BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY: THE ROLE OF THE ARCHITECT

SUSTAINABILITY Study of Sustainable Development and

Environmental Science “To keep the earth continue to support

human life” Combines the 3 Pillars 1. Economy 2. Society 3. Environment

HARNESS RENEWABLE ENERGY DAYLIGHT Facts: Free for up to 12 hours a day Has luminance value of 450,000,000 foot-

lambert as viewed from earth (40W fluorescent cool white lamp has 5,000 fL)

Illumination of 5,000-10,000 foot candles under direct sunlight (5-10 fc when inside transient spaces)

Daylight’s energy can be stored

Daylight varies from time to time and from place to place

Harnessing the sun’s energy is “still” expensive these days

Excessive sunlight causes visual discomfort (glare) when not properly taken into consideration

RULE OF THE THUMB: Role of the Architect1. ROOM GEOMETRY: “MINIMIZE ROOM DEPTH , MAXIMIZE

CEILING HEIGHT”

RULE OF THE THUMB: Role of the Architect2. SIDELIGHTING “ORIENT WORKSTATIONS SO THAT

DAYLIGHT WILL BE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE WORKER”

RULE OF THE THUMB: Role of the Architect3. EFFECTIVE DISTANCE “SIDELIGHTING IS ASSUMED TO BE

EFFECTIVE 2.5 TIMES THE WINDOW HEIGHT INWARD THE ROOM”

RULE OF THE THUMB: Role of the Architect4. ORIENTATION “NORTH –

CONSISTENT ILLUMINATION

SOUTH – GREATEST AMOUNT OF DAYLIGHT

EAST AND WEST – HAS SERIOUS EFFECT ON BUILDING COOLING LOAD”

RULE OF THE THUMB: Role of the Architect5. OVERHEAD LIGHTING“ADMIT DAYLIGHT FROM THE ROOF BY SKYLIGHTS AND OTHERS”

RULE OF THE THUMB: Role of the Architect6. ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS

“CONSIDER THE USE OF BRISE L’ OLEIL (CANOPY, PIERCED SCREENS, FINS, LOUVERS, BLINDS ETC.)”

RULE OF THE THUMB: Role of the Architect7. WINDOW LOCATION

“THE HIGHER THE WINDOW THE , THE BETTER THE POTENTIAL FOR DAYLIGHT.”“WINDOW BELOW WORKPLANE HAS VERY LITTLE ILLUMINATION VALUE”

RULE OF THE THUMB: Role of the Architect8. ROOM FINISH“LIGHTER ROOM FINISH ARE EFFECTIVE BUT AVOID HIGH-REFLECTIVE WHITE SURFACES”

RULE OF THE THUMB: Role of the Architect9. SPACE PLANNING“OPEN SPACE ALLOW DAYLIGHT TO PENETRATE DEEPER INTO SPACE”

RULE OF THE THUMB: Role of the Architect10. GLAZING AREA

“GLAZING NEED NOT BE GREATER THAN 25% OF THE FLOOR AREA”

Sustainable strategies for Interior Illumination 1. Take advantage on day lighting and solar power for energy

o Consider fenestration design, size and orientation

o Practice space planning that enables most rooms to be naturally day lighted

o Store solar power for night time use2. Educate people and advocate energy conservation

Sustainable strategies for Interior Illumination3. Promote high-efficient technologies and strategies

o Use of automated light switcheso Light scheduling and use of correct

wattageo Multi use system designso Use of highly efficient lighting such as

LED lights

Thank you