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Green/sustainable designClimate change is happeningEffects of this will change or society and environmentHuman driven increase in GHG is increasing the global temp.Primary source of the increased GHGs is the emissions from the use of fossil fuel based energyThis climate change is linked with disturbancesLoss of mountain glaciers/ice cover on polar regionsChanges in the timing of the spring bud-breakIncrease in the frequency and intensity of extreme weatherCold/heat wavesLarge stormsHurricanes/tornadoesFloods/droughts IPCC (intergovernmental panel on climate changes) believes that we are close to a tipping point Radical changes in global climateEnvironment may become hotter and wetterNew ice ageTime to reverse the trend is in the short term (10 years)Architects, engineers, and builders can provide practical, real and cost effective solutions for buildingsBuildings account for about 40% of worldwide energy use and 71% of the total electricity in the USAConstruction and operation consume over 1/3 of the worlds energy consumption and 40% of all mined resourcesCO2 emissions from buildings are expected to grow faster than any other sector1.8% a year increase through 2030Building operations consume more than 2/3 of all electricity (40% of resources)Energy use in the form of electricity drives the largest environmental impactsWhere the electricity comes from determines the impactsIn the US most is generated by coal-fired electrical power plantsImpacts can be determined by the lifecycle assessment (LCA)LCACan measure greenhouse gas to measure global warming potential, or might measure human health and land use impactsA 2012 LCA study found that Specifically within commercial buildings, the use and operation phase of the material and building life cycle is so dominant that the impacts of construction, demolition/disposal, and transportation are nearly irrelevant for most traditionally constructed buildings. LCA

Environmental challenge can be summarized in the fact that we have an increasing population and an increasing consumption per person and increasing damage per actionEnvironmental impact = population x consumption/person x damage rate/ unit consumptionWorlds population continues to grow (fastest in the developing world)

The standard of living as well as the energy and resource consumption is quickly increasing as well, especially in the developing worldWe will have more people on the planet and they will be consuming considerably more resources per capita than the presentBuildings in the developed countries constructed in the last 30-50 years have a short useful service lifeSolid brick home from the turn of the century is still functional today, unlikely a home built in the 80s will be functional to still be in service in 2080Buildings in the developed countries will need to be rebuilt/replaced30% of the population lived in urban areas in the 50s, 47% in 200 and is projected to hit 60% by 2030 according Consumption levels of the Western world increased with our progress and the path developing countries take typically follows the same path (ex. As Indians and Chinese become wealthier cars are chosen from the journey that was typically made by public transit)33% of population growth over the next 50 years will be in the emerging economies of Chine and IndiaIf the developing countries come close to our rate of energy and resource use per capita, the consumption and damage will increase much faster than the populationEnvironmental damage would in turn increase as well5 to 10 fold the current level

Populations will be reduced by disease, drought and starvationOr per capita consumption and damage must be reducedHopefully the industrialized world will reduce its consumption and impactUnfortunately the developed world, especially North America, are not reducing its per capita energy/resource use

Continued high levels of fossil fuel energy use creates pollution/carbon emissionsAccelerates climate changeCurrent levels of resource extraction and environmental damage are beginning to hinder the ability to grow food and reduce quality of lifeSolutions are complex and multi disciplinary like the problemSocio-techno-economicSolutionsSustainable BuildingGreen BuildingSustainableUnited Nations Bruntland Commission ReportSustainable development is development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.A sustainable society, process, or product is one that can be sustained or continue to be produced over the long term, without adversely affecting the conditions necessary to support those same activities in the future.Natural systems (soil, ecosystem, water, plants, etc)When applied to a buildingA sustainable building is one that can be produced and continue to be operated over the long term without adversely affecting the natural environment necessary to support human activities in the future.

Sustainable building cannot, in construction, operation or disposalConsume materials unless they can easily and harmlessly extracted, used and returned to natureConsume non-renewable energyDestroy natural habitat, bio-diversity or bio-massRelease pollutants of a type or quantity that cannot be harmlessly broken down by natural systemsAlmost impossible criteria to meetWould require all aspects of human activity to be changed to meet themUntil steel is recycled in a non polluting manner using renewable energy sources, no steal can be included in a sustainable building

Green BuildingOne that sues energy and material more effectively both in production and operation while polluting and damaging natural systems as little as possibleA building that is better than similar/average buildings of the same size and type in the same areaDoes it use less non-renewable energy operate?Did it use fewer resources to build?Will it last as long as it can be used without undue effort to extend its life?Does it produce less pollution and damage natural systems less?30% less energy30% less energy is used per square foot than the average of all other office buildings in the stateGreen buildings Green buildings are simply good buildingsEnergy efficient in operation and in constructionResource efficient in operation and in constructionNon-polluting in operation and productionDurable so that they can be used for a long timeAdaptable for many uses so they can be re-used easilyHealthy few chemicals given off, no mould, fresh airBeautiful and comfortable so that people will want to use and re-use them

Green buildingsThings to considerSite choice and modificationsEnergy and resources required to construct the buildingChanges in the site (energy use/durability by shading wind/sun/rain)Re-built or renovated buildings may have plants or animals addedSustainable/green building must include the siteThings to consider contTransportation planningDesigning buildings that minimize the need for transportation and encourage the use of less polluting transportation modesDay care or shop for daily needs in an office buildingResource Efficiency of non-renewable energy and materialsRenewable energy and materials are the ideal goal, dont violate other principlesHuge amounts of wood to do the job of a small steel columnToo much energyGenerating energy with damaging systemsContEnergy consumed during the construction and operation of buildings forms a major share of total human energy consumptionIncluded community planning in the building categoryBuildings consume 50-60% of all energyTransportation: 25-30%Industry: 20-25%Recycled non-renewable materialsReduces resource use, but may in some cases use more energy than a different non-recycled materialSteelBest way to assess resource efficiency is to countAmount of materials, the amount of JoulesDesign of the buildingMaterial life cycle: cradle to grave view. Extraction to reuse, including pollution createdBuilding life cycle: Flexibile/adaptable design to all for re-use of building in perhaps different functions, change in energy source, replace or repairable componentsGood building science: assembling the building materials/systems to control heat, air and moisture so a durable, energy efficient building is provide without using excess materialsProcess1. Decide on shared goals not simply create a green building. Define specific shared goals/values (use local materials) a wide range of goals are created then ranked2. Choose strategies Based on goals, decided to use photovoltaics, wind power. Consider combinations, PV and wind power in northern climates3. Develop Metrics-goals to measure pollution production, or annual purchased energy4. Measure PerformanceAssessing the need for square footageUnnecessary finishes