in terms of energy efficiency
  3. Be able to analyze and process historical energy data for buildings
  4. Disaggregate and assign energy use between the different sub systems
  5. Identify possibilities and tailor energy saving measures that will results in a reduced energy demand

Literature and preparations

Specific prerequisites

MJ1112 Applied thermodynamics 9hp,
MJ1401 Heat Transfer 6hp,
MJ2407 Sustainable Energy Utilisation 9hp,
SG1220 Fluid Mechanics for Engineers, 6hp,
MJ2422 Thermal Comfort and Indoor Climate 6hp, or equivalent

The student should have an overall knowledge of energy technology and the energy systems of buildings.

Recommended prerequisites

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Equipment

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Literature

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Examination and completion

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Grading scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

  • PRO1 - Project, 1.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
  • PRO2 - Project, 2.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
  • TEN1 - Written exam, 3.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

In the exam, student can bring books that does not contain handwritten notes and other material approved by the course responcible.

Other requirements for final grade

The final grade of the course is a combination of the projects (PRO1 and PRO2), control checkpoints (KS1 and KS2) and possibly the exam (TEN1).  The grade E is given if the projects and control checkpoints are awarded a Passing grade.

Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination

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Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination

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Examiner

Ethical approach

  • All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
  • In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
  • In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

Further information

Course room in Canvas

Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.

Offered by

Main field of study

Mechanical Engineering

Education cycle

Second cycle

Add-on studies

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Contact

Jörgen Wallin, jorgen.wallin@energy.kth.se, 08 790 86 53