Arch 126:
Environmental Building Design

Winter 2019:
Course Home Page

This course takes the more general notions of passive design as introduced in Arch 125 and looks to apply them in a more technical way. The course centers on issues surrounding the integration of Sustainable and Passive Design principles, into conceptual and practical architectural design. Topics will include: Living Building Challenge, daylighting, PV, wind, Cradle 2 Cradle, Design for Disassembly, Zero Carbon/Carbon Neutral strategies and other sustainability initiatives. Case studies will be used extensively as a vehicle to discuss the success/failure of ideas and their physical applications.

Teaching Assistants: Maddy Slaney and Cynthia Tang

Log-in to LEARN: here

Schedule of Classes: Tuesdays 10am to 1pm e-classroom

Office Hours:
Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1pm to 2pm, ARC 3012 or TBA
Email tboake@uwaterloo.ca anytime

Laptop policy:
Please note. ALL notes are to be taken by hand in a notebook of your choosing. Failure to attend class and take notes will be very evident. Laptops are NOT permitted in the class, nor are cellphones or mP3 players.

TOPIC

RADICAL GREEN - COURSE INTRODUCTION

SOLVING THE PROBLEM NATURALLY

“We must begin by taking note of the countries and climates in which homes are to be built if our designs for them are to be correct.  Once type of house seems appropriate for Egypt, another for Spain…one still different for Rome…It is obvious that design for homes ought to conform to diversities of climate.”
Vitruvius, Architect 1st century BC

READ:
Lechner Chapter 1: Heating, Cooling, Lighting as Form Givers
Lechner Chapter 2: Sustainable Design

INTRODUCTION TO LEED: LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

In order to be more critical and accurate in the application of environmental strategies, various systems have been developed to certify the performance of buildings. We will end the term by looking at the LEED system as it is the most popular. For Arch 126 in the winter term you will be writing a research paper on a LEED certified building of your choice. The choice of building and the essay outline will be given out today so that you might have a chance to visit your case study building over the end of term break.

REFERENCE:

US Green Building Corporation Website: http://www.usgbc.org/

Canadian Green Building Corporation Website: https://www.cagbc.org/

Link to the LEED excel spreadsheet for the LEED V4 system.

Link to the LEED V4 Reference Guide

Radical Green Powerpoint

LEED Introduction Powerpoint

Project #1: Sustainable Case Study 25%

brief

PASSIVE BUILDING DESIGN DETAILS:
A recap and more in depth presentation on solar geometry, sun angles, shading devices, passive heating and cooling strategies. In person rather than seeing me in video form ;)

solar geometry powerpoint, passive heating powerpoint, passive cooling powerpoint

Students will do EITHER of these projects according to a sign up list.

Project #2A: The Light Box (20%)
handed out

This project is to be done in groups of 2 students

project outline

OR

Project #2B: The Smoke Box (20%)
handed out

This project is to be done in groups of 2 students.

project outline

Talk by our Librarian on Research Methods

Passive Cooling from last week...

CARBON NEUTRAL DESIGN:
What is it? How is it different from Zero Energy Design? Differentiating by operating energy vs. holistic carbon concerns.

The UK Carbon Strategy

The 2030 Challenge from WD Partners on Vimeo.

www.architecture2030.org

More 2030 videos link

Solar Today Article, “It’s the Architecture, Stupid!” (review)
http://www.backspace.com/notes/images/its_the_architecture.pdf

Architecture and Global Warming: www.architectureweek.com

CaGBC Zero Carbon Framework 2017 Summary

Carbon Neutral Design Website

Talk by our Librarian on Citations

Carbon Neutral Continued! MINING LEED FOR CARBON:
A look at LEED 2009 and LEED V4 and their credit systems for potential as a starting point for low carbon design strategies.

Construction Canada Article Comparing LEED V1.0 to LEED 2009 link

Choosing the right LEED Evaluation system link

LEED Rating System Information:
Canadian Green Building Council: http://www.cagbc.org/
US Green Building Council: http://www.usgbc.org/

Extensive information on the LEED credits https://www.usgbc.org/credits

LEED handbooks https://www.usgbc.org/resources/grid/credentialing

Energy Targets for Ontario Buildings to meet Architecture2030

carbon neutral design powerpoint

Quiz #1: The Basics of Carbon Neutral Design and LEED 5%

PHILOSOPHIES OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Not all of the applications of "green" to design are necessarily pragmatic in their normative applications to architectural design. Many ask that we rethink things from scratch, thereby becoming more philosophical.

Cradle to Cradle (aka c2c):
Understanding the life cycle of building materials and how this both affects, and can be worked into the design of sustainable buildings. This will reflect on the key work of William McDonough. This lecture will also look at detailing with some of the lower technology systems such as strawbale and rammed earth.

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way we Make Things http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm
Cradle to Cradle Design Protocol: http://www.mbdc.com/cradle-to-cradle/c2c-framework/

More links:
http://www.designboom.com/eng/funclub/cradle.html
http://www.archidose.org/Apr05/041805.html

Carpet manufacturer Ray Andersen's famous TED talk

Design for Disassembly (aka DfD): design manual
A philosophy of design that requires objects to be manufactured with their end life in mind and results in processes that produce less waste and require a revisioning of the design and construction process. Already a requirement for German industry.
Real Men are Environmentalists: http://www.elegant-technology.com/TVArelEn.html
Design for Disassembly (philosophy) by Jonathan Larson: http://www.elegant-technology.com/TVAdfd.html
Did Anyone Really Believe there were Weapons of Mass Destruction?: http://www.elegant-technology.com/WMD.html
Design for Disassembly and Deconstruction: http://www.archrecord.com/resources/conteduc/archives/0410edit-1.asp

BIOMIMICRY
A look at the methodogoy of Janine Beynus in the application of the principles found in nature to architectural design.

READ:
http://biomimicry.org/

LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE
The most aggressive of the current standards of green design in that it pushes for buildings that are regenerative.

READ:
Living Building Challenge link
Living Building Challenge current version 3.0 link

Living Building Challenge Example Projects:
Bullitt Center, Seattle
Bill Fisch Forest Stewardship and Education Centre, Toronto

extended sustainable philosophy powerpoint

SCHEDULE REWORKED TO MAKE UP FOR OUR SNOW DAY.

ACTIVE SYSTEMS:
How can the use of active systems (pv, wind, solar thermal, etc.) benefit sustainable design. How do these systems work? When are they appropriate?

READ:
Lechner: Chapter 8

links to more information on environmental heating systems, trickle vents
http://www.windpower.org/en/tour/wres/index.htm
Canadian Wind Atlas

More info on renewables, etc. link

Info on recycling PV!

please download the NARRATED POWERPOINT and work through it. You are free to either listen to my narration or simply read the text on the slides. There is some value add here and there in the narration. File is 140MB so be hooked up to power and wifi. No way to make it any smaller due to the audio and I didn't want to package it as a movie with a set run time.

READING WEEK

Project #2A: Lightbox Presentations and Seminar

Each group of students will present their lightbox.

Please note that each person needs to speak. Nobody gets to be mute.

Project #2B: Smokebox Presentations and Seminar

Each group of students will present their smokebox.

THIS TAKES PLACE IN THE WOOD SHOP.

PLEASE WEAR BLACK TO CUT DOWN ON REFLECTIONS FOR THE SMOKEBOX PHOTOS/VIDEO!

CLIMATE CONSULTANT AND WIND ENGINEERING:
A brief intro to environmental testing in advance of the field trip next week.

powerpoint

FIELD TRIP TO RWDI WIND ENGINEERS IN GUELPH ONTARIO. BUSES LEAVE AT 9AM SHARP. IT IS A 45 MINUTE DRIVE TO GUELPH. WE WILL DEPART GUELPH AROUND 12:16PM TO GET YOU HOME IN TIME FOR AFTERNOON CLASS AND LUNCH.

Please refer to this LIST to know your group subdivision. We need to quickly break into groups for the tour.

Be advised from RWDI (please look at this)

Facility, Safety & Security Requirements

• Models on display are to be enjoyed, but are delicate – we ask that guests do not touch them.

• NO PHOTOS ALLOWED on the premises.

• For your protection we ask that you follow the requirements below when in the model shop, wind tunnel, and water tunnel areas:

• Safety glasses are required, and will be handed out prior to starting the tours.

• Closed-toe shoes are mandatory.

• Stiletto heels are not allowed in areas with open grating.

• Yellow lined walkways or barricades mark the tour route.

Your safety is important to us, and we want everyone to enjoy their tour!

Quiz #2: Active Systems 5%

Making up a missed Arch 173 lecture here as to avoid using a Saturday....

GREEN ROOF SYSTEMS
A brief look at the composition of green roofs.

SOLID WOOD
A look into heavy timber systems including glue laminated timber, heavy sawn timber, post and beam construction, and CLT (Cross laminated timber). 

Ontario Tall Wood Design Guide, CLT Primer

More info on the Prince George Campus building in BC. case study

Structural Insulated Panels connection details link

MAKE SURE THAT YOUR LAPTOPS ARE CHARGED AS THERE ARE LIMITED PLUGS AND THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE CLASS.

MODELING AND DATA TO HELP YOU DESIGN

There is only so far that you can go with "gut feelings" when you are designing for the climate. Each site is quite unique and has its own potentials and problems. We will look at some tools that can assist with design decisions.

understanding the Psychrometric Chart

Download Climate Consultant Software (PC or Mac, free)

Climate Consultant

Please download and install Climate Consultant: http://www.energy-design-tools.aud.ucla.edu/

READ:
Lechner. Chapter 5. Climate

Article: It's Not Easy Being Green

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER ASSISTED ENERGY DESIGN:
HEED AND CLIMATE CONSULATANT
Computer simulations are becoming increasingly important as a means to both create and validate environmentally motivated designs. Several types of software are available for use, each with their advantages and disadvantages. Caroline Prochazka's Masters Thesis is focussed on a comparative analysis of these and other simulation/design programs and their relevance to daylighting and energy issues. link

FOR THIS CLASS YOU MUST BRING YOUR LAPTOP AND COME WITH HEED INSTALLED.

download HEED Energy tool for houses - free. (Mac version too!) required part of the final project of a HEED model!!

HEED PPT

Tools for Sustainability Tutorials (make your own log-in to access) link

And for your amusement.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pezKEkBIhqA&feature=fvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpzmB37G_6A

LIGHTING AND BUILDINGS:
Detailed look at the use of light in buildings from the point of view of issues of source, quantity, quality, human response, glare, room use, control, strategies, applications. The importance of natural lighting, both from an energy conservation point of view, as well as the aesthetic impact of natural light on interior architecture and the function of space.

READ:
Lechner: Chapter 13

Daylighting in Canada 1.5MB pdf
Daylighting Guide by Lawrence Berkeley Labs 1.0MB pdf

No class. Terri away at conference.

Project due at 11:59 p.m., (submit to Dropbox on LEARN)

moved from Friday to Thursday as the due was on Good Friday which is not permitted.

Final Project Details:

The idea behind the final project will be to execute the design of an "Off Grid/Low Carbon Research Cabin" such that it encompasses all of the aspects of sustainable design, passive heating and passive cooling that have been addressed this term and achieves an "Oasis-like" state.

The project is to be done in PAIRS. You will need to produce plans, sections, elevations, details, views, lighting studies, solar diagrams, magic arrow diagrams, all at appropriate scales (suited to the level of detail required.) A HEED analysis will also be required.

Project Info

The project will be worth 35% (design) + 10% (HEED) of your final term grade.

Reference Texts:

Required:
Heating, Cooling, Lighting. (from Arch 125)
Course Notes are all available online @
crsnotes.html

Carbon Neutral Design Project Web Site:
http://www.tboake.com/carbon-aia/index.html

LEED Rating System:
Canadian Green Building Council: http://www.cagbc.org/
US Green Building Council: http://www.usgbc.org/

Recommended:
LaRoche, Pablo. Carbon Neutral Design.
Cradle 2 Cradle. William McDonough.
Brown, G.Z. Sun, Wind and Light.
Moore, Fuller. Environmental Control Systems.
Rocky Mountain Institute. A Handbook for Sustainable Design.

Evaluation:

Evaluation will be based both on the formal/technical execution of the projects, as well as the seminar presentation of material and contributions to the discussions.

Late Penalties:
Projects or assignments submitted after the due date or due time will be penalized 5% per calendar day of lateness, with no maximum.

Quizzes: 2 @ 5% each = 10%
Project 1: Sustainable Case Study Essay 25%
Project 2A: Lightbox 20%
Project 2B: Smokebox 20%
Project 3: Design Project 35%
Project 4: HEED Analysis of Final Project 10%

Total: 100%

Avoidance of Academic Offenses

Academic Integrity: To create and promote a culture of academic integrity, the behaviour of all members of the University of Waterloo is based on honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility.

Grievance:  A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy70.htm

Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offenses, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offense, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offenses (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under Policy 71 – Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy71.htm

Appeals: A student may appeal the finding and/or penalty in a decision made under Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances (other than regarding a petition) or Policy 71 - Student Discipline if a ground for an appeal can be established. Read Policy 72 - Student Appeals, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy72.htm

Note for students with disabilities:The Office for Persons with Disabilities (OPD), located in Needles Hall, Room 1132, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the OPD at the beginning of each academic term. Once registered with OPD, please meet with the professor, in confidence, during my office hours to discuss your needs.