MOOC “LOW3: Living Zero!”- Students as SLA Energy Consultants

Students of our MOOC Course LOW3: Living zero! started their final exercise on energy efficiency and solar potential adopting the role of energy consultants to our SLA pilot families, analysing the specific energy parameters of a real private household.

In a first step students analysed existing data about energy consumption, type of energy used and other available information about the energy system and energy use of the households.

In a second step students did the energy certification of a specific household and described possible improvements of the overall energy performance. This included the use of online tools and a visit to the family’s home for raising detailed data about the building envelope, façade and window qualities as well as existing active energy systems.

In a last step, students analysed the solar potential of the household for a roof-top PV installation, gathering data about the building’s roof and using an online simulation tool in order to calculate the possible annual PV electricity production.

All these exercises resulted in a report to the SLA pilot families, useful for them in order to optimize the energy performance of their home through behavioral change and building management, and for taking decisions about a possible investment into energy efficiency measures or a PV installation.

This approach to the real-world energy performance of existing buildings as part of our innovative educational offer at ETSAV is another example how our students are getting prepared for being active change agents of society, facing real problems of our buildings and cities within a holistic understanding of sustainability in its economic, social and environmental dimension. Linking regular teaching at UPC and a research project like SLA in the context of Living Lab LOW3, allows offering this unique learning approach to students. 

More information about the Living Lab LOW3 project: www.livinglab-low3.blogspot.com 

More information about our MOOC course LOW3: Living zero!: https://mooc.upc.edu