Environmental Design Commons^™

Architecture And Systems Ecology: Thermodynamic Principles Of Environmental Building Design, In Three Parts, William Braham

William W. Braham

Modern buildings are both wasteful machines that can be made more efficient and instruments of the massive, metropolitan system engendered by the power of high-quality fuels. A comprehensive method of environmental design must reconcile the techniques of efficient building design with the radical urban and economic reorganization that we face. Over the coming century, we will be challenged to return to the renewable resource base of the eighteenth-century city with the knowledge, technologies, and expectations of the twenty-first-century metropolis.

This book explores the architectural implications of systems ecology, which extends the principles of thermodynamics from the nineteenth-century focus on more …

Streetscape Features Related To Pedestrian Activity, Reid Ewing, Amir Hajrasouliha, Kathryn M. Neckerman, Marnie Purciel-Hill, William Greene

Amir Hajrasouliha

Poe Of Bioclimatic Design Building Towards Promoting Sustainable Living, Hazreena Hussein, Adi Jamaludin

Hazreena Hussein

Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) by using a set of questionnaire was conducted to assess the perception and comfort level required by residents in a college building with the best practice of bioclimatic design strategies, particularly natural ventilation and daylighting. The questionnaire was based on a five-point Likert scale, covering various performance criteria of building, specifically on the architectural elements, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, visual comfort, acoustic comfort and landscape elements. The initial outcomes showed a positive relationship between perceptions and building performance criteria.

Creating Healthy Community In The Postindustrial City, Brian A. Hoey

Brian A. Hoey, Ph.D.

Making Better Decisions About Built Assets: Learning By Doing, Craig Langston

Craig Langston

Climate change presents significant challenges to society (e.g. Stern, 2006; Bouwer and Aerts, 2006). Many have concluded that climate change is the most important problem facing humankind, and indeed other life on Earth. The construction industry, which contributes 5-10% of national GDP globally, has a prominent role to play in meeting this challenge given that the built environment demands 40-50% of global resources and generates a proportional amount of waste (Langston and Ding, 2001). Climate change adaptation is about human response to this challenge, thus mitigating the impacts of a changing climate (Burton et al., 2005).

The Ark: Grafting Productive Programs Onto Contemporary Waste-Space, Caryn Brause, Carey Clouse

Caryn Brause

As the intertwined issues of climate change and resource scarcity profoundly alter the shape and scope of urban life, emerging designers must be positioned to respond in meaningful ways. This paper documents a research and design project that foregrounds several key design considerations for the future city: the expanded role of animals, the necessity for communal spaces to share knowledge, tools, and materials, and the waste-spaces that can be appropriated for that purpose. In doing so, it critically considers how we can prepare future design professionals to propose architectural and landscape program types that have yet to be invented, to …

Masterplanned Communities For Healthy Living, Bhishna Bajracharya

Bhishna Bajracharya

With increasing demand for housing in large metropolitan regions, private developers are building new masterplanned communities on the fringe of major cities. Unlike conventional housing subdivisions, masterplanned communities are large scale integrated housing developments with provision for diversity of housing, shopping, open spaces and recreation facilities (McGuirk and Dowling, 2007; Minnery and Bajracharya, 1999; Schmitz et al., 1998). Due to growing health concerns linked to inactive living, a number of new masterplanned communities in South East Queensland are creating supportive environments for physical activities.

'Gardens Of Justice': Australian Feminist Law Journal, 2013, Volume 39, Matilda Arvidsson, Leila Brännström, Merima Bruncevic, Leif Dahlberg

Matilda Arvidsson

FOREWARD: GARDENS OF JUSTICE

Matilda Arvidsson, Merima Bruncevic, Leila Brannstrom, Leif Dahlberg

Our Gardens of Justice special themed issue of the Australian Feminist Law Journal grew out of the 2012 Critical Legal Conference in Stockholm and its theme of Gardens of Justice, a conference organised by Matilda Arvidsson, Merima Bruncevic, Leila Brannstrom and Leif Dahlberg. We issued a Call for Papers early in 2013 in which several conference theme questions were repeated. We called for papers devoted to thinking about law and justice as a physical as well as a social environment. The theme suggested a plurality of justice gardens …

Sun, Wind & Light: Architectural Design Strategies, 3rd Edition, Mark Dekay, G Z. Brown

Mark DeKay

An updated guide to designing buildings that heat with the sun, cool with the wind, and light with the sky.This fully updated Third Edition covers principles of designing buildings that use the sun for heating, wind for cooling, and daylight for natural lighting. With 432 printed pages and a 450-page electronic book, supplemented with Digital Extras, this package supplies the preliminary design tools and strategies for achieving Architecture 2030® carbon-neutral performance targets. Using hundreds of illustrations, this book offers practical strategies that give the designer the tools they need to make energy efficient buildings.Hundreds of illustrations and practical strategies give …

Satisfaction And Perception Of Residents Towards Bioclimatic Design Strategies: Residential College Buildings, Adi Ainurzaman Jamaludin, Nila Keumala Daud, Ati Rosemary Mohd Ariffin, Hazreena Hussein

Hazreena Hussein

Successful implementation of bioclimatic design strategies not only reduces energy use, but more importantly increases the resident’s satisfaction. A Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE), a form of survey method was used in assessing the satisfaction and perception of residents in two residential colleges, at the University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. Both CS-A and CS-B represent the uppermost and moderate implementation of bioclimatic design strategies. The results showed that 414 questionnaires were retrieved fully filled by occupants at CS-A while 155 respondents from CS-B returned their questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on a five-point Likert scale. Respondents were asked to rate the levels …

The Human Green Office Experience: Happy And Healthy Or Sick And Frustrated?, Lynne Armitage, Ann Murugan

Lynne Armitage

Adopting the proposition that the effect on people using, interacting or working in a ‘green’ workplace environment is not currently clear nor fully understood, the purpose of this research is to examine what the green workplace environment is like from the perspective of one of this sub group – the users’/employees’– especially when it comes to satisfaction levels and health outcomes. This study examines and compares responses between employees in green and in non-green workplace environments in order to determine if a gap exists between the satisfaction and health levels of these two groups. The survey covers 351 employee respondents …

Validation Of The Adaptive Reuse Potential (Arp) Model Using Iconcur, Craig Langston

Craig Langston

This paper aims to focus on the adaptive reuse of existing buildings that have become obsolete, an important strategy for sustainable development and a pertinent response to excessive resource usage resulting from typical destruction and redevelopment.

Classroom Design And Teachers’ Performance In Selected Secondary Schools In Ogun State, Nigeria, Olukunle Saheed Oludeyi

Olukunle Saheed, OLUDEYI

Studies on classroom design, most especially in Nigerian secondary schools, are seriously lacking. With particular focus on selected teachers in Ogun State, this ex-post facto research examined classroom design and its influence on teachers’ performance in teaching job. A total of 128 participants were randomly selected from 16 secondary schools in Ijebu Ode and 128 questionnaires titled ‘Scale on Classroom Design and Teachers Performance’ (SCDTP) with reliability co-efficient of 0.82 obtained through cronbach alpha method was developed and administered on the target participants. 96 instruments, constituting 75% of the total administered, were however returned and analysed. Simple percentage and Chi-square …

Climate Change Adaptation Chapter: Marshfield, Massachusetts, Joshua H. Chase, Jonathan G. Cooper, Rory Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Filipe Antunes Lima, Sally R. Miller, Toni Marie Pignatelli

Jonathan G. Cooper

Climate change, understood as a statistically significant variation in the mean state of the climate or its variability, is the greatest environmental challenge of this generation (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2001). Marshfield is already being affected by changes in the climate that will have a profound effect on the town’s economy, public health, coastal resources, natural features, water systems, and public and private infrastructure. Adaptation strategies have been widely recognized as playing an important role in improving a community’s ability to respond to climate stressors by resisting damage and recovering quickly. Based on review of climate projections for the …

2013 Proceedings Of Fabos Conference On Landscape And Greenway Planning, Mark S. Lindhult

Mark S Lindhult, FASLA

The Fábos Conference on Landscape and Greenway Planning is held every three years to bring together experts who are influencing landscape planning, policy making and greenway planning from the local to international level. The papers contained in this book highlight recent trends and expand the literature about landscape and greenway planning and describe how different countries are approaching greenway planning and tailoring them to each country’s unique geographical, cultural, and political circumstances.

Climate Change Adaptation Chapter: Marshfield, Massachusetts, Joshua H. Chase, Jonathan G. Cooper, Rory Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Filipe Antunes Lima, Sally R. Miller, Toni Marie Pignatelli

Sally Miller

Climate change, understood as a statistically significant variation in the mean state of the climate or its variability, is the greatest environmental challenge of this generation (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2001). Marshfield is already being affected by changes in the climate that will have a profound effect on the town’s economy, public health, coastal resources, natural features, water systems, and public and private infrastructure. Adaptation strategies have been widely recognized as playing an important role in improving a community’s ability to respond to climate stressors by resisting damage and recovering quickly. Based on review of climate projections for the …

Greenbacks For Building Green: Does A Lender For Sustainable Construction Projects Need To Make Adjustments To Its Current Practices?, Darren Prum

Darren A. Prum

In the development of real property, the availability of money to secure construction resources becomes an important factor for success. The construction loan plays a central role in providing funds to erect a building on real property, but a lender faces numerous exposures that might result in a loss. In evaluating a project to determine its viability and to uncover any exposure it might present, a lender will conduct an extensive underwriting review process and will use mitigation techniques through the construction loan agreement and disbursement requirements to reduce the perceived risks to an acceptable business level, for those developments …

Our Own Private Sustainable Community: Are Green Covenants, Conditions, And Restrictions A Viable Alternative To A More Environmentally Sustainable Future For Homeowners?, Darren Prum, Robert Aalberts

Darren A. Prum

Residential and commercial property owners have sought for centuries to develop and enrich their physical environment through private land use planning. In more recent decades, residential owners residing in community interest communities have been particularly active in crafting an evolving array of deed restrictions contained in Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions( CC&R’s). CC&R’s, which are generally created by the CIC developer , are mutually binding and enforceable against all those who live or conduct business in self-selected residential subdivisions or commercial developments . Importantly, CC&R’s are monitored sometimes quite forcefully, under the watchful eye of an empowered planned development association.

Although …

An Assessment Of The Effects Of Desertification In Yobe State, Nigeria, Jibril Musa Phd

Confluence Journal Environmental Studies (CJES), Kogi State University, Nigeria

Desertification is one of the most serious environmental and socio-economic problems of our time. Desertification describes circumstances of land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions resulting from the climatic variation and human activities. The fundamental goal of this thesis was to assess the effects of desertification in Yobe State, Nigeria. The present threat of desertification in the sahel has reached an alarming stage where crops cultivation and animal rearing/grazing are no more productive, soil has lost its nutrient/fertility, various infrastructure had given way because of windstorm from the neighbouring Niger Republic and sand dunes had taken over. The …

Buried Clay Pipe Irrigation, David A. Bainbridge

David A Bainbridge

The buried clay pipe method of irrigation is one of the most efficient systems known and is ideal for gardeners and small farmers. Buried clay pipe irrigation uses a buried, unglazed clay pipe filled with water to provide controlled irrigation to plants as the water seeps out through the clay wall at a rate that is influenced by the plant's water use. It has been used for more than one hundred years.This auto-regulation leads to very high efficiency--considerably better than drip irrigation and many times better than conventional surface irrigation. This also reduces weeds, increases yields, and can speed maturity …

Using Remote Sensing Data To Improve Rice Production In Kutigi, Niger State, Nigeria, Jibril Musa Phd, M B. Yunusa

Confluence Journal Environmental Studies (CJES), Kogi State University, Nigeria

This research work looked in the used of Remote Sensing to improve Agricultural production in Kutigi, Niger State. The aim of the study is to use remote sensing to improve rice farming activities in Kutigi, Niger State. It is very important to identify such methods to improve Agricultural production because experts are always interested in new researches and findings to better the standard of living in any environment. In view of this, Remotely-sensed data could be used or employed to elevate most of these agricultural problems in Kutigi through the following objectives: Using Landsat imagery to assess the present landuse …

Variations In Climatic Parameters And Food Crop Yields: Implications On Food Security In Benue State, Nigeria., Emmanuel Adamgbe, Fanan Ujoh

Confluence Journal Environmental Studies (CJES), Kogi State University, Nigeria

Agricultural production in Nigeria like in other developing countries is highly vulnerable to variations in climatic parameters which may have inverse or direct effect on the performance of food crops. This paper examines the patterns and trends of the variations in the climatic parameters and the implications of such variations on efficient yield rates of some food crops in Benue State using data on climatic variables (rainfall, temperature, sunshine) and the yield of some crops per hectare for 25 years (1986-2010). Data on the climatic variables were collected from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, AirForce Base, Makurdi while the data on …

Preferred Iconography For Development Of New Garden Identity, Mina Kaboudarahangi, Osman Mohd Tahir, Mustafa Kamal M.S

Mina Kaboudarahangi

The intention of this study is to highlight the importance of garden in creating national landscape identity. Malaysia with great interest and potential with three main ethnic groups was selected as a case study. It is presumed that people with divers cultural backgrounds would have difference opinions about gardens. With the attention to the visual and artistic quality of gardens, an iconographic method dealing with both art and history was selected in this study. It concluded that garden iconography should be understood as a collection of stimuli that is open to perception, interpretation, and judgment. Consequently, four gardens among well …

Speculations On The Future City, Dr. Fatih A. Rifki

Dr. Fatih A. Rifki

No abstract provided.

Dynamics Of Land Use/Land Cover Changes And Its Implication On Food Security In Anyigba, North Central, Nigeria, Tokula E. Arome, Sunday P. Ejaro (Phd)

Confluence Journal Environmental Studies (CJES), Kogi State University, Nigeria

This study assessed land use/land cover changes and its effect on Agricultural land in Anyigba. The objectives were to identify and delineate different land use / land cover categories, assess the rate of change that occurred and examine the impact of land use/land cover change on food security using satellite remote sensing data collected at three different years (1987 Land sat TM, 2001 Land Sat TM and 2011 Land Sat ETM). The study utilized GIS software such as Idrisi Andes academic and ArcGIS 9.3. The study area covers approximately 31.8km2, and four major land use/cover classes were utilized (built up, …

Hilgard Hall (John Galen Howard) Historic Structures Report, William Riggs, Frederic Knapp

William W. Riggs

Historic structures report to evaluate the existing conditions and historic status of Hilgard Hall on the UC Berkeley campus according to the National Park Service’s cultural management guidelines. Designed by John Galen Howard, Hilgard Hall is part of the Agriculture Complex, a trio that is the most unified grouping of buildings on the campus. Wellman Hall, designed by John Galen Howard, was completed in 1912 as the first of the three buildings. Hilgard Hall, also designed by Howard, followed in 1917 and Giannini Hall, designed by William C. Hays to be compatible with the two existing buildings, completed the east …

Synergistic Green Networks To Transform Lonsdale Suburbia, Archana Sharma

Archana Sharma

No abstract provided.

Iconographic Method And The Development Of Emerging Garden’S Identity, Mina Kaboudarahangi, Osman Mohd Tahir, Mustafa Kamal M.S

Mina Kaboudarahangi

Garden design has been described as a category of fine arts with a long association with landscape painting. Thus, gardens can be considered as a work of art due to their artistic nature and value. Accordingly, like other artistic artefacts, they can be studied and recognized by their specific icons. This is very true for a number of well-known gardens in the world, like Persian, English, Japanese and Chinese gardens, which are recognized through their individual icons. However, emerging gardens still do not possess any icons that people can identify them with. Consequently, there is a need for these gardens …

Bioretention: Evaluating Their Effectiveness For Improving Water Quality In New England Urban Environments, Mary Dehais

Mary Dehais

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is one of the leading causes of water quality problems in the United States. Bioretention has become one of the more frequently used stormwater management practices for addressing NPS pollution in urbanized watersheds in New England. Yet despite increased acceptance, bioretention is not widely practiced. This study explores and evaluates the efficacy of bioretention for protecting urban water quality. This research found that numerous monitoring methods are used by researchers and industry experts to assess the effectiveness of stormwater best management practices (BMPs) and low impact development (LID) practices that include bioretention. The two most common …

Fairmount Greenway - A Community Initative, Leah H. Bamberger, Liliana Carvajal, Mary F. Dehais, Yuanfang Gong, John E. Hulsey, Eric C. Kells, Kimberley Klosterman, Pamela Jo Landi, Adam G. Monroy, Seth A. Morrow, Bryan O'Bara, Jie Su, Arianna Thompson, Owen M. White

Mary Dehais

This studio was based on the Fairmount Greenway that was developed through a series of public meetings with the neighborhood community and with consultants from the firm Crosby, Schlessinger and Smallridge (CSS). The Fairmount Greenway, while drawing its identity from the traditional greenway model is in fact a reinterpretation of an urban greenway. The greenway path follows along both primary and secondary city streets because of the lack of space along the rail right-of-way. The Fairmount Greenway begins at what will be a new station stop at New Market South Bay near Upham’s Corner in northern Dorchester. The greenway follows …