Introduction to Sustainable Architecture
Use measurable analysis to design carbon neutral schemes. This course shows you how to quantify energy output and emissions at RIBA Stages 0-2, then size renewables to offset exactly those results. You'll test massing options, optimise glazing and ventilation, select materials based on embodied carbon data, and understand how to close the gap between design predictions and real performance—finishing with a look at regenerative design opportunities.
- 4+ hours of premium content
- 10 step-by-step video lessons
- Future updates included
About this course
This course focuses on integrating sustainability at RIBA Stages 0-2 where design decisions have the biggest impact. You'll learn to analyse site conditions, test massing options quantitatively, optimise glazing and shading, select materials based on lifecycle analysis, and design effective natural ventilation. We cover the BREEAM process, working with energy assessors, and the critical post-occupancy evaluation that "closes the gap" between design intent and actual performance.
This comprehensive sustainability course develops your expertise in climate-responsive design through systematic analysis of site conditions, building orientation, and environmental performance optimization. You'll learn to integrate sustainable principles from early design phases while maintaining architectural quality and spatial experience that satisfies both environmental and human needs.
The curriculum emphasizes practical application of passive design strategies including natural ventilation, daylight optimization, and thermal comfort management using contemporary digital tools. You'll develop skills in sustainable material selection, renewable energy integration, and water conservation strategies that reduce building environmental impact while enhancing performance.
Advanced sustainability techniques include performance evaluation methodologies, embodied energy analysis, and comprehensive environmental assessment using tools like Enscape Impact and BREEAM frameworks. The course covers both technical sustainability knowledge and design integration strategies that create compelling sustainable architecture.
These sustainability skills position you to meet growing client demands for environmentally responsible design while satisfying increasingly stringent regulatory requirements. The techniques learned apply to all building types where sustainable performance, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship are essential for contemporary architectural practice and long-term building success.
What will you learn?
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This course will turn you into:
A data-driven designer
Stop guessing and start measuring. Compare massing options by energy use intensity—discover why building depth matters more than shape. Design decisions backed by data, not assumptions.
A passive design strategist
Understand how orientation, glazing, and ventilation work together for passive heating and cooling. Use false colour analysis, design cross-ventilation and stack systems using CIBSE data, not rules of thumb.
A whole-lifecycle thinker
Move beyond operational energy to embodied carbon and lifecycle thinking. Learn why concrete isn't always bad, how aluminium's recyclability offsets embodied energy, and how to read Environmental Product Declarations.
Syllabus
We introduce Enscape Impact and why RIBA Stages 0-2 are critical for sustainability - when decisions about massing, orientation and form have the biggest impact. Learn the software interface and understand how early-stage analysis prevents costly retrofits later.
Set up your site in Enscape Impact with accurate solar orientation, prevailing wind directions, and surrounding context. See how the software analyses sun paths and wind patterns, and learn to interpret this data for design decisions about building placement and orientation.
Test different massing options and compare energy use intensity per square metre. We analyse circular, square, L-shaped, cave, and linear forms to discover that building depth matters more than shape. Learn to model surrounding structures accurately for reliable energy calculations.
Use Enscape Impact's false colour analysis to optimise glazing placement for daylight while controlling solar gains. Learn to design effective solar shading and understand the balance between heating season gains and summer overheating risk.
Navigate the complex world of embodied energy vs embodied carbon vs lifecycle energy. Compare materials using actual data - discover why concrete's performance depends on context, how steel's recyclability affects lifecycle calculations, and how to read Environmental Product Declarations.
Design effective natural ventilation using CIBSE and CBIP guidance. Understand single-sided vs cross-ventilation limits, how buoyancy-driven stack ventilation works, and the calculations for effective opening areas. Learn why "opening a window" isn't always sufficient.
Cover the five key energy efficiency factors - building envelope, HVAC, lighting, renewables, and smart technology. Learn to calculate U-values using Rockwool's calculator, understand SBEM calculations, and size PV arrays based on Enscape Impact energy data. See how the Candida building generates 400 megawatt-hours annually from 917 panels.
Explore rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling using the Candida building's net-positive water system as a case study. Learn about UV disinfection, stormwater management, composting toilets, and what the Lead Local Flood Authority requires for approval.
Understand the BREEAM accreditation process - evidence requirements, working with sustainability consultants, and VOC emissions testing. Learn about post-occupancy evaluation (POE) using the RIBA guide, and why "closing the gap" between design predictions and actual performance matters most.
Recap the course's data-driven approach and explore three emerging trends: smart buildings with sensor-based optimisation, digital twins combining BIM with real-time monitoring, and regenerative design that goes beyond carbon neutral. See how projects like Habitat Royale are creating new ecologies rather than just minimising harm.
Meet your instructor
Adam Morgan
Architectural Director
ThreeForm Architects
Hi, I'm Adam. I am the founder and director of ThreeForm Architects, a team of architects and artists in Liverpool, UK. The office is experienced in a wide range of building types and procurement routes, successfully winning projects with contract values of up to £20 million. We work for a broad spectrum of public and private sector clients across the country. I have always had a passion for teaching aspiring and young architects. I offer support to emerging young architects through the RIBA mentoring programme and am also a visiting architectural critic and tutor for Liverpool John Moores University.
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