This course stresses the evaluation of the house/building as system using principles, such as, the basic concepts of building science and thermodynamics.  Students examine the various factors which affect the energy inputs and losses to the system. Basic concepts of temperature, types of heat, heat capacity, expansion of solids and gases and heat transfer are studied. A comparison of the components of the system is required to determine how air, water and water vapour leakage and building movements contribute to maintaining a healthy indoor environment. This course studies all the aspects of a building as a system in order that the students can appreciate the relative significance of each component. Students also learn how the entire system/structure interacts to produce the overall effect/impact and, in doing so, are exposed to the fundamental science involved constructing buildings for Canadian climatic conditions including durability, energy use efficiency, healthy living conditions and to some basic concepts of sustainable design. The students study the fundamentals of energy loads on the building. The students are introduced to the concepts of embodied energy of building components.  Associated policies such as R2000, LEED, BOMA BESt and EnergyStar will be introduced and developed in greater detail in subsequent courses.  

Today’s employers give preference to job candidates who are team players with strong verbal communication skills. This course will help students find their voice and develop their ability to work in teams, giving them the competitive advantage they need in today’s job market. It will also strengthen reading comprehension, writing ability, presentation skills and computer application proficiency, all of which are skills fundamental to success in college and in the workplace.

This course gives students a background in basic electric circuit theory and applications. The topics include electrical units, resistance, energy, power, series/parallel, inductance and capacitance.  These components are analyzed under both direct and alternating current conditions.  In labs, students practice their electrical measurement and analytical skills, and verify principles covered in lectures. Students learn the basic laws of electricity and to solve problems involving various circuit components.  Students will get an introduction to battery systems, rectifiers and other associated technology.

This course examines the basic applications of conventional energy systems i.e. combustion and fuels, gas, oil and electric heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting in homes and small scale industrial and commercial buildings. Air to air heat pumps and radiant heating will be discussed.  The basic principles of refrigeration, refrigerants and management of refrigeration systems, heating and cooling loads and load calculations are studied.  The course deals with strategies and equipment in the aforementioned systems using blueprints and layouts so that these features will be easily recognizable to the graduates the field.  This course will stress applications, configurations and controls as opposed to design and installation. This course will stress energy use by the systems, major appliances and equipment and suggest possible energy conservation measures.

This course is an introduction to energy auditing techniques and procedures. It will stress the collection, interpretation and presentation of energy audit data. Students will also study the content of the government and/or sectoral requirements for certification of energy auditors.

The purpose of this course is to refresh and upgrade existing mathematical skills such as algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and more.  Emphasis is placed on developing problem solving techniques by applying these math topics to related engineering problems.  Portions of this course will be spent supporting the first year Physics course PHYS 1131.  It is configured as four one hour classes per week.

This course is a continuation of Mathematics for Mathematics for Technologists. Students develop problem-solving skills by applying topics of study to related practical problems. Students will calculate problems relating to electrical generation, heat gain and loss and energy utilization.  Where applicable, areas of study may include systems of linear equations in two and three unknowns; exponents; radicals; quadratic equations; exponential and logarithmic functions; and analytic geometry.

This course introduces the student to: the fundamentals of free-hand sketching and blueprint reading as it pertains to building systems and architectural details. Students will become familiar with the use of free-hand sketching using both orthographic and perspective views. The use of dimensioning features, symbols, layout and presentation will be discussed and identified. Students will study blueprints of existing buildings and learn to identify features used as it relates to: architectural details, floor plans, symbols for: electrical, HVAC, plumbing, etc., and learn to conduct take-off calculations from same to generate required values of the building envelope.

This course builds on the concepts developed in Electricity I by examining the more principles of AC circuits, power factor, transformers, three phase power generation, and the basics of the electrical distributions grid in Ontario. Inverters are also be studied.  Students will be alerted to issues relating to connecting renewable energy sources to the local grid and will receive a brief introduction about smart grid improvements in the future.

Students study basic concepts of hot water and steam boilers, controls and safety devices, routine boiler operation and maintenance along with the basics of associated hydronic heating systems and fuel system management.  Feed water systems and water treatments are discussed.  The principles of heat transfer and steam thermodynamics are introduced so that students have a basic understanding of the mechanism of water heating and steam generation by boilers and other heating systems. The basic concepts of combustion, drafts and fuel systems are also presented.  The fundamentals of hydronic heating systems will be presented.   This course, also, will stress applications, configurations and controls as opposed to design and installation.

This course provides a thorough review of the content, context and impact of federal and provincial energy legislation and regulations. The significant impact that climate change has on policy development will be studied through an examination of the Green Energy Act, Ontario Energy Board Act, the Electricity Act, the Energy Efficiency Act and the Building Code. Specific applications related to energy auditing will be emphasized. Current federal and provincial energy policies and incentive programs will be examined and strategies to keep current with these programs will be explored.

Solar thermal energy and solar PV systems are discussed for onsite roof or ground mounts as applicable. Students will study active and passive solar systems applied to residential, commercial and industrial sectors. Through the compilation of theoretical and practical thermodynamic and heat transfer studies, students will be able to identify, differentiate and evaluate solar thermal configurations. In this course, students will study the fundamentals of collecting energy from sunlight and converting it into electricity. The pros and cons of each type of system, importance of site factors and economic considerations will be discussed.

Design and construction of sustainable buildings are introduced in this course with particular reference to energy use efficiency and energy conservation.  Materials selection, components, internal services, air quality and economic factors relative to construction and future energy use will be discussed.  The commissioning of buildings under LEED, BOMA BESt or other evaluation systems will be covered in some detail and the course will stress that the commissioning or approval under these systems should include all credit points, to ensure the goals are met. The course will examine the integrated design process noting the roles of architects, civil, mechanical and electrical engineers, consultants, owners and municipalities.

This course offers students the opportunity to expand on the theory from Electricity I & II; it will also encompass new material, such as three phase power generation, and advanced electronics.  In the Lab students will practice their electrical measurement and analytical skills, and verify principles covered in lectures.  Students will gain the hands-on skills-set needed to have a working knowledge in the related topics.

This course builds on the content of Energy and Mechanical Systems I & II with additional study of larger HVAC components. HVAC unit sizing and selection, forced air systems in general, chillers and psychrometrics are studied. Types of lighting systems for external and interior use, from conventional to LEDs will be discussed in relation to specific purposes, initial costs and energy use efficiency.   The fundamentals of other internal services such as plumbing, hydraulic, pneumatic and elevator systems are presented.  Students will gain familiarity with architectural drawing and blue prints particularly as they relate to larger buildings.  As previously, this course will stress applications and configurations as opposed to design and installation.  Control systems for mechanical components will be studied and where possible basic troubleshooting will be practiced.  Combined heat and power systems will be discussed and a tour of the CHP system on the Oshawa Campus of Durham College will be conducted.

This course briefly refreshes the knowledge of students of diverse backgrounds with basic computer operations and expands into computer applications for analyzing the energy performance of buildings.  Software such as HOT2000, RETScreen and other building energy performance simulation programs will be examined.  This course also will examine design tools, such as CANQUEST, (successor to NRCan's EE4), which forms the basis for the Design Validation program as well as LEED energy scoring.  As new energy performance software comes available it will be added to the curriculum to replace outgoing programs.

Students are introduced to fundamental electronics and the basic concepts of digital logic circuits involved in HVAC and building automation technology.  Topics include an introduction to rectifiers, PLCs and solid state residential control systems. The basics of residential line and low voltage controls used to control heating, air conditioning and heat pump applications will be studied.  Students will use basic electronic test instruments.  

Technical Communication is the “art and science of making complex technical information accessible, usable and relevant to most people in most settings.”  This course reinforces and expands on technical communication skills introduced in first semester, which students will require in the workplace. Students will learn to select and use appropriate research, language, and layout for different technical documents, while further developing their written and verbal communication skills and their ability to work in a team.

The two courses relating to building automation will introduce and enhance topics associated with computers and networking in buildings. This course studies electronic devices used to control and monitor energy systems, available from building automation suppliers. Where possible, basic troubleshooting of the systems will be investigated. Students will be introduced to direct digital control systems in buildings.  Some coverage of the fundamentals of process control theory and applications will also be presented. The basic concepts of proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers for parameters such as: level, flow, pressure, temperature, etc. will be studied.  Concepts and principles to quantify and analyze inputs and outputs from measurement devices utilized to determine parameters such as temperature, pressure, voltage, amperage and flow rate.

Students will be introduced to business fundamentals and will explore the different aspects and issues that entrepreneurs and corporate leaders face on an ongoing basis. Students will reflect on both the opportunities and challenges found in today’s business world; economic, business management and operations, marketing and financial. Through case studies and research students will examine these aspects and apply them accordingly. Students who have knowledge and understanding of these businesses and opportunities will become our entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Knowledge of business fundamentals will provide students a better appreciation of the workings of the Canadian business system. This knowledge will make students more valuable as future employees.

In this course students are introduced to the basic functions of MS Project through hands on work in a computer lab. The course covers importing and exporting data from/ to other computer applications including MS Excel and other industry standard software. Students will also get an introduction to other energy management specific software.

This course builds on ENER 1010 with the study of the procedures and techniques of energy assessments of larger existing buildings.  The building envelope, components and energy utilization of all systems, equipment and appliances will be evaluated.  Student will relate supply-side energy management parameters with demand side practices.  The importance of collection, interpretation and presentation and communication of data to the client will be emphasized.     Additionally, this course will study the practice of retrofitting or recommissioning of a building. The RCx investigation phase will provide a very similar analysis to an audit, with the added bonus (following NRCan or BOMA methodology) of focussing on operational, low-cost opportunities first (some conventional energy auditing tends to be focussed on equipment retrofits). The course will clarify the distinction between these two activities.  The concepts of energy benchmarking, tracking and analysis, and Energy Information System (EIS) tools will be introduced.

This course is currently under development. 

This course provides the background for students to plan, organize, and manage resources to enable the successful completion of a specific project.  Bringing a project in on schedule, on budget and up to design standards are key components of the course.  The involvement of the project management process and its basic functions in relation to the early procurement procedures of a potential client company in a request for proposal (RFP) will be examined in some detail.   

The students will study the planning process in Ontario.  The Ontario Municipal Act, the Planning Act, the Green Belt Act and the Places to Grow policies and other related issues will be examined.  The roles of the Regional (County) and local governments in the development of official plans will be discussed.  Developing concepts of issues such as walkability, sustainable transit, cycling, built form and impact will be discussed. Possible new policies such as combined heat and power (CHP) in sustainable communities to provide decentralized electrical energy generation with the efficient use of waste heat to provide community heat and hot water.  The concept of energy hierarchy will be introduced to emphasize efficient use of energy in communities and industry.  Issues relating to waste management plans, safety plans and personal safety around demolition and construction sites will be studied.  Evolving concepts of green energy, drop-in biofuels and biomass will be discussed.

This course enhances the experience with direct digital building automation systems with particular focus on the integration of various control systems and operational functions.  Topics, including energy evaluation of automation of conveyor systems, pneumatic and hydraulic systems, and interfacing of sensors and smart devices are introduced. Students will design, build and demonstrate a basic programmable control system.  Where practical, linkages to renewable and clean energy technology will be discussed.  While this course will focus on energy related systems other networking applications within buildings will be discussed.

This course introduces students to the current version of AutoCAD and Revit with hands on work in a CAD lab. Students study basic drawing and editing commands in both drafting programs. In lab exercises, students will accumulate and export data for use in energy management applications.

This course builds on Design Concepts 1 and involves further integration of ideas and sustainable components into more complex structures and systems. Net zero energy consumption and low energy building concepts will be introduced in this course.  Like other courses in this program, course content will evolve as new systems are developed.  Fundamental principles studied in thermodynamics, solar thermal energy and building components along with factors such as building orientation and design will be studied relative to their applications in green building systems. Topics will include selected renewable energy systems, high performance building envelope, localized thermal mass and radiant wall panels.  Rating systems, such as, LEED EB and BOMA Go Green and their applications will be studied for green buildings.  

The students will work in small teams, as part of field placement, and produce a detailed energy evaluation on existing industrial, commercial or institutional building stock.  The project can be as (1) a recommissioning project leading to a possible LEED application or BOMA certification by the owner or (2) as a study for possible retrofits to the building and ideas for inclusion of renewable energy and enhanced energy efficiency into the energy management system. Working with a mentor, students will design, plan and justify their proposal for changes to the existing building and system.  As another project option, the student team could work with the mentor in the development of a new green, sustainable building project.  Interim deadlines will be set for completion of the various stages and meeting the target deadlines will be a meaningful component in the evaluation.

Students will conduct targeted financial analyses of various energy options ranging from energy purchase contracts, to various retrofit possibilities and potential green energy options.  Capital costs, operational costs, financing, time for capital pay back, return on investment and other important financial considerations will be analyzed in a similar format that would be undertaken by a company pondering investments in new energy management options.

Elective general education courses appear in your program of study as GNED 0000. This is called a “placeholder.” This placeholder is replaced by an actual course that you will select from a list of available "elective" general education courses when you register in the relevant semester.

Please note that the type and number of elective courses available will vary from semester to semester and from year to year.

Please visit the General Education website for more information.

The goal of this course is two-fold.  Primarily it assists students in developing a well planned and organized job search plan. In order to accomplish this, students develop professional cover letters, resumes, portfolios and career action plans. The second goal of this course is to introduce students to subject matter which will assist them to meet today’s workforce challenges. An introduction of Organizational Behaviour is explored including; Understanding and working with management to attain company and career goals, working and communicating in a team environment, functioning and managing stress in today’s workplace and understanding why organizational change and development take place.

Students will continue to work with a mentor and team from Energy Management Project I and summarize and analyze data. Students will complete a final report including simulation results on the proposed energy management modifications or on a new development.  Reports will be presented to the owners and the reports will be evaluated by faculty with input from the owners or managers of the project site.

Case studies will be used to examine the previous energy costs, retrofit and new management system costs and the return on investment on the alterations to the building envelope, demand side management, and/or renewable options utilized. Similar evaluations of will be conducted to compare energy efficiency for selected industrial process options.

This course introduces the basic design, principles of installation and operation of geothermal systems.  The theory behind various geo-exchange systems and their applications are studied. Students discuss the materials, components and fluids of different geothermal heat exchanger installations. The student is exposed to the geological criteria considered as it pertains to geo-exchange applications and installations.   Students will observe the operation and control of the geothermal systems at both the Whitby and Oshawa campuses (the Oshawa campus installation is the largest in Canada – 300 wells 300 metres deep).  The basic theory of harvesting energy from wind will be introduced. Through the combination of theoretical and practical studies, students will identify and compare the operating principles of different commercially available wind turbine designs.  The fundamental theory of nuclear energy for generation on electricity is studied.  Students will tour the combined heat and power plant on the Oshawa Campus and studied the basic principles of CHP.  Other clean energy alternatives including biomass gasifiers will be studied.

Elective general education courses appear in your program of study as GNED 0000. This is called a “placeholder.” This placeholder is replaced by an actual course that you will select from a list of available "elective" general education courses when you register in the relevant semester.

Please note that the type and number of elective courses available will vary from semester to semester and from year to year.

Please visit the General Education website for more information.

Students will be introduced to the various systems and practices of water conservation and water re-use.  Costs of municipal water are becoming an increasing burden to major building owners and many are examining and investing in grey water and rain water systems for use as a secondary water source for purposes in or around buildings.  Opportunities for water conservation will be examined in detail for new and existing homes, multiple residential and ICI buildings.