|
About the Authors Ratcliff continues a century-long commitment to incorporating sustainable design tenets and working with clients to create buildings that promote good health and encourage their occupants to flourish. Ratcliff’s Committee for Environmental Design Resources has developed this web-based tool for designers, clients and colleagues to implement green design throughout the planning and design process.
As it is an evolving tool, the development of content and the integration of your comments will continue into the future. We are planning some exciting additions to the matrix including message boards, multi-layered search functions, and green design templates. We value your feedback and request that you register as a user. About the Matrix The Green Matrix is designed to cross-reference topics of sustainability with the standard phases of project design, thereby illuminating appropriate strategies for a particular phase of work.
Within the Green matrix there is a horizontal heading for the five typical sustainable topics: site, water, energy, materials, and indoor environment. Vertically are listed seven design phases: pro-forma, master planning, pre-design, schematic design, design development, construction documents, and construction/post occupancy. At the intersection of topics and phases lies the design strategies particular to that condition. The user ‘clicks' the intersection under consideration and is led to more specific information on the strategies and further resource links – some of which may reside on our web site, or may be links to independent web sites.
In order to better create an exchange of information, we request users fill out and return registration information. The purpose is to incorporate comments and suggestions by you, the users, in later updates of the Green Matrix and to have a database of those who share our interest in sustainable design. About Topics of Sustainability The most widely accepted strategies in sustainable design fall within one of the five following topics:
Site Sustainability – How does your project impact a site? Buildings have significant effects on their surroundings, including vegetation, wildlife habitats, and water movements (hydrology). A building can also influence a site's cultural history, urban density, and local infrastructure. The key is to realize that your development is not only ‘sitting' on the ground, affecting the site adjacent to it, but also radiating its affects on larger systems, both local and global.
Water Conservation – How well does your project use water resources? As with other resources, our buildings utilize a great amount of water annually. Some of the water is used in manufacturing processes and industrial uses. Other uses are for general plumbing fixtures found in typical homes and offices. Nationally, we utilize more water than is recharged to the natural water systems which can lead to rationing and drought. With implementation of efficiency measures we can save vast amounts of this precious resource and save money on utility bills as well.
Energy Efficiency – How much energy does your project use? Buildings use approximately 2/3 of the electricity produced in this country. This electricity is generally produced using vast amounts of fossil fuels, oil, and coal. The traditional processes of making electricity account for substantial air pollution and geologic erosion. There are a range of techniques, some simple and some more involved to reduce the amount of energy used by a building and its occupants.
Materials Resources – What's your building made of? Think of all the materials that go into a building – the concrete foundations, wood studs, carpet, steel hardware, doors, etc. Each material represents a process of resource extrication, manufacturing, transportation, and installation. These processes are responsible for energy use and are sources of pollution. Also remember that when buildings cease to be useful, they are mostly demolished and sent to landfills. Designers should endeavor to know more about where their materials came from and where they might go in the future.
Indoor Environment – How healthy are your spaces? Buildings without consideration of the potentially harmful impacts of some stimuli can affect their occupant's health. This usually stems from harmful toxins released from materials over time. Other impacts on an individual's health are from our need for fresh air, views, and daylight. Creating healthier indoor environments has been shown to increase productivity and reduce healthcare claims. Clean and sanitary indoor environments are important, but we should also realize the benefits of comfort on our occupants' mental health. About Phases of Design Below is an abridged summary of criteria for the typical design phases of a project:
Pro-Forma:
• Analyze client's business plan
• develop project scenarios and options
• develop implementation plans and schedules
Master Planning:
• Analyze site
• Evaluate site for project scenarios
• Evaluate preliminary program options
• Evaluate zoning and planning ordinance influence
Pre-Design/Programming:
• Define project goals
• Define spatial requirements, character, and budget restraints
• Research major engineering systems
• Research major architectural systems
• Complete preliminary zoning ordinance and building code analysis
• Reconcile construction budget with project
Schematic Design:
• Define major engineering systems' elements, locations, and requirements
• Define major site utility systems
• Define major architectural systems
• Perform site survey
• Provide geotechnical report
• Other major systems identified and basic criteria established
• Complete basic building code analysis
• Address major access compliance requirements
• Identify acoustic criteria
• Reconcile construction budget with project
Design Development:
• Advance engineering systems' components, sizes, layouts, inter-relationships
• Advance architectural systems and materials, such as exterior walls, exterior glazing, roofs, interior partition types, ceiling types, stair systems, vertical transportation systems, and finishes
• Locate and size site utilities
• Develop other major systems preliminarily
• Final selection of major building systems and materials
• Incorporate acoustic criteria
• Reconcile construction budget with project
Construction Documents:
• Address typical technical concerns for roofs: slopes; drains; penetrations; curbs; flashing; expansion and seismic joints
• Address typical technical concerns for exterior walls: parapets; control, expansion and seismic joints; window and door installation and flashing; material designations; drips and weeps; changes of plane; penetrations
• Address typical technical concerns for moisture protection: below grade and under-slab drainage and membranes; site drainage (incl. irrigation); below grade penetrations; exterior wall moisture barriers
• Address typical technical concerns for access compliance: paths of travel, clearances; mounting heights; changes of plane
• Address typical technical concerns for finishes
• Address typical technical concerns for materials assembly methods
Construction/Post-Construction:
• Observe construction process
• Support design intent
• Provide commissioning
• Provide energy monitoring
• Provide facility management
• Provide post-occupancy evaluations
|
