Sustainability and Universal Design Sustainability Sustainability Ways to
Sustainability and Universal Design
Sustainability • Sustainability: – Ways to reduce our “footprint” (impact on the environment), and help preserve the Earth and resources for future generations
Sustainability vs Green Building • Sustainability: – Meeting the needs of humans for food, housing and other needs and wants, without using resources that cannot be replaced and without negatively affecting the environment – Sustainable building: one that can be built, used for a long time, and then reused or recycled, all without using resources and negatively impacting the environment
Sustainability vs Green Building • Green Building: – Strives to use materials, and processes more efficiently, reduce pollution, and cause as little damage to the environment as possible – Ongoing process of trying to be sustainable
Goals of Sustainable Design 1. Avoid depleting natural resources 2. Prevent damage to the environment throughout the building’s life cycle
Sustainable Building Design Required Elements 1. Proper site selection 2. Efficient placement of the house on the site 3. Use of sustainable materials and processes 4. Improved energy choices and use 5. Water conservation and protection 6. Low-impact or no-impact operation and maintenance 7. Adaptability to meet multiple purposes
Proper Site Selection • Should occur before designing the house • Considerations of impact on area’s ecosystem: interaction of plants and animals with each other and the environment • Think about how much of site will need to modified for building • Considerer how many trees will be cut down • Determine amount of energy required to build a home in this location and to live at this site
Locating the House • Where on the site the house will be located and its orientation • Locate house where there will be: Least amount of trees downed and deciduous trees nearby • Spend time at the site before designing to determine: Shade patterns and prevailing wind (placement of doors and windows) • Determine location of driveway (minimize length of driveway if at all possible)
Designing a Sustainable House • Design stage of building is critical to its long term stability • Design stage: 1. Plan materials: Recycled or recyclable components to reduce/eliminate use of toxic substances 2. Plan building processes that minimize impact on the environment
Reclaimed and Recycled Building Materials • According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) building construction accounts for 60% of raw materials in U. S. for purposes other than food and fuel • Reclaiming materials from buildings being torn down and from other sources is a way to boost sustainability – Lumber, bricks, doors, windows, fixtures, cabinets • Use recycled materials – Paper – drywall, metal – metal roofing
Toxic Substances to Avoid • Many traditional building components contain toxic chemicals: – Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) – polypropylene (green) • Production and incineration of these items are toxic and produce dioxins – Dioxins: some of the most carcinogenic (cancercausing) agents known, do not break down quickly either
Energy Choices • From an energy perspective a home is sustainable if it uses net zero energy – Net zero energy building: one that produces as much energy per year as it consumes (net energy cost for a year is $0) • Rely on renewable energy sources: supply electricity or other forms of energy from continually replenished sources – Solar energy: energy harvested from the sun • Solar water heaters, passive solar heating and cooling system, – Geothermal energy: energy from heat within the Earth • Geothermal heat pump, a home can be designed to use the Earth’s heat for heating and cooling
Water Conservation and Protection • Water is a renewable resource • Many ways to design water conservation in a home: – Water-efficient plumbing fixtures – Outdoor irrigation that uses gray water: water used in baths, showers, washers, bathroom sinks
Operation and Maintenance • Incorporating low-cost design ideas: – Ceiling fans in living spaces (running ceiling fans, cheaper than air conditioner) – Using electrical appliances who have earned the ENERGY STAR
Active Solar Heating • Active solar heating: type of building design that converts solar energy into another form of energy • Generates more heat than passive • A solar collector to absorb the solar energy • Ex. Photovoltaic panels
ENERGY STAR • Developed jointly by EPA and Department of Energy • Measure to help protect the environment • To earn ENERGY STAR must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency
Adaptability • Consider what will happen to the home when it is no longer needed/wanted – Movable walls: walls installed, moved, or uninstalled in a couple hours – All materials of the home should be reused or recycled
Universal Design • Makes things safer, easier and more convenient for everyone • Evolved from accessible design: addressed the needs of people with disabilities • Universal design focuses on EVERYONE: – Everyone passes through childhood, periods of temporary illness, injury and old age.
What can be Universally Designed? • Can apply to anything that can be designed: – Door handles, kitchen utensils and smart phones • Can be applied to architecture and the built environment: – Public and commercial buildings, as well as residential buildings and family homes – Help older adults concerned with aging in place by designing products and spaces that are safer and easier for them to use • Can be applied to the community at large through urban planning and public transportation
Universal Design Ideas • Installing standard electrical receptacles higher than usual • Selecting wider doors • Making flat entrances • Storage spaces within reach of both short and tall people
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