Cover | Design Awards Banquet | Introduction | Sustainable Design 1 | Sustainable Design 2 | | Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7 | Page 8 | Page 9 | Page 10 | | Page 11 | Page 12 | Page 13 | Page 14 | Credits

Designing Sustainable Buildings Designing a sustainable building requires taking a larger view of building design, and a different view of the design team than is most common today. Evaluating a building as a whole system that operates in harmony with its natural environment and is as energy, material, and water efficient as possible, requires the participation of architects, engineers, landscape architects, construction contractors, and operations staff, all of whom may be working independently throughout the building design process. Common goals for efficiency and use of the natural space in and around the building site must be conveyed to all team members.

Photo Credits: Santiago Canyon College - Costea Photography; San Diego Academy- NTDStichler; Village Bakery - John Swain Photography

Elements of a Sustainable Building Credit:Material collected from the Collaborative for High Performance Schools 1 Healthy, safe and secure. Good indoor air quality is essential. It requires minimizing pollutant sources and providing adequate ventilation and air filtration. 2 Thermal, visual, and acoustic comfort. Thermal comfort means that building occupants should not feel too cold or too hot as they work or learn. Visual comfort requires that quality lighting makes visual tasks, such as reading, following presentations, and working on the computer, easier. Lighting for each room should be “designed,” not simply specified. Daylight and electric lights are integrated and glare is minimized. Visual comfort also means providing a connection to the outdoors and visual stimulation through the use of windows at eye level to offer views. Acoustic comfort means that occupants can hear one another easily. Noisy ventilation systems are eliminated, and the design minimizes the amount of disruptive outdoor and indoor noise affecting the occupants. 3 Energy efficient. Energy-efficient buildings save money, while conserving non-renewable energy resources and reducing atmospheric emissions of pollutants and green-house gases. Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems use high efficiency equipment; are “right sized” for the estimated demands of the facility; and include controls that optimize system performance. The building’s lighting system uses high efficiency products; optimizes the number of fixtures in each room; incorporates control devices that ensure peak system performance; and successfully integrates electric lighting and daylighting strategies. The walls, floors, roofs, and windows of the building are as energy efficient as cost effectively possible. The building shell is integrated and optimizes insulation levels, glazing, shading, thermal mass, air leakage, and light-colored exterior surfaces to minimize the use of the HVAC systems. NEXT PAGE >>>

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