building biology subjects
 
 

building biology subjects

building biology subjects
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Air Pollution
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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Building Design
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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Building Materials
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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Business Skills
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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Chemistry Part 1
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

Chemistry Part 2
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.
Prerequisites *Chemistry Part 2
Availability

*On campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence available March 2009

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Electricity Fundamentals
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.  
Prerequisites *None
Availability

*On campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence

 
Geobiology
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.
Prerequisites *None
Availability

*On campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence

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Electrobiology
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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Light & Sound
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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Energy Auditing
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.

 

Prerequisites *None
Availability

*On campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence available December 2008

Sampling Methods
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

Toxicology

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.

 

Prerequisites *None
Availability

*On campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence available March 2009

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Water Pollution

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.

Prerequisites *None
Availability

*On campus (Melbourne)
*Correspondence


For the latest timetable, click here.

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