Climate, typology, technology, materialiaffronta the relationships between the constructive characters of the buildings and the climatic conditions. The educational module analyzes how individual buildings and urban areas in every part of the world present distinctive characteristics related to the character of the place in which they are located. In particular, how the climate conditions the ways of life and the need for use of space and therefore the spaces themselves; the availability and use of specific building materials; the morphology of the building in relation to the interactions existing between man and the climatic environment. Congruency and energy control in architectural planningThe didactic module analyzes the principles and some methodologies that allow to design a building structure in an energetically aware way, deriving it from the characteristics of the climate, the site and the functional organization of the users. The urban climateThe modula treats bioclimatic settlements: the public oriented space; the oriented buildings; the phenomenon of the urban heat island; canyon effect and urban microclimate; ventilation and urban environment. Energy strategies in urban areasThe site design; the shape of the built; access to the sun; "solar envelope" techniques. Comfort and environmental well-being The module describes the factors that affect the feeling of comfort and environmental well-being, defining some design strategies as well as some qualitative assessment tools. Solar geometry and passive solar systemsIt describes the functioning of the main passive solar systems suited to our climate. A system for the environmental heating of a building is called passive solar when the main energy source consists of solar radiation incident on the building, and heat exchanges and transfers occur as a result of "natural" phenomena. The traditional heating system performs an integration function. In a passive solar system the functions of solar radiation capture, its conversion into heat, and the storage and distribution of such heat, are carried out by parts of the building. In passive solar design, four fundamental building components are combined in an appropriate manner: transparent surfaces; thermal capacities (walls, floors, ...); insulation; shielding systems, fixed or mobile. The systems described are: direct gain, massive wall, "Trombe" wall, "Barra-Costantini" system, leaning greenhouse, atrium system, "double-skin" building envelope. The strategies for the natural cooling in the Mediterranean regions the need for cooling is becoming increasingly important both for energy saving and for living comfort. The objective of the module is the knowledge of the strategies necessary for natural cooling: - solar control; - solar perspectives (manual and computerized methods); - external and internal heat inputs; - ventilation; - natural cooling systems. Control methods in the design phaseThe most advanced environmental design techniques tend to modify the traditional design process, inserting in the same process, at various levels, verification phases not only qualitative but also quantitative of the variations of interaction, consequent to the design choices, between the external natural environment and the artificial architectural environment. This requires the development of tools (methods) at different levels of increasing complexity and decreasing degree of approximation, suitable for the different degrees of definition that the project assumes during the design process. For example: methods for controlling shadows, solar perspectives, horizon profile control, models for the study of natural light, simplified methods for assessing the energy needs of buildings (LT), intermediate methods (method 5000) and methods of simulation suitable for the terminal phases of the project.