Design Journal Entry - Module 3

Goal 1: Reduce Energy Use

• Measure: Energy Use Intensity (total energy consumed by the building in one year/ area of the building)
• Targets:
• minimally acceptable value: Reduces energy by 40% compared to ZERO Code for California.
• desired / target value: Reduces energy by more than 50% compared to ZERO Code for California.
• Strategies:
• Optimal building orientation to maximize daylighting
• PV panels on the roof
• Use energy-efficient appliances
• Use light-coloured paint on walls and ceilings
• Use a Ground-Source Heat Pump (GSHP) system, which uses the constant temperature of the earth as a heat source in the winter and as a heat sink in the summer to provide heating and cooling to the building.
• Use Energy-efficient building materials, such as low-emissivity windows and high R-value insulation to help reduce energy use in a building

Goal 2: Reduce Water Use

• Measure: LEED WE Indoor Water Use Reduction
• Targets:
• minimally acceptable value: Percentage reduction by 35% (3 points)
• desired / target value: Percentage reduction by more than 50% (6 points)

• Strategies:
• Use rainwater harvesting systems
• Reuse greywater
• Use low-flow fixtures
• Use native and drought-tolerant plants landscaping to reduce the need for irrigation and can help conserve water
• Implement water-efficient irrigation systems by installing drip irrigation

Goal 3: Increase Sustainable Building Material Usage

• Measure: LEED MR Credit: Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction
• Targets:
• minimally acceptable value: Percentage of completed project surface area reused by 25% (2 points)
• desired / target value: Percentage of completed project surface area reused by 75% (4 points)

• Strategies:
• Minimize the use of concrete (or eco-friendly concrete that is manufactured using waste or residual materials from different industries).
• Use locally sourced materials to reduce the environmental impact of transportation and also support the local economy
• Use low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint, which can reduce the amount of harmful chemicals released into the air and can improve indoor air quality.
• Use renewable materials, such as bamboo, cork, and straw bale
• Use recycled materials to reduce the need for virgin materials and also reduce waste.
• Use sustainable wood that is certified by organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) ensures that the wood comes from responsibly managed forests.

Goal 4: Increase Greenfield Area on the Site

• Measure: LEED SS Credit: Site Development—Protect or Restore Habitat and Open Space
• Targets:
• minimally acceptable value: Using native or adapted vegetation, restore 30% (including the building footprint) of all portions of the site identified as previously disturbed. (2 points)
• desired / target value: Using native or adapted vegetation, restore more than 40% (including the building footprint) of all portions of the site identified as previously disturbed. (2 points)
• Strategies:
• Use green roofs and maximize the area of green roofs to increase greenfield area on the site, improve air quality, reduce the heat island effect, and provide wildlife habitats
• Implement permeable pavement, which allows water to pass through it and reduces the amount of hard surface area.
• Preserve native vegetation around the project site
• Build rooftop gardens
• Create a green wall which is a vertical garden on the exterior or interior of a building. They can help increase greenfield areas on the site and improve indoor air quality.