Integration of LEED Concepts into the AEC Curriculum

摘要

Sustainability topics have experienced an increasing trend in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) education within the past few years. While the construction research is increasingly adopting sustainable design, green rating systems such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) has become a center of interest for both the educators and the AEC students. Therefore, it is now a basic need to integrate LEED certification into the existing curriculum. At this stage, it is important to identify and analyze students' needs and expectations. This paper presents a senior level course, taught at Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), which covers sustainable design and LEED concepts in order to prepare students for the LEED professional certification exams as well as for their future careers. The study conducts a survey to learn the perception of students about integrating the LEED concepts into the AEC curriculum in terms of benefits for the curriculum and construction industry, in addition to their expectations from a LEED-based course. The results showed how much students expected LEED concepts and professional certification exams to be integrated into the curriculum, and can serve as a guideline for sustainability educators to design a successful LEED-based course for undergraduate students.