While USAID is an independent agency that provides economic, development and humanitarian assistance around the world, BEE aims to institutionalise energy efficiency services.

“What the recognition essentially means is that we can now participate in the activities of the Central Government. Hence, we are trying to target issues which are very sensitive like energy and environment from an academic context,” said institute principal Rajan Lakule.

And a few criterions under the BEE-USAID ECO-III project is identification of a faculty member with knowledge in field of energy efficiency and introduction of architectural or building science and building energy modeling as new course on a pilot project basis among others.

Subsequently as a first step, the college will refine the syllabus for Architecture Design by adding value through the incorporation of sustainable housing design practices which is to be implemented from the 2008-09 academic year. And to ensure that the curriculum is in tune with the needs of the times, the institute roped in experts and practicing architects from the country to review and provide inputs of sustainable practice through an educator summit conducted on Wednesday. Significantly, an integral aspect of the brainstorming sessions were the suggestions from the current students.

“The idea was to get into the context, techniques and benefits of energy-efficient buildings since the focus this year is zero-energy building. It included issues like how to divide a design programme from entry to exit level, case studies and evaluation,” said Lakule.

Five objectives were also identified for sustainable buildings including resource efficiency, energy efficiency, pollution prevention, harmonisation with environment and integrated and systemic approaches.

Experts and industry representatives were specifically asked to give their comment on which areas should be given more relevance at each year of study in architecture. They included among others advanced monitoring systems, design and technologies for energy efficiency and conservation, drive-effective sustainable solutions in projects, eco-materials and technologies, innovative sustainable construction and use of non-conventional materials. For instance, a suggestion that came up was inclusion of sustainability as a means of expression in the second year. Again for fourth year, post-occupancy evaluation of houses or buildings and urban design projects were proposed.