Sustainable Design Is Evidence-Based Design Until Relatively Essay

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Sustainable Design is Evidence-Based Design

Until relatively recently in human history, most buildings would have qualified as "sustainable," in the sense that they did not use fossil fuels for electricity or heating; and buildings were made with local material.

Now, the concept of sustainable design is more difficult to implement because it is viewed as not being cost-effective.

Evidence shows, however, that sustainable design IS cost-effective when it is done right.

The following case studies prove that sustainable design is evidence-based design.

The Providence Cancer Center

Emphasis on maximizing daylight

Reduces solar gain

Improves patient health due to connection with nature and outdoors

To reduce solar gain

Design shallow rooms and maximum window space for best light penetration

Glazing with low u-values, high visible light transmission

Design building orientation facing the best views of nature

Successful Outcomes

*Energy savings up to 87% during the day because of reduced solar gain

Overcoming Perceived Challenges -- need research to prove sustainable design works.

The School of Nursing and Student Community Center -- integrated design process and energy modeling

Designing within the Limits -- nature is unbalanced now; more storms and natural disasters, need to keep this in mind.

Grand Rapids Art Museum

Orientation to nature

Local m

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aterials and recycled aterials

Maxiize daylight

Energy efficient lighting

Energy efficient teperature and huidity control

Air quality without toxins

Water recycling syste (gray water)

The Ipact of Buildings

Buildings use the ost energy

65% of all electricity, 36% of all energy, 30% of greenhouse eissions

30% waste output, 12% potable water consuption

The Wild Center, Natural History Museu Adirondacks

Preferred parking for hybrid cars

Water efficiency

Energy efficiency

Photovoltaics

Daylighting

Renewable energy

Enhanced indoor air quality

Ipact of "Sick" Buildings -- Design Ipacting Huan Health

Acute Respiratory Illness

Allergies and astha

Sick Building Syndroe (eye and nose irritation, headaches)

Ipact of Design on Productivity

**Sick buildings lead to direct productivity losses

Productivity gains:

Air teperature (&plusn;3 deg often needed)

Better lighting

Lewis and Clark State Office Building (just iages -- it used sustainable design and workers iproved productivity -- 9% reduction in absenteeis

Cost Savings and Health Benefits Estiated fro Iproved Interior and Energy Efficiency

Reduced respiratory illness = $6-14 billion

Reduced Allergies and Astha = $1-4 billion

Reduced Sick Building Syndroe = $10-30 billion

Iproved Worker Perforance fro changes in theral environent and lighting = $20-$160 billion

Total Cost of Energy in U.S. buildings = $70 billion

Dell Children's Medical Center of Texas

Iportance.....

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"Sustainable Design Is Evidence-Based Design Until Relatively" (2012, November 26) Retrieved May 22, 2025, from
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