As the demand for energy and resources shifts the world’s focus onto building design and construction, it’s imperative that today’s Architectural Technology student is fluent in the currency of identifying, assembling and evaluating an authentic sustainable design. Each component of this design reverberates intensely within the confines of our urban environment. These urgent issues require our attention and students are being called into service for the future of our city and the common good of the planet.

The tools to design and quantify Sustainable Building Technologies at CUNY’s New York City College of Technology reach into nearly every studio and building technology course at the college. Students are trained to design high performing building envelopes and simulate consequent energy use. They generate reports that are accepted by local and state authorities for code compliance and may be used as benchmarks for LEED and Energy Star ratings. Supplemental to this integrated systems approach are tools to make physical verification of computer generated models. Some of the software utilized by students include EnergyPlus, eQuest, Ecotect, Vasari, Green Building Studio, Therm, DIVA, Radiance, and Daysim. Additionally, students get exposure to analysis equipment such as the Digital Rain gauge and data logger and the FLIR E bx Series infrared thermal imaging camera.