1. Conservation and Environmental Design and Construction
Chapter 12
Conservation and Environmental Design and Construction

2. Introduction Conservation design Uses different technologies
Improves construction methods
Provides alternative energy sources
Improves energy efficiency
Reduces oil dependency
Addresses environmental concerns

3. Introduction (cont’d.)
Private, local, state, and national agencies
Sponsor projects that provide incentives and education
Constructing buildings with renewable materials
Environmentally friendly
Environmentally sound

4. Introduction (cont’d.)
Carbon footprint
Greenhouses gases
Measured in units of carbon dioxide
Carbon offsets
Lessening of carbon emissions through development of alternative projects
Reducing emissions from all greenhouse gas sources can help produce a carbon neutral result

5. Introduction (cont’d.)
Ways to reduce your carbon footprint
Build an efficient home with materials that reduce or eliminate carbon dioxide emissions
Install energy- and water-efficient appliances and mechanical systems
Purchase items with a low carbon footprint
Carpool or use mass transit
Participate in programs that aim to offset carbon dioxide emissions

6. Energy-Efficient Design
Goals of energy-efficient design and construction:
Conserve natural resources
Save the environment
Preserve the earth’s ozone layer
Create a better and healthier living environment

7. Energy-Efficient Design (cont’d.)
Goals of energy-efficient design and construction (cont’d.):
Meet consumers’ demand for economical living
Evaluate realistic material and construction alternatives that can be used to alter future building codes

8. The LEED Program U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System
Defines “green building”
Promotes whole-building design practices
Recognizes environmental leadership
Stimulates green competition
Raises consumer awareness
Transforms the building market

9. The LEED Program (cont’d.)
LEED for Homes program
Sets a minimum level of performance in:
Innovation and design
Location, linkages, and sustainable sites
Water efficiency
Energy and atmosphere
Material and resources
Indoor environmental quality
Awareness and education

10. NAHB Model Green Home Building
National Association of Home Builders
Model Green Home Building Guidelines
Lot preparation and design
Resource efficiency
Energy efficiency
Water efficiency and conservation
Occupancy comfort and indoor environmental quality
Operation, maintenance, and education

11. NAHB Model Green Home Building (cont’d.)
National Association of Homebuilders Research Center (NAHBRC)
NAHB, the International Code Council (ICC), and NAHB Research Center
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard for green home building

12. Energy Star Joint program Energy savings
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Energy savings
Based on heating, cooling, and hot water energy use

13. Energy Star (cont’d.)
Energy savings is accomplished through a combination of:
Building envelope upgrades
High-performance windows
Controlled air infiltration
Upgraded heating and air-conditioning systems
Tight duct systems
Upgraded water heating equipment

14. Energy Star (cont’d.) Energy Star label and certificate
Third party verification
Dependent on construction method
Homes constructed on-site are typically verified using:
Home Energy Ratings Systems (HERS) ratings
Builder Option Packages (BOPs)

15. EnviroHome Initiative, CHBA
Canadian Home Builders’ Association and TD Canada Trust
EnviroHome projects
R-2000 program, standard, and certification
EnviroHome builders
Each year the EnviroHome designation is given to a select number of new home projects across Canada

16. Energy-Efficient Construction Practices
Refer to the Student CD for energy-efficient construction practices
Information about how to decrease dependency on heating and cooling systems
Framing techniques such as caulking, vapor retarders, radiant barriers, and insulation

17. Solar Energy Design Solar energy Solar space heating systems
Sunlight transferred to a medium with the ability to provide useful heat
Heating spaces
Hot water
Solar space heating systems
Passive, active, or a combination

18. Solar Energy Design (cont’d.)
Factors of effective solar energy use:
Energy-efficient construction techniques
Full insulation of the building
Site orientation
Room locations
Air-lock entry

19. Solar Energy Design (cont’d.)
Additional considerations:
Living with solar energy systems
Evaluate cost against potential savings
Codes and solar rights
Roof overhang and shading options

20. Passive Solar Systems
Structure is designed so the sun directly warms interior
South facing glass
Direct solar gain
Thermal storage walls
Roof ponds
Green roof
Solariums

21. Active Solar Systems Part of a group of green power systems
Environmental Protection Agency
“Electricity that is generated from resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and low-impact hydro facilities”
Solar collectors
Photovoltaic modules
Storage
Solar architectural concrete products

22. Geothermal Systems
Uses the constant, moderate temperature of the ground
Provides space heating and cooling, or domestic hot water
Heat exchangers are placed in the ground, or in wells, lakes, rivers, or streams

23. Geothermal Systems (cont’d.)
Basic types of systems
Water based systems
Closed-looped
Open-looped
Refrigerant-based system (i.e., direct exchange)
Refrigerant flows in copper tubing around a heat exchanger

25. Wind Energy Wind turbines Capture energy from wind
Turned by wind passing over propellers that power an electric generator
Creates a supply of electricity
Large-scale applications use several technologically advanced turbines
Wind farms
Free, renewable, clean energy resource

26. Hydroelectric Power
Hydroelectric generators convert energy from falling water into electricity
Renewable resource
Supplies about 15% of U.S. electricity needs and about 60% in Canada
Dependent on a good source of flowing water
Flow rate and vertical distance the water falls (i.e., head)

27. Biopower Biomass Biomass energy (i.e., biopower)
Natural material (e.g., trees, plants, agricultural waste, and other organic material)
Biomass energy (i.e., biopower)
Uses biomass to generate electricity
Cleaner and more efficient than most techniques
Facilities use natural biofuels to produce steam, which drives a turbine that turns a generator

28. Biopower (cont’d.) Benefits:
Twice as effective at reducing greenhouse gases as other forms
Carbon neutral, releasing no new carbons
Reduces carbon dioxide emissions
Over 15 tons annually
Diverts over 25 million tons of organic materials
Improves health of forests
Reduces fire-fighting costs

29. Healthy Architectural Design and Construction
Involves issues related to:
Construction techniques
Construction materials
Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning design
Goal:
Design and build an airtight structure
Methods and risks range

30. Healthy Architectural Design and Construction (cont’d.)
Refer the the text for:
A checklist of features and products for designing a healthy structure
Information from the National Brownfield Association (NBA)
The Ultimate Urban Green Home