BCT 597Q - Living Labs: Solving for Carbon Neutrality with High Performance Buildings

Course Description

There is no better way to learn and deeply understand sustainability in the built environment than to experience this as a part of a real project.  This course explores the concept of using living labs to accelerate innovation in the realm of low carbon approaches to buildings, materials, technologies, policies and ways of living.

Multi-disciplinary teams will work together to solve problems faced by local and global organizations. Students receive academic credit and real-world experience while the community benefits from technology and policy-based solutions in the built environment. Team challenges for Spring 2023 include exploring the feasibility of utilizing mini-electric cars on the UMass campus with BONZER, a dynamic start-up venture targeting the first/last mile trip transportation and efforts to electrify campus infrastructure and navigate the energy transition. 

Learning Goals

• air, water, light, fitness, comfort, smart growth and sustainable building practices

Textbook/Materials

TBD