This page is a jumping off point for information about how to incorporate sustainable building principles in the various systems that comprise the building. The topics included are identified below.
Each of the files located in this section presents its information using pdf (portable document files). Therefore, Adobe Acrobat Reader will be required to view these documents. If you do not already have a copy of Acrobat Reader on your computer, you may download it for free from the Adobe website.
Building Siting, Orientation and Layout
A sustainable building makes proper use of land, conserves the natural habitat, and promotes the well-being of it's occupants and their surroundings. Carrying out a thorough site evaluation prior to the construction phase is crucial in achieving these things. The following document: Building Siting, Orientation and Layout (30.7kB) is provided as a tool to instruct builders in siting, orientation, and room layout techniques that can be used to harness energy and light from the sun, make use of existing/future vegetation, and essentially downsize or even eliminate the need for mechanical systems altogether.
Appliances
The document titled Appliances (11.2kB) contains helpful tips on refrigerators, dish washers, washing machines, clothes dryers, ranges, and water heaters. When purchasing appliances, it is important to take note of both the upfront costs and the energy use rating. When comparing two appliances, it is common to perceive the "better deal" to mean the appliance with the lower initial cost. Realistically this is not always, if ever, the case. For this reason, a cost versus payback period analysis is strongly recommended before purchasing a new appliance.
Many modern appliances contain features that conserve water and energy, make use of timers that turn on/off appliances when they are required or no longer needed. Features such as these save time and money, while conserving valuable resources.
Building Materials
Recycled, non-toxic building materials should be used wherever possible. Building Materials (19.7kB) are currently extracted from the earth with little regard to generated byproducts, waste, or the associated loss of biodiversity. This file contains a basic analysis of 14 building materials (concrete, insulation, aluminum, particleboard, steel, carpet, etc.) and their impact on the natural environment beginning from the "raw materials" stage.
Electrical Systems
This section contains information on lighting and five forms of renewable electrical systems (66.1kB): Solar Energy, Hydrogen Energy, BioEnergy, Ocean Energy, and Wind Energy. This file displays techniques on how to harness these various forms of energy and how these systems can be applied on residential, industrial, and commercial levels.
Floor, Wall and Roof Systems
Floor, Wall, and Roof Systems (101kB) are an intricate part of any structure. In many of the systems discussed in this section, wood is the prominent material used. It is important to recognize that it is more environmentally friendly to use smaller pieces of wood (ie: 2x4s instead of the conventional 2x8s or 2x10s) as they require less wood and can thereby be taken from smaller, second growth trees. Currently, old growth forest are being removed at alarming rates, with little regard to the environmental impact. A more sustainable practice is to take lumber for new buildings from tree farms, where their sole purpose is for timber sale.
Foundation
This document discusses the components of precast concrete panels, insulating concrete formwork, and moisture barriers. The file, Foundations (106kB), takes an introductory look at the components, advantages, and manufacturers of such systems.
Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation
In new construction there is an increasing push towards using an integrated mechanical system. This means that space heating and cooling, water heating, ventilation, and heat recovery work together as one unit. The reason for doing this is the increased efficiency offered by the combined systems. This link contains information on heating, cooling, and ventilation (131kB), including such topics as solar thermal, geothermal, filtering, etc.
Indoor Air Quality
Studies across the nation have linked poor indoor air quality (22kB) within the work place to a lower quality of work from the employees and increased absenteeism. The best strategy for improving indoor air quality is through controlling pollutant sources. This file contains information on major pollutant sources within a building, a simplified procedure for predicting indoor air quality, steps builders can take to reduce pollutant emissions, and a section on plants for cleaner air (NASA study).
Water Systems
There are numerous ways to conserve the amount of water consumed by a building and its surrounding grounds. This includes using low water use appliances (toilets, faucets, etc.), recycling grey water (water produced by sinks, showers, and laundry) when possible, and eliminating irrigation. Water Systems (112kB) contains information on conventional flush toilets, composting toilets, shower heads and faucets, and water heating (including a discussion on solar water heating).
Windows and Doors
Currently, windows and doors (28.3kB) are the weakest links in the thermal barrier. With this in mind, careful consideration should be given when choosing these elements for a building. It is important to consider both the climate and the orientation of the structure. New window technology has entered the market that reduce heat gain in hot climates, net a higher heat gain in colder climates, and reduce lifetime energy costs. For information on this and other topics, please view the windows and doors file.
Interior and Exterior Finishes
This file contains information on topics such as flooring, walls, siding, roofing, etc. Interior and exterior finishes (87.9kB) provides a variety of alternatives to conventional methods. These alternative materials/practices increase energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and reduce waste.