Housing and Interior Design, 11th Edition Page 99 (119 of 752)

99
Chapter 4 Sustainability and Housing
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Southface Eco Offi ce
and Resource Center
The Southface Energy Institute is a resource for
home owners, residential and commercial builders, and
people who want to learn more about environmentally
friendly design. With a mission to promote sustainable
homes, workplaces, and communities, the campus of
the Southface Energy Institute headquarters shows
many techniques and features of sustainable design.
The headquarters—located in Atlanta, Georgia—is a
showcase for innovative building designs and techniques.
It also has the LEED-Platinum designation (Figure 4.11).
The headquarters consists of a three-story
commercial building, the Eco Offi ce, an attached
residential building, and the Resource Center. These
buildings display many innovative features for homes
and commercial structures. The buildings address
energy effi ciency, thermal comfort, indoor air quality,
and accessibility. Also highlighted are ways to reduce
waste and use recycled materials. These sustainable
designs and technologies include the use of recycled
building materials and utility-operating activities (such
as energy, water, and waste management).
The headquarters has many energy-related
features. These include passive solar heating,
cooling solar water heating, and solar-electric
systems. A special roof component of the Resource
Center includes solar-electric shingles. These
shingles are photovoltaic (PV), which means they
convert sunlight into electricity. Photovoltaic
shingles resemble conventional fi berglass roofi ng
shingles. The electricity they produce supplies part
Southface Energy Institute, Atlanta, Georgia; Photos by Jonathan Hillyer
Figure 4.11 The Southface Eco Office and Resource Center buildings have many innovative features for offices and
homes (A). Photovoltaic shingles are installed on the roof of the Southface Resource Center to make electricity from the
sun’s rays (B). The “light shelf” in the window area helps deliver the sunlight deep into this office space (C).
A
B C

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99
Chapter 4 Sustainability and Housing
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Southface Eco Offi ce
and Resource Center
The Southface Energy Institute is a resource for
home owners, residential and commercial builders, and
people who want to learn more about environmentally
friendly design. With a mission to promote sustainable
homes, workplaces, and communities, the campus of
the Southface Energy Institute headquarters shows
many techniques and features of sustainable design.
The headquarters—located in Atlanta, Georgia—is a
showcase for innovative building designs and techniques.
It also has the LEED-Platinum designation (Figure 4.11).
The headquarters consists of a three-story
commercial building, the Eco Offi ce, an attached
residential building, and the Resource Center. These
buildings display many innovative features for homes
and commercial structures. The buildings address
energy effi ciency, thermal comfort, indoor air quality,
and accessibility. Also highlighted are ways to reduce
waste and use recycled materials. These sustainable
designs and technologies include the use of recycled
building materials and utility-operating activities (such
as energy, water, and waste management).
The headquarters has many energy-related
features. These include passive solar heating,
cooling solar water heating, and solar-electric
systems. A special roof component of the Resource
Center includes solar-electric shingles. These
shingles are photovoltaic (PV), which means they
convert sunlight into electricity. Photovoltaic
shingles resemble conventional fi berglass roofi ng
shingles. The electricity they produce supplies part
Southface Energy Institute, Atlanta, Georgia; Photos by Jonathan Hillyer
Figure 4.11 The Southface Eco Office and Resource Center buildings have many innovative features for offices and
homes (A). Photovoltaic shingles are installed on the roof of the Southface Resource Center to make electricity from the
sun’s rays (B). The “light shelf” in the window area helps deliver the sunlight deep into this office space (C).
A
B C

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Unit 1 Housing—Human Factors and Infl uences
98
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
and maintenance. The planning of such buildings
uses green design or sustainable design. These
buildings use one or more green products or
measures in the structure. Green products conserve
scarce resources and generally utilize sustainable
and recyclable materials. For example, the use of
steel in construction more often replaces the use
of wood—wood is a limited commodity and
thereby is costly. Using bamboo for fl ooring can be
sustainable, depending on the source location and
production methods.
Although these homes conserve resources,
today’s green-built homes are virtually
indistinguishable from other homes. The following
include some uses of green products and design in
today’s typical homes:
• Doors and windows. Insulation in exterior doors
is an energy saver in cold and warm climates.
Insulated, low-E glass in windows helps keep homes
more comfortable and energy effi cient.
• Siding and decking. Vinyl and fi ber-cement
siding reduce the need for cedar, redwood,
and other products on exterior walls. Plastic
lumber and composite products (made from
recycled wood fi bers and plastics) are common
decking materials.
• Roofi ng. Such roofi ng materials as metal and fi ber-
cement are more durable. They reduce the need for
frequent roof replacement. Some older-style roofi ng
materials require frequent replacement and are a
major source of landfi ll waste.
• Heating, cooling, and hot water. High-
effi ciency heating, cooling, and water-heating
units greatly reduce energy use in most homes.
Using passive-solar design takes advantage of the
sun’s energy to help heat homes through glass
features with a southern exposure to the sun. In
addition, proper insulation of walls and attics
reduces energy loss in homes.
• Fixtures and appliances. New energy-effi cient
dishwashers, refrigerators, and clothes washers
require less energy. Look for the ENERGY STAR
label. New toilets and faucet aerators use less
water to operate (Figure 4.10).
The steps you take to conserve energy lower
energy costs, reduce pollution resulting from energy
production, and save valuable resources. What are
some simple steps you can take to start conserving
energy now and in your future work as a housing
and design professional? Continue reading to learn
more about special programs that promote green
and sustainable buildings.
Resources for Producing
Sustainable Design
Many programs clearly defi ne and direct the
building of structures/interiors that meet the criteria
of sustainable design. These certifi cation programs
guide professionals as well as consumers in reaching
green housing solutions.
There are also many labeling programs that
assist professionals and consumers in the selection
of green products. Each of these programs certifi es/
labels green components in different ways and some
are highlighted in Green Choices features throughout
this textbook. See the Green Choices box in this
chapter for a listing of these eco-friendly labeling
and certifi cation programs. A major program is
the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
(LEED) rating system. Sponsored by the U.S. Green
Building Council, this certifi cation program provides
sustainability guidelines for residential, commercial,
and other buildings. There are four levels of LEED
certifi cation: Certifi ed, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
Examples of Sustainable
Buildings
As you read the Green Choices features throughout
this text, you will notice numerous programs and
organizations promote green and sustainable housing
design. Many provide certifi cation indicating that
houses have features that support the environment and
sustainability. One such outstanding organization is the
Southface Energy Institute.
Photo Courtesy of Kohler
Figure 4.10 New plumbing fixtures, such as this toilet,
are designed to use less water.

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Unit 1 Housing—Human Factors and Infl uences
100
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
of the facility’s electrical needs. As in other solar
applications, the PV shingles are on a south-facing
roof to receive full sun.
The Southface campus utilizes a well-planned
passive solar design and daylighting. This offi ce
space takes advantage of sunlight as a prominent
light source year-round. Exterior shades block direct
sunlight while interior light shelves bounce sunlight
deep into the offi ce. The use of daylighting strategies
offsets the larger need for artifi cial lighting and is
balanced with light-monitoring sensors.
Other energy-saving measures at the Center
include energy-effi cient ENERGY STAR appliances
(ENERGY STAR products are certifi ed to save
energy without sacrifi cing functionality or features)
and a geothermal heat pump. In a practical sense,
geothermal energy for heating and cooling involves
a heat exchange via a buried, liquid-fi lled pipe
designed in a loop. This creates an ultra-effi cient
heating and cooling system that utilizes the
stable temperature of the surrounding earth.
This approach is more effi cient than conventional
air-exchange systems.
The Center’s landscape emphasizes the principles
of drought-tolerant landscaping. In addition, the
Center uses a rainwater catchment irrigation system
for watering and fl ushing toilets. The landscaping
also uses such recycled materials as wood-chip mulch
and concrete rubble for stepping-stones. Graywater
is wastewater from washing machines, showers, and
sinks. It is not contaminated with human waste and can
be used for landscape watering.
Sustainability Coordinator
Do you care about the environment? Are you
interested in making people more comfortable and
healthy at work and at home? Do you dislike seeing
garbage dumpsters full of construction waste? If you
do, a career in sustainable design and management
might be for you!
Interests/Skills: By far the most important
skills in sustainable design coordination and
management are communication and teamwork.
These professionals must be able to communicate
implementation-strategy plans for green initiatives
verbally, visually, and in writing with a wide variety
of architects, designers, contractors, tradespeople,
engineers, and clients involved in the building
process. Environmental professionals must think
critically about the project goals (increasing natural
ventilation, utilizing natural water sources, specifying
recycled products, etc.) and come up with logical,
but creative ways to meet them. Because this
work involves much research and documentation,
sustainability coordinators must have excellent
organizational skills and pay attention to details.
Career Snapshot: Designers can create sustainable
buildings that are more environmentally friendly,
healthier for the occupants, use less water and
energy, and utilize land and space more efficiently.
Often, designers work toward getting their buildings
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) certified, which is a method of identifying
and awarding construction projects that have
employed sustainable practices in site development,
indoor environmental quality, water use, energy
efficiency, and the use of earth-friendly products.
Coordinators help establish overall and specific
sustainability goals for construction projects and
monitor the progress as the project develops.
Career Focus
Education/Training: The completion of a bachelor’s
degree in interior design, architecture, engineering,
or building science is the minimum for understanding
of sustainability. Many schools offer minors and entire
degrees in sustainability and environmental design.
Some professionals pursue a master’s degree in a
specific area of sustainability such as indoor air quality
or urban planning.
Licensing/Examinations: All interior design
graduates who pass the National Council for Interior
Design Qualification (NCIDQ) licensing examination
are tested on their basic knowledge of sustainability,
especially for commercial interiors. For those wishing
to pursue a more concentrated career, construction
and design professionals will become LEED
Accredited Professionals. This certification comes
in two tiers. The first exam allows recent grads to
demonstrate their basic knowledge of sustainability
concepts. The second exam is for those who have
experience with environmentally focused projects
and desire to specialize in particular environments
such as commercial interiors, residential
developments, and existing structures.
Professional Associations: The American Society
of Interior Designers (ASID); International Interior
Design Association (IIDA); U.S. Green Building
Council (initial developer of the LEED certification
and accreditation system)
Job Outlook: Due to public interest and a great deal
of federal and state funds going toward sustainable
building, this segment of the design and construction
industry is forecast to grow much above the U.S.
employment average.
Sources: The Occupational Outlook Handbook
(OOH); the Occupation al Information Network
(O*NET)

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Page 2Unit 1 Housing—Human Factors and Influences click to expand contents

Page 106Unit 2 The Built Environment and Space Planning click to expand contents

Page 320Unit 3 Fundamentals of Interior Design click to expand contents

Page 372Unit 4 The Process of Interior Design click to expand contents

Page 426Unit 5 Interior Surfaces, Materials, and Furnishings click to expand contents

Page 536Unit 6 Housing Choices click to expand contents

Page 614Unit 7 Careers in Housing and Interiors click to expand contents

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