Arch 226:
Environmental Building Design

Fall 2015:
Course Home Page

This course centers on issues surrounding the integration of Sustainable and Passive Design principles, into conceptual and practical architectural design. Topics will include: interstitial space and light access, daylighting, PV, wind, double skin technologies, 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.

The term will focus on the use of the LEED Evaluation System as a means to both design and evaluate the relative "greenness" of buildings, as well as to understand the global implications of sustainable buildings.

Research and design projects require that the students engage the specific technological notions presented within the course in the physical discourse of architecture.

Teaching Assistant: Valerie Wright

Log-in to LEARN: here

Schedule of Classes: Tuesdays, 1:30 to 4:30pm- e-classroom

Office Hours:
Tuesdays and Wednesdays 12:30pm to 1:30pm, 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

Project #1: Sustainable Case Study 25% (due on LEARN by 9am, September 14) i.e. before the start of classes.

brief

This lecture is a combination of the material given in March. If you attended those 2 lectures, you are free to skip this class as the material will be duplicated.

INTRODUCTION TO THE LEED RATING SYSTEM FOR BUILDINGS:
An overview of the LEED System, Living Building Challenge and their impact on the design of architecture and practice in the 21st century. A discussion of ecological design principles and broad scale urban approaches to sustainable developments. A detailed explanation of the workings of the LEED Rating System.

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

READ:
TBA
Course Notes: (review)
125-Ch2.pdf
125-Ch3.pdf
125-Ch4.pdf
125-Ch5.pdf

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

Green Globes System

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/

This lecture is new material not addressed in March, although this lecture was in fact listed, I delivered the shorter version of an explanation of LEED in place of this more detailed material.

MINING LEED FOR CARBON
An overview of the LEED System, Living Building Challenge and their impact on the design of architecture and practice in the 21st century. A discussion of ecological design principles and broad scale urban approaches to sustainable developments. A detailed explanation of the workings of the LEED Rating System.

READ:
TBA

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

READING ASSIGNMENT:
A Road Map for Natural Capitalism
Students will read a summary of the book's basic business case reprinted from the Harvard Business Review (May-June 1999) and write an in class quiz during Class 2.

Downloadable PDF: http://www.natcap.org/images/other/HBR-RMINatCap.pdf

Alternate Viewpoints:
The Idols of Environmentalism by Curtis White (Orion Magazine) link
The Ecology of Work by Curtis White (Orion Magazine) link

Quiz #1: Carbon Neutral vs 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

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.
Biomimicry Institute link

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

Quiz #2: The Economic Case for Sustainable Design 5%

LATE START AT 3PM TO ALLOW FOR COOP PRESENTATION OVER LUNCH HOUR.

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:
TBA

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!

LATE START AT 3PM TO ALLOW FOR COOP PRESENTATION OVER LUNCH HOUR.

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:
TBA


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

Quiz #3: Active Systems and Daylighting 5%

This class is happening on the Thursday before your Chicago trip as you will be in Chicago during this normal class time. This is the last class of the course so be sure to be present as the final project will be explained.

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/

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

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

Final Project Details:

The idea behind the final project will be to execute the design of a portable classroom such that it encompasses all of the aspects of sustainable design, passive heating and passive cooling that have been addressed this term.

The project is to be done in groups of 2 or 3. No single person projects. 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 50% + 10% of your final term grade.

Reference Texts:

Required:

DeKay and Brown: Sun, Wind and Light.
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:
Lechner, Norbert. Heating Cooling Lighting.
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.

Biomimicry:
http://biomimicryinstitute.org/

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: 15% - 3 @ 5%
Project 1: Sustainable Case Study Essay - 25%
Project 2: Design Project - 50%
Project 3: HEED Analysis - 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.