Energy Saving Landscapes NC Nursery & Landscape Association
1/14/2013
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College of Engineering North Carolina Energy Efficiency
Alliance Donna Coleman, Architect
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Copyright Materials This presentation is protected by US and
international copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, display
and use of the presentation without written permission of the
speaker is prohibited. Donna Coleman, Architect 2013
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Aristotle said in 350 BC: homes should be airy in summer and
sunny in winter. A house promising these qualities would be longer
than it is deep and the main front would face south
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Energy Saving Landscape Goals Building/Home layout relative to
sun, wind, and views Buffers: climatic, acoustic and visual
Landscaping that includes shading Reduced site paving
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Integrated Design Taking advantage of climate and other natural
system characteristics Surveying and Planning needs to happen in
schematics Whole System Thinking Designing with Natural Systems
requires thinking of the site and the building as a whole system
Choosing a team Include professionals in the goal setting and
decision making Owner, including their financial team! Civil
Engineers Landscape Architects Architects Contractors/landscape
installers PME Engineers
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The Building as a System Energy Use Human Comfort
Durability
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Early Decision Making Common issues to address early and
greenly Size and Location of mature landscaping versus energy needs
Orientation can effect the ENERGY STAR and HERS score of
buildings/homes The use of passive solar design means: generally
unobstructed exposure on the south shade on the East and West the
southern exposure should have low height/low maintenance plantings
(maintained to bottom of window sill) the roof is shaded from a
direction other than south Shade HVAC equipment for better
performance in cooling season Shade hard surfaces areas (especially
those with thermal mass) around the building can reduce building
air conditioning needs Dont shade Renewable Energy System
installation areas on a roof with mature landscaping Size and
Location mature landscaping versus durability needs Buildings need
air movement around them, mature, unkempt landscaping can block air
movement Plantings can destroy building and hard surface site
elements, over time, if not maintained Land Clearing Choose
responsible fuels to power heavy equipment
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Early Decision Making Size and Location of mature landscaping
versus energy needs
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True / Solar South = Geographic South Point where earths axis
passes through Constant; Does not change Compass / Magnetic South
Determined by earths molten magnetic core Always changing What is
Orientation ? NOAA Solar Calculators (at bottom of webpage)
http://www.srrb.noaa.gov/highlights/sunrise/gen.html NOAA Solar
Calculators (at bottom of webpage)
http://www.srrb.noaa.gov/highlights/sunrise/gen.html
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Early Decision Making Size and Location of mature landscaping
versus energy needs Orientation can effect the ENERGY STAR and HERS
score of buildings/homes
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Early Decision Making Size and Location of mature landscaping
versus energy needs The use of passive solar design means:
generally unobstructed exposure on the south shade on the East and
West the southern exposure should have low height/low maintenance
plantings (maintained to bottom of window sill) the roof is shaded
from a direction other than south
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Early Decision Making Size and Location of mature landscaping
versus energy needs Shade HVAC equipment for better performance in
cooling season
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Early Decision Making Size and Location of mature landscaping
versus energy needs Shade hard surfaces areas (especially those
with thermal mass) around the building can reduce building air
conditioning needs Selecting and planting trees
www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/index.html
Selecting and planting trees
www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/index.html
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Early Decision Making Size and Location of mature landscaping
versus energy needs Dont shade Renewable Energy System installation
areas on a roof with mature landscaping
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Early Decision Making Size and Location mature landscaping
versus durability needs Buildings need air movement around them,
mature, unkempt landscaping can block air movement Plantings can
destroy building and hard surface site elements, over time if not
maintained
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Early Site Work Land Clearing Choose responsible fuels to power
heavy equipment Biodiesel dealers in NC
www.ncsoy.org/html/nc_soybiodiesel.htm Biodiesel in NC information:
www.ncsc.ncsu.edu/resources_by_sector/information_resources/Biodiesel
_in_NC.cfm Biodiesel dealers in NC
www.ncsoy.org/html/nc_soybiodiesel.htm Biodiesel in NC information:
www.ncsc.ncsu.edu/resources_by_sector/information_resources/Biodiesel
_in_NC.cfm
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Web Resources www.energystar.org www.usgbc.org
www.eere.energy.gov www.dsireusa.org http://ncsc.ncsu.edu/wp-
content/uploads/Energy_Landscape.pdf
http://ncsu.edu/ffci/publications/2004/v9-
n2-2004-october/fa-1-energy.php
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Contact Information Donna Coleman, Architect
[email protected] 919-389-4872 djc-architect.com
