Environmentally Sustainable Design - Report Example

ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE DESIGN Name Institution Instructor Date Summary This document describes the techniques regarding the major elements are used in realizing environmentally sustainable designs. The broader topic of environmental sustainability in this document is discussed in various sub topics, which include the science of glazing for efficiency of energy, sustainable building design, shading principle, construction material and the geometry of building. It is thus important to understand the broad concept environmental sustainability before embarking on discussing its elements, as is the structure in this report. Introduction The concept of environmental sustainability in building design involves various disciplines in the building and construction industry. These include architectural design, engineering design as well as environmental conservation among several others. The field of architectural design and that of engineering design are very important considerations in design sustainability. Appropriate architecture transcends the engineering involvement in sustainability, using the concept of design and creation a master peace of design that enhances the environmental surrounding. The sustainable design movements are capable of providing efficient design operations. Engineers and designers often deal with envelops that are super insulated, positioning buildings in a manner that allows for the sun in different weather condition. Application of engineering science in sustainable building design Sustainable designs are important since they are aimed at ensuring a reduction of the instance of subjecting the environment to negative impacts. Sustainable building designs seek to realize the comfort of the occupant of the building as well as being concerned about their health. Generally, engineering science improves the building performance in sustainable building design. The sustainability of building design has certain basic objectives, which include creation of productive and healthy environments, reduction of non-renewable resource consumption as well as waste minimization. Sustainability is important when it comes to the reduction of the negative environmental impacts. Other benefits associated with sustainability include the comfort of the occupants of a building and well as the preservation of the health of those occupying the building. This results in an increased general performance of the building in many aspects. The main objectives of sustainability include reduction of non-renewable resources, waste minimization as well as creation of productive and healthy environments. The utilization of design philosophy in environmental sustainability serves as an important encouragement when it comes to decision making in every phase of the process of design. The application of engineering science in sustainable building design is holistic approach that encourages positive impacts on various phases of the life cycle of a building such as design, operation, and construction as well as commissioning (Jones, 2008). Use of color schemes in modeling for environmental sustainability There are several illustrations of the introduction and use of technology in in building and construction industry. This can be demonstrated by the figure indicated above that indicates some of the parameters that are required for the design and functionality of an environmentally sustainable structure. Modeling involving fluid dynamics allows the architects and designers to take part in exploration activities concerning the phenomena that take place in both temporal and spatial domains. This case is witnessed in buildings that are environmentally benign and whose designs are meant to exploit thermal inertia. Design and construction of environmentally sustainable systems and structures commences with the design of a model that incorporates the expected environmental conditions and all others design and operating parameters (Vezzoli and Manzini, 2008). The science of glazing for energy efficiency Glazing is an important consideration when it comes to building designs. This is because glazing facilitates the provision light and in most cases serves as a source of natural light. When the environmental conditions surrounding a structure or a building are favorable, the effects of glazing can be used to supplement heating in buildings through heat energy harnessed from solar (Jones, 2008). An illustration of household application of glazing through harnessing of solar energy Since glazing can result in either excessive heat gain or heat loss, it is important to consider certain principles in engineering making appropriate selections for the kind of glazing to be used in a given building. These engineering principles of factors include (Vezzoli and Manzini, 2008): U-Value This determines the readiness of a glass with regard to conduction of heat. It represents the measurement of the rate of non-solar heat gain or heat loss through an assembly of structure of building. Heat flow rare is presented in the form of U-value glass assembly that incorporates the effect of seals, glass, frame as well as spicier. Low values of U-value implies that window have great resistance to the flow of heat and has a better insulating value. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) This represents the measurement of the readiness of heat from sunlight to flow through a wing. It is a fraction of the admission of incident solar radiation through the window for both the absorbed and transmitted as well as subsequent inward release. The expression of Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is done using decimals between zero and one. Windows that transmit low solar heat have low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). High (SHGC) is beneficial for the windows that are facing in the north direction during winter. Air Leakage (AL) This provides the measurement of the amount of air that comes from outside into a building or structure through a product. Low Air Leakage (AL) is an indication of a good product that is capable keeping air out. Visible Transmittance (VT) Visible Transmittance (VT) measures the amount of light that passes through a window. This is an optical feature that shows the amount of transmission of light via a product. The theoretical value of Visible Transmittance varies in the range of zero and one. A high value of VT indicates that there is transmission of more light. A higher VT is desirable due to its maximization of view and day light. Condensation Resistance (CR) Condensation Resistance (CR) represents the measurement of the ability of a product to resist condensation formation. The expression of CR is through a number falling between 1 and 100. Products with higher values of CR have better condensation resistance. This is because there are certain significant functions that are associated with specific building designs. It is thus important to understand the kind of glazing required by various designs. It is also important to realize and understand the manner in which the heating or the cooling process of the glazing is impacted by the building design. The knowledge of the features of glazing that needs to be installed in a particular building or structure is also important when designing for energy efficiency (Vezzoli and Manzini, 2008). One of the major reasons for having glazing in the building is to ensure the control the HVAC system. In most building, the HVAC system accounts for more than 50 per cent of the energy used in this building. It is thus important to use energy efficiently by coming with energy saving measures and by doing that, nature is spared from emissions of carbon dioxide. Doors and windows that are single glazed cause a lot of energy wastage. Impacts of glazing on buildings They bring about thermal comfort where poor designs of windows are eliminated Lead to the maximization of heat obtained from solar gains in cool seasons. This eliminates the need for heating Minimizes unnecessary gains of heat in hot seasons thereby eliminating the need for cooling Leads to a reduction in the transmission of noise when double or triple glazed windows are used Reduces or eliminates the need for window covering since the enhance of view can be done to windows There is energy waste reduction where glazing causes a reduction in the energy amount used on HVAC system by close to half Leads to an enhanced security where the windows that are glazed cannot be easily broken into A table indicating comparisons in various types of glazing The geometry and orientation of buildings Factors such as surface color, shading, surface orientation as well as geometry influence the cooling and heating loads on buildings. The knowledge of solar geometry is useful when it comes to the creation of design techniques used in various buildings with the aim of minimizing energy wastage. In understanding geometry and orientation of buildings, it is also important to have the knowledge regarding the path followed by the sun for particular sites. This plays an essential role in coming up with designs of buildings that are focused on solar gain and reduction of glair as well as overheating. It is worth noting that the sun’s position in the sky always changes in accordance with the time during the day as well as time of the year and layout of the site. The orientation of the building places focus on the practice that involves directing the building in the direction that leads to the maximization of certain surrounding aspects. This includes considering drainage, clear view as well as street appeal. With the escalating costs of energy, it has become a requirement (Jones, 2008). Factors that affect building orientation Sun’s relative position in passive contraction of solar The layout of a building that is expected to be constructed Simulation of the building with regard to its energy requirement and energy use The analysis of wind and other parameters in which the building is to be subjected Night purging ventilation Geometry and orientation of the globe Materials of construction The thermal performance of a building is largely influenced by the nature of materials selected for construction. Materials of relative lightweight are appropriate for the construction of buildings in tropical regions that often elevated. The other style of building that considers the aspect of selection of materials for construction is courtyard style of buildings and houses found in the Middle East. Since these styles of buildings are found in laces of hot climates, it is important to consider the manner in which the materials used in construction affect the comfort of the buildings and their thermal performance. The materials selected for the construction of any house have fundamental impacts on the long-term sustainability and therefore care has to be taken in selecting appropriate materials (Vezzoli and Manzini, 2008). The selected materials play a major role in determining the amount of energy saved and efficiency of energy saving process, the impact on environment as well as thermal comfort. A lot of energy used in buildings is spent on heating and cooling systems that are installed in such buildings to acquire a certain level of thermal comfort. The selection of enhanced materials and use of passive technologies in design and construction of buildings leads to a substantial reduction of demand for energy and improves the state of environment. The aspect of selection for materials of construction is important in the achievement of three fundamental objectives, which are: Reduction of the demand for limited resources in the entire life cycle of a building Raise the energy efficiency and energy performances of buildings in the environment Reduction of the level of harm caused to the occupants of a building and to the environment Building Material R-Values The principle of shading The sun is regarded as a major heat gain source in building sand houses that are constructed. This amount of heat is both useful in certain seasons and uncomfortable in other seasons and thus it is important to employ the principle of shading in the design and construction of environmentally sustainable buildings. Various choices of shading in buildings that are available and these are influenced by solar geometry principles. The application of solar geometry principles for selection of appropriate shading in Melbourne considers its positioning on the globe in relation to the sun path and angle (Jones, 2008). The designer uses the sun diagram to determine the lowest possible sun angle in the summer to allow for appropriate selection of shading for the window of a particular building as for Darwin, a different principle of selection applies. This indicates that the locations require different approaches, which is because of their differences in the positioning on the globe. Sun chart diagram illustrating the principle of shading Conclusion In conclusion, environmental sustainability in design and construction industry is not just beneficial to the environment but it also ensures the comfort of its occupants. This is because the introduction of environmental sustainability in engineering design and architectural design makes building more economical to operate and healthier to reside in them. The use of appropriate materials specific building and construction works is important since it allows climate zone condition; all of these improvements permit comfort in and environmental conservation. Sustainable design is one of the recommended environmental conservation policies due to the benefits that are associated with it. Things such as the layout of a site and architectural designs are necessary considerations in the building and construction industry. References Jones, L. (2008). Environmentally responsible design green and sustainable design for interior designers. Hoboken, N.J., John Wiley & Sons. Vezzoli, C., & Manzini, E. (2008). Design for environmental sustainability. [Berlin], Springer. Read More