Education and outreach

In 2009, we made a fundamental decision to share our methodology and approach as broadly as possible, thereby empowering building design professions to adapt the way they work to meet the new ‘green’ challenge.

Informed by this goal, we engaged in the following educational activities in the past year with many more to follow:

• OH7 Climate Skin in collaboration with open house architecture
  This lecture and city walking tour explained how attention to the façade of a building is a vital aspect of climatic design. The façade can be used as a tool to optimize energy use and room climate or, if designed inappropriately, can have adverse effects on the comforts of its users and consume large amounts of energy.  Local buildings with different types of façades were visited to illustrate these principles.
  
  
• Submissions & Simulations in collaboration with the GBCSA
  This 3 hour seminar for professionals involved in Green Star provided information and resources on the energy modeling process and requisite support documentation expected for Green Star SA submissions involving simulation.
  
  
• Passive & Low Energy Architecture (PLEA) Conference in Quebec, Canada
  We presented a research paper on displacement ventilation, and how it impacts passive cooling strategies, and were exposed to the latest international thinking on passive and low energy building design. (See publications page)
  
  
• GBCSA Convention 2009  - keynote speakers
  Paul and Mary were both invited to give an address at this year’s Green Building Council SA Convention.  (See publications page)
  
  
• University of Cape Town – lecturing
  Michelle (and Paul before her) currently lectures our next generation of architects and designers in passive and low energy design at UCT School of Architecture in the  Environment & Services course.