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This
subject focuses on the impact our lifestyle and buildings have on
the quality of the indoor air we breathe. Areas covered include
the sources and health effects of various gases and vapours, chemicals
(cosmetics, cleaning products and building materials), particulates
and dusts, and microbiological contaminants (dustmite and fungi)
commonly found in residences and commercial buildings. Particular
attention will be given to internationally recognised indoor air
pollutants with explanations of the types, sources and known health
effects. Ventilation and local exhaust ventilation will be introduced,
along with the use of plants, ionisers, ozone generators, air filters
and vacuum cleaners as a way to improve indoor air quality. For
the 2009 timetable, click here. |
| Prerequisites |
None |
| Availability |
*On
campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence |
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This
subject will examine the building biology principles that underpin
good building design with a focus on suitable designs for temperate,
hot humid and arid climates commonly found in Australia. Site selection,
evaluation of its microclimate and the importance of establishing
a relationship between the building and local environment is highlighted.
The building site footprint will look at foundations, framing and
the importance of pest management as well as building site trwater
flow management. The various ways in which passive solar design
and energy efficiency can be incorporated into the building design
will be evaluated. Alternative building designs including mud brick,
straw bale and other unique alternative and experimental building
styles will be described. Field trips will consolidate the information
in this unit. For the 2009 timetable,
click here. |
| Prerequisites |
*Building
Materials |
| Availability |
*On
campus (Melbourne)
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This
subject focuses on the use of building materials currently available
in Australia and includes the impact they have on human health and
the environment. The building biology principles underpinning building
materials will be described with a focus on how to assess and source
them. The issues surrounding natural versus synthetic building materials
including recycled products are explored and their embodied energy
from the "cradle to the grave" considered. Building materials
and the use of vapour barriers will be examined in regard to their
impact on the indoor living climate. For the 2009 timetable,
click here. |
| Prerequisites |
*None |
| Availability |
*On
campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence |
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This
subject provides a comprehensive overview of the basics required
to successfully operate a small business. Strategic business planning
provides the foundation for students to confidently take their nvironmental
studies into the marketplace. Students will learn how to position
themselves within their chosen markets in an innovative and entrepreneurial
manner. Students will be given a theoretical and practical framework
with which to enhance their unique personal and professional skills.
The subject provides a strong focus on marketing as an essential
element of any successful business plan. Students will learn how
to use the key tools of brand/image, pricing, promotion, advertising,
publicity, public relations, sales and customer service in order
to build their business. For the 2009 timetable,
click here. |
| Prerequisites |
*None |
| Availability |
*On
campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence |
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Provides
an understanding of the basic principles of general and physical
chemistry, giving students a foundation on atomic theory and the
types of bonding; the nature of acids and bases; kinetic theory
of matter and the properties of metals. Students will formulate
and write balanced chemical reactions providing a foundation for
further studies in building biology, through a recognition and understanding
of chemicals used in our everyday environment. For the 2009 timetable,
click here. |
| Prerequisites |
*None |
| Availability |
*On
campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence December 2008 |
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This
unit introduces the area of organic chemistry, thereby providing
a foundation for further studies in building biology through recognition
and understanding of organic chemicals used in our everyday environment
- cosmetics and cleaning products to building materials. Carrying
on from Chemistry Part 1, the subject extends the knowledge on stoichiometry
with a specific focus on gases. This will provide a solid foundation
in order to be able to detect and measure gases using the latest
in occupational hygiene techniques in the Sampling Methods subject.
For the 2009 timetable, click here.
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| Prerequisites |
*Chemistry
Part 2 |
| Availability |
*On
campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence available March 2009 |
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This
subject introduces the basic concepts of electricity and the electromagnetic
spectrum. A detailed theoretical and practical knowledge of how
electricity is produced and conducted through the power and telecommunications
network will be described. How a building is wired will be described
and consolidated with practical demonstrations. Meters used to measure
electrical and magnetic fields will be discussed and demonstrated.
For the 2009 timetable, click here.
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| Prerequisites |
*None |
| Availability |
*On
campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence |
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This
subject focuses on the phenomenon of geopathic stress and its impact
on our mental and physical wellbeing. An in-depth analysis of dowsing,
the psychology and spirit of place, place memory and the cultural
importance of sacred places will be described and discussed. The
characteristics affiliated with each form of geopathic stress will
be discussed. The ability to detect and remediate various forms
of geopathic stress will be discussed and demonstrated. Students
will be given a pendulum and dowsing rods. Practical exercises and
field trips will consolidate the information in this subject to
enable the student to conduct a geomantic appraisal of a site. For
the 2009 timetable, click here.
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| Prerequisites |
*None |
| Availability |
*On
campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence |
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This
subject focuses on the electromagnetic field debate, the health
concerns associated with specific frequencies and what those concerns
mean in our modern society. The legislation underpinning electromagnetic
fields both in Australia and abroad will be discussed and compared
with building biology recommendations. The sources and causes of
ionising and non-ionising radiation in a residential and commercial
building will be described with a focus on AC electric and AC magnetic
fields and microwaves. The types of meters used to measure these
fields will be discussed and demonstrated. Using the control of
hierarchy, the ways in which these fields can be reduced and/or
mitigated, will be described. The building biology protocol required
to conduct an electromagnetic field survey will be explained and
demonstrated. Field trips and practical exercises will consolidate
the information in this subject. For the 2009 timetable,
click here. |
| Prerequisites |
*Electricity
Fundamentals |
| Availability |
*On
campus (Melbourne) |
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Legislation
underpinning interior lighting is discussed. Lighting concepts and
fundamentals of interior design will be described. The ability to
carry out a photometric survey and assess the lighting requirements
for a space will be discussed and demonstrated. The principles of
building biology, the design considerations required to maximise
the use of natural light will be discussed. Types of artificial
light sources will be described and demonstrated with a focus on
their advantages and disadvantages. The physical and psychological
benefits of colour therapy and its effect on residential, home and
businesses will be described. The sources, health problems and control
methods required to address noise will be described. Basic acoustics
and noise measurements are demonstrated and discussed. Control methods
with a focus on administrative controls and hearing protection is
highlighted and described. For the 2009 timetable,
click here. |
| Prerequisites |
*None |
| Availability |
*On
campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence available December 2008 |
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Occupational Health & Safety |
This
subject will enable
students to conduct an occupational health and safety audit of a workplace. The legislation underpinning occupational health
and safety in the workplace will be discussed. The roles and responsibilities of employers
and employees as well as government bodies are described and outlined.
The underlying knowledge and skills required
to provide a systematic approach to risk management will be described with an emphasis on hazard identification, risk
assessment and risk control. Chemical, physical,
biological and radiation hazards are discussed with a focus on how
to assess and control their risks. Personal protective equipment is
also described with a focus on their use. For the 2009
timetable, click here. |
| Prerequisites |
*None |
| Availability |
*On
campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence |
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This
subject provides an introduction to the types of renewable energy
technologies that are commercially available with an emphasis on
small-scale applications. The unit will provide an awareness of
the economic, political, environmental and social issues affecting
the application of renewable technologies, together with the development
of skills and knowledge in the assessment of energy services and
demand. The focus will be on energy auditing buildings. Solar thermal and photovoltaics will
be introduced and described with a focus on their application in
small-scale systems. For the 2009 timetable,
click here.
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| Prerequisites |
*None |
| Availability |
*On
campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence available December 2008 |
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Using
occupational hygiene practices, this subject provides the theoretical
and practical skills required to identify and evaluate chemical
and particulate contaminants found in and around the built environment.
Air sampling will be described and demonstrated with a specific
focus on particulate sampling and passive and active sampling for
gases and vapours. This subject also provides students with an opportunity
to review their skills in geobiology and electrobiology. Practical
exercises and demonstrations will consolidate the information in
this subject. This subject is more expensive than any other due
to the cost of hiring state of the art equipment and laboratory
analyses. For the 2009 timetable,
click here. |
| Prerequisites |
*Air
Pollution & Chemistry Part 2 |
| Availability |
*On
campus (Melbourne)
*Practical intensive |
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Provides a basic understanding
of the science of toxicology and an appreciation of important
toxic agents encountered in buildings. The way in which environmental
toxins enter and progress through the body systems with a particular
emphasis on the disease states they may lead to are discussed.
Topics covered are human physiology, absorption, distribution,
metabolism, detoxification and excretion of toxins. The way toxins
affect the respiratory, dermatological, immune, gastrointestinal,
urinary and reproductive systems will be described. Testing methods
available to assess the toxic load within the body are described
with a focus on hair analysis, blood and urine sampling. Multiple
chemical sensitivity and chronic fatigue syndrome will be explained. For the 2009 timetable, click here.
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| Prerequisites |
*None |
| Availability |
*On
campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence available March 2009 |
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This subject focuses
on the importance of water and its use in every day life. The
problems associated with water quality and availability throughout
Australia is highlighted. The various types of water contaminants
likely to be found in your drinking water such as microbes, radionuclides,
sediment, disinfectant by-products, pesticides, heavy metals and
petrochemicals are described and discussed with a focus on their
adverse health effects. The controversy surrounding fluoride will
be discussed and debated. Commercially available filtration systems
for residential and commercial properties are described and compared
with a focus on their advantages and disadvantages. For
the 2009 timetable, click here.
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| Prerequisites |
*None |
| Availability |
*On
campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence |
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For the latest timetable,
click here.
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