2. Sustainability and Housing
CHAPTER 4
Sustainability and Housing

3. Learning Outcomes Define sustainability and sustainable design.
Summarize the importance of sustainable design.
Identify the principles or goals of sustainable design.
Determine reliable information sources for sustainable design.
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4. Learning Outcomes
Review examples of buildings with sustainable features.
Summarize the responsibilities of designers for sustainable design.

5. Defining Sustainability and Sustainable Design
Describes man interaction with natural resources
Means people today should responsibly use natural resources to meet needs in a way that does not affect the ability of the next generation to meet their needs
Expects no negative impact on the people, communities, or the environment
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6. Defining Sustainability and Sustainable Design
Incorporates sustainability into the built environment through
use of materials for building and furnishing interiors
operation of living spaces
practices in the manufacture of materials and production of buildings

7. Principles of Sustainable Design
Use less energy in the operation of buildings
Use renewable energy sources
Select materials from renewable sources
Use recycled materials and/or materials that can be recycled
Conserve water use
Protect occupant health and safety
Produce less waste

8. People must actively preserve the environment to continue to satisfy so many needs
iko/Shutterstock.com
What must happen to protect the environment for current and future generations?

9. Use Less Energy
A major principle in sustainability is to use less energy in the operation of homes
Equipment selection for energy efficiency includes
home appliances
space heating and cooling equipment
water heating equipment
lighting
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10. Use Less Energy
When evaluating the energy efficiency of a house, consider
Orientation and landscaping in using the environment wisely
Thermal resistance to block out cold or heat
Lighting and windows to conserve energy
Appliances by choosing energy-efficient models
Ventilation to manage air movement
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11. Use Less Energy
Home automation offers a way for occupants to control and manage energy use
Automated houses have an integrated and centrally controlled system based on computer technology, focusing on
convenience
energy management
entertainment
safety
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12. Use Less Energy
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) helped the advancement of home automation by initiating The SMART HOUSE Project in the 1980s
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Mmaxer/Shutterstock.com

13. Use Less Energy
Home automation incorporates many versions and features of “smart” technology
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Andy Dean Photography/Shutterstock.com

14. Use Less Energy
Home automation adjusts the home to user needs by sensors and control systems that monitor the residence, and
turn off the lights and lower the thermostat after everyone has gone to bed
monitor burglar and fire alarms
optimizes water-heater operation by anticipating hot water usage
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15. Use Less Energy
Home automation technologies require changes to building construction that
impact house wiring and cabling for power and communications
The development of this information structure allows
broader participation in community activities
access to educational, work, and entertainment resources

16. What are some advantages and disadvantages of home automation?
stockcreations/Shutterstock.com

17. Use Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy sources are those that
replenish themselves regularly
include sun, wind, water, geothermal energy to convert to electricity
include energy resulting from a controlled burning process known as combustion
Nonrenewable energy sources are depleting in supply and include
oil and coal

18. Solar Energy
Solar energy could supply most of the energy needed to heat and cool buildings
Solar systems are expensive to install due to
the high cost of the component parts
Research and development is necessary to reduce costs, and improve reliability and performance of technologies
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19. Solar Energy
Active solar systems can heat space, heat water, or produce electricity
Solar panels to heat water
Solar panels to turn sunlight into electricity
atm2003/Shutterstock.com
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20. Solar Energy
Photovoltaic (PV) systems are active solar systems that convert sunlight into electricity when
sun shines on the panels and converts solar energy into electricity
electricity is then stored in batteries
batteries can store enough electricity to power a house for several days, but persistent overcast can deplete the supply
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21. Solar Energy
Some solar energy heating systems supply more energy than a home needs
Net metering
uses electric meters that turn backward when they generate electricity in excess of their demand
allows home owners to sell excess electricity to a utility company or store it

22. Geothermal Energy Geothermal energy comes from the Earth’s core via
volcanoes
natural hot springs
geysers
Nature Diver/Shutterstock.com
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23. Geothermal Energy
The U. S. generates more geothermal electricity than any other country with
California producing almost 90% of geothermal energy in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have partnered with industry to promote the use of geothermal heat pumps
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24. Geothermal Energy
Geothermal heat pumps use the Earth’s constant temperatures to heat and cool buildings
Heat pumps transfer heat from the ground (or water) into buildings in winter and reverse the process in the summer
visdia/Shutterstock.com
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25. Geothermal Energy Advantages of geothermal energy include
low cost in comparison to other fuels
no emission of pollutants into the environment
Disadvantages of open-loop systems include
possible use of groundwater that contains chemicals requiring responsible disposal
direct use of geothermal energy can only occur near the production site
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26. Geothermal Energy
Closed-loop geothermal systems help retain heat in the transportation of hot water over longer distances
The geothermal loop is made of a tough, durable plastic that is buried underground and allows heat to pass through efficiently
The fluid circulating through the loop is water or an environmentally safe antifreeze solution

27. Wind as Energy
Early civilizations used wind energy and windmills to pump water and grind grain
Most wind machines today are the horizontal-axis type with airplane-like propellers
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Stephen Bures/Shutterstock.com

28. Wind as Energy
Groups of wind turbine generators form wind farms that can convert air motion to electrical current by
feeding electrical current into utility lines or storage systems
Storage systems
keep the power flowing even when air is still

29. Cogeneration in Residences
Cogeneration─or combined heat and power (CHP)─is an efficient, clean, and reliable approach to generating power and thermal energy from a single fuel source
CHP uses heat that is waste from conventional power generation to produce thermal energy
CHP provides cooling or heating for industrial facilities, district energy systems, and commercial buildings
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30. Cogeneration in Residences
New technologies under development to produce electricity include
fuel cells
microturbines
photovoltaics
See-Now/Shutterstock.com
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31. Cogeneration in Residences
CHP in residences makes the occupants less dependent on electrical utility companies to provide electricity
Factors affecting CHP growth include
initial purchase cost
maintenance costs
environmental control requirements

32. Select Renewable Materials
Interior designers can select materials that are renewable—such as bamboo for flooring
When choosing wood products, certification through the Forest Stewardship Council ensures
all procedures and processes in the procurement and treatment of wood are environmentally-friendly

33. Use Recycled or Recyclable Materials
Using recycled or recyclable materials (versus new) reduces the environmental impact of buildings and interiors
an example is using recyclable materials in carpets
Historic preservation is a key practice that promotes sustainability

34. Conserve Water Use Reducing water use is important in sustainability
This toilet uses less water
Photo Courtesy of Kohler

35. Protect Occupant Health and Safety
To ensure good indoor air quality and protect occupant health and safety, housing and design professionals select nontoxic materials and substances including those with
zero off-gassing
low volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Provision of ventilation and air circulation is important to indoor air quality

36. Produce Less Waste
Designers, building professionals, and homeowners can produce less waste by
determining the correct amount of materials for a project
selecting recyclable materials

37. Features of Sustainable Buildings
“Green” buildings use materials and techniques to conserve resources in construction and maintenance
“Green” products conserve resources and utilize sustainable and recyclable materials
Bamboo in flooring or steel in construction to replace wood, a limited commodity
Today’s green-built homes are virtually indistinguishable from other homes
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38. Features of Sustainable Buildings
Sustainable design of buildings uses such green products as
doors and windows
siding and decking
roofing
heating, cooling, and hot water
fixtures and appliances
Dmitry Kalinovsky/Shutterstock.com

39. Resources for Producing Sustainable Design
Numerous programs and organizations promote green and sustainable housing design
Many provide certification showing houses have features that support the environment and sustainability, including the LEED rating system
Ye Liew/Shutterstock.com

40. Examples of Sustainable Buildings
Examples of buildings with sustainable features include
Southface Eco Office and Resource Center
Zero Energy Homes (ZEH)
Earthship Housing

41. Southface Eco Office and Resource Center
The Southface Energy Institute is a resource for home owners, and residential and commercial builders
The Southface mission is to promote sustainable homes, workplaces, and communities
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42. Southface Eco Office and Resource Center
Southface headquarters showcase innovative building designs and techniques, featuring
LEED-Platinum designation
energy efficiency, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and accessibility
recycled materials
utility operating activities
Southface Energy Institute, Atlanta, Georgia; Photos by Jonathan Hillyer
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43. Southface Eco Office and Resource Center
The roof features solar-electric shingles that are photovoltaic (PV), which means they
convert sunlight into electricity
resemble conventional fiberglass shingles
supply part of the facility’s electrical needs
The campus utilizes passive solar design and sunlight as a prominent light source year-round
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44. Southface Eco Office and Resource Center
Southface use of daylight strategies
offsets the larger need for artificial lighting
is balanced with light-monitoring sensors
features exterior shades that block direct sunlight
uses interior light shelves that bounce sunlight deep into the office
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45. Southface Eco Office and Resource Center
Southface use of geothermal energy for heating and cooling involves
heat exchange, via a buried liquid-filled pipe in a loop, that uses the stable temperature of the earth’s interior
an ultra-efficient heating and cooling system
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Slavo Valigursky/Shutterstock.com

46. Southface Eco Office and Resource Center
Southface landscapes
use principles of drought-tolerant landscaping
use a rainwater catchment system for watering and flushing toilets
uses recycled materials, such as wood-chip mulch and rubble stepping stones
zstock/Shutterstock.com
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47. Southface Eco Office and Resource Center
Graywater is
wastewater from washing machines, showers, and sinks
not contaminated with human waste
used for landscaping watering

48. Zero Energy Homes (ZEH)
A Zero Energy Home (ZEH)
produces and uses its own energy
combines energy-efficient construction and appliances with commercially available renewable energy systems
such as solar watering heating and electricity
has zero-energy consumption from the utility company even though connected to an electrical grid
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49. Zero Energy Homes (ZEH)
Features of zero energy homes include
climate-specific design
passive solar heating and cooling
energy-efficient construction
energy-efficient appliances and lighting
solar water heating
small solar electric systems
Uwe Landgraf/Shutterstock.com
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50. Zero Energy Homes (ZEH)
Advantages of a ZEH include
improved comfort
reliability
energy security
environmental sustainability

51. Earthship Housing
Earthship housing is a type of self-sufficient housing that
uses passive solar and earth-sheltered design
uses recycled materials
The form of these houses
may not follow the angular dimensions people associate with traditional housing
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52. Earthship Housing These houses look different from most common houses
Earthship Biotecture, Taos, New Mexico
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53. Earthship Housing
Earthship houses are all different on the outside but share a number of features, including
recycled building materials
water harvesting
contained sewage treatment
solar/thermal heating and cooling
solar and wind electric power
food production

54. Designer Responsibilities for Sustainable Design
Housing and interior design professionals have the responsibility to promote and use principles of sustainable design in their buildings and interiors
Knowing and following the principles of sustainable designs will help maintain the environment now and for future generations

55. Sustainability means that present generations use environmental products and resources to meet their needs but also allows future generations to meet their needs.
Sustainable design assures that buildings and interiors have less negative impact on the environment and conserve natural resources.
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56. Principles of sustainable design include
using less energy
using renewable energy sources
selecting materials from renewable resources
Use recycled or recyclable materials
conserving water use
protecting occupant health and safety
producing less waste.
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57. Many resources exist to guide sustainable design including a number of certification programs and labeling systems.
Professionals in housing-related and interior design careers have a responsibility to promote and use sustainable design practices in their work.
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58. Knowledge of the certification programs and other practices that guide sustainable design is essential for all housing and interior design professionals.

59. Review How does sustainability differ from sustainable design?
Sustainability describes human interaction with the resources in the earth’s environment while sustainable design incorporates sustainability into the built environment.
Name the principles of sustainable design.
use less energy; use renewable energy sources; select materials from renewable sources; use recycled/recyclable materials; conserve water; protect health/safety; produce less waste
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60. Review How does home automation help control and manage energy?
Home automation adjusts the home to user needs by sensors and control systems that monitor the residence. The system will turn off lights and lower the thermostat after residents go to bed, monitor burglar and fire alarms, and optimize water-heater operation.
continued

61. Review
How are renewable energy sources and nonrenewable energy sources different?
Renewable sources replenish themselves while nonrenewable sources are depleting in supply.
What is a photovoltaic system?
an active solar system that converts sunlight into electricity
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62. Review How do geothermal heat pumps heat and cool a building?
They use the Earth’s constant temperatures to heat and cool buildings. Heat pumps transfer heat from the ground (or water) into buildings in winter and reverse the process in summer.
What is cogeneration?
combined heat and power (CHP); an efficient, clean, and reliable approach to generating power and thermal energy from a single fuel source
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63. Review What are two factors that influence indoor air quality?
off-gassing; volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Name two features of sustainable buildings.
use green materials and techniques to conserve resources in construction and maintenance; use green products that utilize sustainable and recyclable materials
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64. Review What are three features of zero energy homes (ZEH)?
(Name three.) climate-specific design, passive solar heating/cooling; energy-efficient construction, appliance, and lighting; solar water heating; small solar electric systems
Name two features of Earthship housing.
(Name two.) recycled building materials; water harvesting; contained sewage treatment; solar/thermal heating/cooling; solar and wind electric power; food production