Community benefits 1. Increased sensitivity to resource use 2. Sensitivity to pedestrian and mass transit opportunities 3. Local materials equals local economic investment
Posts Tagged ‘ Environment ’
Sustainability Green design
Green design 1. Reduce exposure to noxious chemicals 2. Conserve non-renewable energy and scarce materials 3. Minimize life-cycle ecological impact of energy and materials 4. Protect and restore local air, water, soils, flora and fauna 5. Support pedestrians, bicyclists, mass-transit, and other alternatives to fossil fuels
Flora and Fauna – affect location and size of buildable area
1. Wildlife corridors 2. Wetlands 3. Endangered species 4. Lakes and stream beds (Dept. of Fish and Game)
Climatic conditions
Wind 1. affects structural requirements, building orientation, types of spaces Solar Orientation 2. Affects daylighting strategies, mechanical design Temperature and Humidity 3. Affects ventilation requirements, building envelope, mechanical systems Precipitation 4. Affects roof slope, drainage strategies
Assess individual user needs relative to human comfort
Comfort factors 1. Light levels – climate/region, task, glare, etc 2. Temperature – activity level 3. Humidity 4. Acoustics – activity type, variety of uses