Sustainable Design
Green Propeller Design inc. provides environmentally responsible Architectural design in Commercial, Residential and Institutional sectors. Our goal is to design spaces that are a pleasure to be in, and that are healthy both for the occupants and for the environment. Our design principles include minimizing the demand for energy, selection of materials and systems which are sustainable and energy efficient, and seeking ways to allow buildings to work in harmony with the environment.
Adaptive re-use is one significant way of reducing use of new materials and reducing waste. The cost per square foot to renovate existing space is often less than the cost to build new. Win-win for you and for the environment!
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a rating system which provides a measurement of how “environmentally friendly” a particular building project is. Under several categories ranging from “sustainable sites” to “indoor air quality” measurable options are offered which produce a score card based on selected options. A score of 26 indicates that the project can achieve a “certified” rating. A score of 52 is required to reach the Platinum level.
The LEED rating system is an easy to understand programme for sustainability. It also encompasses many different aspects of sustainable design, from high efficiency mechanical (heating and cooling) systems to low/no V.O.C. paint, zero formaldehyde products, daylighting, materials recycling, reducing construction waste, amongst many others.
The Model National Energy Code (published in 1997) but never formally adopted is often used as the basis for Government incentive programs related to energy efficiency. It focuses only on reducing our use of power, particularly electricity. By comparing a building design to a base case, a particular project can be determined to meet or exceed the standard.
Energy Reduction
The first step in attempting to be energy efficient is to reduce the total amount of energy required. Some general strategies include minimizing the building volume and/or footprint; superinsulating the building; daylighting and natural ventilation; operating the building at less extreme temperature differentials.
Once the total amount of energy required has been determined, step two is to seek costeffective sources of passive energy. Some of the more common systems considered are:
- Solar water heating
- Photovoltaics
- Geothermal heating/cooling
- Wind power
Each project has different parameters which will influence the selection of appropriate systems. Links to various useful websites providing information about sustainable design are included under “Links”.
