MODUL BUILDING ENERGY PERFORMANCE

LV 159.778 SE Energy and Architecture

LV 159.779 SE Energy Analysis

LV 159.780 UE Energy Modelling

In an era defined by rapid digitalization, the networks, data centers, cryptocurrencies, and AI systems powering our world have profound architectural and environmental consequences. Today, data centers alone account for 1–2% of global electricity consumption—expected to double to nearly 4% by 2030 under AI and crypto growth pressures. Meanwhile, Bitcoin mining’s proof-of-work model consumes as much electricity as entire countries and contributes millions of tons of CO₂ annually. Against this backdrop, we will explore the intersection of data centers and architecture, addressing critical questions such as: How can data centers be designed to be sustainable and how do the strategies to achieve this vary depending on location? Students are invited to reframe their architectural design lens: can architectural forms integrate systems which use server waste heat to provide building heating systems in the urban surroundings with useful energy? What role can modular design, liquid cooling, and renewable energy integration play in building-scale adaptations?

This seminar encourages students to move beyond traditional boundaries, envisioning multi-functional environments that embed computing into sustainable design. By engaging with energy, carbon, and water usage, students will explore how architecture can house, harvest, and harmonize data infrastructure—transforming energy-hungry systems into sustainable urban components.