Sustainability means integrating the design with the natural environment and minimizing its carbon footprint. This is achieved through both passive and active design techniques.
Ideas for passive design:
- Daylighting
- overhangs
- skylights
- curtain walls
- Optimal Building Orientation
- Airtight Buildings
- quality windows and insulation to reduce cooling and lighting loads
- Passive Solar Heating
a. south facing windows for solar gains
a. thermal mass to absorb excess heat (i.e. concrete floor)
b. sun space, or sun-tempered area
Ideas for active design/energy efficiency:
- photovoltaics
- sensor-based lighting system, i.e.daylight sensors
- geothermal heat pumps