Program Overview

Diploma in Design of Envelopes for Zero Emission Buildings

Introduction

The Diploma in Design of Envelopes for Zero Emission Buildings is a professional development program aimed at architects, engineers, and construction professionals. The program focuses on delivering advanced tools for designing architectural envelopes in the context of decarbonizing the building sector.

Objective

The overall objective of the program is to enable participants to design envelope solutions for new buildings with criteria for thermal efficiency and low carbon emissions, considering current regulations, energy evaluation tools, and passive design strategies.

Specific Objectives

• Comprehend the normative, conceptual, and climatic context that supports the design of zero-emission envelopes.
• Apply the prescriptive criteria of the Chilean Thermal Regulation to envelope design.
• Evaluate the energy performance of envelopes through prescriptive methods and energy simulation.
• Analyze the impact of incorporated carbon in constructive solutions and apply material selection criteria.
• Develop integrated design proposals based on real cases of housing, health, and education.

Target Audience

The program is directed at architects, engineers, professionals in the construction and real estate sectors, and public and private officials involved in the design, planning, or technical evaluation of building projects.

Content

Module Introductory (3 hours) - Online

• Zero Emission Buildings: Conceptual framework, current context, and future development.
• National Regulatory Framework and Evaluation Tools
• Passive Design Strategies and Low Carbon Envelopes

Course I (24 hours) - Online

• Introduction to Thermal Regulation and Thermal Zones
• Update on Thermal Regulation (Residential, Education, and Health)
• Thermal insulation of the envelope, windows, and doors
• Thermal Bridges: Diagnosis and Constructive Solutions
• Airtightness and Ventilation
• Design Strategies

Course II (24 hours) - Online

• Fundamentals of prescriptive design, performance, and energy simulation
• Envelope modeling in DesignBuilder
• Climatic parameters, infiltration, and ventilation
• Evaluation of thermal performance and energy demand

Course III (24 hours) - Online

• Fundamentals of incorporated carbon and the life cycle in building construction
• Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), low footprint materials, and green purchases
• Tools for evaluating incorporated carbon: software, inventories, and BIM
• Design strategies to minimize incorporated carbon

Final Module (15 hours) 9 hours online and 6 hours in-person in Santiago

• Integrated analysis of real projects
• Application of learning in cases of housing, health, and education
• Master class and collective discussion

Requirements for Admission

• Professionals with degrees in architecture, engineering, or related disciplines.
• Basic knowledge of architectural design and sustainability.
• Desirable basic handling of digital tools (AutoCAD, BIM,).

Methodology

The diploma will be developed in a semi-presential format. Synchronous online classes (Zoom) will be held for the introductory modules and main courses. Audiovisual resources, work guides, complementary bibliography, and practical simulations will be used. Active participation, case analysis, and collaborative discussions will be encouraged. The final module will be in-person in Santiago.

Evaluations

Course I

• Questionnaire on thermal regulation (30%)
• Development of a solution proposal by thermal zone (70%)

Course II

• Energy qualification exercise with CEV spreadsheet (30%)
• Simulation of passive strategy in DesignBuilder (70%)

Course III

• Exercise evaluating the carbon life cycle of an envelope (30%)
• Report evaluating the carbon life cycle of an envelope with software tool (70%)

Final Module

• Group presentation of an applied case with integral proposal (100%)

Minimum Approval Note: 4.0 on a scale of 1 to 7. Minimum Attendance: 75%

Total Program Duration

90 chronological hours. 29 sessions in total. The last class is in-person.

Academic Coordination

Bárbara Rodríguez D., Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, University of Chile. PhD in Built Environment, University of Washington; Master of Science in Urban Ecology, State University of New York; Master in Public Administration, Syracuse University; Architect, University of Chile. She has over eighteen years of experience facilitating and executing social impact projects through strategic collaboration between academia, industry, and the public sector in Chile and the United States. Currently, she is a founding member of CLF LATAM.

Academic Body

• Tatiana Vidal, Magister in Architecture and Sustainable Construction, Diplomate in Sustainable Architecture, Architect, University of Chile. CES Certifier, EDGE Expert, CVS, and energy qualifier of housing CEV. Director of projects in +E Ltda., in charge of energy efficiency advisory and certifications, to public use buildings, achieving 6 CES awards. Teacher in the master's degree in energy efficiency and sustainability in UTEM. Co-creator of the Net Zero 2030 Challenge. President of the Sustainability Committee of the College of Architects.
• Natalie Mollenhauer, Architect from the Universidad Mayor (2004). Diplomate in Sustainable Architecture, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (2009). Master in Architecture and Sustainability, Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña, Spain (2012). Advisor CES Sustainable Building Certification and Energy Evaluator of Homes CEV of MINVU. Partner director in MasEstudio Ltda, performing architecture, energy efficiency advisory, CES certifications, and energy evaluations of homes. Co-creator of the NetZero 2030 Challenge and Vice President of the Sustainability and Energy Committee of the College of Architects of Chile.
• Paola Molina O'Ryan, Architect, Universidad Mayor de Chile. Master in Environment and Bioclimatic Architecture, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (MAYAB - Latinoamérica program). Certified as Passivhaus Designer and Tradeperson. Specialist in passive design, energy efficiency, and thermal regulation. Founder of the Sustainability Commission of the College of Architects of Chile (2007). Director of the Construction Institute, where she chairs the Circular Economy Committee and is vice president of the Sustainability and Climate Change Committee. Past President and current director of the Sustainable Buildings Certification (CES), a key initiative in implementing sustainability standards at the national level. Co-creator of the Net Zero 2030 Challenge.
• Catalina Pérez-Aguirre S., Architect from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, specialized in building technologies and sustainability, with over 10 years of experience in sustainable projects of the built environment in Chile and the United States. She is a Master in Design (MDes) in Energy and Environment from Harvard GSD, a Fulbright scholar, and has led corporate sustainability strategies, elaboration of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), and sustainability certifications in building construction (LEED®, CES, CVS). Currently, she works as Technical Development and Sustainability Manager at CINTAC SAIC, leading innovation, sustainability, and quality management areas of the company. Additionally, she is Co-Policy Lead of the Latam Hub of the Carbon Leadership Forum and an active member in technical standardization committees in Chile.
• Viviana Urra, Sustainable Design Analyst at Overland Partners in San Antonio, United States. She collaborates with the Design Performance Team to develop and monitor objectives, tactics, and design sustainability strategies at the business level. She is an Architect from the University of Chile and has a Master's degree in Design Studies with a concentration in Energy and Environment from Harvard University.
• Christine Vohringer, Sustainability Specialist at the corporate level in Perkins Eastman, where she integrates sustainable strategies into design flows, specifications, and firm-wide policies. She has developed her career between Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Christine has a Master's degree in Design, Energy, and Environment from Harvard University (GSD) and is certified in Healthy Materials from Parsons. She has led projects and research in mass timber, carbon modeling, natural lighting, thermal comfort, and material transparency. She actively participates in the AIA's 2030 Committee, collaborates with mindful MATERIALS, and with the Carbon Leadership Forum East Coast to bring together sector leaders on topics of traceability, accountability, and alignment with certifications.