Environmental design principles and Living Building Challenge applications

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1ST PART ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN PERSONAL NARRATIVE Environmental design is the process of consideration for surrounding environmental parameters like lighting and comfort when generating plans, programs, buildings, policies, or products. Although classical design addressed some environmental factors like light, other considerations like ventilation are more from the modern era thanks to a growing urban population living in large residential buildings. Environmental design also aims at providing a space that promotes positive livability because as many know, humans spend a large amount of time in their homes or indoor in general. For example, museums like the ones in NYC, offer tall ceilings and large windows that allow for great amount of light to shine in, on certain exhibits. This kind of light is important in making the pieces look and feel grand. For speeches and so forth, being in a school auditorium, one can hear the resonance of the person’s voice from the other side of the room. This is thanks to the thoughtful design of the space. Now that climate change is a real problem, people have begun to incorporate things like durable, natural, and non-toxic construction materials into the design to prevent pollution, and excessive usage of limited resources. My own personal experience in an old house where once can see the chipped paint, the dirty floors, and the small windows, one feels depressed in that space. The ventilation thanks to the small and few windows made the air stale and the darkness that permeated the space from lack of light felt like I was stuck in an abyss. To improve such a space, the first thing I would do is strip the old paint from the walls, put on a fresh coat of white paint, and strip and polish the floors, applying a nice warm finish to the wood. This brings light without spending too much on physically altering the structure.

2ND PART ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN CASE STUDY In relation to the Etsy design that went along with the principles discussed and highlighted in the Living Building Challenge by the International Living Future Institute, the aim is to design a space that has at least four of the seven petals. These are beauty, place, health and happiness, and materials. To design such a space, one several key aspects of the green message of conservation, renewability, and reuse. For example, composite structural panels can be used to build an indoor space that is air-tight and allows for reduced energy consumption to heat and cool the home. Regarding water consumption, installation of dual-flush toilets allows for reduced usage of water. A simple addition such as this gives people the option to choose how much water will be used when flushing. Additionally, adding a water pitcher filter in something like an office space, promotes reduction of water bottle use with stainless steels cups available. Regarding happiness and health, spider plants, and other green and colorful flowers and ferns can be used to bring forth the outdoors in a controlled environment. Green is a calming color and can be placed in areas where there is light like next to a window. Solar panels can be installed so there is an alternate source of energy from traditional methods along with a battery. Windows can be enlarged and have hopper style windows added to allow for easy ventilation and lighter space. By using renewable construction materials often found in structural insulated panels and composite structural insulated panels, it eliminates the use of environmentally-hazardous foam insulation and the cutting of old-growth trees. A simple addition of a skylight can bring major natural light into a small space with white or bright paint to bring forth a sense of ease and comfort.

3RD PART Vernacular Architecture and Passive Design Strategies Vernacular architecture is design built on necessity. Part of its charm is the adherence to basic green architectural principles of utilizing resources and materials close to the worksite and energy efficiency. For example, designers of adobe houses can use the very soil from the area to construct homes. Additionally, these kinds of homes stay cool in warm and humid climates. Earth is a wonderful means of insulation and provides homes with cooling or warming for reduced cost thanks to less energy used overall. Therefore, the Pueblo-style architecture is a wonderful fit because one can use adobe to provide that look of Southwest while also minimizing the effect the construction of the house has on the land and provides efficiency in operating costs and maintenance. While adobe homes are difficult to build and maintain in areas with high rainfall and humidity, for drier and warm climates, these are ideal as the roofs are easy to put on and repair. Daylighting is so important to the health of the people living in a home because it promotes relaxation and wellbeing. Windows and skylights can easily be put into adobe homes that offer both daylight and a chance for additional ventilation. Because the style of adobe typically involves a flat roof, people can use ladders to get on the roof and enjoy the fresh air. Such efforts further reduce energy costs and promote outdoor living from the comfort of one’s own home. Below are pictures of the adobe style.