Postgraduate Diploma in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design)

Program Overview

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Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design)

Overview

The Postgraduate Diploma in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design) is a two-year part-time program designed to equip building design professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to design and assess the energy performance of new and existing buildings.

Course Details

TU Code

TU413

NFQ Level

Level 9

Award Type

Major

Award

Postgraduate Diploma

ECTS Credits

60

Duration

2 Years

Course Type

Postgraduate

Mode of Study

Part Time

Method of Delivery

Blended

Commencement Date

September 2025

Location

Bolton Street

Fees

Year 1: €3,000
Year 2: €3,500
€6,500 Total Fee

What is Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design)?

The program focuses on the energy performance standard required under the European Union Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD). The Directive requires that all new public buildings must meet the NZEB standard from the end of 2018 onwards, and all new buildings from the end of 2020 onwards.

Minimum Entry Requirements

The Diploma in BP(EED) course is open to the following categories of applicants:

• Graduates of TU412 Postgraduate Certificate in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design)
• Advanced entry may be considered if applicants can demonstrate that they have obtained equivalent learning outcomes to TU412 Postgraduate Certificate in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design)

Career Opportunities

For building design professionals, an understanding of NZEB will be critical to professional survival. Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design) will be uniquely qualified to design and assess the energy performance in new and existing building typologies.

Course Content

The course is delivered through a series of modules, some in blended online mode supported by workshops every four weeks, some in traditional part-time college-based mode.

Semester 1

• NZEB Policy & Technologies
• NZEB Calculation & Cost Optimality
• Energy Modelling Tools #1 (DEAP)

Semester 2

• Energy Modelling Tools #2 (PHPP)
• Hygrothermal Risk Assessment for Building Performance
• Thermal Bridge Calculation for Building Performance

Semester 3

• Building Environmental Assessment Methods
• Building Performance NZEB Design Project: Multi-Unit Residential

Semester 4

• Energy Modelling Tools #3 (Dynamic Simulation / NEAP)
• Building Performance NZEB Design Project: Office

Module Listing

Year One

• Decarbonising Building Design [Mandatory]
• The Reflective Building Design Practitioner [Mandatory]
• Building Energy Modelling Using DEAP [Elective]
• Building Energy Modelling Using PHPP [Elective]

Year Two

• Hygrothermal Risk Assessment for Building Performance [Mandatory]
• Thermal Bridge Calculation for Building Performance [Mandatory]
• The Reflective Building Design Practitioner [Mandatory]
• Building Performance: Net Zero Carbon Residential Design Project [Mandatory]

Schedule

The delivery of TU413 Postgraduate Diploma in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design) course suits those upskilling, re-skilling & returning to work.

• In the (5-ECTS) taught modules the only fixed dates are webinars on the first four Tuesdays at 8pm, an online exam at 8pm on the second and fourthThursdays , the feedback workshop at the end of the fifth week and the project submission.
• In the larger (15-ECTS) project module seminars are held on Fridays. In general, these are online, though 2 or 3 will be held on campus to benefit student learning.

Student Testimonials

Year 2 of the Postgraduate Diploma in Building Performance (EED) was challenging and extremely worthwhile. It has completely changed my thinking and that of my work colleagues. We intend to steer the company towards an ethos of sustainable design and already have clients approach us about Passive House / EnerPHit / and better choice of materials. I have made lifelong friends from the course: meeting likeminded females was a real bonus!

The wider life cycle picture, assessment methods and engaging in holistic discussions about sustainable design in Year 2 were really important, topics that should be core to the education of any designer, professional or client engaged in the construction sector. __To be honest, the learning was transformative for me as to where my priorities would lie going forward. I highly recommend extending what you've learnt in First Year into Second Year for a wider-ranging comprehensive knowledge base and skills and, most importantly a holistic picture for all of us to become better and more conscientious designers.