Arch 226:
Environmental Building Design

Fall 2011:
Course Home Page

As the Climate Change topic is heating up, this course is designed to evolve in order to bring you up to date with current initiatives in the field.

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: Kathryn Bell

Schedule of Classes: Fridays, 9:30am to 12:30pm - e-classroom

Office Hours:
Tuesdays 2 to 4pm, Wednesdays 2 to 4pm, ARC 3012
Email, 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.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE 5 "POP" QUIZZES THROUGHOUT THE TERM. THESE ARE TO BE WRITTEN "WITHOUT AIDS". EACH IS VALUED AT 5% OF YOUR FINAL GRADE. FAILURE TO WRITE 2 OF THESE WILL CONSTITUTE FAILURE OF THE COURSE. THESE QUIZZES WILL BE BASED UPON VISUALS PRESENTED IN THE CLASS.

Arch 365 in e-classroom

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

READ:
Green Studio Handbook. Chapters 1, 2 and 3.

The UK Carbon Strategy

www.architecture2030.org

The 2030 Challenge from WD Partners on Vimeo.

Ed Mazria video - Architecture on the Brink (the one from the Mexican Restaurant that I mentioned...)

More 2030 videos link

leap to zero carbon powerpoint

PREPARE FOR QUIZ 1 READING ASSIGNMENT (5%):
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 3.

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

Arch 365 in e-classroom

Philosophies of Sustainable Design: Gunning for Carbon Neutral!!

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 Case Studies: http://www.mcdonough.com/writings_c2c_case_studies.htm
Cradle to Cradle Design Protocol: http://www.mbdc.com/c2c_mbdp.htm
C2C Competition outcomes: http://www.c2c-home.org/
More links:
http://www.designboom.com/eng/funclub/cradle.html
http://www.forbes.com/home/manufacturing/2004/12/15/cz_ag_1215beltway.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 (rules) by Tracy Dowie-Bhamra: http://www.co-design.co.uk/design.htm
Design for Disassembly and Deconstruction: http://www.archrecord.com/resources/conteduc/archives/0410edit-1.asp

Design for the Environment (aka DfE):
Design for Disassembly: http://dfe-sce.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/dfestra/dfestra7/dfestra7_2_e.html

Zero-Waste:
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?506
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/002005.htm

philosophy powerpoint

Verifying and Marketing Green Buildings:
Selling environmental design requires quantification and data. We will look at some of the Green Building tools and evaluation methods; including Green Building Advisor software, Athena Environmental Impact Estimator, ENVest, LEED™, and Green Globe Standards.
Some of the information for this lecture will be derived from the RAIC Seminar, SDCB 201 2002.

Sustainable Design and the Implications of the LEED Rating System:
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.
A selection of case studies will be used to discuss various approaches to incorporating sustainable design objectives into architectural design. Discussion will include material selection, embodied energy, recycling initiatives, quality and durability as attitudes, implications of life cycle costing.

READ:
Lechner. Chapters 1 to 5.
Course Notes: (review)
http://www.architecture.uwaterloo.ca/faculty_projects/terri/125-Ch2.pdf
http://www.architecture.uwaterloo.ca/faculty_projects/terri/125-Ch3.pdf
http://www.architecture.uwaterloo.ca/faculty_projects/terri/125-Ch4.pdf
http://www.architecture.uwaterloo.ca/faculty_projects/terri/125-Ch5.pdf

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

Canadian Architect Article "LEED: A Primer" link
Canadian Architect Article "Sustainability and Steel: Integration" link
Architecture and Global Warming: www.architectureweek.com
Construction Canada Article Comparing LEED V1.0 to LEED 2009 link

Choosing the right LEED Evaluation system link

powerpoint on LEED

Maya 3B e-classroom

Mining LEED for Carbon
A look at LEED 2009 and its credit system for its potential as a starting point for low carbon design strategies.

powerpoint Mining LEED for Carbon

Water in Buildings
Some information on issues related to water supply, shortages and architecture and urban planning.

READ:
Green Studio Handbook. Chapter 4 Water and Waste p. 227 to 264

We will be screening a film during this class: "Blue Gold, World Water Wars"

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/us/28mead.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=homepage

Please refer to this online material for more information on LEED™:
The U.S. Green Building Council (authors of LEED™): http://www.usgbc.org/
The Canada Green Building Council (authors of LEED™ Canada): http://www.cagbc.ca/

Lighting in 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 12 and 13
Green Studio Handbook. Chapter 4 Lighting p. 55 to 104

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

Good website on integrated daylighting and artificial lighting: link
Archive of the original Square One website - great info on lighting: link

daylighting ppt

Paths to Practice participation - Exercise 5%

No class - Field Trip to Montreal

Maya 3B e-classroom

Active Systems: The Role of Photovoltaics and Wind Power in Sustainable Design
How can the use of active systems (pv, wind, solar thermal, etc.) benefit sustainable design. How do these systems work? When are they appropriate?

FILM: Gasland - Can You Light Your Gas on Fire?

READ:
Green Studio Handbook. p. 125 to 130. Chapter 4 Energy Production p. 181 to 226

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!

Finish Active Systems

active powerpoint

The Tectonics of the Double Skin:
A detailed discussion using numerous case studies of double façade envelope design, highlighting buffer, extract air, twin face and hybrid systems. The findings of the masters level course on double ski case studies will be presented as well as a compressed version of the RAIC course on Advanced Curtain Wall Systems from Fall 2003, highlighting some of the work of Transsolar.

READ:
Green Studio Handbook. Envelope Chapter. p. 43 to 48.

Course Notes:
http://www.architecture.uwaterloo.ca/faculty_projects/terri/ds/title.html

Proceedings from RAIC Seminar on Advanced Curtain Wall Buildings:

link to powerpoint

Glass condo crisis

Biomimicry

Discussion of the ideas behind biomimicry to feed into research for your final design project.

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!) bonus marks on the final project if you do a HEED model!!

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

Case Study Presentations: Groups 1 thru 9
Attendance for these presentations is mandatory. The point is to learn from seeing all case studies, not just by doing your own. All material is to be submitted at the beginning of class. Groups will be called to present on a random basis. ALL PROJECTS DUE AT THIS TIME - one group member is to arrive to class 30 minutes ahead to load the presentation on my laptop.

Students will be allowed 12 minutes each for the presentation of their Powerpoint and heliodon or digital lighting models.

Case Study Presentations: Groups 10 thru 18

Students will be allowed 12 minutes each for the presentation of their Powerpoint and heliodon or digital lighting models.

Project due at 4 p.m., December 21 if entering the Biomimicry competition and December 22 VIA EMAIL or into the drop box outside of the Front Office by no later than 4pm. If you are late to the drop slot the project will not be accessible to me to pick up to grade. If you are completed earlier, submissions will be gladly accepted!

The idea behind the final project will be to execute the design of a small building such that it encompasses all of the aspects of sustainable design, passive heating and passive cooling that have been addressed this term. There are two choices. First, with a focus on biomimetic design. Details here. Second, a prefab sustainable home for Habitat for Humanity. Details here.

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.)

The project will be worth 50% of your final term grade.

Reference Texts:

Required:
Lechner, Norbert. Heating, Cooling, Lighting.
Kwok and Grondzik. Green Studio Handbook.
Course Notes are all available online @
http://www.architecture.uwaterloo.ca/faculty_projects/terri/crsnotes.html

Carbon Neutral Design Project Web Site:
http://www.aia.org/carbonneutraldesignproject

Recommended:
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 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.

Quiz #1: 5%
Quizzes: 15% (5 @ 3% each)
Paths to Practice Assignment: 5%
Project 2: Case Study 25%
Project 3: Design Project 50%

Total: 100%

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.