Sustainable Design Strategies Flashcards
What is the angle that locates the sun VERTICALLY, above the horizon? That changes throughout the day as the sun rises and falls?
SOLAR ALTITUDE
What is the angle that locates the sun north or south from the EAST-WEST AXIS? That changes throughout the day as the sun moves from EAST TO WEST?
AZIMUTH
What are some best practices for SHADING at the SOUTH facade?
- Overhangs to block direct solar heat gain.
- The use of deciduous trees to block solar heat gain in the summer, while allowing heat gain in the winter.
What are some best practices for SHADING at the EAST AND WEST facades?
- Vertical sun baffles to control glare and heat gain from low sun angles.
- Use of EVERGREEN trees to provide shading year round and block undesirable low angle sun.
What day in the Northern Hemisphere the is sun angle its lowest?
DECEMBER 21 (Winter Solstice)
What day in the Northern Hemisphere the is sun angle its highest?
JUNE 21 (Summer Solstice)
Where is the best location to place ENTRIES in COLD CLIMATES to melt ice and snow?
SOUTH
What is the best way to understand SUMMER AND WINTER WINDS?
Wind Analysis
What are some examples of natural / man-made WIND BREAKS?
- Vegetation
- Buildings
- Screens or Fences
What are the 4 CLIMATE REGIONS in the United States?
- Cool: Midwest
- Temperate: Northwest & Northeast
- Hot-Humid: Southeast
- Hot-Arid: Southwest
How many CLIMATE ZONES are in the United States?
8 Zones
The minimization of surface area to volume ratio or use of underground building to reduce heat-loss through the building’s enclosure, is an example of what kind of CLIMATE DEIGN STRATEGY?
COLD
The use of large southern windows to allow for solar heat gain, and small eastern and western windows to minimize heat loss, is an example of what kind of CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
COLD
The avoidance of the use of northern windows that do not provide solar heat gain, is an example of what kind of CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
COLD
The use of high thermal mass materials, can be used in which kind of CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
COLD
The use of summer shading for glazed areas with trees and overhangs, can be used in what kind of CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
COLD
The use of air locks for entries can be used at what kind of CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
COLD
The use of darker colors on the building’s exterior to absorb solar radiation is an example of what kind of CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
COLD
The use of cube or spheres can be best used in which kind of CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
COLD or HOT-ARID
The use of rectangular buildings with their long direction facing south (along the east-west axis) to maximize heat gain, is an example of which kind of CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
TEMPERATE
The use of summer shading for glazed areas with trees and overhangs, to allow sun to fall on glazing in the winter, is an example of what kind of CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
TEMPERATE
The use of planning for cooling winds in the summer, and blocking of winds in the winter, is an example of what kind of CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
TEMPERATE
The use of medium colors for the exterior of a building, is an example of what kind of CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
TEMPERATE
The use of mechanical cooling and the maximization of natural ventilation with narrow floor plans, large openings, high ceilings, and cross ventilation, is an example of which kind of CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
HOT-HUMID
Providing shade for ALL openings, is an example for which kind of CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
HOT-HUMID
The minimization of thermal mass in order to prevent heat absorption is an example of what kind of CLIMATE DESIGN?
HOT-HUMID
The implementation of light colors on the building’s exterior in order to prevent heat absorption, is an example for which kind of CLIMATE DESIGN?
HOT-HUMID
Shading from direct sunlight, is used in which CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
HOT-ARID
Maximizing thermal mass to store heat during the day to be released at night is best utilized as part of which CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
HOT-ARID
Using pools of water for evaporative cooling and increasing thermal mass, is best for which CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
HOT-ARID
Minimizing surface area to volume ratio or building underground to reduce HEAT-GAIN through the building’s enclosure, is an example of which kind of CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
HOT-ARID
Minimizing openings to avoid heat gain is an example of what kind of CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
HOT-ARID
The use of light colors on the buildings exterior to reflect solar radiation is best used in which CLIMATE DESIGN STRATEGY?
HOT-ARID
Maximizing solar heat gains by positioning the long axis of the building east - west with extensive glazing on the south facade is an example of what type of heating method?
PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING
A long and narrow building that optimizes daylighting as more of the plan can be illuminated by neighboring glazed facades is an example of?
PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING
A building that features materials with a high thermal mass to absorb solar radiation during the day and dispense heat at night is an example of?
PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING
Planting deciduous trees on the south facade to block summer heat gain and allow for winter heat gain is an example of?
PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING
Planting EVERGREEN trees on the east and west facades to control glare year-round is an example of ?
PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING
Using a thermal mass to store heat during the day and releasing that heat at night is an example of?
RADIATIVE COOLING
Utilizing the earths stable temperatures to cool a building in the summer and heat the building in the winter is an example of?
GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMP -or- GROUND COUPLING
What type of cooling occurs when water pulls energy out of the air, reducing the temperature as the heat is used to EVAPORATE the water?
EVAPORATIVE COOLING
What type of VENTILATION occurs when increased wind speeds and air movement within a space improve human comfort?
NATURAL VENTILATION
Using solar collectors on the roof to concentrate and convert solar energy into heat within the building is an example of?
ACTIVE SOLAR
Leeward side is away from wind direction, and experiences less wind than the windward side. This is an example of?
WIND PATTERNS
The following is an example of what?: Large bodies of water that cause warm air to rise over warmer land during the day, creating a breeze. At night, the pattern is reversed, and cold air flows down hill to low-lying regions.
WIND PATTERNS
The following is an example of: In temperate climates, the best micro-climate for wind is generally south or southeast facing slopes, in the middle or toward to the top of the hill (not the very top or the very bottom!)
WIND PATTERNS
The following is an example of: Ideal locations for buildings on slopes vary based on climate: Arid (bottom), Cold (middle/bottom), Temperate (middle/top), Warm (top)
WIND PATTERN
Passive solar building design where a wall is built on the WINTER sun side of a building with a glass external layer and a high heat capacity internal layer separated by a layer of air. The internal thermal mass absorbs solar radiation during the day and releases heat at night is called?
TROMBE WALL
A fraction of radiant energy received on a surface that is reflected. Expressed as a value from 0-1 (where no reflection = 0) is called?
ALBEDO (aka SOLAR REFLECTANCE)
The measurement of the solar heat rejection of non-roof materials (vegetation, shading devices, other less reflective components). Where values range from 0-1 (no reflection = 0) is called?
REFLECTIVITY
The ability of a surface to emit stored energy is called?
EMISSIVITY
The measure of a roof’s ability to reject solar heat, where the standard black surface = 0 and the standard white surface = 100, is called?
SOLAR REFLECTANCE INDEX
The unnatural buildup of heat around buildings, especially in urban areas is called?
HEAT ISLAND EFFECT
The area whose soil is inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater frequently enough that it can support plants that are adapted to living in saturated soil is called?
WETLAND
A closed depression in the earth from which water can escape only into soil is called?
INFILTRATION BASIN
Runs parallel to site contours to intercept runoff as it runs down hill is called?
INFILTRATION TRENCH
Filtered water along a path to a sewer or drainage basin using vegetation is called?
BIOSWALE
The collection of runoff from a roof drain or outfall that is typically filled with gravel is called?
DRYWELL
The removal of particulates like metals and phosphorous with vegetated surfaces that can also be made of sand is called?
FILTER STIPS / SAND FILTER
A slight bump in a slope that works to spread out a concentrated flow is what method of green infrastructure?
LEVEL SPREADER
What method of GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE is usually dry, then TEMPORARILY fills with water during a storm to delay storm-water from entering the sewer system?
DETENTION BASIN
What method of GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE is usually wet and PERMANENTLY holds water in a pool, and whose only outlet is an emergency spillway. And typically loses water slowly through infiltration or evaporation?
RETENTION BASIN
Liquids that rise to the surface and are conducted to a drain field (aka a leach field) to percolate into the soil is an example of what kind of GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE?
ON-SITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL
Soil that is permeable, but no so permeable as to contaminate the groundwater is an example of what kind of GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE?
ON-SITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL
A percolation test is done to determine an area’s suitability for what kind of GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE?
ON-SITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL
Where should you place vegetation to reduce heat from the setting sun?
Place vegetation at the west and southwest.
Why place deciduous trees to the south?
Deciduous trees to the south allow solar heat gain in winter while blocking the sun in summer.
How much can shade lower the effective temperature?
Shade can lower effective temperature by 10 degrees.
Where should evergreen trees be placed to screen winter winds?
Place evergreen trees on the north and west.
What is the effective distance for a wind screen?
The effective distance is equal to 30 times the height of the screen, but maximum protection is provided within 5-6 times the height.
How should evergreens and deciduous trees be planted for wind screens?
- Evergreens: 3 rows thick
- Deciduous trees: 6 rows thick
- A combination of different plants is most effective.
Where should buffers be located to be most effective?
Buffers are more effective if located close to the source they intend to buffer (sound, noise, or dust).
