Low Energy Building Design 2010

Class Brief

Class Objectives• ‘… aims to impart an

understanding of, and provide practical experience in, the different aspects of design relating to the engineering of the built environment and the energy systems therein.’

Key Activities and OutcomesActivities:• research site/climate/local resources;• generate design hypotheses;• undertake performance and cost appraisal;• factor in sustainability considerations;• communication of findings.

Outcomes:• deepen core understanding of the building

as an energy system;• develop problem solving and analysis skills;• understand and communicate performance,

cost and sustainability issues;• develop team working and communication

skills.

Class Overview – Semester II• working within a team, you will

develop a concept design with the emphasis on new engineering approaches to sustainability.

• it is expected that one or more computer tools will be used to appraise options and support decision-making in relation to– energy consumption and the impact of

demand reduction measures;– the role of embedded new and

renewable energy supply technologies;

– the environmental performance of the design;

– the environmental impacts of the embodied and operational energy.

Class Overview• team members will take responsibility for the relevant technical sub-systems such as:– form and materials;– life cycle analysis;– environmental systems;– renewable energy supplies and

demand reduction.• teams should operate as an

integrated unit • a team member will take

responsibility for project co-ordination

micro-CHP - well insulated dwelling

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Unit eff. Sys eff.

Winter int. occupancy Autumn cont. occupancy Autumn int. occupancy

Winter cont. occupancy Winter int. occupancy

Class Format• the class will meet at 2.00 on Tuesdays in M309

class tutors will be present to advise and comment on the progress of the design

• however, it’s YOUR design and your responsibility to develop it

• you are expected to do significant amounts of background reading and design work outwith the tutored period of the class

• …. come prepared to summarise the work undertaken in the previous week and with any questions you may have

Assessment• assessment will be

based on 4 group presentations (weeks 3,6,9,12) and a web site (week 12):– 16469 25% assignments

25% presentations 50% web site

Design Brief• your basic brief is to develop

the initial design for three houses types which will form a 20 dwelling net zero carbon community to be located in rural Ayrshire

• the community is to be a prime example of sustainable, low energy design and is intended to be an exemplar for developments of the future

Basic Specifications• The basic specifications for the

community are as follows:– twenty dwellings 4(x4), 3(x10), and

2(x6) bedroom units;– energy sources can be a mix of

centralised (i.e. central CHP) and local (i.e. solar thermal)

– community size ~60 individuals;– NET zero carbon (includes offsetting

energy used to fabricate the dwellings);

– the design team should also consider transportation carbon emissions as transportation will be a significant portion of the school's carbon footprint.

Site Information• The proposed site lies on a S-facing slope

• The site rises from 100 to 120m

• Site is about 3km west of the existing communities of Auchinleck and Cumnock in East Ayrshire

• The site is on reclaimed land (landscaped pit bing) surrounded by predominantly agricultural land and forestry

• The site is bounded to the South by the Glenmuir water

• The site is close to both the A70 and A76 roads

Location

Specifications• The client also has the following aspirations for the building:

– showcase for low-carbon energy technologies and energy efficient design (code 5 buildings or better);

– where possible the designs should source local building materials– striking and innovative designs that complement the surrounding

landscape;– mechanical ventilation with heat recovery;– maximum use of natural light and other energy efficient/demand

reduction technologies;– full disabled access;– each dwelling should also feature one or more active renewable energy

systems: to offset carbon emissions and also to act as a show case for visitors.

Reading• Code for sustainable homes (England and

Wales): http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sustainable_homes_techguide.pdf

• Sullivan Report (Scotland): http://www.sbsa.gov.uk/pdfs/Low_Carbon_Building_Standards_Strategy_For_Scotland.pdf

Useful ToolsSimulation:• ESP-r www.esru.strath.ac.uk – detailed simulation modelling

package (can be used to model all energy subsystems)• Google Sketchup – www.google.co.uk – free drawing package• TRNSYS (See Tutors) – detailed systems modelling package• Merit www.esru.strath.ac.uk – renewable energy selection tool • Retscreen - http://www.retscreen.net/ - renewable energy selection

tool • Homer http://www.nrel.gov/homer/ – renewable energy selection

tool• DIALux http://www.dial.de/ – lighting design tool• LT Method (see Tutors)

Web:• HTMLKit www.htmlkit.com – web site development tool

Week 1/2 Activities• today’s programme:

– get into groups– come up with group name – tasks (this week):

• review brief• decide on design priorities• think about group working (communications meetings)• develop work plan and allocate tasks• develop plans for crits 2,3 and 4

GroupsGroup 1

Peter Fowley

Ewan Murray

Sylvia Mastraembou

Antoine Godbillot

Cora Pitoulard

Stuart Gibson

Group 2

Ben Raffery

Trisan Asker

Idris Delorme

Aude Rolland

Clarissa Bortolon

Callum Anderson

Group 3

Graeme Dunn

Nitin Verma

Andrea Panetti

Gauthier Llambias

Amanda Ambler

David Stewart

GroupsGroup 4

Scott Whyte

Andrew Horgan

Mathilde Borreil

Michael Brady

Cecile Troussel

Group 5

Michael Allan

Scott MacKay

Ian Gauld

Helena Perina

Elisa Masse

Group 6

Martyn McLaggan

Paul Hedley

Diane de Seguin

Arturo Artega

Tommy Sherwood

GroupsGroup 7

Tiree Lenox

Danila MacLaren

J-C Sigirist

Timothe Hautcolas

Croce Clement

Group 8

Danny Yang

Naeema Hafeez

Bintou Ouedrago

Arnaud Gibert

P-M Dupuy