Activity 2.3.

2 Green Building and

Sustainable Design
Introduction
Green building design and sustainable architecture are reshaping the practices and
products of modern construction. Climate change concerns and a sense of
stewardship for the Earth are motivating the use of green building products and
sustainable techniques. Energy use in buildings is increasing and could continue to
rise. By using new sustainable methods, materials, and mechanical components,
architects and engineers are able to create structures that can curb that trend. A
sustainable building design reduces pressure on the environment by decreasing
energy consumption during the life cycle of a building.
In addition to incorporating sustainable features, designers should also address
occupant needs and comfort when planning a building. esirable wor! space and
living environments allow users to be more productive and comfortable. Careful
consideration must be given to natural light and interior temperatures as well as
materials that emit low levels of to"ins.
In this activity you will learn about green and sustainable practices in preparation for
the design of your Affordable #ouse. uring the design process, continually consider
incorporating sustainable features into your home design.
Equipment
Engineering noteboo!
Computer with Internet access
Procedure
$esearch to learn more about green and sustainable practices and then respond to
the questions. %or each statement below, describe a reasonable action. &se the &'
Green Building Council (.usgbc.org) and the &' Environmental *rotection
Agency (.epa.gov) sites to begin your search, but see! out reliable information
on each topic from at least one other website source. . Be sure to cite each
additional reference.
$ainfall falls on most parcels of property throughout the world. escribe one
method that could be used to collect this natural resource.
$ain falls on roof, goes down gutter into barrel.
+ ,-.- *ro/ect 0ead 1he 2ay, Inc.
CEA Activity ,.3., Green Building and 'ustainable esign 4 *age .
2ebsite5 !ttp"##.atercac!e.com#education#rainater$!o#
,. escribe an innovative construction method or technique that benefits the
environment.
&sing recycled materials to build
2ebsite5 !ttp"##.calrecycle.ca.gov#Greenbuilding#Basics.!tm
3. uring the construction cycle of the building, materials and components are
delivered to the site. 0ist a strategy that you will use to recycle the waste
produced during the construction phase.
&sing less materials in your builds (due to well designed buildings) can help as
well as /ust recycling all possible waste.
2ebsite5!ttp"##.constructionbusinessoner.com#topics#la#constructio
n$regulations#recycling$construction$materials$important$part$construction
6. Energy use is high in commercial buildings. 2hat might a designer do to
reduce energy consumption in a building7
&se energy efficient light bulbs
2ebsite5!ttp"##.ebay.com#sc!#i.!tml%
&n'(energy)e**icient)lig!t)bulbs
8. Building sites offer natural resources that can be utili9ed for the life of the
building. escribe a method to use a site:s natural resources in the construction
of the structure.
Cob is a natural building material. And it can be harvested right off your front
lawn.
It is a clay li!e mi"ture that is hand applied.
2ebsite5 !ttp"##.green!omebuilding.com#cob.!tm
;. Choose one of your solutions in .<8 above and further research that topic.
*repare a *ower*oint *resentation on that solution which should include a balance of
te"t and images. =inimum number of slides for this presentation is 8 including a title
and references slide.
+ ,-.- *ro/ect 0ead 1he 2ay, Inc.
CEA Activity ,.3., Green Building and 'ustainable esign 4 *age ,
+onclusion
.. escribe an original green and sustainable idea that you have. Choose one that
is not currently in use as far as you !now.
Collect energy from plants. 1hey have to have energy right7
,. escribe an improvement that you believe could be made to the building where
you live. escribe why it is an improvement.
#ave a water collection system to water our gardens to cut down on water costs.
+ ,-.- *ro/ect 0ead 1he 2ay, Inc.
CEA Activity ,.3., Green Building and 'ustainable esign 4 *age 3