Use of Simulation Modeling in Teaching Sustainable Design, Construction and Facilities Management

Online available sustainable design software has been used in an undergraduate course entitled "Design for the Environment" to improve the effectiveness of teaching the concepts of sustainable design, sustainable construction and sustainable maintenance of buildings.The software has been incorporated into the course to provide an opportunity for students to apply design concepts and quickly evaluate the impact of design alternatives to several sustainability factors including energy efficiency, life cycle analysis, consumption of natural resources, and global warming.The design software effectively supplements the general and introductory concepts of sustainability typically presented in texts on the subject.Consistent with the Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT) experiential model of teaching, design software used in this manner provides an opportunity for students to grasp a better understanding of the applications and limitations of sustainable design and construction means and methods beyond what can be offered in a text book.This paper describes the objectives and general design of the course, offers recommendations for on-line sustainability models and examines student opinions of the merits of the course.