6
Text Features
263
Designing for
Sustainability
Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:
• Explain the difference between
sustainability and green building.
• List six major sustainable design concepts
and explain how they apply to residential
design.
• Explain the concept of building
information modeling.
• Describe two national certifi cation
programs for sustainable housing.
Key Terms
building information
modeling (BIM)
daylighting
dioxins
ecosystem
fl y ash
geothermal energy
gray water
green building
greenwashing
net zero energy
building
nonrenewable energy
source
persistent
bioaccumulative
toxicants (PBTs)
reclaiming
recycling
renewable energy
source
semi-volatile organic
compounds
(SVOCs)
solar energy
solar harvesting
sustainability
sustainable building
volatile organic
compounds (VOCs)
weatherization
xeriscaping
CHAPTER
11 11
Sustainability, green building, going green—
you have almost certainly heard these terms used
frequently. Surprisingly, many people do not
have a clear understanding of their meanings.
Most of us are aware that our current lifestyles
have had unintended negative consequences on
the environment. We are beginning to realize that
practices that harm the environment, along with
the depletion of natural resources, will have a
long-term effect on our ability to survive on this
planet. Sustainability is a positive response to this
problem. It involves people who are looking for
ways to reduce our “footprint,” or impact on the
environment, and help preserve the Earth and its
resources for future generations. See Figure 11-1.
This chapter explains the concepts of sustainabil-
ity and green building as they apply to residential
architecture and construction.
2/
313 Chapter 13 Floor Plans
Brick veneer walls are also dimensioned to the
outside of the stud wall, Figure 13-11A. Solid
masonry walls are dimensioned to the out-
side of the wall, as shown in Figure 13-11B.
Windows and doors in masonry walls are
dimensioned to the opening, rather than a
centerline.
Overall dimensions are necessary to pro-
vide the total length and width of the structure.
Always verify the dimensions by adding all the
partial dimensions together. Their sum should
equal the overall dimension. For example, in
Figure 13-11A, 4′ + 11′ + 5′ equals 20′, which
matches the overall 20′ dimension. One of the
most frequent errors in dimensioning is that
partial dimensions do not add up to equal the
total distance.
The overall length and width of major wall
segments should be lengths that are multiples
of 4′. Building material sizes are keyed to this
dimension and much unnecessary waste will
result if this rule is not applied.
Frequently, notes are required to present
information that cannot be represented by a
conventional dimension or symbol. These notes
should be brief and located where they are easy
to see. Include only required information. Notes
may be lettered 1/8″ high or slightly smaller.
They should be read from the bottom of the
sheet, not from the edge.
Creating a Portfolio
When you interview for an architectural job, your
interviewer will expect you to present samples of
your work to showcase your qualifi cations. A portfolio
is a selection of work that you collect and organize
to show your qualifi cations, skills, and talents.
Some people prefer a print portfolio that
contains actual drawings and other items they
have created. Others choose to create an
e-portfolio, or digital portfolio. Both types have
advantages and disadvantages. For example,
an e-portfolio is much easier to transport than
a print portfolio—all you need is a USB drive.
However, a print portfolio may have more
impact because it is easier for the interviewer
to see the quality of the actual drawings you
have made by hand (in manual drafting) or the
neatness and appropriateness of the prints you
have made (in CADD).
Now is a good time to think about which type
of portfolio you want to create and to actually
start it. You do not need a lot of fi nished drawings
to begin your portfolio. In fact, a portfolio is a
“living” tool. In other words, you will constantly
add to it, and occasionally remove items from it.
What should you include in your portfolio?
In general, you should include items that show
your technical skills and level of accomplishment.
For example, for an architectural job, you
would almost certainly include examples of
architectural working drawings, including at least
one fl oor plan.
Activity
After completing this chapter, review the fl oor
plans you have created. Choose one that you
consider to be your best work so far and place it
in your portfolio. If you are building a print portfolio,
print the drawing on good-quality paper or vellum
and place it in a folder or envelope that is large
enough to hold the drawing without folding it. Some
companies make professional portfolio cases; you
may want to consider one of these at some point.
For now, a large envelope may meet your needs
just as well.
If you are building an e-portfolio, obtain a USB
drive that you can dedicate entirely to your portfolio.
Do not use the drive for anything else. Label it
carefully so that you do not accidentally overwrite
or delete the contents. If you created your fl oor
plan drawing using CADD, copy the drawing to the
USB drive. If you created the drawing using manual
techniques, you can scan the drawing using a
scanner and save the resulting fi le on your USB
drive. In most cases, however, CADD drawings
work better with e-portfolios.
Employability Employa a
56 Section 1 Architectural Drafting Fundamentals
Containerized Housing
One effi cient type of green housing is the
container house, which is made from a shipping
container, also known as an Intermodal Steel
Building Unit (ISBU). See Figure A. ISBU
construction is a good option for affordable
housing, emergency housing, and storage. The
trend started from a “grass roots” movement
to re-use salvaged or surplus metal shipping
containers from land and sea transportation of
goods. There is no longer a surplus, however, and
most container housing today uses new material.
The containers are made of non-corrosive
Corten steel, a durable metal designed
to withstand the elements by making its
own protective layer of rust. Although each
container is structurally independent, the
ISBUs fi t together to form “building blocks” for
house construction. They can be stacked and
connected in various geometric shapes and
sizes to provide the framework of the house.
See Figure B. Openings cut into the containers
accommodate doors, windows, and walls.
By leaving the metal exposed, the designer
can give the house an industrial look. For a more
traditional look, the exterior can be covered
with siding, masonry, or stucco. The interior can
be fi nished with the same materials used in
traditional construction.
A container house qualifi es as “green”
because it is made of sustainable and reusable
materials. Converting a container into a house
uses less energy than recycling the steel. A
container has a life span of about 100 years. In
addition, a container house can be designed and
built for energy effi ciency.
Green
Architecture
G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G
Figure B. Windows and doors are cut into the ISBUs,
often before they are set in place. In this design, two
sides have also been removed to increase the size of
the living area to span two or more containers.
(Martin Bílek/Shutterstock.com)
Figure A. These student apartments were made from
recycled steel shipping containers.
(Hansenn/Shutterstock.com)
Employability.
Features addressing preparing for
employment and facing challenges
encountered on the job.
Green Architecture.
Features addressing green building
technology with a focus on materials
and construction methods used in
residential construction.
Objectives.
List providing an overview of the
chapter content. The objectives explain
what should be understood on completion
of the chapter.
Key Terms.
List of important terms introduced
in the chapter. The terms in this list
are displayed in bold italic type when
they fi rst appear in the chapter text.