S U S TA I N A B L E A RC H I T E C T U R E

GREEN BUILDING

Shan McNaughton, AIAMcNaughton Architecture, Inc.Architect C-28575

GREEN BUILDING DEFINED• Environmentally responsible and resource efficient building

design.

Architecture that minimizes the negative environmental impact of buildings by efficiency in the use of materials and energy.

Goal: to effectively reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment and increase comfort and livability.

Consistent with AIA sponsored Architecture Challenge 2030.

THE PROBLEM• The building industry is responsible for more than 40% of the

world’s total primary energy consumption and 24% of global CO2 emissions.

• Changing the way we design and construct buildings is essential to the goal of reducing global greenhouse gases to tolerable levels in the future.

ARCHITECTURE 2030

• Role of the Architect

Buildings are the major source of global demand for energy and materials that produce by-product greenhouse gases (GHG). Slowing the growth rate of GHG emissions and then reversing it is the key to addressing climate change and keeping global average temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

ARCHITECTS

Architects play a unique role in defining and managing the use of energy throughout the programming and design of a project.

Architects not only design the building form and characteristics, they orchestrate the design by coordinating with clients, engineers, contractors and the community to develop building projects.

THE SOLUTION• While our built environment constitutes the problem of global climate change, sustainable design and building offers the solution.

Green building practices aim to reduce the environmental impact of building.

• The first rule is that the greenest building is the one that doesn't get built. Since construction almost always degrades a building site, not building at all is preferable to green building, in terms of reducing environmental impact.

• The second rule is that every building should be as small as possible. • The third rule is not to contribute to sprawl, even if the most energy-efficient, environmentally

sound methods are used in design and construction.

Sustainable Design Strategies:• Siting and structure design efficiency• Energy and Materials Efficiency• Renewable Energy Production• Water Efficiency (Water Conservation)• Recycled Content Materials

VITRUVIUS:3 PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURE

• Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (born c. 80–70 BC, died after c. 15 BC), commonly known as Vitruvius, was aRoman author, architect, and civil engineer during the 1st century BC, known for his multi-volume work entitled De Architectura.

• Firmatis: (Durability)• Utilitas: (Function)• Venustasis: (Beauty)

Our present age requires a 4th principle,that architecture, in addition to the first 3 principles, also be Sustainable.

NET ZERO BUILDINGS

• The current goal in sustainable architecture is the design of Net Zero Buildings.

• A Net Zero building, is a building with zero net energy consumption.

• I.e., the total amount of energy required to heat, cool and light the building is provided on site.

• The new paradigm is: First reduce, then produce.

COMPONENTS OF NET ZERO

• Super-insulated exterior skin• Use of clerestory windows for natural

daylighting• Proper shading of window glazing

through overhangs or deciduous trees

• High efficiency HVAC equipment• High performance windows• High efficiency lighting and

occupancy sensor controls• On-site renewable energy system,

i.e., photovoltaic array or mini wind turbine

• Proper (passive) solar orientation: NET ZERO HOUSE(Orient primary building facades to

the north and south. Minimize building facades to the east and west)

PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN PRINCIPLES

SUPER-INSULATION

DAYLIGHTING

SHADING DEVICES• AWNINGS, EXTERIOR VENETIAN BLINDS, RETRACTABLE SHADES, and CANOPIES

HIGH EFFICIENCY HVACHigh Efficiency HVAC equipment• Properly sized system• Duct insulation and duct sealing• Minimize duct runs and turns• Proper Air balancing• Proper Duct testing• Air delivery at proper speed eliminates short cycling

HIGH PERFORMANCE WINDOWS• HIGH PERFORMANCE GLAZING• LOW E COATINGS• ARGON OR KRYPTON FILLED • DUAL GLAZING OR TRIPLE GLAZING

HIGH EFFICIENCY LIGHTING & LIGHTING CONTROLS

Lighting• Energy Efficient Lighting: LEDs• Occupancy Sensors

MATERIALS EFFICIENCY• Optimum Value Engineering Framing• Trussed Rafters• Engineered structural joists• Engineered Beams• Open web joists

RENEWABLE ENERGY:PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER

P.V. SHINGLES

P.V. GLASS

THIN-FILM AMORPHOUS SILICON P.V.

POLYCHRYSTALLINE P.V.

RENEWABLE ENERGY: WIND POWER

MICRO WIND TURBINES

WATER CONSERVATION• Drought tolerant California native landscape• Smart (weather based) Irrigation controller• Hydrozone Irrigation• Rain barrels

ENERGY RETROFITTING OF EXISTING BUILDINGS

• Contribute to the goal of energy reduction• Save money • Increase comfort and livability• Increase home value

ENERGY RETROFITTING YOUR HOME• Air Sealing:

• sealing gaps in walls and roof to stop infiltration•• Your house is a system and every component in it works together. Adding insulation and sealing air

leaks can improve the energy efficiency of your home and improve your home’s comfort and durability. However, every change you make to the building’s envelope (walls, floors, and ceiling) and components will affect how the home works to keep out the elements and keep your family safe and comfortable. Tightening the building envelope without providing appropriate ventilation can cause pressure imbalances or negative pressure in the house.

• This negative pressure can set up the conditions for back-drafting of fireplaces or fuel-burning (combustion) appliances and may draw pollutants into the home.

• Whether a home is located in a hot and dry or very cold climate, one of the least expensive and potentially most effective energy-retrofitting measures is air sealing.

• Studies show that properly installed air-sealing measures can typically achieve whole-house energy savings of 10% to 20% over pre-retrofit energy usage. In older homes or homes with greater air leakage, the savings may be much greater. *

• *Source: U.S. DOE: Energy Performance Techniques and Technologies

DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS

Blower Door A blower door uses a calibrated fan to measure how much air a home leaks. The blower door mounts into an exterior door frame. The fan pulls air out of the house, lowering the air pressure inside. Outside air then flows into the house through all unsealed cracks and openings. The amount of fan pressure required by the fan to maintain the test pressure tells the auditor how much leakage the house has. Some contractors will seal simple air leaks as they are identified while the blower door is operating.

Thermal Infrared Camera An infrared camera produces images called thermographs that show variations in temperature not visible to the human eye. Infrared cameras can be used during blower door tests to capture images of temperature differences that can indicate air leakage or other conditions such as gaps in insulation and overheating circuits

ENERGY RETROFITTING YOUR HOME• Insulation

Installation of blown-in cellulose insulation in wall cavity.

Super-insulated roof results from combination of cellulose and rigid polyisocyanurate insulation.

The most important and cost effective element of an efficient HVAC system is a well insulated building. A more efficient building requires less heat generating or dissipating power, but may require more ventilation capacity to expel polluted indoor air.

HISTORIC HOUSE ENERGY RETROFIT

• WindowsWindow treatments may include the following:

• air sealing, flashing, and weather-stripping• repair and reconstruction• addition of storm windows• replacement with historically accurate replicas• replacement with wood windows of similar design (e.g., replacing double hung with double hung outfitted with similar material).

HISTORIC WINDOW REPLACEMENT

HISTORIC WINDOW REPLACEMENT

HISTORIC HOUSE ENERGY RETROFIT

Which option is best suited to the project depends on the results ofthe energy audit, climate, and the project objectives—preservation,rehabilitation, or restoration.

Because of the highly visible nature of windows and their direct bearing on the historical integrity of the building, the NTHP (National Trust for Historic Preservation) promotes rehabilitating existing windows whenever possible.

ENERGY RETROFITTING YOUR HOMEEnergy Star Appliances and Equipment

GREEN MATERIALS• Lumber from Certified Forests (FSC certified)• Rapidly renewable plant materials like bamboo and straw• Linoleum• Sisal• Calcium sand stone• Non-toxic paints and glues

GREEN MATERIALS

• Dimension stone (natural stone) When "building green", dimension stone has a big advantage over steel, concrete, glazed glass and laminated plastics, whose productions are all energy intensive and create significant air and water pollution. As an entirely natural product, dimension stone also has an advantage over synthetic/artificial stone products, as well as composite and space-age materials. One LEED requirement provides that the dimension stone used in a green building be quarried within a 500-mile (800 km) radius of the building being constructed. This gives a clear advantage to domestic dimension stone, plus some quarried near the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico.

TAKE AWAY TIPS• Energy conservation: Increase the efficiency of your home by air

sealing and adding high levels of insulation.

• Passive Heating: Open blinds or drapes to let in natural solar heat on cold days, then close them once the sun sets, saving the heat gain. This can reduce your heating bills by 10%.

• Passive Cooling: You can cut your cooling costs by more than 30% in the summer by blocking out sunlight with exterior blinds, shutters, or awnings.

• Daylight: To keep rooms bright, paint or paper the walls with a light or reflective color.

• Windows: Open windows at night to night flush (let hot air out and cooler air in). Close the windows tight in the morning to capture the cool.

TAKE AWAY TIPS

• Ventilation: open windows on opposite ends of the house to promote passive ventilation.

• Water Conservation: Install a smart (weather based) irrigation controller for your garden.

• Lighting: Convert your lighting to high efficiency LED’s and install occupancy sensors.

• Appliances: Upgrade your appliances to Energy Star Rated.

• Materials: Use earth friendly materials like wood from FSC certified forests, bamboo, sisal, linoleum, and natural stone.

TAKE AWAY TIPS • Finding a Contractor to Energy Retrofit your home.

The best source for finding a qualified contractor is the Building Performance Institute.

The certified BPI Building Analyst energy auditor has passedboth written and field exams, and must recertify every 3 years.Contractors learn about building systems and are trained to installenergy-efficiency measures.

For more information about BPI’s standards and credentials for retrofitting work, and where to find qualified contractors, Go to www.BPI.org.