Fundamentals of Energy in Buildings
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this introductory subject covering thermodynamics and heat transfer as applied to energy-efficient building design. No prior background is assumed. Students learn the leading factors driving building energy use, including insulation, ventilation, and heat loss, and apply that knowledge to design projects for real buildings. One year's projects were built around MIT's own NSTAR campus efficiency program, giving students an actual case study rather than a hypothetical. Course materials include lecture notes, problem sets, and design project assignments, following MIT's standard OCW format of free self-study materials without instructor interaction or a certificate. The subject sits at the intersection of architecture and mechanical and civil engineering, aimed at students who want to understand the physics behind sustainable buildings and then put that understanding into a concrete design.