User:JalenCunanan/sandbox

Rationale

The purpose of this Wiki site is to give an overview as to what makes buildings sustainable, efficient and long-lasting, and to provide examples of such structural aspects. Much of the content in our site includes technical terms related to civil engineering and construction. Therefore, we targeted people familiar with these terms, whether it be college students, faculty or even professionals. One of our goals (assuming the viewer is an undergraduate student) was to pique the interest of such students unsure of whether they want to focus on civil engineering or not. Within the main field, eight total subtopics within this field were researched. A peer reviewed article was chosen to provide information for each topic. These articles came from either from the Georgia Tech library or other credible sources. To provide support for the main articles, descriptions of relevant platforms and social programs were provided. These social programs included government organizations, city councils, and even conferences. The reason why we discussed conferences was to further interest the viewer in the field of civil engineering. The hope is that they would become more involved with their local branch and attend a conference, spreading publicity about the events to people they know. Some terms which were mentioned in the descriptions of the articles have embedded links to the terms’ definitions at the bottom of the Wiki page. To provide a visual component, imagery and videos were linked in as well. We included these in order to enhance the viewer’s understanding of our topics. The majority of the images were graphics with labels, while some were examples of the glossary terms. The videos were linked to guides of some of the design softwares we discussed, such as Revit and Rhino.

In the 20th century, all of the planning for buildings was done by hand-drawn blueprints. On the other hand, in the modern world, computer-based technology plays a crucial role in the construction of buildings. Certain powerful computer programs are useful for modeling buildings’ responses to environmental wear; we sought to provide examples of such softwares and describe how they can be utilized. We focused so much on detailing these platforms to emphasize their importance in modern civil engineering. Many of the world’s most advanced cities and innovative structures could not be built without the programs listed in this site, and we wanted to underscore this fact.

There are a couple of issues in the site right now. The first is that there is limited first-person experience with designing and constructing sustainable buildings. This should be expected given that we are a group of college freshmen. This limited experience made it more difficult throughout the project. Having experience relevant to the topic would allow us to talk about the different platforms we have used during our experience. It would not only help with picking useful and relevant platforms that are actually used, but also allow us to discuss what using them on the job is like. Experience would also be helpful when looking for glossary terms. Our glossary terms are helpful, but having more experience would enable us to have better and more useful glossary terms for the intended audience of people who are interested in learning more about sustainable construction. These improved glossary terms could also be useful in finding articles that would be more helpful for our audience. Another hole in our site comes from the composition of our group. Unlike other groups where everyone had the same or at least very similar majors, our group was a combination of people with different majors. We have two civil engineers (CE), one industrial engineer (IE), and one industrial design (ID) major. The hardest part of the project was finding a topic that relates to everybody’s fields of study. WIth so many fields of study trying to be related to one topic, the project might not have been as in-depth as it otherwise would have been. That is not necessarily a bad thing because the lack of depth was made up for by the increased breadth. One way our site could grow is by having major construction companies explain on the Wiki site how their goals relate to sustainability and efficiency. Ideally, these companies would be from around the nation or even the world; the purpose of this demographic diversity is to demonstrate how building sustainability is a widely-known aspect of civil engineering. This would also provide words from actual professionals, further enhancing the credibility and quality of the Wiki site.

Overall, the Wiki site we developed gives a decent overview of the civil engineering field and how buildings can be as sustainable and efficient as possible. The articles that were researched gave relevant information to the topic, and our descriptions summarized these articles using both general and technical terms. While our synopses were semi-detailed, one pitfall of our group was its member composition. If we had four CE’s instead of two CE’s and two ID/IE’s, or even two CE’s and two EnvE’s (environmental engineers), we could have given a more comprehensive analysis of our topic, due to more consistent major alignment.

Sustainability and Conservation in Modern Buildings

Sustainable building renovation - strategies and processes

Diagram of sustainable building renovations

This article is about the need to renovate buildings to reduce energy consumption and green house gasses from emitting into the atmosphere. The goal of the article is to point out the environmental impact of current buildings and why they need to be renovated to make the building more sustainable. A major contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions must come from increasing insulation in buildings as well as changing building services, such as heat, air conditioning, ventilation, and electricity, to carbon free systems. The article also covers different building plans and policies that aim towards making buildings and construction more environmentally friendly. An example of this includes the European Commission, which is a policy that aims to overcome European building stock. Not only do buildings need to be renovated to become more environmentally sustainable, but they also need to be renovated to improve quality of life. Buildings need to be upgraded to be socially sustainable and economically sustainable so that people will get affordable housing while still being able to socialize and be productive. Building renovations and upgrades are implemented mainly due to lack of maintenance or outdated building components. Therefore, it is important to stay consistent with renovations and innovation in buildings.

Environmental Impacts of Buildings; What Matters?

This graph shows how impactful buildings are to the environment.

This article is about the environmental impact of buildings and the energy demand for building operation like AC, heat, and electricity. The article compares the difference in material and how they store thermal energy. For example, wooden exterior walls have a third of active thermal mass compared to brick or concrete. This means that it is not as good of a material for insulation compared to the other two materials. Although wood is a quicker and cheaper building and construction choice, it is not efficient when it comes to insulation and energy conservation. The goal of this article is to compare the different materials used in buildings, their impacts on the environment, and their operation performance and durability for moderate European climates. The authors of this article, Heeren, Mutel, Steubing, Ostermeyer, Wallbaum, and Hellweg, performed a life cycle assessment to investigate thermal inertia and its influence on the environmental impact of buildings. The life cycle assessment (LCA) is a way to measure the total lifetime of a material. The authors used the LCA to perform a series of tests to compare wood, brick, and concrete.

Rhinoceros 3D

Rhinoceros 3D, or Rhino, is a versatile 3D modeling software, often used by architects and designers, which makes designing buildings more efficient. The CAD software can be used to make floor plans, render buildings and other designs, and fabricate tools across a wide variety of disciplines. Rhino allows architects to slice through their models to see each section of their designs. Using this software is easy and efficient for architects and designers because it allows them to see their ideas in 3D. It also makes it easy to adjust the size or scale of a model. Outside of making 3D models and rendering them, Rhino is also used to make basic floor plans. Not only is Rhino more time efficient than hand drawing, but it also accurately draws lines and curves exactly how they are intended. Designers save time on a project when using CAD software because they don’t have to redraw or redefine a curve to perfect it. Since it is also all digital, it makes it easy to transport and share.

Adobe Creative Cloud - Illustrator

Adobe creative cloud is a commonly used tool among all kinds of designers. Within Adobe Creative Cloud, there are apps such as Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and many more. Adobe Illustrator (AI) is one of the most common Adobe apps used in architecture and design. After exporting a file from any CAD software, in this case Rhino3D, architects and designers bring the file into Adobe Illustrator to clean up the file. This can include adjusting measurements, cleaning lines, and/or including call-outs. This is a crucial part of any architect’s design process because the exported Illustrator file is given to the constructors or the clients. With its various tools, functions, and workspaces, Adobe Illustrator is commonly used to create vision boards, infographics, and graphs to visually portray a designer's concept or ideas. The tools make it very easy to create and morph all kinds of shapes and lines. Illustrator files are also used to make laser cutting files, which is very helpful to scale down a design and make mini mock-ups.

NOMAS-GT

National Organization of Minority Architecture Students - The National Organization of Minority Architecture Students, or NOMAS-GT, is a student chapter of a professional organization that allows students and professionals to come together and learn more about architecture. The organization let’s members network with professionals and helps members define problems and their solutions. NOMAS audience consists of all college students; undergrad, grad, international, and transfer. There are yearly NOMAS competitions, international architecture events, and multicultural events. NOMAS is a good organization for individuals interested in architecture while looking for a community of purpose and cultural experience. NOMAS-GT is built on the bonds of common professional interests and passions.

Engineers for a Sustainable World

Engineers for a Sustainable World - Engineers for a Sustainable World, or ESW-GT, is Georgia Tech’s chapter of an international non-profit organization that manages student-run projects promoting environmental, social, and economic sustainable solutions to problems. There are over 1,750 engineers working in ESW to build a better world through all kinds of hands-on projects. The organization consists of over 50 collegiate and professional chapters across the US and Canada. The audience is all students; undergrad, grad, international, and transfer. ESW unites students and professionals based on their shared passion for environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Members of ESW

Enhanced Functionality of Buildings - Earthquake Resistance and Utility

Analysis of Earthquake Resistant Buildings

This article focuses on several simulations run by the authors to test better methods of building design to resist earthquakes and shear (horizontal force) loads, in order to increase the ductility of the building. Their earthquake shear graphs analyzed how well buildings resisted loads at four “points” of the effect phase. In order, the stages are cracking, onset of yielding, onset of crushing, and roof drift. These nonlinear analyses were conducted across several integration schemes, which involved varying conditions of the buildings–some of these traits included an inclusion or exclusion of a load reversal at the top, and the ratio of weight distribution between points on the walls and the base. The moments and curvature of the walls in response to vertical and horizontal loads were also compared in order to find the most optimal integration scheme. The group found that planning walls to be of intermediate length (for the continuous wall design–walls which are joined by a single stud or brick layer) could help make the building more load-resistant. Their results also proved that discontinuous walls (walls not joined together by a connective element) on the first floor of a building lowered the shear capacity of the entire building.

Multipurpose Buildings

This article proposes certain aspects of a new type of building which could be implemented in urban centers across the world. The authors chose to apply the model to the city of Coimbra, Portugal because they are familiar with its layout. The problem they chose to solve was how in many city centers, space, energy and resources are often wasted due to poor planning in those cities’ original construction phases. Some of these traits include a non-grid based city layout, narrow roads, unused spaces between buildings, and several others. Due to the life quality dichotomy between the wealthy and poor sectors of the city, unbalanced allocation of resources is visible–which yields overcrowding and uncomfortable living conditions. In order to solve these issues, the authors proposed implementing “multipurpose” buildings in new city plans. These buildings would have several characteristics which make them more sustainable and energy efficient. Within the buildings, services would be shared among its components; the building may include living quarters, office spaces and commercial areas, for example. On top of the buildings, photovoltaic (solar) panels may help generate extra power, and roof gardens would improve the aesthetic of the building while also providing extra food. Certain areas of the building would be divided into geometrically identical “modules” (rectangular spaces) which may be used for elevators, dumpsters or even bike rentals. The purpose of this equal division is to minimize dead space in the building and maximize its utility. These buildings would be connected to existing buildings, to bolster both the physical and emotional sense of community within the city.

Applications of Revit

Revit is an Autodesk software, whose specifications and operations are meant for the 3D design of buildings, rather than small objects. Revit can be used by engineers, architects, contractors, and anyone else involved with a construction job. It allows for sectional views of the building with respect to certain planes in space, allowing the user to develop a comprehensive analysis of the building’s aspects. Revit also allows for the overlaying of different systems within a building, such as the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems. This allows every type of engineer involved in the plans to view each others’ designs, which improves the collaborative ability of these people and streamlines the entire process. Another desirable feature of Revit is its simulation capability. Assuming that all pieces of the structure are assigned real-world materials on Revit, load testing can be run. This allows for simulation of the structure’s responses to shear, compression and tension–accounting for the various properties of timber, steel, concrete, masonry, or any other material in question.

Revit Guide Video

Revit Sample Project

Applications of OpenSees

OpenSees (Open System for Earthquake Engineering Simulation) is a software used to test 3D building models against earthquake simulations. Due to the advanced capabilities of OpenSees, the program is able to run tests on both linear and nonlinear behavior of materials, as well as asymmetrical geometric organizations of beams and trusses. This allows for an in-depth analysis of complex buildings. Since the program is purely simulation, earthquake engineers are able to test new ideas and concepts virtually before any real-world testing. So, OpenSees lowers the risk of building testing in real life and streamlines the entire construction process. With these new ideas being run in OpenSees, new standards for certain test thresholds can be achieved. This allows for engineers to continually update building codes and increase the safety of structures worldwide. In addition to its main earthquake functions, OpenSees also has general building test components, such as shear and vertical loads. It is a highly versatile and powerful tool for modeling structures’ response to natural phenomena.

Image of OpenSees

ASCE

ASCE, or the American Society of Civil Engineering, is a nationally recognized organization dedicated to growing the impact of the Civil Engineering-related careers in both the university and professional setting. They emphasize building connections between people, and companies involved with ASCE often visit and speak at universities around the nation. These companies also frequently attend career fairs, where both undergraduates and faculty alike have the opportunity to interact with them in a semi-professional setting. Within the collegiate sector of ASCE, their main function of the year is ASCE Conference, held regionally throughout the U.S. For example, the 2023 ASCE Southeast Student Symposium was held in Jacksonville, FL (hosted by University of North Florida). Schools from Florida, Georgia and even Puerto Rico all attended. Conference is composed of two main competitions, being Steel Bridge and Concrete Canoe, along with a plethora of smaller, side competitions. For Steel Bridge, schools select a small number of builders to construct a small steel bridge as fast as possible. The bridge must then pass certain tests, such as lateral deflection and vertical load, along with the weight test. In Concrete Canoe, schools pour a canoe made out of concrete before Conference and race it at the chosen venue. As for the side competitions, the most physically demanding is Timber Strong, where schools select a build team to construct a small wooden house in less than an hour and a half. In the 2023 conference, one of the structure parameters was that it had to have a cantilever of certain dimensions. Shear calculations and analysis of the wooden bending moments on Revit are key to success in this category. Overall, Conference is a great way to be involved with ASCE while learning concepts which will actually be used in a professional setting later on in the participants’ careers.

ASCE Logo

Construction Tours

When new buildings are still in the construction phase, they are blocked off to normal people, as to prevent disruption in the building process. However, some companies allow tours of the construction site, either to local college students and faculty, managers, or even government officials. If an in-person tour is not available, 3D simulated tours exist online, which people have easy access to. The purpose of these tours for college students is to obtain hands-on experience on a construction site, which they may end up doing later in life. It is also an opportunity to further enhance connections between these companies and the university which the students are from, if a linked sponsorship exists. Georgia Tech’s ASCE branch is sponsored by several Atlanta based construction companies–occasionally, tours of sites are offered to ASCE members. This is an easy and effective way for students to network and gain experience in their declared civil engineering field.

Energy Efficient Buildings

Energy efficient building design using sensitivity analysis—A case study

This article examines a case study of a building in Portugal. The research group studying this building consisted of engineers, architects, and other types of researchers. The goal of the study is to look at “different building design details, materials and equipment.” Using VisualDOE software, the research group was able to come up with information about the building from the floorplans. Some of the information gathered included the total air conditioned area, window area, and window ratio. This information provided a baseline to figure out the impact of various changes during different runs of the simulation. One factor that was analyzed wall the type of walls. The simulations found that as thermal conductivity values get worse, both the building heating and cooling needs raise, due to higher energy exchanges through the envelope.” Roofing materials were also examined with similar results to wall types. The other factors analyzed were windows, shading, air infiltration, mechanical infiltration, HVAC, equipment, and thermostat set-point. The simulations culminated in finding ideal levels/ types for each factor. The ideal levels improvements “such as 78% of heating needs, 46% of cooling needs, 31% of electricity consumption, 34% of maximum heating power, 33% of maximum cooling power, 30% of electrical power maximum demand.”

Passive house design—An efficient solution for residential buildings in Romania

This article begins by describing the need for energy efficiency because of the impending climate crisis. It quotes a statistic which says that “approximately 60% of the potential global savings in emissions are from the building sector.”  This demonstrates the not only need for energy efficient buildings, but also the potential benefit that such a building could provide. The next part of the article compiles the findings of a number of different studies about energy efficient construction. One of the studies cited found that “cost savings from higher efficiency standards are significant over 25-year and 40-year time horizons.” The article next goes into specifics of how the house that they built the house. Some specifics include the thicknesses of the layers of materials that compose the ground floor, the walls, and the roof. When building the house, the group followed passive house design principles in an effort to reduce energy consumption without high costs. The next section examines the actual energy efficiency of the building and the benefit over time. Because there is no universal formula for life-cycle cost assessment, the authors of this study used the discounted costs method. Using this method, they found that the energy savings outweigh the costs after 13 years.

Lean Six Sigma

Graphic of how Lean Six Sigma takes Lean and Six Sigma and puts them together

Lean Six Sigma is a “managerial approach that seeks to improve performance by eliminating resource waste and defects.” The five principles of the program are “define, measure, analyze, improve, and control.” It is a combination of lean strategy and Six Sigma. Lean was created by Toyota in an effort to streamline processes such as manufacturing and transactions. Six Sigma focuses on reducing defects in production. Lean Six Sigma combines the data analysis of Six Sigma and the waste-eliminating tools of Lean to create a better program. There are many different levels of mastery of the Lean Six SIgma philosophy that are symbolized by belts that range from white belt for complete novices to black and master black belt for experts. There are a number of places where you can get a Lean Six Sigma certification. Probably the most convenient is at the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business. Scheller is trusted by a number of companies such as  AT&T, Coke, and State Farm to train their employees in the principles of Lean Six Sigma. While this approach is traditionally geared towards manufacturing, it has recently expanded beyond to other areas where waste can be cut.

Video Explaining The Basics of Lean Six Sigma

ETAP energy management system

ETAP logo

ETAP energy management system is software that is designed to “reduce energy consumption, improve the utilization of the system, increase reliability, predict electrical system performance, and optimize energy usage to reduce cost.” This software is particularly useful for a building that has the ability to create its own energy, whether it be solar panels, turbines, or another source. This is because the software is able to predict when the creation of energy and the need for it and make sure that the entire system runs as efficiently as possible. The software is also able to track energy transactions like buying energy from the grid or selling excess energy to the grid. Many of the users of this software are power companies such as Duke Energy, Ontario Power Generation, FirstEnergy, and Dominion Energy. There are also many other companies other than power companies that use this software. Over 20,000 companies, government agencies, and colleges use this software to optimize both their energy use and production.

Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers

IISE logo

The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) is the largest professional society dedicated to industrial and systems engineers. Industrial engineers (IEs) focus on trying to make things more efficient. IEs are not just limited to a single industry. They are employed in everything from manufacturing to finance to healthcare to construction. IISE hosts a number of conferences and training programs. There is an annual IISE conference where general industrial engineering topics are discussed in addition to a number of more specialized conferences. Two of these specialized conferences are healthcare systems process improvement and applied ergonomics. IISE offers online, classroom, and custom corporate training, so there is something for everybody to be able to learn. The most common certification is the Lean Six Sigma certification.  Being a member of the IISE provides discounts on Lean Six Sigma and various other certifications. Specifically relating to energy efficiency, there are a number of IISE instructors who work in the field of energy and energy efficiency.

International Conference on Efficient Building Design

ASHRAE, the hosting organization of the International Conference on Efficient Building Design

The International Conference on Efficient Building Design is an international conference held every two years. In 2022, the fifth iteration of the conference was held at the American University of Beirut. The goal of the conference is to present research relating to the “design of safe, healthy, thermally comfortable, and resilient buildings at minimal energy costs.” The conference provides an opportunity for the leaders in energy efficient building design to share their findings and to network in hopes of making connections that will further the field of energy efficient buildings. The conference is hosted by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers). In addition to ASHRAE, the conference is sponsored by a number of organizations around the world from Japan to Australia to Lebanon. Keynote speakers at the event include experts, some with backgrounds in academia and others in industry. In addition to speakers and presentations, the conferences also offer training courses on topics such as Designing Toward Net-Zero Energy Commercial Buildings.

An example of a training course that ASHRAE provides: HVAC Design & Operations Training: Improving Existing Building Operation

Importance of Building Location and the Future of Sustainable Buildings

Building and Environment

Building and Environment is an international journal that publishes original research papers, editorials, and review articles related to science and human interaction with the indoor and outdoor built environment. The journal emphasizes measurement and analysis. The journal publishes articles that cover a wide range of environmental performance, such as: cities and communities, building systems and assemblies, and transportation and industrial settings. The journal encompasses all of its aims into 5 main categories. These categories are: Technology, Thermal comfort and visual performance, Air quality, Solutions for mitigating environmental impacts, and advanced tools for design and decision making communities. The article works to discuss and promote the work of innovative design, technology and knowledge through multidisciplinary research to emphasize sustainability efforts in the environment.

The Living Building Challenge and WELL Design at Georgia Tech

This article focuses on the interpretation of new design and construction utilizing sustainable methods at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Georgia Tech is committed to green sustainability and eagerly works to incorporate sustainable methods in waste, transportation, and building. One way they are accomplishing this goal is by improving their campus through a set of sustainably designed buildings. The article dives into two buildings that Georgia Tech has developed on their campus: The Kendeda Building for Innovated Design and the Dalney building. Both of these buildings are designed to meet the International Living Future Institute’s Living Building Challenge Design and the International Well Building Institute’s WELL certification. In fact, the Kendeda building is certified as a Living Building, which is the world’s most holistic green building achievement. It is the first “Living Building” in the southeast and only the 28th in the world. The Dalney building is right behind the Kendeda Building in its progress in sustainability. Although it is not certified as a Living Building, it contributes to Tech’s ecological infrastructure and is at the core of what Tech calls its “Eco-Commons.” The Dalney building comprises a parking structure, an office building, and a biological wastewater reclamation facility into one cohesive structure. The article further discusses the challenges in the design process and work to maintain the sustainability efforts brought forth by these buildings.

Living Buildings for a Living Future

Sketch Up

SketchUp is a 3D modeling application that allows you to create and edit 2D and 3D models. It is widely used amongst engineers and is one of the most used 3D softwares in the world. Sketch up is used for projects and applications such as: architectural, interior design, and landscape architecture. As a 3D software, SketchUp takes created 3D models and places them into fully realized 3D environments. Designers can also embed other 2D or 3D drawings into the software and continue working on it utilizing the features of SketchUp. The software is very functional and user friendly as it encompasses various design aspects and features that make designing for users easy and applicable to real life. These aspects are: Modeling, Rendering and Animation, the Sketch Up 3D Warehouse, Interface and Learning curves. Both architects and designers as well as engineers and the construction field use sketch up alike. 

Civil 3D

Civil 3D is a CAD software, computer aided software that specializes in the design of public works and is centered around 6 disciplines. Civil 3D is a software that is devoted for the use of civil engineers to have the ability to create and edit civil engineering drawings. As Civil 3D is designed for use by civil engineers it allows engineers to not only design buildings but other civil engineering  applications, such as transportation and water systems. Furthermore, through features such as site and survey workflows, intersection design, corridor modeling, drainage design, and bridge design, engineers are able to design better architecture for our towns as designing prior to the development of a project helps eliminate problems.

U.S. Green Building Council

The Green building Council is a non profit organization committed to a sustainable future through cost and energy efficient buildings. Its mission is to transform the way buildings are designed, built, and operated that prospers an environment that improves the quality of life. USGBC accomplishes its mission and vision through: LEED, Credentials, Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, Education, Advocacy, and Chapters & Committee.

LEED Certification

LEED is a green building rating system. It is used for all building types and is globally recognized as a symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership. Owners and project teams that prioritize sustainability choose LEED certification to inform, benchmark, and celebrate their achievements in maintaining green building. Project teams can also select a specific type of certification that is specified to their desired focus.

Glossary Terms

Building operations

All buildings need building operations to run. Building operations consist of the activities needed to operate, maintain and manage a building. These activities include heat, AC, ventilation, electricity, plumbing, and other building system configurations. Building operations are important because it is so broad and covers many areas of a building. This means that many real estate companies may have separate departments for each operation, utilities, sustainability, and engineering. Today’s methods of building operations are bad for the environment because they pollute the air. Air pollution damages crops, trees, animals and is a leading factor for global warming and climate change. Not only are building operation methods environmentally unsustainable, but the chemicals used during construction are also harmful to both workers and the environment. There is also a lot of toxic waste that comes from building operation production. Moving forward, engineers and architects are coming up with more sustainable building operation methods such as solar panels, eco-friendly materials, and more insulated buildings.

Deep Energy Renovation

Deep Energy Renovation, or deep renovation, is a term for renovation that captures economic energy efficiency potential of buildings and construction, with a main focus on the building shell of existing buildings. It focuses on heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water, and electricity and the understanding that these building operations should show improvement of at least 75% after the building has been renovated. Renovation and refurbishments are necessary to help create more space, reduce energy consumption, and just to keep it in good condition. Deep energy renovation mainly focuses on renovating buildings to reduce energy consumption. Some examples of this include incorporating more solar panels or installing more insulation in buildings. Solar panels collect energy from the sun, turning it into electricity and insulated buildings use less energy for heating and cooling.

Example of Response to Tension from Ductile Material

Ductility

The ductility of a building represents how much the building can be deformed by shear or vertical loads before structural failure. Non ductile buildings are not able to respond to heavy load forces, and are dangerous for people to be in. During earthquakes, non ductile buildings are usually the first to collapse. Most modern buildings are made of concrete and have some sort of steel reinforcement. When analyzing a structure, compression, shear and tension are analyzed. Compression represents squeezing force on an object, shear represents horizontal force on an object, and tension represents pulling of an object. In general, concrete and masonry (stone) are stronger in compression and weaker in tension because of their brittle nature. Their ductility can be improved by adding steel mesh and rebar (reinforcement bars). To increase tension capacity of a wall or pillar, chains with ductile links evenly dispersed through its length are optimal. Here, the elastic property and therefore ductility of the object are increased.

Example of a Non-Ductile Column:

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/a-Non-ductile-detailing-in-columns-of-the-buildings-b-Short-column-effect-in-columns_fig7_322265353

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is the use of less energy to do the same thing. For example, an energy efficient light bulb would take less energy to produce a similar amount of light. The United States Department of Energy says that energy efficiency is the “easiest and most cost-effective ways to combat climate change, reduce energy costs for consumers, and improve the competitiveness of U.S. businesses.” The other great thing about energy efficiency, aside from the benefits to the climate, is the economic benefits. Using less energy means that an individual or a company has to pay less than they otherwise would have. That is even before considering potential tax benefits of purchasing energy efficient appliances. The most obvious way to improve the energy efficiency of a building is energy efficient appliances and lightbulbs, but it is not the only way. Insulation, quality windows, and even something as simple as simple as window shades can help increase the energy efficiency of a building.

Living Buildings

A living building is one that builds relationships between people, community, and nature. A living building is the epitome of a sustainable building as it creates ecologically restorative, socially just, and culturally rich communities. A living building is self sufficient and connects occupants to light, air, and nature. A living building is centered around seven areas, known as “Petals”. The seven petals are: Place, Water, Energy, Health & Happiness, Materials, Equity, and Beauty. The place petal relates where it is acceptable to build, how to protect and restore a place once it has been developed. The water petal is set to realign how people value water and the undermined value of wastewater. The energy petal is used to create new sources of renewable energy. The health petal has the intent of connecting people to nature and to provide healthy air and natural daylight. The material petal strives to incorporate materials that are non-toxic and equitable. The equity petal has the intent of fostering inclusive communities that enable all to participate. The beauty petal recognizes the need for beauty and connection to nature as a precursor to caring enough to preserve, conserve, and serve the greater good.

Example of a location plan that is used during development

Location

In geography, location refers to a point or area on Earth’s surface. It implies more geometrical certainty than place and contains human value unlike the term space. In property development, location refers to importance and centrality. It implies that similar buildings can increase or decrease in value depending on their location as well as the fact that structures can improve or change, their location can not. Factors that affect the placement of building development include: Quality schools and hospitals, Transportation infrastructure, proximity to cultural, entertainment and leisure hubs, amongst others. During development developers utilize a location plan which serves as a planning application. It provides an illustration of a development in its surroundings. 

Multipurpose Building

Condensing subsectors of building floors in order to save space, increase versatility of offices and businesses within the building, and reduce environmental footprint. These buildings are useful in crowded urban settings because with an established city layout, constructing new buildings is much more difficult than simply modifying old ones. However, in less populous parts of the city, replacing a standard building with a multipurpose one could be more feasible, depending on the predicted value of said multipurpose building. The new construction of such buildings in lesser developed parts of the city may lead to more governmental funding and focus on growing these poorer sectors.Strategic positioning would also affect the decision to implement the buildings in urban settings–ideally, the buildings chosen to be modified would already be at major street corners or highly busy areas of the city. This would reduce the amount of funding required and yield the least disruption on the pedestrian and traffic flows in surrounding areas.

Passive Building Principles

Passive Building Principles are a set of principles that are meant to guide a building to being energy efficient without sacrificing comfort. The core concepts are thermal control, air control, radiation control, and moisture control. Thermal control has to do with insulation to make sure the inside temperature is not affected by the extreme temperatures outside (hot or cold). Air control deals with preventing heated/cooled air from inside escaping to the outside while also having proper ventilation. Radiation control deals with harnessing or blocking the sun’s natural radiation depending on what is needed. Moisture control deals with keeping an ideal level of humidity in the air. Many times design decisions come down to money and not environmental concerns. Passive building design tries to combine the environmental and economic benefits of energy efficiency. Typically, a building created in line with these principles costs 3-5% more than a conventional home. These buildings can perform up to 85% better than their conventional counterparts, making the cost worth it.