passive sustainability for existing buildings

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

PASSIVE SUSTAINABILITY

FOR

EXISTING BUILDINGSGERALD MOORHEAD FAIA

“GULF COAST GREEN 2013 - USGBC” is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CES). Credit(s) earned on completion of this program will be reported to AIA/CESfor AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

PASSIVE SUSTAINABILITY FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS

SUSTAINABILITY WITH LESS “TECHNOLOGY”

EXISTING BUILDINGS, DEPENDING ON AGE AND

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS, CONTAIN MANY ASPECTS OF

SUSTAINABILITY THAT MAKE THEM MORE

ECONOMICALLY VIABLE THAN NEW CONSTRUCTION.

COURSE SUMMARY

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

1. IMPERATIVE FOR CONSERVATION OF EXISTING

BUILDINGS AND EMBODIED RESOURCES.

2. INHERENT CHARACTERISTICS OF EXISTING BLDGS.

3. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INHERENT CHARACTERISTICS FOR

PASSIVE SUSTAINABILITY

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

“THE GREENEST BUILDING IS … ONE THAT IS ALREADY BUILT.”

CARL ELEFANTE, FAIA, QUINN/EVANS ARCHITECTS

EMBODIED ENERGY AND CARBON IN EXISTING CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS:

A 50,000 SF COMMERCIAL BUILDING IS EQUAL TO 80 BILLION BTU’S OF ENERGY, THE EQUIVALENT OF 640,000 GAL. OF GASOLINE,AT $3.75/GAL. = $2,400,000 = $48/SF

IF AN EQUIVALENT NEW BUILDING COSTS $200/SF, THE EXISTING BUILDING WOULD BE 25% MORE ECONOMICAL

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

“THE GREENEST BUILDING IS … ONE THAT IS ALREADY BUILT.”

CARL ELEFANTE, FAIA, QUINN/EVANS ARCHITECTS

EXISTING BUILDINGS OUTNUMBER NEW BUILDINGS IN THE US BY 100 TO 1

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

“THE GREENEST BUILDING IS … ONE THAT IS ALREADY BUILT.”

CARL ELEFANTE, FAIA, QUINN/EVANS ARCHITECTS

EXISTING BUILDINGS OUTNUMBER NEW BUILDINGS IN THE US BY 100 TO 1

A GSA STUDY IN 1999 FOUND THAT UTILITY COSTS ARE 27% LESS FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAN FOR NEW BUILDINGS

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

“THE GREENEST BUILDING IS … ONE THAT IS ALREADY BUILT.”

CARL ELEFANTE, FAIA, QUINN/EVANS ARCHITECTS

EXISTING BUILDINGS OUTNUMBER NEW BUILDINGS IN THE US BY 100 TO 1

GSA STUDY IN 1999 FOUND THAT UTILITY COSTS ARE 27% LESS FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAN FOR NEW BUILDINGS

“LONG LIFE / LOOSE FIT.”BUILDINGS CAN LAST A LONG TIME IF THEY ALLOW FOR CHANGING USES.

STEWART BRAND, 1994

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

“THE GREENEST BUILDING IS … ONE THAT IS ALREADY BUILT.”

CARL ELEFANTE, FAIA, QUINN/EVANS ARCHITECTS

EXISTING BUILDINGS OUTNUMBER NEW BUILDINGS IN THE US BY 100 TO 1

GSA STUDY IN 1999 FOUND THAT UTILITY COSTS ARE 27% LESS FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAN FOR NEW BUILDINGS

“LONG LIFE / LOOSE FIT.”BUILDINGS CAN LAST A LONG TIME IF THEY ALLOW FOR CHANGING USES.

STEWART BRAND, 1994

AND IT’S NOT JUST THE BUILDING: DON’T FORGET THE LAND. IT IS ALREADY IN USE.

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

WHAT IS AN EXISTING BUILDING?

1. OVER 50 YEARS OLD – “HISTORIC”

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

WHAT IS AN EXISTING BUILDING?

1. OVER 50 YEARS OLD – “HISTORIC”

2. 50 – 30 YEARS OLD – POSSIBLY BUILT W/O AC

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

WHAT IS AN EXISTING BUILDING?

1. OVER 50 YEARS OLD – “HISTORIC”

2. 50 – 30 YEARS OLD – POSSIBLY BUILT W/O AC

3. LESS THAN 30 YEARS OLD – PROBABLY BUILT WITH AC

IN HOUSTON, 1980 IS A KEY TURNING POINT FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT:

BEFORE 1980, SOME PLACES WHERE AIRCONDITIONED.

AFTER 1980, EVERYPLACE WAS EXPECTED TO BE

AIRCONDITIONED: BUILDINGS, HOMES, CARS

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

PASSIVE SUSTAINABILITY

VALID FOR ALL PROJECTS, NEW AND EXISTING BUILDINGS

PASSIVE APPROACHES MAY BE LESS EXPENSIVE TO BUILD

PASSIVE SUSTAINABILITY TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EXISTING BUILDING, HISTORIC OR OTHERWISE, TO CREATE A HABITABLE ENVIRONMENT USING AS FEW NATURAL AND MAN-MADE RESOURCES AND ACTIVE SYSTEMS AS POSSIBLE.

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

ORIENTATIONHouston @ 29° 45’ 0” N

NS

W

E

21 JUNE

21 DEC

29°

45’ N

83°

47° 24’

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

ORIENTATIONHouston @ 29° 45’ 0” N

N

E

S

W21 JUN

21 DEC

21 JUN

83°

21 DEC 47° 24’

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

NATURAL VENTILATION

WIND DRIVENCROSS-FLOW + VENTURI EFFECT

BUOYANCY DRIVENCHIMNEY OR STACK EFFECT

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

NATURAL VENTILATION

DOUBLE HUNG WINDOW ATTIC FAN

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

NATURAL VENTILATION

HOUSTON 1912

CITY LIMITS CIT

Y L

IMIT

S

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

DAY LIGHTING

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

ROOFS

WALLS

WINDOWS

WOOD

MASONRY

GLASS

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

HEAT GAIN ON ROOFS, WALLS, WINDOWS

21 JUN 83°

SUMMER SUN ON ROOF AND WALLS

WINDOW / WALL RATIO

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

INSULATION

INSULATION

INSULATION

VENTILATION

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

WALL TYPES

SOLID MASONRY VENEER MASONRY WOOD FRAME

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

LOAD BEARING MASONRY

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

LOAD BEARING MASONRY

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

SUMMATION

1. Understand the site and climateOrientationNatural ventilation

2. Investigate low-tech practices used in periods before dependence on electricity and

mechanical systemsNatural ventilationMaterial selection Day lighting

3. Evaluate building systems and materials to control heat gainRoof constructionExterior wall construction: amount of wall, amount of openings,

resistance to moisture & heat penetration

Windows: orientation for ventilation, lightingLocal materials: durability, availability

This concludes The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems Course

GULF COAST GREEN 2013CREATE(D) HISTORY:

LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO GUIDE THE FUTURE

FIN