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Chapter 11 Designing for Sustainability
Suggested Activities
1. Contact your local government or
chamber of commerce to fi nd out if your
community has any green initiatives or
programs. Write a report describing any
programs that exist.
2. Contact building supply companies in
your area and research the available
“green” or sustainable building materials
they offer. Prepare a multimedia
presentation of your fi ndings.
3. Conduct research to fi nd out more about
recycling programs in your area. What
items can be recycled? What items cannot
be recycled? What can people do with
items that cannot be recycled in your area
but may be recyclable somewhere else?
Write a report describing your fi ndings.
4. Find a product at a local grocery or hardware
store that is labeled as a “green” product.
Read the label carefully and conduct research
if necessary to learn more about the product.
Is the product really green, or is this an
example of greenwashing? Write a report
explaining whether you consider the product
to be green and why.
5. Conduct an interview with a LEED-
certifi ed professional in your area. Ask
the professional to explain how he or
she became certifi ed and to describe any
challenges he or she faced. Prepare a
brief oral presentation and present your
fi ndings to the class.
6. Like LEED, the National Green
Building Certifi cation program certifi es
professionals as well as buildings. Find
out more about the levels of certifi cation
for professionals and what certifi cation at
each level means. Write a report explaining
your fi ndings.
Problem Solving
Case Study
A client has contacted your architectural
offi ce in Seattle, Washington, to discuss ideas for
her family’s new residence. The client wants to
incorporate green building concepts and make
the home as sustainable as possible. She wants
a house with at least three bedrooms, with room
for expansion. Given this basic preliminary
information, answer the following questions.
1. What type of building materials would
you recommend for this client?
2. What further questions would you need to
ask the client before you begin the design
process?
Certifi cation Prep
The following questions are presented in the style
used in the American Design Drafting Association
(ADDA) Drafter Certifi cation Test. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Match each term with its description.
Terms: 1. Gray water, 2. Daylighting,
3. Greenwashing, 4. Weatherization,
5. Xeriscaping
A. Falsely advertising a product as green.
B. Landscaping using only native plants or
plants appropriate for the ecosystem.
C. Preventing air from leaking around a
building’s windows and doors.
D. Using windows and skylights to
provide natural sunlight for a home.
E. Water that has been used in baths,
showers, clothes washers, and
bathroom sinks.