Environmental Conditions and Context Flashcards
Architect’s task during project planning and design =
select and prioritize which site-specific constraints and opportunities identified in programming and analysis are to be integrated into the final site planning and building form
4 elements that form the basis for building design and site development:
- site-specific constraints and opportunities identified in programming and analysis
- Programmatic requirements
- Adjacencies
- Planning concepts
What are 12 factors to consider when locating a building in a site? Which is often the most important?
- Topography = often the most important factor if there is significant change in elevation
- Views
- Solar orientation
- Geology
- Wind patterns
- Transportation
- Drainage
- Sustainability concepts
- Utilities
- Neighboring context
- Existing planting
- Site acoustics
What is “runoff”?
Runoff = stormwater that accumulates on the site in excess of what can be absorbed by the ground
What is “sheet flow”?
Sheet flow = water that drains across a sloping surface
What is a catch basin?
Catch basin = underground reservoir that has a sump built into it so that debris settles in the sump instead of flowing into the sewer and clogging pipes
What is a holding pond?
Holding pond = also known as a detention pond, it collects site runoff and releases it into the sewer systems at a controlled rate to prevent excess water from flooding to other areas.
What is the difference between a retention pond and a detention pond?
Both are types of storm water ponds, but a retention pond is designed to hold water all the time, where a detention pond is designed to be dry some of the time. Both hold excess water until it can be released into the storm sewer.
What is a swale?
A swale is a natural or human-created low tract of land that is designed to manage stormwater runoff and provide a place to filter pollutants or trap particulates, allowing water to slowly seep into the ground. A swale can be designed to be covered with grass or other types of marshy plants. When constructed like a natural wetland, a swale is often called a stormwater wetland. However; unlike a natural wetland, it is human-created, as direct discharge of stormwater to natural wetlands is prohibited by law.
What is a stormwater pond?
A stormwater pond is a basin that has a permanent pool of water. It differs from a swale or stormwater wetland in that it has a greater average depth and is covered with water all the time. However, like a stormwater wetland, it is designed to collect, detain, and release stormwater runoff at a controlled rate and to help settle solids and particulate pollutants.
What are the 2 types of drainage systems?
2 types of drainage systems:
- Aboveground = pervious paving, sheet flow, gutters, ground swales, channels
- Belowground = perforated drains, enclosed storm sewers
What are the dimensions of: A standard parking space? A compact parking space? An ADA parking space? An ADA van space?
9x19’
7.5x15’
8’x19’ with a 5’ access aisle
11x19’ with a 5’ access aisle (or 8’ wide with an 8’ access aisle)
What is the general rule of thumb for initial parking space estimations?
400 sf per car
What is the typical radius of a cul de sac turnaround?
40’
How many ADA parking space are required? ADA van parking space?
1 for every 50 parking spaces required, unless total is <25, in which case 0 ADA parking spaces is required
1 per every 6 required accessible parking spaces
What are 3 ways to drain a parking lot?
- drainage perpendicular to the length of the lot (slope down across the lot)
- drainage parallel to length (slope down on each side of central ridge)
- drainage across lot (diagonally)
What is the optimum building location angle for each of the primary climate types?
Hot-arid = 25 deg east of south Temperate = 17.5 deg east of south Cool = 12 deg east of south Hot-humid = 5 deg east of south
Where should the entrance be located in:
cool climate?
temperate climate?
hot-humid climate?
cool = avoid winter winds temperate = south for solar gain hot-humid = take advantage of cooling breezes
What is the difference between an external-load dominated building and an internal-load dominated building?
External-load dominated building = skin-load dominated building = energy use is determined by amount of heat loss or gain through its exterior envelope
Examples = houses, apartments, condominiums, warehouses
Internal-load dominated building = energy use is driven by high heat gain from occupants, lighting, and equipment.
Examples: office buildings, hospitals, retail stores, schools, laboratories
What is the ideal building shape for an external-load dominated building in a cool/cold climate? For an internal-load dominated building?
External-load dominated building (aka houses and small buildings): square or cube
Internal-load dominated building (aka larger commercial/industrial buildings): square multistory
What is the ideal building shape for an external-load dominated building in a temperate climate? For an internal-load dominated building?
External-load dominated building (aka houses and small buildings): elongated east/west with a footprint proportion of 1:2
Internal-load dominated building (aka larger commercial/industrial buildings): elongated east/west
What is the ideal building shape for an external-load dominated building in a hot-arid climate? For an internal-load dominated building?
External-load dominated building (aka houses and small buildings): courtyards
Internal-load dominated building (aka larger commercial/industrial buildings): elongated east/west
What is the ideal building shape for an external-load dominated building in a hot-humid climate? For an internal-load dominated building?
External-load dominated building (aka houses and small buildings): elongated east/west with a footprint proportion of 1:3 or 1:4
Internal-load dominated building (aka larger commercial/industrial buildings): elongated east/west
What is super insulation?
A technique of providing higher levels of insulation than normally used, tightly sealing joints and cracks and preventing any thermal bridges between the inside and outside.
What is transparent insulation?
A relatively thick layer of polycarbonate honeycomb material, acrylic foam, or fiberglass sandwiched between layers of glazing.
- Used to transmit light while providing a high degree of insulation
- Can be used over another thermal mass material to trap solar heat then slow the loss of stored heat back into atmosphere
Moveable insulation
Typically used on windows that provide passive solar heating. Insulation is removed during sunlight hours and replaced at night or in cloudy weather to prevent heat loss.
Ex. roll-down shutters, insulated shades/curtains, etc.
What is the air barrier? Where should it be located?
The part of the building envelope system that controls infiltration and exfiltration, reduces energy consumption, and keeps out pollutants and excess moisture.
Should be located behind the exterior cladding and outside the sheathing.
What is permeance?
a measure of how readily a material or membrane allows water vapor to pass through it.
What are 6 condition an air barrier system must meet in order for it to function properly?
- Permeance: The air barrier, assemblies, and whole building must meet the minimum permeance ratings as prescribed by local building code.
- Continuity: The air barrier must be continuous around the conditioned spaces, including walls, roofs, foundation walls, and slabs on grade.
- Attachment: The air barrier must be securely attached to the structure to prevent billowing, tearing, or breaking away from attachments and other building components.
- Movement joints: At movements joints, the air barrier must be capable of moving with the joint without breaking or tearing.
- Durability: The air barrier must be durable and last the life of the building.
- Vapor retarder: If both vapor retarder and air barrier are used and are separate membranes, the air barrier should be 10 to 20 times more permeable to water vapor diffusion than the vapor retarder to prevent trapping of moisture between the two layers.
What are 3 types of earth sheltering?
- Built above grade and fill earth is bermed against the walls on 1+ sides
- Built into the excavated side of a hill
- Completely buried below grade with a central courtyard for access, daylight, and ventilation
What are 6 considerations to take into account when earth sheltering?
- natural slope (want to minimize earthmoving)
- granularity of soil (want gravel, sand, and sand loam. No clay)
- radon concentrations (need to test the site)
- groundwater level (must be below the building)
- drainage (need positive drainage away from building)
- waterproofing (extra care to waterproof underground portions adequately)
What are 9 advantages to green roofs?
- conserves energy by reducing cooling and heating loads
- reduces storm runoff
- reduces ambient air temperatures
- absorbs carbon dioxide
- filters the air and binding dust particles
- reduces the heat island effect
- protects the roofing membranes from ultraviolet light degradation, temperature extremes, wind, and hail
- adds acoustical insulation
- adds aesthetic appeal to the roof
What are two types of green roofs?
- extensive green roofs
2. intensive green roofs
What is an extensive green roof? What type of planting
can it support?
soil < 6” deep
can support meadow grasses, sedums, herbs, and perennials
What is an intensive green roof?
soil > 12” deep
- can support complex landscapes, including shrubs and small trees
- may feature ponds and fountains
- may be used as occupiable garden
What 3 characteristics must a green roof have to be successful?
- subsurface irrigation (to help plants establish themselves and then for supplemental watering as needed)
- continuous layer of growth medium (a material with property nutritive and drainage characteristics for the proposed plants
- constructed over a structural deck strong enough to hold weight of assembly
What are the 7 assembly layers of a green roof on concrete deck, from bottom to top?
- Structural deck (with a slope 1.5% > 3%)
- Waterproof membrane (PVC, TPO, or EPDM)
- Root barrier (if necessary, depending on type of waterproofing membrane selected)
- Rigid insulation (helps prevent water from extracting heat from building’s interior during the winter)
- Drainage layer (allows water not absorbed by plants to flow to drains/scuppers)
- Filter fabric (prevents fine soil particles from entering/clogging the drainage layer. May be made from polypropylene mats, polyethylene mats, and water-resistant polyester fiber mats.)
- Growth medium (2”-12+”)
What are the 7 assembly layers of a green roof on metal deck, from bottom to top?
- Metal deck (with a slope 1.5% > 3%)
- Thermal barrier (often 1/2” gypsum sheathing)
- Rigid insulation (helps prevent water from extracting heat from building’s interior during the winter)
- Waterproofing membrane (PVC, TPO, or EPDM)
- Root barrier (if necessary, depending on type of waterproofing membrane selected)
- Drainage layer (allows water not absorbed by plants to flow to drains/scuppers)
- Growth medium (2”-12”+)
What is a flood test?
A way to verify watertightness in which the area is flooded with 2” of water for 48 hours and the building interior is inspected for leaks.
What is a cool roof?
What are its advantages? Disadvantage?
In which 2 scenarios is it appropriate to use?
An alternative to a green roof, also known as reflective cooling, in which the roof is covered with a light-colored material that reflects more of the sun’s heat than it absorbs. (min reflectivity = 0.64 when new; 0.50 after 3 years).
Advantages:
1. Reduces energy use by lowering the building’s cooling needs.
2. Reduces the heat island effect in urban areas.
Disadvantage:
Possible glare for adjacent buildings
Use in:
- climates where cooling degree days exceed heating degree days
- internal-load dominated buildings in cool climates
What is an air lock system?
What are its advantages?
In which 2 climates is it desirable?
Vestibule entry system
- Cold and temperate climates
- Hot climates where a building is mechanically cooled
Advantages:
- prevents cold drafts from entering when an exterior door is opened
- minimizes heat loss when people/enter leave
2 common ways of expressing how well a window/glass reduces solar radiation:
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
2. Shading Coefficient
What is SHGC?
Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) = the amount of solar radiation that is transmitted through the entire window assembly, expressed as a fraction of the total amount that strikes it
Applies to the entire window assembly
A decimal between 0 and 1
What is shading coefficient?
Shading coefficient = ratio of the amount of solar radiation that passes through a piece of glass to the amount that would pass through a similar piece of unshaded, clear, double-strength glass ⅛” thick under the same conditions
Applies just to a piece of glass
A decimal between 0 and 1
What is insulated glass? Also known as double-pane or triple-pane glazing.
2 or 3 panes of glass are separated by sealed air spaces or partially evacuated spaces that act as insulators
What is a way to increase the efficiency of double or triple pane glass?
Fill space between panes with gas
- argon
- krypton (~200x as expensive as argon)
What is the U-value of a double pane 1/4” glass?
Of a double pane 1/4” glass with argon?
- 57
0. 52
What is low-e glass?
Low-E glass (low-emissivity glass) = double glazing that includes a thin film or coating placed somewhere in the glazing cavity, which allows both visible and near-infrared radiation to be transmitted but prevents the loss of heat gained by reflecting it back into the room
What is the U-value of a double-glazed window with argon gas and low-e coating 1/4”?
U-value of a double-glazed window with argon gas and low-e coating 1/2”?
- 36
0. 28
What is spectrally selective glazing?
What is the u-value of a double-glazed spectrally selective glazing with low-e coating?
For what buildings is this a good option?
Spectrally selective glazing = transmits a high proportion of the visible solar spectrum while block up to 80% of near-infrared radiation
0.25
Good for buildings that have a long cooling season and need high interior light levels
What are super windows?
U-value?
Super windows = combine low-e coatings with gas-filled cavities between 3 layers of glass
U-value = 0.15
Can gain more thermal energy than they lose in 24 hours in winter
What is switchable glazing?
Switchable glazing = chromogenic window products that change their characteristics based on particular environmental conditions or human intervention. (Think: transition lense glasses)
What are 4 types of switchable glazing?
- Electrochromic
- Photochromic
- Thermochromic
- Transition-metal hydride electrochromic
What is electrochromic glazing?
Electrochromic glazing = a multilayered thin film, applied to glass, that can change between opaque/clear or change colors when a burst of low-voltage electrical current has applied
Allows variable transmittance in the visible portion of the spectrum while reflecting in the infrared spectrum, thereby reducing solar heat gain
What is photochromic glazing?
Photochromic glazing = darkens under direct action of sunlight (think: transition lens glasses) such that as light intensity increases, the window becomes darker
Con = automatic; does not offer control
What is thermochromic glazing?
Thermochromic glazing = changes darkness in response to temperature, becoming translucent when reaching a certain temperature
Con = automatic; does not offer control
What is transition-metal hydride electrochromics ?
Transition-metal hydride electrochromics = makes it possible to have a glazing material that changes from transparent to reflective.
What is a double envelope system?
Double envelope system = the outer skin of the building consists of 2 glazed layers separated by ~2-3 ft. A type of sun control (louvers, blinds, or shades) and a passive or active ventilation system is incorporated with the space.
What are the primary 2 elements of a double cavity system?
- The outer shell = moderates the effects of the environment
- The cavity = passively heated. Can exhaust excessive heat back to exterior in hot months, and use direct heat gain to warm incoming air in cold months
What is a dynamic buffer zone?
A new outer layer of glazing is built around an existing building
- Prevents and controls condensation resulting from remodeling and upgrading the existing building’s HVAC system for higher humidity levels
- Space between existing building and new facade is ventilated with dry, preheated air in cold months
What are 3 conditions for feasible and cost effective daylighting:
- There must be enough view of the sky → may not be practice for dense urban or forest conditions
- Glazing must transmit sufficient light → may be a problem in renovating historic buildings
- Daylighting design must be coordinated with artificial lighting control and mechanical systems design
What is daylight factor (DF)?
What are DF value recommendations for ordinary visual tasks and difficult visual tasks?
What DF will result in issues such as glare and heat gain?
Ratio the illuminance of a point on a horizontal surface indoors to the illuminance of a point on a horizontal surface outdoors and fully open to the sky, measured at the same time under overcast skies (direct sunlight is excluded)
Ordinary visual tasks = 1.5%
Difficult visual tasks (ie drafting) = 4%
DF >5% results in issues such as glare and excessive heat gain/loss
What are 7 important variables to consider in daylighting design?
- Compass orientation of the facade utilizing daylight
- Brightness of the sky (solar altitude, cloud conditions, time of day)
- Area of the glass
- Height of the head of the glass
- The transmittance of the glass
- The reflectivity of interior room surfaces and nearby outdoor surfaces
- Obstructions (overhangs, trees, etc)
What are 2 important variables to consider when designing windows for daylighting?
- Height of the window head above the floor
2. Effective Aperture (EA)
What is the effective daylight zone in relation to window head height? To a light shelf?
(if h = height from floor to top of window, Effective daylight zone lengthwise into the room = 1.5h
Effective daylight zone with a light shelf = 2h < 2.5h
Effective aperture (EA) is the product of which two variables? What range of EA is considered good daylighting?
- Visible light transmittance (VLT) = the percentage of visible light that passes through a glazing material
- Window-to-wall ratio (WWR) = net glazing area in a room or space divided by the gross exterior wall area
EA = 0.20>0.30 provides good daylighting
So if glazing has low VLT, then WWR should be
What is a light shelf?
Light shelves: a horizontal surface placed above eye level that reflects direct daylight onto the ceiling while shading lower portions of the window and room interior
Helps to avoid glare and heat gain or direct sun from large windows on south-facing facades
Should have a diffuse and highly reflective surface
What is a way to help with glare control?
select glass with a VLT from 50%-70% combined with lowest possible SHGC.
What is the minimum recommended reflectance for the following surfaces:
Ceilings?
Walls?
Floors?
Min reflectance for:
Ceilings = 80%
Walls = 50%-70%
Floors = 20%-40%
What is the difference between passive and active solar energy systems?
Passive solar energy system collects, stores, and distributes energy without the help of mechanical equipment.
Active solar energy systems use pumps, fans, ducts, and other mechanical equipment to collect, store, and distribute energy.
What are 6 types of passive solar heat gain systems?
- Direct gain systems
- Indirect gain systems
- Thermal storage wall
- Greenhouse
- Roof pond
- Convective loop systems
What is a direct heat gain system?
A type of passive solar energy system that collects and stores hear from direct sunlight in high mass materials and then releases the heat at night.
What is an indirect gain system?
A passive solar energy system that collects and stores heat from air temperature and reflected sunlight (not direct light) during the day and releases it back at night.
How can indirect and direct gain systems be used together?
To even out temperature in different parts of the building, ie indirect gain in spaces that don’t receive direct sunlight, and direct gain in spaces that do.
What is a thermal storage wall? What is a type of thermal storage wall?
A type of passive solar energy system in which a high mass wall is placed directly behind a south-facing glass wall. The space between the glass and mass is often vented so that cool air circulates through to become heated before being redistributed back into the room.
A trombe wall = masonry wall with vents at the top and bottom to allow air to circulate through
What is a green house (in terms of heat gain?)
A type of passive solar energy system in which a large glazed area is separated by the rest of the building by a heavy thermal mass wall. A rock bed or high thermal mass floor is used in the greenhouse.
What is a roof pond?
A type of passive solar energy system that stores large water-filled bags on the roof and can be used to heat and to cool.
Heating: heat is stored in the water bags during the day, and then at night insulation is placed over the bags so that the heat is released into the building below.
Cooling: insulation is placed over the water bags during the day so that the bags absorb the heat from the building below. Insulation is removed at night so that the heat is released from the air.
What is a connective loop system?
A type of passive solar energy system where a solar collector is placed below the house, and uses natural convection to circulate air as hot air rises and cool air falls back down to the collector.
What are the 3 main components of an active solar energy system?
- A collector
- A storage device
- A distribution system
What are 2 types of collectors in an active solar energy system?
- Flat-plane collector
2. Focusing collector
What is a flat-pane collector?
A type of collector in an active solar energy system in which a network of pipes on an absorptive black surface is place below a covering of glass or plastic. The pipes carry the heat transfer medium, often water with antifreeze.
What is a focusing collector?
A type of collector in an active solar energy system parabolic reflectors focus the radiation to a single pipe that carries the heat transfer medium.
- can operate at higher temperatures than a flat-pane collector
- mechanisms adjust it to follow the sun’s path
What is heat-transfer medium?
Can be either air or water.
Air: heated air circulates from the collector to a rock bed under the building that stores the heat. At night, fans circulate cool air over the rock bed. The cool air warms and distributes to the building.
Water: water is stored in a large tank and when needed is pumped to a baseboard heater, radiant panels, or a heat exchanger in a forced air furnace.
What are 2 types of storage devices in an active solar energy system?
Air system = rock bed
Water system = water
What is the distribution system in an active solar energy system?
It’s the same as for a standard HVAC system:
Ducts for air
Pipes for water
Associated fans, pumps, registers, and control devices
What are the advantages and disadvantages for a wind energy system?
Advantages:
- Sustainable (gets energy from a free and renewable source)
- Commercial wind farms help reduce need for fossil-fuels
Disadvantages:
- Often impractical for individual use
- Expensive
- Often not allowed in suburban or urban settings
- Unlikely that a site will satisfy the wind direction and speed needs for sufficient power
What is a geothermal energy system? How does it operate in winter vs summer?
Draws on heat sources in the earth.
Winter (when air temperature is colder than underground temperature): underground heat warms an embedded pipe system, transferring heat to the heating system
Summer (when air temperature is warmer than underground temperature): underground piping system releases excess heat from the air into the ground. Water is cooled and is used to cool the air in the building.
What is a ground-sourced heat pump (GSHP)?
Used in a geothermal energy system, it is an electrically powered system that increases heat from the ground through a vapor compressor refrigerator cycle.
Water is pumped through plastic piping in teh ground to the heat pump.
The heat pump increases the water’s temperature.
The heat pump can be used to preheat water or exchange heat in a water/water or water/air heat exchange.
Cycle is reversed for cooling.
In what type of building is a ground source heat pump most beneficial?
Buildings that require significant space and water heating/cooling over extended hours:
- single family homes
- multifamily residential buildings
- schools
What is photovoltaics? What are 3 advantages? 4 disadvantages?
The direct conversion of sunlight into electricity.
Advantages:
- Reduces demand on nonrenewable energy sources like coal and gas
- Reduces energy cost (elec generated on site and excess can be sold back to the utility)
- Produces electricity with no pollution
Disadvantages:
- High initial cost
- Collect location restraints (needs access to sunlight)
- Storage battery costs and space requirements
- Low production at night and in winter
What are 4 categories of sustainable water use?
- Controlling and directing stormwater runoff
- Preventing erosion and contamination from runoff
- Using rainwater or graywater in site irrigation
- Practicing general water conservation (ie low-flow plumbing fixtures)
What are the 4 classifications of water?
- Potable water = can be drunk
- Rainwater = can be collected for irrigation and nonpotable uses
- Graywater = wastewater not from toilets, laundry, and kitchen sinks
- Blackwater = wastewater from toilets, laundry, and kitchen sinks
What should be the first consideration in managing water use?
The protection of existing on-site and surrounding watersheds.
What is a watershed?
A land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt to creeks, streams, and rivers, and eventually to outflow points such as reservoirs, bays, and the ocean.
What is a stormwater management plan? Why do all sites need one?
The use of structural or onstructural practices to reduce stormwater runoff pollutant loads, discharge volumes, and peak flow discharge rates.
Because improper water control during and after construction can result in issues such as:
- erosion
- pollution
- flooding
- landslides
- loss of aquatic biodiversity
What are 4 methods to control erosion during construction? Where are each installed?
- silt fences, installed along the site perimeter
- straw or hay bales, installed along the site perimeter
- sediment basins = larger areas to accommodate runoff that is sediment laden and allows for sediments to settle
- erosion control blankets, pervious manufactured sheet products placed on steep slopes
What are two methods to control erosion during construction that can be used in lieu of silt fences?
sandbags or an erosion control berm
What are 4 methods for water control on a constructed site?
- green roofs
- pervious paving
- swales/bioswales
- stormwater ponds
How does a rainwater collection system work?
- roof = catchment area
- must be nontoxic material
- 1” of rain yields 0.6 gallon of rainwater per 1 sf of catchment area - gutters and downspouts = collect water
- screens on gutters can help filter water - Cistern = stores water
- Pipes = redistributes water back into building or into irrigation
What are 2 uses for recycled graywater?
In which situation is using recycled graywater cost effective?
- irrigation or flushing toilets
- run through a heat exchanger to help preheat potable water flowing to a water heating
New construction where:
- separate piping can easily be installed
- ratio of demand for nonpotable to potable water is high
What is the simplest way to conserve water?
Use less of it!
- low-flow toilets = use less than 1.6 gallon of water per flush
- WaterSense label = uses less than 0.375 gallon of water per flush
What is a Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA)?
What is an advantage? 2 disadvantages?
The method of evaluating the environmental impact of using a particular material or product in a building. It is important in LEED.
Advantage: useful in understanding the amount of energy, emissions, water, and materials are consumed in the production and use of a product.
Disadvantages:
- Cannot give a complete view of a particular product
- Does not allow for comparison of particular materials/products
What are the 4 phases of a Life Cycle Assessment?
- Define the goals and scope of study
- Perform an inventory analysis = determine and quantify the inputs (ex. energy) and outputs (ex. pollution) of a product
- Perform the impact analysis = determine how the inventory analysis will affect the environment
- Perform an improvement analysis and report the results of the study
What are the 4 phases in a product’s life cycle?
- Raw material acquisition
- mining, drilling, etc. and how much energy is used
- transportation to processing plants
- processing raw materials - Manufacturing
- conversion of raw material into useful product
- product packaging
- transportation to the site or distribution channel - Use and maintenance
- installation
- long-term use in the life of the building
- maintenance and repair - Disposal
- demolition or removal from building
- waste disposal or conversion into other useful products
- reuse or recycling if not disposed or converted
What is a Whole-Building Life-Cycle Assessment?
This is a credit option in LEED where a building is modeled as a base case (typ. construction practices) and design case (actual construction). Credits can be earned if the design outperforms the base in three of six categories:
- global warming
- ozone layer depletion
- formation of ground-layer ozone
- acidification = generation of waste materials that can lower the pH of surrounding waterways and soils
- eutrophication = formation of excessive nutrients in a body of water that promote algae growth
- depletion of nonrenewable energy sources
What is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?
A standardized report of a product’s environmental impact through its life cycle. The report is based on LCAs but gives additional information and is verified by a third-party.
What are the 2 types of EPDs?
- Industry-wide EPD = general type of product that several manufacturers make (ex. cement, acoustic ceilings, etc)
- Product-specific EPD = specific to a single manufacturer’s product, typically contributes to more sustainable credits.
What makes EPD a useful tool and differentiates it from LCA?
An EPD is useful to comparing similar products. This is made possible by the use of product category rules (PCRs).
What are product category rules (PCRs)?
Used in EPDs, a set of guidelines for a particular type of product that establishes which data should be collected from the LCA, how LCA results are reported, and what other information must be reported in the EPD
Who develops an EPD? What is the 5 step process to develop an EPD?
The manufacturers.
- An applicable PCR is found or developed in accordance with ISO 14025
- The manufacturer conducts and independently verifies an LCA
- The EPD is prepared
- The EPD is submitted to an independent third party for review and approval
- If approved, EPD is registered and published
What are 13 criteria for evaluating the sustainability of building materials?
- Embodied energy
- Renewable source
- Recycled content
- Energy efficiency
- Use of local materials
- Durability
- Low VOC content
- Low toxicity
- Moisture problems
- Water conservation
- Maintainability
- Potential for reuse and recycling
- Reliability
What are some materials that have low embodied energy? Medium? High? Why might someone select a material with high embodied energy?
Low = stone and masonry
Medium = steel, plywood, gwb, glass, MDF, mineral wool
High = concrete, aluminum, copper, PVC, linoleum, paint
A material with high embodied energy may be desirable for its long life, durability, energy efficiency, etc.
What are 3 types of recycled content?
Post consumer
Post industrial
Recovered materials
What is a disadvantage of concrete? Advantages?
Disadvantage: it’s manufacture require high embodied energy, raw material consumption, and emissions
Advantages:
- Long life
- Lower embodied energy than steel
- No appreciable emissions after curing
- Heat storage capabilities
- Can be recycled as crushed aggregate for highway base, fill, or subsequent concrete manufacture
What are 3 ways to reduce the environmental impact of concrete and masonry?
- Use fly-ash mixture
- Use recycled aggregates when possible
- Use low waste form work
What is fly-ash?
Waste from coal manufacturing that can be used in concrete to:
- Increase strength
- Decrease permeability
- Reduce rising temperatures during placement
- Increase sulfate resistance
- Improve workability
- Reduce total amount of cement needed
How will using lightweight aggregates like pumice and perlite affect concrete?
- Reduce need for standard aggregates
- Reduce structural load
- Increase insulation values
What is a disadvantage of stone and masonry? Advantages?
Disadvantage:
Even though it has a lower overall embodied energy, masonry and mortar require high amounts of energy and raw material to product
Advantage:
- Durable with long life
- Produces no pollution or emissions once in place
- Provides excellent thermal mass
What is a disadvantage of metal? Advantage?
Requires large amounts of energy for production, but has high potential for recyclability
What are 3 ways to reduce the impacts of deforestation and production of wood?
- Use reclaimed wood when possible
- Specify sustainable alternatives such as TJI, particle board or MDF, and composite wood veneers
- Use certified wood products
What are 8 types of insulation that are resource efficient and pose little danger to indoor air quality?
- Mineral fiber
- Glass fiber
- Spray on cellulose
- Cellulose
- Cotton
- Compressed straw
- Perlite
- Vermiculite
What is mineral fiber insulation made from?
What forms does it come in?
How much recycled content does it typically contain?
Made from steel mill lag or ballast rock
Comes in rigid boards, batts, or loose fill
50-90% recycled material
What is cellulose insulation made from?
What forms does it come in?
Made from post consumer recycled paper with fire retardant additive
Loose fill
Low embodied energy
How is compressed straw used as insulation?
As infill in structural insulated panels
How is cotton insulation made?
From post consumer recycled cotton denim scrap materials
How is glass fiber insulation made?
What forms does it come in?
Contains post consumer recycled glass
Rigid boards, batts, and loose fill
How is spray on cellulose insulation made?
Manufactured as loose fill from at least 75% recycled paper
How is perlite made? What are 2 ways that it is used?
Made from volcanic rock expanded by heat.
Used as a light weight aggregate in concrete and as loose fill insulation.
How is vermiculite made? What are 2 ways in which it is used?
Made from mica expanded by heat.
Used as loose fill insulation or as a component in some spray applied fireproofing products
If a window is framed in a steel, what should there be between the interior and exterior?
A thermal break
What are 2 groups of indoor air contaminants?
- Chemical
2. Biological
What are 3 types of chemical air contaminants?
- VOCs = chemicals containing carbon and hydrogen that vaporize at room temperature and pressure
- Inorganic chemicals = formaldehyde
- Tobacco smoke
What are the 4 main types of biological air contaminants?
- Mildew and mold
- Pollen
- Bacteria
- Viruses
What is formaldehyde? Where can it be found?
A colorless gas with a pungent odor designated as a human carcinogen that irritates the eyes and respiratory tract.
It is used in the preparation of adhesives, resins, particle board, and furniture
What are 3 ways to minimize.e a formaldehyde problem?
- Minimize the source
- Use 2-3 coats of sealant to prevent out gassing
- Air out the building before occupancy
What are the 4 main causes of poor IAQ? Which is the most common?
- Chemical contaminants of indoor sources = the most common
- Chemical contaminants from outdoor sources
- Biological contaminants
- Poor ventilation (can be solved with heat exhchangers)
What are 3 symptoms of poor IAQ?
- Sick building syndrome (SBS)
- Building-related illness (BRI)
- Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)
What is sick building syndrome?
A condition in which building occupants experience a variety of health-related symptoms that cannot be linked to a particular cause.
Symptoms disappear after occupants leave the building.
Symptoms may include: Irritation of eyes/nose/mouth Rashes Fatigue Headaches Dizziness Respiratory infections Cough
What is a building-related illness? What is an example?
A condition in which a building occupants symptoms are identified and can be directly attributed to specific building components.
Symptoms do not necessarily improve upon leaving the building.
Legionnaires disease = a type of severe pneumonia
What is multiple chemical sensitive (MCS)?
A condition induced by exposure to VOCs or other chemicals
People may develop a long term acute sensitivity and show symptoms each time they are exposed to chemicals
Sensitivity may be lifelong
What are 5 strategies to maintain a good IAQ?
- Eliminate or reduce sources of pollution
- Control ventilation
- Provide proper filtration
- Establish good maintenance procedures
- Control occupant activity
What are 6 ways an architect can help to eliminate or reduce pollutants to maintain good air quality one they building is complete?
- Establish owners IAQ criteria early during Programming
- Select and spec low VOC and low emissions finishes and materials
- Specify materials resistant to mildew and mold
- Request emissions tests from manufacturers
- Design building envelope to properly control moisture
- Prior to occupancy, hvac system should run at full capacity for two weeks to reduce emissions
What are the types of filters that can be incorporated into an HVAC system?
- Particulate filters
- Adsorption filters
- Electronic filters
What are partial filters?
Remove large particles such as dust and lint from the air and trap in the filter. (Think: HEPA filter)
What are adsorption filters?
Regime unwanted gases from the air with activated carbon
What are electronic filters?
Trap particles by creating a different electrostatic charges between the particles and the filter
What are bio based products?
Products made from plant or animal materials that minimize disposal problems while conserving depleted raw materials
Where can asbestos be found?
In homes built prior to the 1970s in: - insulation Ceiling tiles Asphalt flooring sheet and tile flooring Construction mastics Ceiling tiles Textured paints Roof shingles Cement siding caulking Vinyl wall coverings
What is vermiculite? Where can it be found?
May contain asbestos
Pour-in insulation
Acoustic finishes
Fire protection
Sound deafening compounds
What is radon?
Where does radon exposure occur?
An odorless, colorless, tasteless naturally reoccurring gas found in rock, soils, and water that can cause lung cancer
In spaces in contact with the ground, such as basements
At which radon levels should remediation be taken?
What are 7 ways to remediate radon?
> 4pCi/L
- Sealing cracks in walls floors and foundations
- Venting the soil outside the foundation wall
- Block wall depressurization = depressurizing the void in a block wall
- Crawl space depressurization = ventilating the crawl space with a fan
- Passive sub slab depressurization = using a pipe vent without a fan draw air or from below a slab
- Active sub slab depressurization = fan powered vent to draw out air from below a slab
- Sub membrane depressurization = fan powered vent to draw out air from below a membrane laid on a crawl space floor
What are polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)? Where can they be found?
Cause cancer
Can be found in homes before 1978: Building transformers Fluorescent light transformers Paints Coatings Plastic and rubber products
What is a coproduct?
A marketable by-product from another process that are Materials considered to be waste but instead are repurposed as raw materials in a different manufacturing process
What is demand control ventilation?
A type of ventilation system that is designed to control the amount of ventilation air based on the extent of the occupancy
