Evaluating Ecological Content

1 Base            - Adopt standard developer chosen construction practices.

2 Accessories     - Choose among available building technologies/systems.

3 Designs        - Design functions such as passive solar into a building.

4 Systems         - Systematically integrate materials, designs and systems, including cultural and social focii.

 Looking at ecological content in the project, we can analyze features in order of increasing divergence from base level conventional construction. We can calculate costs and benefits most easily in the first cases and least easily in the last.

 Phase 1 - How does standard design and construction meet or not meet our needs?
 Phase 2 choices are between one type of toilet or shower head and another, between one type of light bulb or window or door and another.
 Phase 3 choices would be for instance to adopt some recognized efficiency standards, such as R-2000 standards, or Next Home or Grow Home standards, or to include passive solar, gray water treatment, wood burning stoves, greenhouse, extra insulation, extra mass within the building. ( Canada)
 Phase 4 integrates a full systems approach beyond what is most available by taking a fresh look at materials, available resources such as solar energy,  particular design options, and applying a holistic approach.

1 Base - Adopt standard developer chosen construction practices.

Which current practices in the industry could be considered ecological for our project, what are their costs to us, and do we accept them? Are there any changes we would wish to make to those standards?
 Interview developer/builders, trades/subcontractors as to their standards of construction which they consider ecologically sound.
 Make decisions in considering construction contracts as to which builders/trades/subcontractors offer acceptable environmental standards.
 Which building code and city bylaw items apply to our project which restrict or enhance our project vis a vis environmental standard:
 in the construction activity stages?
 in the planning and design stages?
 during finishing and when we move in?
 

2 Accessories - Choose among available building technologies/systems.

Examples of potential technologies we may wish to evaluate could include the following:
Cellulose insulation with true field R value and resistance to infiltration
Electrical - compact fluorescents and fluorescents, timers and photo cells, lighting
 - high efficiency refrigeration, gas stoves
Plumbing - Low flush toilets, low flow shower and faucet heads, composting toilets, gray water
Heating -High efficiency boiler, hydronic heating, hydronic heating with fancoils, zones Mid efficiency or high efficiency condensing gas furnaces
Ventilating - Heat Recovery Ventilation
Air Conditioning - plant deciduous trees, provide fenestration which opens for cross ventilaton
Fenestration - Low e, argon filled windows of various types, insulated doors with weather strip
Supplemental Heating - High efficiency wood stoves and 2100 degree SS vent
 Active Thermo Solar hot water heating and hydronic space heating
Photovoltiac energy systems, grid tied and self-sufficient electrical.
Natural Lighting with tubular skylights.
 Wind Energy electrical power and pumping equipment.
 

3 Designs - Design functions such as passive solar into a building.

Passive solar, R-2000, Next Home, LEEDS program, Greenbuilding Points Programs. Stratagies such as to increase mass or use massive materials inside structure, reflection and deflection of solar, Increase insulation, site and building considerations, Landscaping,  incorporating energy saving entrances with air locks.

4 Systems - Integrate materials and designs within environmental and cultural patterns.

"Wholistic" would best describe a systems approach. Many traditional cultures lived in harmony for hundreds of years within their physical environment and had evolved ways to design and build which optimized their financial, environmental and social relationships.  Nowadays, the complexity of this approach is reflected in Permaculture and Holistic Resource Management schools of thought to name two. As our ways of living have shifted and we face the pressures of a degraded world, we are finding that the old ways have validity. Traditional understandings combined with modern scientific understandings can form the basis for sustainable living efforts. For one particular vision of the systems approach as it applies to construction, please refer to The Building System on this web site or perhaps visit links below.
written by Geoffrey Lyford.

Canada - Office of Energy Efficiency http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/english/

Colorado - http://www.aiacolorado.org/SDRG/home.htm

http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/success/boulder.shtml

Portland, Oregon www.earthadvantage.com/

energystar

See also: Links.

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