The goal of teaching zero energy building design in architecture schools has to be tackled by different approaches, from design disciplines to building science, combining traditional and new teaching methods. Current curricula at architecture schools are trying to introduce design courses according to the so-called integrated energy design. This chapter studies current building science and technology teaching strategies, examples of student work at Keene State College in New Hampshire (US), the competencies acquired in each course, and the impact of the technical disciplines on design studios. Finally, the impact of building information modeling (BIM) and building performance simulation (BPS) on the teaching of technical disciplines in architecture programs are evaluated. The essential goal of this chapter is to determine and establish some techniques for using BIM and BPS as adequate tools to teach sustainable building design and construction.

One of the most critical objectives in buildings is their adaptation to environmental conditions in order to optimize energy performance as well as the thermal and visual comfort of the occupants. This issue is relevant, for example, in public buildings that incorporate large glazed surfaces, where overheating and a lack of thermal and visual comfort are common, especially in Mediterranean countries. The headmost cause of increased air conditioning loads is direct solar radiation on transparent surfaces. However, the significant losses through glazed surfaces in cold climates also cannot be ignored. Therefore, solar protections must be used, thus observing the harmful effects of the absence of solar radiation on energy loads in winter. This chapter aims to study and compare construction materials recently introduced to the market, such as dynamic glasses, with significantly higher thermal and optical performance than traditional glasses.