Heatwaves, droughts, water stress: the Mediterranean is on the front line of climate change. How can comfortable, energy-efficient buildings be designed in the face of these constraints? PEEB Med and AFD are launching the MOOC “Building Sustainably in the Mediterranean Climate,” a free online course open to everyone.
The Mediterranean basin is now home to more than 500 million people, with sustained urban growth and increasing pressure on natural resources. Hot, dry summers, mild, wet winters, and strong sunshine: the building sector, responsible for a large share of the region’s greenhouse gas emissions, must adapt to these specific conditions to limit discomfort and the need for air conditioning or heating.
Developed in collaboration with ADEME and MeetMED III, and funded by the European Union, this MOOC is aimed at building professionals (public and private project owners, architects, design offices, construction companies) as well as teachers and students, or anyone wishing to build a broader understanding of sustainable construction in the Mediterranean climate.
A comprehensive course to understand the issues at stake
Over three weeks, participants will discover the main principles of climatic design (thermal mass, natural ventilation, managing sunlight and humidity), the tools for assessing a sustainable project (life cycle analysis, whole-life cost approach, labels) and real-world case studies filmed in Algeria, Morocco and France. The MOOC is estimated to take a total of 10 hours.
The course draws on expert videos, on-the-ground reports, discussion forums between learners and an in-depth track for those who want to go further. Quizzes allow learners to check their progress throughout the course, leading to a certificate of completion at the end.
This course is available in French and Arabic; however, tutoring will only be available in French.
Guided support
Tutoring starts on 21 September for three weeks: during this period, learners will exchange on the forums, ask their questions to experts and take part in live webinars. After this period, the MOOC will remain freely accessible with no time limit, but without this support. To make the most of this group dynamic, join the cohort from 21 September!
Ready to change the way we build in the Mediterranean?
Register now: https://mooc-campus.afd.fr/enrol/synopsis/index.php?id=157