Abstract:

The “Friendly and Sustainable City” project proposes a full service to improve functioning of buildings and coexistence of their residents or users. Students work on: energy consumption problems to make buildings more sustainable, poor comfort with the aim of making them more pleasant and in improving coexistence due to poor use of buildings. Specifically, in this project we worked on the CEPA of Entrevías (Madrid-Spain), an educational building for adults in which different subjects of the degree are being carried out assignments, such as: an energy analysis, insulation and acoustic conditioning tests, as well as a study of constructive injuries.

Project’s participants are Students and Professors from the School of Building Engineering (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid). Firstly, existing problems and needs of the users have been studied to apply the following generic methodology: data collection, calculations and analysis, proposed solutions and technical assistance on the proposals. The work is carried out through specific and/or continued assignments depending on the situation, as well as through a Final Master's Work in which more aspects are developed in greater depth, in addition to bringing together the work carried out by undergraduate students.

Learning aims include acquiring skills in data collection, calculation of energy losses and acoustic comfort, promoting interdisciplinary and real and practical utility of knowledge.

With this project we hoped to reduce absenteeism and school dropouts among our students, improving the motivation and interest of students by working on a real situation. Impact indicators are based on the improvement of academic results and student satisfaction. Since educational center's staff does not know about construction or facilities aspects in the building, community service pursues to provide the center's management with a guide to improve the building, considering both construction and use aspects, promoting sustainability and coexistence. In addition, it is important underline the fact that information provided is fully objective since professors and students do not have an economic interest like a company or corporation may have.

Keywords:

Service-learning, community, sustainable, insulation, acoustic conditioning.