ENERGY & LIGHTING:
Building Energy System – building envelope
(exterior shell), HVAC (heating, ventilating,
and air conditioning), lighting, plug loads (occupant
electrical equipment), and domestic hot water.
Integrated design strategies and high-efficiency
technologies will provide a balance of energy
services. In most cases, insulating building envelope
elements will resist natural equilibrium-seeking
heat flows.
Daylighting - is extremely
beneficial since its free, high quality, and when
well designed reduces cooling loads in warm climates
compared to electric lighting. Many buildings
can use daylight to serve most or all interior
lighting needs between dawn and dusk. The key
to good daylighting design is to size and position
the windows/skylights to introduce the right quantity
and quality of light to the space while minimizing
the energy use of the HVAC system.
IEQ or INDOOR AIR
QUALITY:
Achieving good indoor air quality – eliminate
or control sources of pathways and pressure that
allow the movement of air into, out of and through
a building. Avoid/eliminate sources, isolate/seal,
ventilate and filter. Flush out building for 2
weeks before occupancy. Use clean filters for
flush out and replace.
Natural Ventilation –
Daylighting, views and ventilation are located,
e.g. operable windows let air in and out and need
to be designed in an integrated way. Intakes shall
not be located near pollutant sources.
BUILDING SYSTEMS & MATERIALS:
Careful design of building envelopes - and using
standard modules create affordable homes to build.
For example: Why would you design an exterior
wall to be 14-3 ¾” in length? Why
not design that same wall to be 14’? Keeping
all dimensions to standard modules of building
materials will eliminate waste.
Advanced Framing Method
– Exterior wall shear techniques other than
wood sheathing, space joists greater than 16 o/c,
space studs greater than 16 o/c, design roof pitch/eave
width to 24 module, size headers for actual loads,
use ladder blocking or drywall clips and use two-stud
corners.
GreenSpec – product directory for building
material selection. Products are made with salvaged,
recycled, or agricultural waste content. Materials
found in this directory contribute to a safe,
healthy built environment. Thus, contributing
to IAQ and low impact design.
Home standards - health and IAQ, materials efficiency,
design & material selection, framing, foundation,
subfloor, doors, finish floor, interior walls,
exterior walls, windows, cabinetry and trim, roof
and insulation. Size Matters – smaller is
better, good design, high quality materials. Cost
per square foot trap quality vs quantity.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN TOOLS: The following links are
sustainable design tools I use for aiding in the
design of high performance homes.
