This course introduces the environmental design of buildings. The five characteristics of sustainable design – Green Buildings – are: sustainable sites; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources: and indoor environmental quality. The US Green Building Council’s Green Building Rating System. is used as the framework. Several sustainable exemplary major buildings will be reviewed.

The objectives are to affect an understanding of sustainable design characteristics and how to program and design a green building. Each characteristic is defined by the necessary measures and the option alternatives in the certification guidelines. The strategy is to select the necessary measures and at least two of the options under each of the characteristics for an in depth understanding of the design issues and applications. For example storm water management, reduced heat island effects, and energy efficiency can be implemented by designing a green roof for a building. Daylight lighting design has an impact on indoor environmental quality.