Green Architecture and Building Report

Can Robotic Manufacturing Help Us Build in a Greener Way?

By Mignon O'Young, Editor (photography by IDEAbuilder)

Walking through many a jobsite, I have always felt at home with the smell of wood dust, the whirring noise of circular saws, and welding sparks flashing in the distance.  These features are results of materials being cut and/or fabricated on site, and often times lead to unnecessary waste, whether it is due to un-intention or carelessness.  So how can we be more efficient about constructing a building?  Could maximized prefabrication be the solution?

Team California’s Refract House Starts 2,848 Mile Trek to the 2009 Solar Decathlon

By Mignon O'Young, Editor

It's the 2009 Solar Decathlon, but the journey began two years ago:  16 design proposals narrowed down to one winning scheme, design development, refinement, hours of hard work, construction, close-in, and finally, today’s auspicious send-off for the Refract House.

Team California, a partnership between the California College of the Arts and Santa Clara University, has been working furiously to put the finishing touches on its 800 square foot, net-zero energy Refract House in preparation for loading it on to a flat-bed truck which will travel to the National Mall in Washington, DC for the 2009 Solar Decathlon.

Bringing Green Home

 

By Yu-Ming Wei, Guest Contributor

This LA heat has got me thinking about my house.  As a mom, I’m relieved that I can keep the kids cool and happy even though I fully expect to be shocked by the electric bills for blasting our air conditioner this summer.  As an architect, however, I am nagged by the fact that I have designed and advocated for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System certification on many projects professionally, but when it comes to my own home, I make do with what’s existing. 

Laundry Facility Reincarnated as the First LEED Certified Residential Building in Northern California

By Mignon O'Young, Editor

Why would a developer save part of an unreinforced brick building when it has no historical value and would cost more money to save than to demolish it?  Because saving one façade would help provide an extra layer of interest to the design of the building, preserve the fabric of existing store fronts, and retain a piece of history for the neighborhood community.  Such was the reasoning that an architect used to convince his client to include this design gesture to complement the developer’s overall goal of creating a sustainable and green affordable housing project.

Sripadanna Residence: Synergy in Sustainability Part II

By Hari Sripadanna, Guest Contributor

In a previous article, "Sripadanna Residence:  Synergy in Sustainability Part I," we discussed the relationship of synergies generated by a combination of design measures such as:

• building orientation to take advantage of the sun’s path;
• predominant shed roof and high ceilings with exposed framing made of reclaimed wood;
• clerestory windows that bring sunlight and warmth deep into the building;
• critically placed, highly energy efficient windows with shade protection on the south side;
• green living roof;
• tight building envelope that reduces air infiltration;
• highly energy efficient building insulation system;
• highly energy efficient radiant heating; and
• energy efficient appliances.

We illustrated how each of these measures allowed the possibility of the others and increased their efficiency when used in combination with the other, thus increasing the value for the building occupant.  We also focused on how these measures increased the energy efficiency of the building by reducing the heating bill for the home.

Sripadanna Residence: Synergy in Sustainability

By Hari Sripadanna, Guest Contributor

Architects have been practicing principles of sustainable design for a long time even before the term sustainability became popular.  With increasing popularity of sustainable design, it is important to understand that sustainable design is more than a collection of credits.  The key is to create synergy between building systems and practices that multiply each other’s benefit.  One can create more value simply by choosing two or more complimentary sustainable design elements that play off of each other. The combined effect is more than the benefit when these design elements or systems are used alone. 
Consider for example, installation of thermally efficient windows (which are required by building code in California for new buildings) throughout the house. One can benefit from a reduction in the (heating & cooling) energy bill of the house due to the insulating properties of a window’s dual pane low-e glazing.

Sripadanna Residence Receives First LEED for Homes Gold in Silicon Valley

By Mignon O'Young, Editor

Congratulations to Mr. Hari Sripadanna on receiving LEED for Homes Gold certification for his residence in Saratoga, California.  The Sripadanna Residence is the first detached single custom home in Santa Clara County and Silicon Valley to receive LEED-H Gold certification and has set the high standard for the community.

Affordable Housing Project Incorporates Largest Residential Solar Photovoltaic System in San Francisco

By Mignon O'Young, Editor

What do you do when your project has close to 40,000 square foot of roof space in one city block, good sun exposure, and no shading impediments?  Go solar, of course, and generate your own electricity with a renewable energy source.  

Mosaica, one of the largest green, mixed-use projects located in San Francisco, California, boasts a 130 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system which is the largest residential system in San Francisco.  The system’s estimated annual production of 189,000 kWh of clean energy is expected to offset at least 75% of the 470 kva common area electrical load.

Maximizing the Green Footprint: How Much Green Impact Can You Make?

By Mignon O'Young, Editor

In our article The Story of the Fireside:  Seeing the Green in Value Engineering, we discussed how value engineering helps one take a systematic approach to evaluating a building system or product from different perspectives.  This feature takes a closer look at the three types of green product categories and how you can evaluate them.

Simplify Solar with the First Curved Solar Roofing Tile

By Mignon O'Young, Editor

After two long days of non-stop hustling between seminars and product exhibits at the AIA (American Institute of Architects) 2009 National Convention and Expo, I was on my last stretch of speed walking through 800 plus vendor stalls.  Fatigued and with a growling stomach, I was about to call it a day until I saw some dark blue, semi-glossy, curvy panels that reminded me of lasagna. Yummy!  I'd struck gold and discovered some remarkable solar roof tiles.

Sripadanna Residence: Going for the (LEED for Homes) Gold

By Mignon O'Young, Editor

Is it possible to achieve a 20 °F difference between indoor and outdoor spaces using passive design when it's a blazing 100 °F outside?  Yes, it is possible, and architect Hari Sripadanna has proven so in his house.

The Sripadanna Residence is located in Saratoga, California, an area which experiences hot weather in the summer and fall, where houses are often cooled by mechanical air conditioning.  This newly built Sripadanna designed home provides comfort in extreme temperature variations without the help of air conditioning equipment.

Integrated Design for Renewables (IDR)

By Sharon Block, Guest Contributor

As designers and implementers of design, we know that integrated design theoretically makes sense.  However, when it comes to installing renewable energy systems, it is more and more critical that we actually put theory into action.  So I’d like to go through a couple of real world examples of what can happen (or not happen) when we don’t work together as a team from the outset of a project.

The Story of The Fireside: Seeing the Green in Value Engineering

By Mignon O'Young, Editor

Value engineering.  The term often evokes trimming down a project.  However, used properly, it can be a positive tool that helps one take a systematic approach to evaluating a building system or product from different perspectives.  In the realm of greening a project, value engineering is an important part of the decision making process.

Mosaica: A Sustainable Community

By Mignon O'Young, Editor

Years ago, I came upon a bustling weekend flea market situated on a lot disfigured by broken concrete and asphalt, and anchored by a dilapidated warehouse structure in the middle of the site.  Who would have thought that I would end up as the construction manager working for the developer who gave the site a new life and created a new place for people to come together. 

Mosaica is one of the largest green, mixed-use projects located at the crossroads of the Mission and Potrero districts in San Francisco, California.  It was developed by Citizens Housing Corporation (CHC), a San Francisco based non-profit affordable housing developer that is leading the way in developing responsible, green, and sustainable communities.

The Story of The Fireside: Green, Affordable Housing

By Mignon O'Young, Editor

Right off of California Highway 101 and along the way to Stinson Beach, there sits a project “that could.”  It accomplished many feats over the course of its development.  As the construction manager on this project, I'll be sharing my insight on the project’s green building process over a series of articles.  Almost ten years in the making, The Fireside Apartments is finally going to open.