Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Unit 7 Construction Materials—Types and Uses 127 • Reducing solid and material waste • Reducing building operating costs • Improving employee productivity and job satisfaction • Contributing to the overall quality of life What does it mean to build green? Simply put, it means to design and construct energy-efficient buildings that are made from sustainable materials and engineered to have minimal environmental impact. See Figure 7-28. Green building technology is not only intended to help protect the environment, it is designed to improve on older construction methods and save money. For these reasons, green building technology is becoming more widespread in residential and commercial construction. The following sections serve as an introduction to the primary design considerations and types of products used in green building construction. Site Selection Green building starts with the selection of the site, orientation of the building, and proper utilization of the natural terrain. During site development, considerations are made to remove as few trees as possible, control erosion, and control detrimental water runoff. Building materials and products may also be considered during site development. For example, pervious concrete (highly e porous concrete that allows water to pass through it) can be used to reduce water runoff. Landscaping is another design consideration during site development. For example, trees are located to provide shade where needed. The trees selected should be appropriate for the local climate. In addition, when selecting plants and shrubs for landscaping, it is important to consider local climate patterns. If an area is subject to drought, the landscaping should include plants and shrubs that do not require an abundance of water. Energy Efficiency Energy consumption is a primary design consideration in green building. The shape of the building and orien- tation to the sun are important factors in controlling heating and cooling costs. Passive energy strategies can be used to provide solar heat in the winter and shade in the summer. The sun orientation and building shape are also analyzed with respect to other functions, such as lighting the interior spaces of the building. Special construction features can be added to take advantage of natural light. For example, interior windows allow light to penetrate deeper into a building. This saves lighting costs and also has a positive impact on the productivity of the workforce. Additional strategies can be used to reduce lighting costs. Efficient lighting systems with sensor controls allow lights to be powered off auto- matically when they are not needed. See Figure 7-29. low-density product with good heat and acoustical insulating qualities. Rigid insulation is used as sheathing for walls and roof decks when additional insulation is needed. Material Symbols on Drawings Besides showing the location and sizes of different construction components, drawings also identify the materials that are used. Materials are identified in several ways: • A section view on a drawing may contain a pattern that is unique to a specific material. • Often, materials are specified in the notes included on a drawing. This allows for easy reference. • Materials are also included in the project specifications with additional information regarding quality standards. Materials may be shown differently in plan, elevation, and section views. For example, in Figure 7-27, concrete 7 7 block is represented in the section view with diagonal crosshatch lines. On plan views, concrete block is shown with diagonal crosshatch lines or with the concrete hatch pattern. Section views that cut across structural framing members show these pieces with an “X” within each member. Finished lumber (such as trim, fascia boards, and moldings) is shown in section with the wood end grain. For a wood frame wall on the plan view, the usual practice is to leave the wall blank, Figure 7-27. 7 7 Some architects shade this area lightly to better outline the building and its partitions. When shown in small scale, plywood is represented with the same symbol as lumber. In section (if the scale permits), lines may be drawn to indicate the plies (not necessarily the exact number). In elevation views, wood siding and panels are represented as shown in Figure 7-27. 7 7 Symbols for glass consist of a single line on plan drawings and section drawings. The symbol may consist of several lines on large-scale drawings. Glass areas in elevation views are left plain or consist of a series of random diagonal lines. Introduction to Green Building Technology Green building refers to design strategies and construc- g tionmethodsusedtobuildstructuresthatmakeefficient use of resources and energy. Green building is also known as sustainable design. Sustainability is the ability y of a structure to maintain operational efficiency and have minimal impact on the environment throughout its lifetime. Green building has both environmental and economic benefits. These benefits include the following: • Protecting the ecosystem • Improving air and water quality