Passive Design

With my background in Architecture, I thought it fitting to post something related to my field. Architects have a bad rap for being stuck up and abstract. My merging academically with Building Construction is helping me to see the art of building in a much more practical and sustainable way. 

Passive Design is a free and thoughtful way that we can design a building to the strength of the environment that it is set in. Often times architects can design objects that have no relation aesthetically to the context in which it is constructed. The most important context for our future is the sustainable context and we cannot afford building designs that do not address it. Passive design is another great way to overcome the stigma that sustainability is burdensome and costly. 

Design a building, not necessarily for aesthetics but durability and efficiency can have a longer impact on the environment longer that the building. The less energy and resources we use the better for our planet.

Here are a few ways to think ahead:

• ·         building location and orientation on the site – if you have an opportunity to choose a site, location is important. Locating a building far from amenities and public transportation access would be no good. Think about the people that are being service and what should be conveniently located in the proximity. In most cases though a site has already been chose for the architect to design on. The optimal building orientation changes in reference to where the sun is(north or south hemisphere). For example, in Florida we want to limit heat. Therefore orienting the building on the east-west axis so that the east and west are least exposed because they get the longest exposure. Maximize light on the north and protect the southern exposed façade.                         

• ·         building layout- place the rooms based on their program and need for light/warmth

                        

• ·         window design- In Florida windows on the north is good. Southern exposed windows should had some kind of screening system. Most often there is less windows on the southside

                   

• ·         insulation (including window insulation)- insulate well so that there is less transfer of heat between the layers of the build. This reduces the need to use more HVAC to adapt the indoor temp.

                

• ·         thermal mass- This helps with heat regulation(absorption and dispersal)

                       

• ·         shading – protect exposed facades. Preventing the sun from hitting a surface is better than cooling it down.

                          

• ·         ventilation – Orient the building to either capture or avoid wind depending on where you are located.

                    

All of these decisions don’t costs a penny but in the long term help the building reduce its impact on the environment. It does require some research and concern about the site and maximizing it’s gifts.