Operating Net Zero Buildings

In order to transition the UK to NetZero and create a truly zero-carbon built environment, we must not only design effective buildings but operate and maintain them efficiently over their lifetimes. As utility costs increase and we work to retrofit existing buildings, there is an increasing national demand for skills and knowledge in effective building operation. To address these needs, LSBU is proud to have created a ground-breaking, immersive pilot programme with the support of the Office for Students (OFD) new Lifelong Loan Entitlement (LLE) scheme, and in close partnership with leading employers in the housing and green sector, including Building Services Research and Information Association, London Energy, Ashden, Clarion Housing Group, Lambeth Council and Southwark Council.

Operating Net Zero Buildings, one of four short courses in this programme, was developed in response to the growing demand for organisations to mitigate operational carbon and demonstrate compliance with increasingly stringent targets. The course is aimed at facilities and maintenance managers with operational knowledge of buildings, but less formal knowledge of building performance. It teaches facilities managers how to operate buildings to deliver optimal comfort and cost and operation efficiency, and deliver best operational practices without reliance on fossil fuels, through an understanding of good control design and data management.

During the immersive, one-year course you will study the role of the facilities manager, the role of the building, and the social/legal context of its owner/operators’ Net Zero obligations. You’ll gain a practical understanding of all aspects of performance optimisation; the controls and processes necessary for the efficient operation of buildings; the role of energy management systems and data to manage energy, forecast carbon savings and monitor performance; and the tools for financial analysis and reporting.

The course is delivered through lectures, workshops and private study, and involves individual and group projects, site visits, industry-leading guest speakers, and hands-on learning with real-life application.

The other courses in this programme are:

• Designing Net Zero Buildings
• Procuring Net Zero Buildings
• Leadership and Management for Net Zero Buildings.

This updated course offering for Sept 2022 entry is currently “subject to validation” to make you aware that the courses are at the final stages of approval. This means the course content is not yet finalised and may undergo further changes. Validation is a rigorous process to ensure high academic quality and standards are met and able to prepare students for future employment or further study.