Climate, typology, technology, materials. Relations between the constructive characteristics of buildings and climatic conditions. Analysis of how single buildings and urban agglomerations in every part of the world present distinctive connotations linked to the character of the place in which they are located. In particular, how the climate conditions the ways of life and the need to use spaces and therefore the spaces themselves; the availability and use of specific building materials; the morphology of the building in relation to the interactions between man and the climatic environment. Congruence and energy control in architectural design. It analyzes the principles and some methodologies that make it possible 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 users. The urban climate. Treats of bioclimatic settlements: oriented public space; oriented buildings; the phenomenon of the urban heat island; canyon effect and urban microclimate; ventilation and urban environment. Energy strategies in the urban environment. The shape of the built; access to the sun; techniques of the "solar envelope". Comfort and environmental well-being. It describes the factors that affect the feeling of comfort and environmental well-being, defining some design strategies as well as some qualitative evaluation tools. Solar geometry and passive solar systems. It describes the functioning of the main passive solar systems suitable for our climate. A system for the environmental heating of a building is defined as passive solar when the main energy source is the solar radiation incident on the building, and the exchanges and transfers of heat occur as a result of "natural" phenomena. The traditional heating system performs an integration function. In a passive solar system, the functions of capturing solar radiation, its conversion into heat, and the storage and distribution of this heat, are carried out by parts of the building. In passive solar design, four fundamental building components are appropriately combined: transparent surfaces; the thermal capacities (walls, floors, ...); insulation; fixed or mobile shielding systems. The systems described are: direct gain, solid wall, “Trombe” wall, “Barra-Costantini” system, leaning greenhouse, atrium system, “double-skin” building envelope. Strategies for natural cooling in Mediterranean regions the need for cooling is becoming increasingly important both for energy saving and for living comfort. The aim of the course is the knowledge of the necessary strategies for natural cooling: - solar control; - solar perspectives (manual and computerized methods); - external and internal heat input; - ventilation; - natural cooling systems. Control methods in the design phase. The most advanced environmental design techniques tend to modify the traditional design process, inserting in the process itself, at various levels, phases of verification 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 one. This makes it necessary to develop 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 shadow control, solar perspectives, horizon profile control, models for the study of natural light, simplified methods of assessing the energy needs of buildings (LT), intermediate methods (method 5000) and methods of suitable simulations in the final stages of the project.