Environmental and Wellness Attributes and Regulations Flashcards
What is Sustainable Design
seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of the interior environment through efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and reuse of space” while improving human health and wellbeing.
What is indoor environmental quality
includes air quality, access to daylight and views, pleasant acoustic conditions, occupant control over lighting, and thermal comfort.
What are causes of poor indoor air quality
Contaminants from indoor sources. These can include tobacco smoke, formaldehyde and VOC’s from building materials and finishes.
Contaminants from outdoor sources. Introduced from venting or windows poorly located near parking garages, for example.
Biological contaminants. These are such as mold, mildew, bacteria, viruses, mites, pollen and animal dander.
Poor ventilation. When there is not adequate supply of fresh air, contaminants and pollutants are not diluted or flushed out.
What are symptoms of poor indoor air quality
Sick building syndrome. When an occupant’s health symptoms can’t be traced to a particular source. These disappear after the occupants leave the building.
Building related illness. The occupant’s health symptoms can be linked to a particular building contaminant. But the symptoms don’t improve after leaving the building.
Multiple chemical sensitivity. A condition brought on by exposure to chemical contaminants. Sufferers experience long-term sensitivity that returns every time they’re exposed to the chemical.
Ambient Air
air surrounding a building; the source of outdoor air brought into the building
cool air
air whose temp is less than the avg space temp
exhaust air
air removed from a space and discharged to outside the building by means of mechanical or natural ventilation systems
indoor air
air in an enclosed occupiable space
makeup air
any combo of outdoor and transfer air intended to replace exhaust air and exfiltration
outdoor air
ambient air and ambient air that enters a building through a ventilation system, through intentional openings for natural ventilation or by infiltration
primary air
air supplied to the ventilation zone prior to mixing with any locally recirculated air
recirculated air
air removed from a space and reused as supply air
return air
air removed from a space to be recirulated or exhausted
supply air
air delivered by mechanical or natural ventilation to a space and composed of any combo of outdoor air, recirculated air or transfer air
transfer air
air removed from one indoor space to another
ventilation air
that portion of supply that is outdoor air plus any recirculated air that has been treated for the purpose of maintaining acceptable IAQ
warm air
air whose temp is greater than the avg space temp
air-cleaning system
a device or combo of devices applied to reduce concentration of airborne contaminates such as microorganisms, dust, fumes, respirable particles, other particulate matter, gases, vapors, or any como
air conditioning
the process of treating air to meet requirements of a conditioned space by controlling its temp, humidity, cleanliness and distrobution
breathing zone
the region within occupied space between planes 3 and 72 in above the floor and more than 2 ft from the walls or fixed air conditioning equipment
ceiling return
air removed from the space more than 4.5 ft above floor
ceiling supply
air supplied to the space more than 4.5 ft above the floor
Multiple chemical sensitivity
A condition brought on by exposure to chemical contaminants. Sufferers experience long-term sensitivity that returns every time they’re exposed to the chemical.
building related illness
The occupant’s health symptoms can be linked to a particular building contaminant. But the symptoms don’t improve after leaving the building.
sick building syndrome
When an occupant’s health symptoms can’t be traced to a particular source. These disappear after the occupants leave the building.
ASHRAE 62.1-2019
Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. This sets minimum ventilation requirements by occupancy category. See the definitions section and know how to read the chart.
BIFMA
Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association. Sustainable and low emitting business furniture.
Floor Score
Low emitting resilient flooring
Green Label Plus
Low emitting carpeting products for home and business
Greenguard
Low emitting products including building materials and furnishings.
How can designers affect Energy Conservation
building commissioning, reducing electricity use, using efficient mechanical systems and plumbing.
Building commissioning
includes inspecting, testing, start-up and adjusting building systems. Building commissioning is a procedure where a building’s mechanicals (eg. HVAC, plumbing, electrical, sprinklers, data, and/or life safety systems) are inspected, tested, run and adjusted. Data collected over time is compared against the original design contract documents.
A few ways an interior designer can save electricity is by specifying:
automatic lighting in occasionally used spaces
non-emergency lighting on timers
daylight-responsive controls for spaces within 15 feet of natural lighting
energy-efficient equipment
highly reflective finishes
ways interior designers can work with the MEP consultant and other specialized trades to reduce mechanical system energy use:
Don’t specify components with CFC-based refrigerants
Use displacement ventilation in new construction
Specify personal temperature controls and flexible underfloor wiring, when possible
ASHRAE 90.1
Standard geared to energy efficiency in commercial buildings. The DOE requires the use of the 2013 edition throughout the United States. State or local code jurisdictions may require compliance with newer editions.
Energy Star
Energy efficient certification for appliances, homes and commercial buildings.
Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
standards organization that validates and certifies sustainable, low emitting, and energy efficient products.
Renewable materials are considered _____ if they come from a source that can renew itself within a short period of time. This is usually 10 years or less
sustainable
Examples of renewable materials
wool, linoleum flooring, straw board, cork, cotton batt insulation, and paper countertops.
While a material itself may be considered renewable, other factors may have a negative effect on the environment. Transportation is required for manufacturing or delivery of the product to the marketplace. So use of local materials within ____ miles of the project site is preferred.
500
LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, green building
GBI
Green Building Initiative
FSC
Forest Stewardship Council, sustainable forestry
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
(SFI), sustainable forestry standards
MBDC Cradle to Cradle
sustainable zero waste product development
NAHB Green Building Standard
ICC 700 National Green Building Standard)
CHPS
(Collaborative for High Performance Schools)
Adaptive Reuse
Use as much of the existing building as possible instead of constructing new. Reuse building elements, such as plumbing fixtures, bricks, timbers, windows, doors etc.
Recyclability
the ability of a previously used material to be used as a resource in the manufacture of a new product
_______ minimize disposal problems and save depletable raw material and those made with plant or animal materials as the main ingredient.
biobased products
examples of biobased products
gypsum wallboard substitutes, composite panels, adhesives, ceiling tile and carpet backing.
In the LEED rating system, water use reduction is considered a prerequisite. A project must use __ less water than the calculated baseline by designing with water saving fixtures, fittings, and appliances. Additional credits are earned by the percentage of reduction beyond that amount.
20%
ways that Interior Designers can reduce water usage?
Use and specify flow restrictors or reduced flow aerators
Use touchless and sensored faucets (added bonus for accessibility and reducing disease transmission)
Specify low-flow or no-flow (waterless) fixtures
Identify and specify water efficient products and appliances using EPA WaterSense
Install meters to monitor water use or detect leaks
Specification and use of efficient water closets and urinals.
Energy Policy Act of 1992
Regulates toilet flushing, clothes washers, and use of hot water through shower head restrictors
IECC (International Energy Conservation Code)
Applies to commercial buildings, the building’s site and associated systems and equipment.
ASHRAE/IESNA90.1
Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
ASHRAE/IESNA 90.2
Energy-Efficient Design of Low-Rise Residential Buildings
4 ways designers can promote movement in a space
Pathways and stairs should be aesthetically pleasing and accessible from high-traffic routes. This encourages greater use.
Provide facilities such as benches, drinking fountains, and water bottle refilling stations along a building’s walking routes. This can help support occupant activity throughout the day.
Provide showers and changing rooms at work to support more physical activity and active commuting, such as bicycling to work.
Make active workstations available to occupants, such as standing desks or treadmill desks.
The _____ is the global rating system for buildings and interior spaces that support health and wellness.
International WELL Building Institute
____ is the ability of an organization, place, or family to weather a catastrophic event and to come back better than before. “integrate design strategies to an environment that are able to withstand and recover quickly when faced with a natural, manufactured, cyber, or physical disaster.”
Resilience
