M.Sc. class setting up module blogs and Twitter accounts

In week 2, the class are settung up their own individual blogs and Twitter accounts for future asssessments i.e. blog submissions, and as a learning resource. We are using 'Blogger' to set up the blogs and they will be all linked to the module blog 'SitePass'. The aim of the Twitter accounts (@SitePass) is to set up a community of practice outside the classroom. The 'Plain English' series provides a good starting point when trying to understand the use of blogs and Twitter.

The Rise and Rise of Natural Gas

Following our discussion in class last week about energy trends over the past few decades, here is a trailer for a  recent documentary on the rise of natural gas entitled 'Gasland' and it doesn't make for easy viewing. The documentary was shown on Current TV last night and may be repeated over the coming weeks.

The Gaurdian newspaper has also got invovled in the debate and provides a 'Facts and Figures' approach to shale gas fracking. Make your own mind up??

Passive House Design and Construction Module at GMIT

Some useful videos used in class were the BASF video on energy efficiency and the excellent '300 years of fossil fuels in 300 seconds' by the Post Carbon Institute.

Students were also asked to imagine what the built environment would be like in a world without fossil fuels. The aim of this was to identify the tacit knowledge in the class and to encourage the students to think in future scenarios without limitations or restrictions. 

The last photograph provides an overview of the responses, which provides a good starting point for the module and the course as a whole. In fact, each of the points raised will be covered across the range of modules.

Passive House Design and Construction Module at GMIT

Week 1 aims to set the context for the next 10 weeks by focusing on energy and built environment while also giving an introduction to the Passive House concept. We explored the different units of energy, the importance of energy efficiency and international, European and Irish energy use trends.

Passive House Design and Construction Module at GMIT

This academic year, I am going to experiment with Prezi to see if it is a viable alternative to PowerPoint. My first lecture on Prezi is below outlining a brief introduction to the module.

The Denby Dale Passive House in 3D!

As part of our REVIT Passive House Summer Competition, Gerard Nicholson used the details from the Denby Dale passive house in the UK to produce some excellent 3D images and movies of the details outlined in their super technical videos and briefing document.

Foundation/Ground Floor Detail

External Wall/Floor Detail 
 

Passive Window Detail

Roof Detail

Well done to Gerard as these are an excellent resource for anybody interested in passive house design and it sets a high standard for the competition!

All of the above videos were developed from details provided by the Green Building Store in the UK in the development of the Denby Dale House. 

Mitch Joachim - City, Ecology and Mobility

Check out Mitch Joachim's presentation at Postopolis, where he discusses the various projects he has been involved with in MIT and Terreform based on the themes of city, ecology and mobility. He stresses the importance of entire systems thinking and outlines different ideas on how we can rethink the future, moving from rivergyms, 'soft cars' and 'gentle' congestion, growing houses to 'on the fly' constantly moving cities. 

Pretty cool stuff. I will be posting more stuff about his work and other falling under the tags of 'future building solutions' and 'imagineers'