Understanding Building Physics training course.
The Understanding Building Physics course provides essential insight into how buildings perform in relation to heat, moisture, and air movement. It helps learners understand how energy efficiency measures impact the building fabric, comfort, and indoor air quality. This training supports professionals involved in retrofit design, assessment, or coordination by deepening their technical understanding of how materials and systems interact in real-world conditions.
Course overview.
The Understanding Building Physics course, developed by the AECB (Association for Environment Conscious Building), is a live, online and highly interactive introduction to the science that underpins the built environment. It helps demystify the key physical principles that influence comfort, energy performance, and material behaviour in buildings, from heat transfer and ventilation to moisture movement and daylight.
Delivered by architect and Passive House designer Gloria Lo, this course makes complex topics accessible through creative explanations, practical demonstrations, and open discussion. Learners are encouraged to experiment, ask questions, and connect the science to their own projects.
The course is perfect for anyone working in retrofit, design, surveying, or energy assessment who wants to gain a confident, intuitive grasp of how buildings really work and why understanding physics is essential to achieving healthy, durable, and low-carbon outcomes.
Who this course is for.
This course is designed for anyone with an interest in how buildings behave and there are no formal entry requirements. It is particularly valuable for:
- Architects, designers and retrofit professionals seeking to strengthen their understanding of physical principles
- Energy assessors and coordinators working under PAS 2035
- Students, technicians, and others entering the sustainability or retrofit sector
- Curious homeowners and building custodians wanting to make informed design or retrofit decisions
All sessions are live and interactive, with space to bring your own questions and case studies. Participants are encouraged to explore and think critically from first principles — building knowledge and confidence along the way.
Course structure & content.
The course is divided into five themed modules, each combining theory, practical examples, and discussion. Learners take part in live demonstrations using everyday materials and can complete optional quizzes to reinforce learning. Together, these sessions offer a complete introduction to building physics.
Module 1 – Balanced Systems
- Systems thinking and balance across scales – global, local, and building
- Climate, weather and location effects
- Water cycle, temperature and pressure relationships
- Form factor and surface-to-volume ratio
- Comfort, biophilic design and human well-being
Module 2 – Thermal Principles
- Conservation of energy and the three forms of heat transfer
- Thermal bridges and the building envelope
- Insulation, conductivity, resistivity and U-values
- Thermal mass, fluctuations and control
Module 3 – Ventilation and Daylight
- Natural and mechanical ventilation, stack effect and flow rates
- Window placement, cross-ventilation and glazing performance
- Airtightness, solar gain, and daylight factor
- Controlling glare and overheating
Module 4 – Moisture in Buildings
- Moisture balance and mechanisms – vapour and liquid
- Dew point, condensation and damp-related risks
- Moisture envelopes and hygrothermal interactions
- Comparing retrofit and new-build scenarios
Module 5 – A Wholistic Approach
- Applying physics across comfort, systems and material behaviour
- Understanding embodied carbon and hygrothermal performance
- Adaptive comfort, resilience, and energy conservation
- Building performance evaluation and risk reduction
Each module builds on the last, ending with an integrated session that links the topics together into a single, holistic understanding of building performance.
Course tutors.
Gloria Lo – Architect, Certified Passive House Designer, and BREEAM Accredited Professional with over 20 years of experience in conservation and sustainable design. Gloria teaches at the University of Edinburgh and is Chair of the Scottish Ecological Design Association (SEDA). Her teaching approach blends physics, architecture and environmental design in an engaging and inclusive way.
Sara Edmonds – Architect, Passive House Designer and Director of Studio seARCH. Sara is an advocate for systemic change in the built environment, steering group coordinator at the Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN) and co-host of the Zero Ambitions Podcast. Sara helped coordinate the development of this course with the AECB.
Learning outcomes.
By the end of the course, learners will:
- Understand how heat, moisture, light and air interact in buildings
- Recognise how design decisions affect comfort and energy demand
- Be able to discuss physics concepts confidently with consultants and engineers
- Appreciate the importance of hygrothermal balance and building performance evaluation
- Have greater confidence to apply building-physics thinking in retrofit and design
Format & enrolment.
Applying is simple: please complete our online form, which takes around ten minutes. There is no commitment until your eligibility and funding are confirmed.
Once enrolled, you’ll gain access to our eLearning platform and be introduced to your tutor, who will guide you through each stage of learning and assessment.
For advice on suitability, fast-track options or group bookings, please contact our team and we’ll be happy to help you get started.
