A career in building science requires a broad understanding of the field, which can involve everything from testing materials (i.e., brick, plywood, insulation, or anything that interacts with heat or moisture) to mechanical engineering (which gets into the nitty-gritty of motors and equipment). Building scientists apply an intricate knowledge of physics, chemistry, life sciences, engineering, and architecture to optimize building design, construction, operation, maintenance, retrofitting, and reuse.
Sustainability
Building scientists work in every stage of the building lifecycle: planning and design, construction, and facilities management. They understand how buildings and the systems that support them interact with the environment and use this understanding to create sustainable, high-performance structures that can be used for generations. They study a wide range of subjects to accomplish this, from material science—the engineering discipline that looks at the physical properties of materials like bricks and plywood, including their insulating properties against heat transfer, moisture, odors, and strength—to physics, with its emphasis on methods of motion and pressure dynamics. They also consider concepts from biology (e.g., mold growth, which is a natural consequence of moisture), and they take a big bite out of mechanical engineering—which includes the nitty gritty of motors and equipment that generate, excellent, or produce heat, as well as their interaction with airflow.
Ultimately, the courses offered in this certificate aim to develop a professional capable of making strategic design decisions that lower a building’s environmental footprint and address global warming. It is a complex task and impossible without understanding the entire system in which a building operates.
Material Selection
Material selection is a critical part of building science and can be challenging. An engineering company considers many factors when choosing the best materials for each project, including mechanical properties (flexibility, strength, toughness, and stiffness) to withstand anticipated loads. They also consider chemical compatibility to avoid corrosion and degradation from exposure to corrosive chemicals. Finally, thermal properties are essential for preventing structural failures caused by temperature variations.
Engineers must also consider each material’s availability and total cost to guarantee that projects can be finished on schedule and within budget. They may also consider environmental impact and sustainability, ensuring materials are sourced from recycled products or are produced in an environmentally responsible manner. For example, using timber from responsibly managed forests may help reduce the environmental footprint of a structure. This information is critical for both new construction and renovation of existing buildings.
Energy Efficiency
In building science, energy efficiency is a critical component of a holistic approach to design and construction. It combines elements of architecture, structural engineering, and mechanical engineering to create durable, cost-effective buildings to maintain and operate and promote the health and well-being of their occupants. The physical properties of building materials — their insulating capabilities, their resistance to water and heat transfer, and how they react with one another — determine how much energy a structure consumes. A thorough understanding of these properties helps designers select the most appropriate materials for every aspect of a building’s composition.
At the design stage, this allows architects to make informed choices that improve a building’s sustainability, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. During construction, it ensures that the proper materials are used and installed. During facilities management, it supports strategies for maintaining and updating buildings. In an extreme weather emergency, buildings can better withstand storms, high winds, and seismic activity.
Indoor Air Quality
Building science encompasses research and knowledge about the interactions between a building and its environment. It includes the impact on energy use, pollution, and indoor air quality. It draws on architecture, design, building materials, home systems, and engineering. Building scientists also address the impact of buildings on their occupants and societal stakeholders. They consider the whole building life cycle, including construction, operation and maintenance, repair, restoration, and demolition. Modern systems theory is used by building scientists to comprehend how a building behaves physically as a system that affects comfort, durability, and energy efficiency.
Building science engineers help protect structures against climate change and other environmental hazards. They identify strategies to improve a building’s resilience against extreme temperatures, high winds, heavy rain, and seismic activity. They also mitigate risks from corrosive environments by using protective paints, applying corrosion inhibitors to concrete, and other strategies. They provide ventilation and dehumidification systems to maintain healthy indoor air quality in humid environments.
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