Big Green: Form equals function

[sagefarm at comcast.net]

Continued:

Then following a Form equals Function approach to architecture, we should be designing buildings where the in-room and overall building flows come in low and leave at the top.

but then change comes slowly in the building industry.


Sincerely,

David W. Bearg, PE, CIH  

--
Director of IAQ Programs
AIRxpert Systems, Inc.
www.AIRxpert.com
978-369-5680

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Ralph Bicknese" <rbicknese at hellmuth-bicknese.com>
> I agree with David.  A focus on energy saving only is grossly inadequate to
> be sustainable.   
> 
> There was a huge focus on energy savings (only) during the late '70's and
> early '80s.  This led to some horrible practices and horrible architecture.
> A few of the practices that some have already touched on include: wholly or
> partially blocking fresh air inlets and blocking up windows or portions of
> windows; reducing daylighting, views and fresh air. Such practices risk the
> health and performance of the building occupants. 
> 
> Plus a lot of it was just plain ugly!!!
> 
> We have very serious problems and risks due to global warming.  (This thread
> started from the 2030 Challenge of 'reducing building energy use by 50%'). I
> agree we all should be taking extreme care to reduce global warming.
> However this needs to be done while maintaining/improving other
> environmental qualities as well. 
> 
> Cheers,
> Ralph
> 
> Ralph Bicknese, AIA, LEED AP
> Principal
> hellmuth + bicknese architects
> 4112 west pine blvd.
> st. louis, mo 63108
> t:  314.531.9901
> f:  314.531.9902
> c: 314.265.0517
> rbicknese at hellmuth-bicknese.com
> www.hellmuth-bicknese.com
>  
> h+b is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: biggreen-bounces at lists.biggreen.org
> [mailto:biggreen-bounces at lists.biggreen.org] On Behalf Of
> sagefarm at comcast.net
> Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 11:26 AM
> To: grahame at bsc-worldwide.com; biggreen at biggreen.org
> Subject: Re: Big Green: ASHRAE 90.1 and maintainablity
> 
> Dear colleagues:
> 
> Reading all this emphasis on just energy savings, I am concerned that these
> efforts will end up degrading IAQ. 
> 
> Why can't the goal be to improve IAQ and by the way save energy in the
> process?
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> David W. Bearg, PE, CIH
> 
> Building Scientist
> LIFE ENERGY ASSOCIATES
> 20 Darton Street
> Concord, MA 01742
> www.LifeEnergyAssoc.com
> 978-369-5680
> 
>  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: <grahame at bsc-worldwide.com>
> > Dear Big Greeners-
> > 
> > A little bit about energy standards, maintainability and sustainability.
> > 
> > Building energy systems experts designing new buildings or major 
> > renovations should be able to provide initial energy performance at least
> 50% 
> > better than ASHRAE 90.1 without installation cost penalty over current 
> > popular systems selections and sizing.
> > 
> > Also, these energy systems should be able to perform to this standard 
> > throughout their whole, long life cycle.  This means that the systems are 
> > designed to be flexible, adaptable and expandable to remodeling and churn,
> 
> > and easily maintained by the existing level of maintenance staff for the
> whole 
> > life cycle.
> > 
> > Furthermore, energy systems experts should be designing these systems so 
> > that they are able to become more efficient in the future, and be readily 
> > adaptable to renewable energy systems and sources so that they may become 
> > net zero energy systems in the future, ready and able to meet the 2030 
> > challenge.
> > 
> > Persuading owners to spend more money on beating AHSRAE 90.1 by 50% 
> > should not be necessary.  Most energy system improvements, up to beating 
> > ASHRAE by 80% will have an energy payback of less than 5 years, and most 
> > will improve the occupant performance to further reduce the real payback 
> > time.
> > 
> > Designing complex systems that are a challenge for the existing level of 
> > maintenance staff has been the bane of real estate management for the last
> 
> > 40 years.  The real challenge is for the designer to design systems that
> are 
> > able to be easily maintained by the existing maintenance staff.  Deferred 
> > maintenance is reaching levels of 70% of the US building stock.  Deferred 
> > maintenance not only almost doubles the cost of maintenance over the long-
> > term, it also reduces the energy efficiency and comfort, and therefore 
> > occupant productivity provided by the systems, costing trillions of
> dollars 
> > annually to the US economy and the real worth of the building stock.
> > 
> > Life cycle high performance is considered by some to be the holy grail of 
> > sustainable buildings, whereas it should be considered the foundation of 
> > good engineering design.
> > 
> > Sincerely,
> > Grahame E. Maisey, P.E.
> > Chief Engineer
> > 
> > 
> > Building Services Consultants, Inc.
> > Total Quality Commissioning and Energy Master Planning
> > POBox 176
> > Wyncote, PA 19095
> > T: 215.886.6464  F:215.886.1804
> > 
> > _______________________________________________________________
> > This green building dialogue is provided as a public service 
> > by Drew George, along with Environmental Building News 
> > http://www.buildinggreen.com. For instructions see 
> > http://www.biggreen.org/discussion.html
> > _______________________________________________________________
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________________________
> This green building dialogue is provided as a public service 
> by Drew George, along with Environmental Building News 
> http://www.buildinggreen.com. For instructions see
> http://www.biggreen.org/discussion.html
> _______________________________________________________________
>