BuildingEcology.com - Hal Levin, Editor

Energy Principles in Architectural Design

By Ed Dean was published in 1981 by the California Energy Commission to provide a basis for California’s licensed architects to learn about energy. The California State Board of Architectural Examiners was considering a continuing education requirement for license renewal, and it was thought that the guide could be the basis for the exam.

The oil crises of 1973 and 1979 resulted in far more emphasis on energy conservation and designs to minimize use of energy. Most of California’s licensed architects at that time had been educated in the era of mythical unlimited energy. In the late 1960s and even in 173, nuclear power was expected to be so economical that they wouldn’t even need to meter it. Forty-one nuclear power plants were authorized that year.  The U.S. was not a net oil importer, and the limits to oil reserves were not commonly considered.  Single-pane glazing was standard in California until the California Energy Commission adopted regulations in its Title 24 that required double-glazing beginning around the time of Dean’s guide.

Dean, then a professor in the Department of Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, both wrote and illustrated this 85 page guide that lays out the basic knowledge about energy and architecture. While it was written 30 years ago, the principles have not changed, and the guide is a very handy reference for students and professional architects alike.

You can download the guide (~16MB) from BuildingEcology.com, or you can request a hard copy from the California Energy Commission, 916-654-4287. The publication is now out of print, but the staff has recently made copies upon request. 

Note: If you get this guide, send us your feedback at info@buildingecology.com.

Ozone, Filters, and SBS symptoms

If outdoor ozone levels are related to SBS symptom prevalence in a building, would it be wise to install filters to remove the ozone entering the building? If using synthetic fiber filters further increased SBS symptom prevalence as outdoor ozone levels increased, would you want to use some different material for your building's particle filters?

Recently published research on the results suggest that it may reduce SBS symptom rates if you reduce ozone remove ozone from outdoor air.

Target Resources and Emissions Budgets for Healthy and Sustainable Buildings - slideshow

Sustainable buildings are more than an assortment of "green building" features. Building design and actual performance must be compared to benchmarks or targets for a truly sustainable environment in terms of resource consumption and pollution emission.

Behind the Logos: Understanding Building Product Certifications - EBN article

A great review of environmental labels available for building products has been published by Environmental Building News.

on the subject in 1992 (available on this web site) that provides some details.

Take home message:

1.   Don't use plants to improve IAQ. They don't. If anything, they pose risks to good IAQ.

2.   There is no credible scientific evidence that plants improve IAQ. The planting media has been hypothesized to be responsible for pollutant removal in some studies. The planting media alone can be expected to contribute to a limited reduction in some airborne chemical concentrations.

3.   Most advocates of indoor plant use have been funded by or are themselves providers of plants or supporting systems.

4.   If plants are used indoors for aesthetic reasons, there should be extra care to avoid moisture problems or problems with fertilizers and pesticides, all known sources of indoor air quality and health problems.