Table of Contents

 

Also see the page on websites with more case studies

 

Table of Contents Beverly Hills High School Science & Technology Center Design Strategies Cornell University Solar Decathlon House Design Strategies  Druk Lotus School  Design Strategies Helena Apartment Tower Design Strategies

 

 

Beverly Hills High School Science & Technology Center

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Beverly Hills, California – 1997

Building Type: School

 

http://www.lpainc.com

 

Design Strategies

 

Heat island and solar heat gain mitigation

• Sited building to take advantage of shadows created by other buildings and to minimize interior solar heat gain.

• Roof Energy Star “cool roof” reflects solar heat

• Low-E Glazing Insulated Windows
• Landscaping – Trees for shade and reflective gray pavers

 

Natural daylighting

• 8 FT south facing lobby windows w/ light shelves and optional solar shadesClass room windows and light shelves are located strategically to maximize daylighting and minimize heat gain 

 

 

Artificial lighting

• Energy – Efficient direct and indirect T-8 pendant lighting
• Motion Sensors
•  Stepped daylighting controls that increases as the sun sets
• Success – lighting system uses 55% less than conventional systems

HV

AC & Energy Conservation

• Energy efficient variable-air volume boxes and an Energy Management System
• Photovoltaic panels that will serve not only to offset energy use but as a teaching tool for students as well 

 

Water Conservation and Stormwater Management

• Ultra low-flow lavatories
• High-Tec water conservation irrigation system
• Success – Saves approximately 215,000 gallons of water compared to conventional system

 

Green Building Materials

• Low VOC Paints
• Recycled content

o   Acoustical ceiling tiles

o   Trex synthetic wood benches

o   Toilet partitions

o   Structural steel

o   Carpet 100% recycled (met Carpet and Rug Institute’s “Green Label”

o   All new furniture is Greenguard Certified

 

Additional Information

• http://www.lpainc.com/
• http://www.lpainc.com/design/project/105/Beverly_Hills_HS_Science_Technology_Center
• http://www.green-technology.org/green_technology_magazine/barn.htm

 

 

Cornell University Solar Decathlon House

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Ithaca, New York, USA, 2005

Building Type: Residential House Demonstration Project

 

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Oct05/solarCU.jpg

 

Design Strategies 

Active Heating & Cooling

• High efficiency air to air heat pump

• Touch Screen building management system offers tight control of temperature, humidity, and light levels

 

Energy Recovery Ventilator

• ERV made with silica gel created by the Cornell team to replace the standard ERV system that uses lithium bromide

 

Cross Ventilation

• Large opening on the North & South exposures of the house allow for cross ventilation

 

Photovoltics

• 56 110-watt panels

• Panels can provide as much as 3 times the amount of energy needed for the house and can be used for an electric car or stored in a battery bank-sent to electric grid

 

Solar Thermal Collectors

• Evacuated tube solar thermal collectors for hot water and winter heat

 

Window Glazing Selection

• Triple glazed

• Low-E

• Argon filled

 

Shading Devices

• Aluminum shades angled to protect from the sun during summer time while taking advantage of winter sun

 

Structural Insulated Panels

• Used for walls and roof

• Interior and exterior of the panel surface has oriented strand board

• Insulation material is urethane-based foam

• Panels have minimum R value of R-38

 

Insulation Materials

• Batt insulation made from recycled denim

  • R-value of denim similar to glass fiber batt
  • Non-toxic
  • No harmful chemicals

 

Appliances & Materials

• Energy star rated

• Wood sustainable from rapidly renewable resources

• Recycled and or recyclable materials

 

Daylighting & Electric Light

• Windows located strategically at task areas

• Light materials promote distribution of light

• T5 high output florescent lamps

• Halogen lamps - color rendering areas for warmth

• Daylight sensors tied to building management system centers

 

Water Conservation

• Low flow fixtures

• Dual flush toilets

• Greywater recycling system from washer, bathroom sink, and shower used to irrigate the landscaping

 

Landscaping

• Organic edible modular gardens

• Landscaping requires very little irrigation

• No pesticides used

• Reclaimed grey water from house and rainwater harvested from roof used for irrigation

 

Additional Information

• http://www.cusd.cornell.edu

• http://www.nrcc.cornell.edu

• http://www.eere.energy.gov/slolar_decathlon/

 

 

 

Druk Lotus School 

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Shey, Ladakh India, 1997

Building Type: School

 

© Christian Richters

 

Design Strategies

Passive Solar Heating

• Sited to take advantage of heat from the sun

• Indirect gain thrombe walls (made of ventilated mud brick) and granite cavity walls with double glazing

• Small wood stoves for back up heat

• Solar assisted latrines

 

Insulation

• Roof made from mud on talu lath resting on local poplar rafters with timber framing

• Butterfly roof made with felt weather skin, rock wool insulation, and timber

• Airlocks at entries to classroom buildings

 

Daylighting & Electric

• Classroom windows and clerestories designed to optimize daylighting

• No electric lighting is typically used in classrooms

• PV pump charges batteries that run schools computers

 

Natural Ventilation

• Every room has well shaded openable windows that allow for cross ventilation

 

Water Use

• Desert location therefor water is a scarse resource

• Ground water is extracted with a photovoltaic pump

• Waterless "ventilated improved pit" VIP toilets use solar assisted stack ventaltors to composte waste

 

Materials

• Local Materials

  • Soil from site used for roof
  • Mud bricks made by hand in Shey
  • Granite blocks made from stone found onsite or gathered from near by
  • Willows used in roof construction were grown by nearby monastery plantation

 

http://www.buffalo.edu/news/8155

 

Additional Information

• http://www.dwls.org/Award-Winning-Buildings.html

• http://www.arup.com/Projects/Druk_White_Lotus_School.aspx

• http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=11107

 

 

Helena Apartment Tower

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New York City, NY, USA

Building Type: Hi Rise Residential

 

http://fxfowle.com

 

Design Strategies

Site

• Access to public transportation

• Compressed natural gas shuttle to subway during peak hours

• 12,000 SQ FT of Green Roofs reduce heat island effect and storm water run-off

 

Water Efficiency

• On-site blackwater treatment plant conditions 3/4 of the buildings wastewater for reuse in toilets, HVAC systems, cooling towers and landscape irrigation

• Recution in potable water useage by a 1/3 comparded to equivalent buildings

• Low Flow fixtures

 

Energy & Indoor Environmental Quality

• Photovoltaics

• Master switch in each apartment turns off all built-in lighting, top half of convenience receptacles, and places HVAC system on sleep mode

• Building buys 50% of green power from a sind power project

• HVAC system uses water source heat pumps

• Energy Star appliances

• Trickle vents provide outdoor air to each apartment

• Operable windows

• Alternative fuel recharging stations

• Efficient Boilers

• Micro turbines

 

Materials & Resources

• Wood floors from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified suppliers

• Cabinets and byfold doors made of wheat board

• Wood products using ureaformaldehyde binders were avoided

• Low VOC - paints, carpets, and adhesives were used

• Drywall is 100% recycled product

• 80% plus of construction waste was diverted from landfills by construction management practices

• Low-E glazing on windows

• Regional materials were used

 

http://fxfowle.com

 

Additional Resources

• http://www.fxfowle.com/projects/residential/the-helena-apartment-tower.php

• http://www.greenhomenyc.org

• http://www.architectureweek.com