Teaching an energy simulation program in an architectureschool: lessons learned

This paper discusses an experience of teaching building simulation to students in a small class of a Masters program in an architecture school. This was a course in assessing building performance using an hourly thermal simulation program. Students were required to use the program to assess the comfort and energy performance of the building they were designing. This paper addresses several key problems based on the experience: students’ prior knowledge in the area of thermal performance of buildings, the need for a highly graphical interface and less numerical input, and the students’ willingness to use the simulation results in the design process.