Environmental Design Commons^™

Preserving Assets In At-Risk Municipalities: Financial Strategies For Climate Change Adaptation, New England Environmental Finance Center

Climate Change

A large share of America's population, businesses and economic activity now occurs in coastal areas. At the same time, during this century many coastal communities are likely to be severely impacted by sea level rise and increased storm surge and tidal flooding.

“What to do” about this vulnerability is the subject of this brief. It is intended to help municipalities identify courses of action and steps they might take toward increasing their resilience, especially regarding financial resources that will need to be allocated toward the various strategies identified.

Heat Transfer Correlations For Low Approach Evaporative Cooling Systems In Buildings, Ben Costelloe, Donal Finn

Articles

The experimental performance of an open industrial scale cooling tower, utilising small approach temperature differences (1–3 K), for rejection of heat at the low water temperatures (11–20 °C) typical of chilled ceilings and other sensible air–water heat dissipation systems in buildings, is examined. The study was carried out under temperate maritime climatic conditions (3–18 °C wet-bulb temperature range). Initially a theoretical analysis of the process at typical conditions for this climate was conducted, which indicated that a water to air (L/G) mass flow rate ratio of less than 1.0 was required for effective operation. Consequently for these low L/G ratios, …

Edra 40: Bibliography Of Books On Display, Kathleen Demsky

Bibliographies

edra 40 | Re: The Ethical Design of Places | Kansas City, MO

Ua30/1/1 Planning, Design & Construction Blueprints, Drawings & Plans, Wku University Archives, Ryun Warren

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Blueprints, drawings and plans of WKU buildings and campus created by the Department of Planning, Design & Construction.

The Inclusive I.C.E. Cube :New Dimensions And Approaches For Design Inclusion, Praima Israsena Na Ayudhya

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Inclusive design is an evolving and complex concept, the definition of which can be extended to address not only age and disability, but also race, income, education, andculture. As most of products are originally designed in developed countries, conventional elder-care products present serious difficulties and exclude users with different cultural customs and lower economic status. There is an urgent need for design methods, based on an expansive understanding of not only age and disability, but also income, education and culturally related factors, which will lead to a minimizing of the impact of these differences and thereby extend the effectiveness of …

Dynamics Of Geo-Informatics To Support Flood Management : Experiences In The Netherlands, George G. Vab Der Meulen

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Support to flood management as experienced in the Netherlands is both a matter of building up of knowledge, expertise and experience in a long historical context, and,more recently a matter of response to flood (risk) circumstances requiring the support of advanced geo-spatial information technology for adequate and dynamic decision making in case of a (possible) disaster event, managerial and operational. The two matters are explained in detail in this contribution.

Changes In The Use Of Canalside Buildings On Amphawa Canal, Samut Songkhram Province :The Consequences Of Conservation And Development Project From 2001 To 2009., Wannasilpa Peerapan

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This article is the result of the study on changes in the use of canalside buildings on Amphawa Canal, Samut Songkhram Province from 2001 to 2009, resulting from thecontinuous conservation and regeneration projects of Amphawa community since 2001. The study shows that there were altogether 351 building units, most of which were old houses dating back to the days when Amphawa was the center of waterborne traffic and trade of Samut Songkhram. Most of the building units served primarily residential purposes while the remainder served both residential and commercial purposes and quite a number were left unused. In 2009 clear …

Preservation Ofqiāng Zú Minority's Architectureinsì Chuān, Paolo Vincenzo Genovese

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This paper studies a new concept of restoration in the contemporary world. When we talk about preservation and restoration, we often think in terms of material patrimonyof a culture. Unfortunately this mindset overlooks the immense patrimony of knowledge that is the culture in its totality. This paper aims to conduct a case study of ethnic culture in Sichuan, China: ethnic culture of the 羌族 Qiāng Zú minority. The goal is to analyze the local culture from the point of view of the ancestral tradition and point out an appropriate system of preservation of a reality so delicate that it is …

Denken System In Japan: Important District For Preservation Of A Group Of Traditional Buildings, Terdsak Tachakitkachorn

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

In term of architectural and town conservation, Japan unlike other developed nation has developed its own specific system. "Denken system" or "Preserved district system" is directly translated as "Important District for Preservation of a Group of Traditional Buildings". In this respect law was first enacted by the Agency for cultural affair in 1975, with an aim to conserve groups of traditional buildings and not only any specific single buildings. From then until 2010, 86 areas in the whole country have been announced as the "preserved districts". The process for designation of a preserved district starts with a fundamental study, a …

Rebuilding After Disaster: Going Green From The Ground Up, U.S. Department Of Energy

Publications (E)

If you’re a leader in a community that has met with disaster and must be rebuilt, this guide is for you. It’s intended to show how communities—big or small—can incorporate green principles and technologies like energy efficiency and renewable energy into their rebuilding plans. The information in this guide is based on the real-life experiences of two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) teams. One team worked with city leaders in New Orleans, Louisiana, after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, and the other assisted community leaders in Greensburg, Kansas, after a devastating tornado in 2007. Although the two communities are …

Empirically Derived Formulas To Predict Indoor Maximum, Average, And Minimum Temperatures In Roofpond Buildings Using Minimum Climatic Information, Ibrahim Kivarkis Kako

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis introduces an empirically developed formula to predict the comfort conditions and thermal performance of a Skytherm(TM) Southwest Roofpond placed over a light-weight un-insulated structure built at the School of Architecture at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

The predictive formula introduced in this study may be used in different parts of the world (particularly developing nations where insulation and air-conditioning are rarely used) to predict the performance of a Skytherm(TM) Southwest Roofpond using minimal climate data.

The data collected in the experimental setup at the Natural Energies Advanced Technologies Laboratory included outside and inside temperatures of various surfaces …

City Of Las Vegas Green Building Program, City Of Las Vegas, Nevada

Publications (SD)

No abstract provided.

The Feasibility Of Incorporating Sustainable Materials In The Design Of Habitat For Humanity Homes, Meaghan Collins, '09

Outstanding Senior Seminar Papers

The concept of sustainable design has been one of increasing interest with regards to both personal choices and desire to reduce human impacts on the environment. This paper looks at the concept of sustainable housing design and why it is important. Particularly, it focuses on sustainable housing designs and materials that the McLean County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity can incorporate into the construction of its homes. This paper investigates three types of sustainable construction materials, flooring, cabinetry, and paints that Habitat for Humanity could incorporate into its homes.

Inside Unlv, Diane Russell, Michelle Mouton, Mamie Peers, Shane Bevell

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Supply Curves For Rooftop Solar Pv-Generated Electricity For The United States, Paul Denholm, Robert Margolis

Publications (E)

In this report, we examine several possible methods for generating PV supply curves based exclusively on rooftop deployment. We begin by introducing a framework methodology for a basic supply curve based on estimated distribution of population and buildings, rooftop availability and orientation, and geographical variation in resource. We then discuss limitations to this basic methodology and introduce alternative supply curves that consider additional factors – changes in PV efficiency and configuration, rooftop availability, and grid limitations – while emphasizing the data and methodological limitations to each approach. The resulting curves potentially could be used as inputs to other models or …

(Romp) House, Cristina Alonso

Architecture Thesis Prep

"The construction of single-family housing units wil provide an opportunity to design using recycled materials. This thesis seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of the unit's performance in a tropical climate, through means of passive cooling; in particular the promotion of comport ventilation during the daytime."

In Transit - Transition Movement Inspires Dramatic Carbon Cuts In House Refurb, Joseph Little

Articles

Drawing on the ‘Energy Descent Action Plan’ he developed at Kinsale, Rob Hopkins and his team launched Transition Town Totnes (in the UK) one and a half years ago. 64 recognised transition communities and 600 other groups (and counting) are now in communication with Rob’s team to launch their versions of this initiative in their communities worldwide.¹ The Transition Ireland Network is coordinated by Davie Philip of Cultivate and several transition initiatives are underway here.

Frame It - Thoughts On Education, Reducing Carbon And Vapour, Joseph Little, Robbie Cousins

Articles

Joseph Little believes timber frame can be the backbone of a new generation of low-carbon, energy-efficient housing, and be used as an intelligent response to Climate Change and fuel prices. But he tells Robbie Cousins that timber frame manufacturers, suppliers and architects need to gear-up and work more closely together if the true potential of this vision is to be realised.

Joseph Little’s chief bugbear is poor construction standards & details on site and the core of this issue is how the knowledge set of architects and builders and how standards are controlled. The seeds of this idea may have …

Portland Me: Affordable Housing V. Open Space, Patrick Wright, Brett Richardson, Richard Barringer

Planning

Amid an acknowledged “affordable housing crisis”, a first-time developer approaches the City to release part of a tax-acquired property, promising a smart-growth development that would provide sorely needed starter homes for working families. The case highlights the complications of balancing competing interests in Portland ME. It shows where rational planning fails in the presence of strong neighborhood opposition, a disjointed city staff structure, and the absence of political will among City Councilors. It highlights the need for champions within local government when a project evokes competing interests. It demonstrates the extent to which “words matter” to policy outcomes, and who …

Brunswick Me: De-Militarizing The Bnas, Anne Holland, Brett Richardson, Richard Barringer

Planning

Closure of the Brunswick Naval Air Station in 2011 will have profound economic impacts on the entire mid-coast Maine region of Maine, with an estimated loss of 6,500 jobs and $330 million annual income. Throughout the Base Realignment and Closure process, Brunswick, the region, and the State of Maine followed federal rules and developed the federally-funded Brunswick Local Redevelopment Authority (BLRA) to plan for reuse of the 3300 acre base. In its planning process, the BLRA adhered to a number of well thought-out Guiding Principles, including the use of extensive public participation and the consideration of “smart growth” principles and …

The Naturing Spa: Recovering An Ecological Kinship With Newtown Creek, John Jedzinak

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Abstract not Included

Sustainable Portland: Implementation Series 1, New England Environmental Finance Center

Climate Change

When the Sustainable Portland Task Force Report was released in November 2007, under the leadership of Mayor Jim Cohen, Portland Councilor Kevin Donoghue had the idea that students at the Muskie School of Public Service might be able to help implement recommendations from the report. It may have helped that Kevin was himself a graduate of the Community Planning and Development Master’s program at the Muskie School, but it was a good idea nevertheless. He approached Professor Sam Merrill in the CPD program, who spoke with the new Mayor Ed Suslovic about a possible partnership between the City and the …

Selecting The Best Thermal Building Insulation Using A Multi-Attribute Decision Model, Theodore J. Sotoropolis

Theses and Dissertations

Thermal building insulation has traditionally been viewed as a means to reduce thermal conductivity through the building envelope. Builders typically choose the least expensive material which meets the specifications in order to remain competitive. Other factors regarding long term health and environmental consequences are typically dismissed. However, a recent shift toward sustainability requires that architects and engineers take a more responsible approach to building design. This research takes a holistic approach to selecting thermal building insulation through the use of a multi-attribute decision model. Several types of insulating products from a variety of manufacturers were investigated in order to determine …

Mining Association Rules Between Credits In The Leadership In Energy And Environmental Design For New Construction (Leed-Nc) Green Building Assessment System, Benjamin J. Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Building Assessment System is a performance-based tool for determining the environmental impact of a facility from the whole-building perspective. Taking this vision into account, the individual credits that comprise LEED are designed to reward design teams for employing sustainable design strategies that reduce the total environmental impact across several sustainability issues. This study analyzed projects that have been certified in LEED for New Construction (LEED-NC) versions 2.0 and 2.1. Data on the credits achieved by the projects were mined using the Apriori algorithm which produced 641 association rules. These results were then …

Sustainable Design Policy And Leadership In Energy And Environmental Design Certification, David M. Nyikos

Theses and Dissertations

The 2007 Air Force Sustainable Development and Design Policy mandates the use of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED ) criteria for military construction projects. Additionally, the policy authorizes adding two percent of the original building budget to the total building budget in order to fund the resulting sustainable design costs. To determine if the specific sustainable design goals of this policy had statistical support in the population of LEED certified buildings, the author gathered construction, cost, and utility data on a sample of 160 LEED certified buildings. Simple correlation and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the resulting …

Optimal Adoption Of Green Roofs: Hydrology And Public Finance Applications, Luke D. Stumme

Theses and Dissertations

New growth within established communities puts undue pressure on existing infrastructure which in turn, drives tax rate increases for all residents to cover. However, there are sustainable methods that municipalities can turn to that diminishes the local impacts of new growth on the community. Based on the absorptive nature of green roofs, the delayed release of stored rainfall volume diminishes the instances of combined sewer outflows as well as reduces the need for increased infrastructure to convey and treat stormwater discharge. A municipality can introduce planned percentages of green roof coverage which will diminish infrastructure improvement costs over time and …

Landscraper, Erik Maso

Architecture Thesis Prep

"The LANDSCRAPER project challenges the re-establishment of perceptually stable and natural orders. It is specifically attracted to the claim that one of the largest infrastructural projects exists in the intermountain region of western United States with the abundance of reclaimable mining territories. The project is in the conception of organizational system that instrumentalizes mining techniques to shape, stabilize, and revegetate unclaimed waste rock edifices, maximizing the potentials of a nature whose production and consumption is perpetually fueled by cultural needs and desires. Its intentions are to consider the imaging of nature, extend the perception of nature in the context of …

Porchscapes: Between Neighborhood Watershed And Home, Community Design Center

Community Design Center Project Reports

Located on the Ozark Plateau, this 43-unit housing development is a LEED-ND (Neighborhood Development) pilot project to be built for $60/sf plus $2.3 million in infrastructure costs. The studio objective is to design a demonstration project that combines affordability with best environmental practices as designated by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Porchscapes is a pioneering Low Impact Development (LID) project funded under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Section 319 Program for Nonpoint Source Pollution. LID manages stormwater runoff through ecological engineering technologies. A contiguous network of rainwater gardens, bioswales, infiltration trenches, sediment filter strips, green streets, and wet meadows …

Insites, 2008, Utah State University

inSites

The Newsletter of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning

Evaluation Of A Virtual Refrigerant Charge Sensor, Woohyun Kim, James E. Braun, Haorong Li

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

This paper presents a thorough evaluation of a method for determining refrigerant charge that employs low-cost, non-invasive measurements (i.e., surface mounted temperature measurements). The method could be used as part of a protocol for verified service providers (VSPs) in AC diagnostic tune-up or refrigerant charge, air flow (RCA) verification programs. Ultimately, the method could be embedded within a portable virtual refrigerant charge gauge for a technician’s use or permanently installed on the AC unit. The accuracy of the virtual refrigerant charge sensor method is evaluated in this paper using laboratory data for a number of different systems and over a …