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Using architecture in the fight against global warming: presenting viable energy-saving renovation design strategies to homeowners via an interactive web learning tool
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Using architecture in the fight against global warming: presenting viable energy-saving renovation design strategies to homeowners via an interactive web learning tool
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Content
USING ARCHITECTURE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING:
PRESENTING VIABLE ENERGY-SAVING RENOVATION DESIGN STRATEGIES
TO HOMEOWNERS VIA AN INTERACTIVE WEB LEARNING TOOL
by
Emily Renee Kemper
__________________________________________________
A Thesis Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
MASTER OF BUILDING SCIENCE
May 2009
Copyright 2009 Emily Kemper
ii
Acknowledgements
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Graduate Building Science
Faculty at the USC School of Architecture, without whom this thesis would not have
been possible. Specifically, I would like to thank my Thesis Committee Chair, Program
Director and Professor Marc Schiler, and Second Chair, PhD Director and Professor
Doug Noble, for their outstanding guidance, mentorship, perspective and sense of
humor throughout this whole process.
I would also like to thank my other committee members; Professor Murray Milne, for his
expertise and pragmatism; and Founder and Creator of Archinect.com Paul Petrunia,
for his vision and outside-the-box thinking.
Measuring the effectiveness of an interactive Web site is only possible if that Web
site has visitors and beta testers. For that reason, I would like to thank my virtual and
ephemeral friends at Archinect.com; my colleagues and friends at the USC Stevens
Institute for Innovation; my social-networking addicted friends on Facebook.com; my
classmates and friends in the USC School of Architecture; and my terrestrial family
and friends in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Los Angeles, the South Pole and beyond
for their enthusiastic compliance with my imploring emails, blog posts, and status
updates. Without the encouragement, participation, and feedback of these parties,
the design and mission of the Web site would have been futile and one-dimensional.
In fact, without the inspiration of these people, I would never have sought a Graduate
degree or conceived of this project in the first place.
Last but not least I would like to thank my parents, my boyfriend, my roommate, and
my best friend for their support and patience over the duration of this endeavor.
iii
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ii
List of Tables iv
List of Figures v
Abstract viii
Chapter 1: Introduction to Architecture’s Impact on Global Warming 1
Chapter 2: Background of Climate Responsiveness in Dwellings in the U.S. 7
Chapter 3: Resources that Promote Saving Energy Through Design 33
Chapter 4: Methodology for Researching Design Strategies and
Assignment to Climate Zones 38
Chapter 5: Design and Implementation of Web Learning Tool 52
Chapter 6: Results from Use of the Web Learning Tool 63
Chapter 7: Conclusions and Implications for Users 80
Chapter 8: Future Work and Research 83
Bibliography 90
Appendix A 92
Appendix B 99
Appendix C 107
iv
List of Tables
Table 4.3. Dwelling precedent matrix used in research.
Table 4.4. Matrix of Energy-Saving Renovation Design Strategies.
40
47
v
List of Figures
Figure A: Example illustration and description of architectural element.
Figure 1.2a: Graph of greenhouse gas emissions per building sector.
Figure 1.2b: Graph of power-plant generated electricity.
Figure 1.2c: Projected and desired path of greenhouse gas emissions.
Figure 2.1.1a: A typical wigwam.
Figure 2.1.1b: A typical Chickee.
Figure 2.1.2a: A typical tipi.
Figure 2.1.2b: A typical pit house.
Figure 2.1.3a: Construction of an iglu.
Figure 2.1.4a: Plank house of Northwest Coastal Native Americans.
Figure 2.1.4b: Cliff Palace.
Figure 2.2.1a: Sod house from the 1800’s.
Figure 2.2.1b: Midland log house.
Figure 2.2.1c: A typical I-house.
Figure 2.2.1d: A typical saltbox house.
Figure 2.2.1e: A typical shotgun house.
Figure 2.2.1f: A gable-front-and-wing house.
Figure 2.2.1g: A typical Charleston single house.
Figure 2.2.1h: A Craftsman house.
Figure 2.3.1a: Mill Valley Straw Bale House by David Arkin & Anni Tilt
Figure 2.3.1b: Tucson Mountain House by Rick Joy
Figure 2.3.1c: Wright-Easton Residence by David Easton and Cynthia
Wright.
Figure 2.3.1d: Warkentin Residence by David Arkin.
Figure 2.3.1e: Swan Residence by Simone Swan.
ix
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vi
List of Figures (continued)
Figure 2.3.1f: Gannett Residence by Alison Gannett.
Figure 2.3.1g: Ledge House by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson.
Figure 2.3.1h: Geothermal Residence by Maryann Thompson.
Figure 2.3.1i: Arbor House by Moskow Architects.
Figure 3.2a: Screen shot of Home Energy Saver online tool.
Figure 3.2b: Screen shot of U.S. Department of Energy “EnergySavers.
gov” online interface.
Figure 3.2c: Screen shot of U.S. Department of Energy “No cost and low-
cost tips to save energy” Web page.
Figure 3.3a: Screen shot of HEED program available for download at http://
www2.aud.ucla.edu/energy-design-tools/.
Figure 3.4a: Screen shot of Mahoney Tables calculation tool interface.
Figure 5.1.1a. Five qualifiers for design strategies.
Figure 5.1.1b. Five qualifiers for design strategies, shown with gradients
suggesting effectiveness.
Figure 5.1.2. Scale for difficulty of construction.
Figure 5.1.3. Scale for cost.
Figure 5.1.4. Example of design strategy in template for learning tool.
Figure 5.1.5. Example of case study house in template for learning tool.
Figure 5.2a. Screen shot of map interface in “green your home” learning
tool.
Figure 5.2b. Screen shot of climate zone selector in “green your home”
learning tool.
Figure 5.2c. Screen shot of Case Studies in “green your home” learning
tool.
Figure 5.2d. Screen shot of design strategy selector in “green your home”
learning tool in which users can click on links to design strategies
that are preferred in their climate zones.
26
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vii
List of Figures (continued)
Figure 5.2e. Screen shot showing two of the given design strategies for
a climate zone. The links in the list in Figure 5.2d jump to these
images, while the “return to list” links jump back to the list.
Figure 6.1.1. Results from user survey question 1.
Figure 6.1.2. Results from user survey question 2.
Figure 6.1.3. Results from user survey question 3.
Figure 6.2.1. Results from user survey question 4.
Figure 6.2.2. Results from user survey question 5.
Figure 6.2.3. Results from user survey question 6.
Figure 6.3.1. Results from user survey question 7.
Figure 6.3.2. Results from user survey question 8.
Figure 6.3.3. Results from user survey question 9.
Figure 6.5.1. Google Analytics report of Top Content on the
GreenDesignCollective.
Figure 6.5.2. Google Analytics report of top countries sending visitors to the
GreenDesignCollective.
Figure 6.5.3. Google Analytics report of top referring Web sites sending
visitors to the GreenDesignCollective.
Figure 8.2a. Hypothetical Facebook interface for the
GreenDesignCollective.
Figure 8.2b. Hypothetical iPhone application interface for the
GreenDesignCollective..
61
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viii
Abstract
Architecture plays an important role in the challenges associated with global warming
in that buildings are responsible for half of all greenhouse gas emissions due to energy
usage. In order for greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced quickly and effectively,
clients as well as designers should understand the basic principles of sustainably
designed buildings. This thesis attempted to find correlations between precedents
in primitive, vernacular, and contemporary housing in order to establish a set of
viable renovation design strategies for homeowners looking to reduce their energy
consumption. This information was presented to homeowners and clients in the form
of a learning tool meant to simplify basic architectural principles and communicate
them effectively (Figure A). The result is an interactive web site, which yields design
strategies based on regional precedents specific to climate zones. This tool established
a framework for a new way of disseminating information about building efficiency to
the end user.
Figure A: Example illustration and description of architectural element.
1
Chapter 1: Introduction to Architecture’s Impact on Global Warming
Global warming, according to Wikipedia, is the “increase in the average measured
temperature of the Earth’s near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century,
and its projected continuation.” In fact, scientists have been aware of the “greenhouse
effect” since the 1890s, when Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius “speculated that
changes in the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could substantially alter
the surface temperature.”
1
After decades of data gathering, political wrangling, and
debates regarding whether or not it exists, all of the national academies of science of the
major industrialized nations have endorsed the basic conclusions of global warming.
In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released an assessment
report that described warming of the climate system as “unequivocal,” and it stated
that “most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-
20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic (human)
greenhouse gas concentrations.“ Faced with this reality, and with the knowledge that
reducing global warming involves a drastic and massive reduction of our contribution
of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, the burden of responsibility can no longer
realistically be undertaken by government or industry alone. Every individual can
reduce their impact on the environment if they are given information with which to do
so.
1.1 Hypothesis
Architecture plays an important role in the problem of global warming in that buildings
account for half of all greenhouse gas emissions. Designers are doing their part to
learn sustainable building principles, but in order for the clients to embrace them fully,
they must understand why and how architecture can have a positive effect. Single-
family homeowners, in particular, are in a unique position in that they occupy the
smallest building type and can remodel or build new with more control than the owners
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svante_Arrhenius#Greenhouse_effect
2
of office buildings or institutions. When a homeowner wants to make their dwelling
more energy efficient, they are their own client, and they can take the initiative to make
these changes quickly, if they have the knowledge with which to do it. It is therefore
proposed that presentation of basic energy-saving design strategies to individual
homeowners, using precedents and case studies of primitive and vernacular housing,
via a learning tool on the World Wide Web will be an effective communication bridge
to the public at large and could eventually assist in reducing societal contribution to
greenhouse gas emissions. Given that homeowners also control the largest number
of individual buildings, the impact could be substantial.
1.2 Energy Consumption of the Building Sector and its Role in Global Warming
According to the AIA’s report, “Architects and Climate Change,” buildings account for
48% of all greenhouse gas emissions (Figure 1.2a), and this number is set to increase.
In fact, 76% of all power plant-generated electricity is used just to operate buildings
(Figure 1.2b), and the majority of these power plants are burning fossil fuels to produce
their electricity. In order to avoid reaching the threshold of “dangerous climate change,”
the building sector is aiming to reduce fossil fuel
consumption by 10 percent or more in 5-year intervals
until 2030, at which point the goal of making buildings
carbon neutral should be reached (Figure 1.2c).
Figure 1.2a. Graph of
greenhouse gas emissions per
building sector.
Figure 1.2b: Graph of
power-plant generated
electricity.
3
1.2.1 Effect of global warming on Single Family Homeowners in the U.S.
According to Roger A. Pielke, Jr., “We should act on climate mitigation and adaptation
not because we are able to predict the future, but because we cannot.” Global
warming is already starting to resonate in weather systems around the world. The
possible consequences of extreme weather became evident to the population of our
own country in a visible and moving way when Hurricane Katrina came ashore in New
Orleans in 2005. Katrina’s storm surge caused the levees to fail and the resulting
flood destroyed many parts of the city, including some historic residential areas. Many
homeowners in these neighborhoods lost everything. To put this in perspective, even
the most climate responsive houses may not survive calamities such as Katrina; but
if houses are to be built, maintained, and preserved throughout the country, more
environmentally sensitive design strategies should be employed and encouraged to
homeowners. Although Katrina was not direct evidence of global warming, it helped
to mobilize the population into understanding what global warming is capable of doing
to the inhabitants of our planet. Understanding how design can help save energy and
in which circumstances particular strategies will work are the next steps in the public’s
understanding of and fight against global warming.
Figure 1.2c: Projected and desired path of greenhouse gas emissions.
4
1.2.2 Evidence of the effect of residential buildings on Global Warming
The residential sector is responsible for more than 20% of the total energy consumption
in the U.S., which is roughly 1/3 of the total energy consumption of buildings in the
country. In 2006, this translated to the residential sector being responsible for 1.2
billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
2
The carbon footprint of an average
two-person American household is roughly 41,500 lbs, or 20 tons. About 40% of
an individual’s contributions to global warming comes from their homes.
3
If each
individual is to make 50-80% reductions in their carbon footprint, as many studies
have shown are necessary to stop or reverse global warming, then drastic lifestyle
changes must be undertaken. These changes should include remodeling homes to
reduce their energy consumption and/or building new homes more sustainably.
1.2.3 Potential Impacts of Design Strategy Learning Tool
Understanding how one’s own home could save energy is an important part of the
fight against global warming. It is thought that the impact of a descriptive learning
tool on homeowners would be an increased awareness of the simple steps they can
take to reduce their house’s energy consumption. However, the effectiveness of a
learning tool will best be judged after the full deployment of the online resource, upon
which time the audience can be surveyed as to what void the tool fills. Research of
existing sites determined that very few learning tools currently on the Web address the
notion of client education in support of architectural remedies to global warming. So,
in the interest of a holistic approach to the problem, many of the known strategies are
presented here and the web site itself is left open for further development. Additionally,
a visitor survey is developed to help provide feedback and, eventually, site metrics are
monitored to determine the success of the tool through unique visit counts.
2 Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Review 2007
3 Jay Romano, “Carbon Footprint: Saving at Home. ”http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/
garden/28fix.html.”
5
1.3 Terms
1.3.1 The single-family home.
For the purposes of this document, a single-family home is defined as a freestanding
residential building that is occupied typically by members of a single family, but “in the
wider sense it refers to a single party of people.”
4
1.3.2 Primitive, vernacular, and modern housing.
Primitive, vernacular and modern housing types, for the purposes of this learning
tool, are used as precedents to design strategies. Primitive housing is any type of
structure employed by Native Americans before settlement by non-natives. Vernacular
housing refers to structures that use locally available resources for construction and
which reflect local context. Modern housing, for the purposes of this thesis, refer to
sustainably designed homes from the late 20th to early 21st century that embody
environmentally responsive design techniques.
1.4 Why residential architecture?
1.4.1 Single-family homes as the domain of study
Residential architecture provides a potential opportunity for faster adaptation of
sustainable design measures since each dwelling in the target group concerns only
one party of people. Single-family homes offer an even more intriguing opportunity
since the stand-alone dwelling is occupied by the owner, and decisions are made,
created, and paid for with much more ease than in highly regulated public buildings.
Additionally, homeowners have a much higher interest in reducing energy costs for
themselves, whereas in other instances, landlords or developers won’t necessarily
spend more money to reduce costs in order to maintain their own bottom line.
4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-family_detached_home
6
1.4.2 Limitations on scope of housing types covered
For the purposes of this exploration, the scope of housing types was limited to single-
family dwellings because of the nature of the potential interventions required. Many of
the design strategies suggested are based on small buildings shapes and would not
work on multi-family residential structures.
1.5 Scope of Work
Through extensive research of architectural design strategies, a matrix of architectural
elements relative to climate zones was developed. Each architectural element was
diagrammed and illustrated three-dimensionally, and short descriptions written for
each. Likewise, any primitive, vernacular or modern structures illustrative of the
performance of the architectural elements were documented and assigned to relevant
climate zones. This information was presented in a specially designed web learning
tool and uploaded live to the internet. Visitors to the site were encouraged to select
the climate zone relative to their dwelling and explore the precedents and design
strategies associated with it.
7
Chapter 2: Background of Climate Responsiveness in Dwellings in the
U.S.
If the performance of environmentally sensitive housing is to be presented to
homeowners in a meaningful way, much attention should be paid to the types of
houses that have already evolved in the country’s respective climate zones, and this
information should be available to users of the learning tool for reference. In fact,
the history of residential architecture in the United States is perhaps as complex and
diverse as the young nation that shaped it, and too often this history is inadequately
studied by those outside the profession of architecture. From the English framing
style of 17th century colonial settlers to the Usonian houses of Frank Lloyd Wright,
innovation has persisted in American dwelling design since the very birth of the country.
It may come as no surprise, then, to discover that the original inhabitants of North
America, designed dwellings that accommodated multiple variables in their respective
areas of the continent with a fair amount of success and innovation. The indigenous
tribes of North America were concerned with local climate, availability of materials,
site, defense, economics, and religion in building their shelters. Their goal was to use
minimum resources to achieve maximum comfort, and in light of their limitations, their
structures reveal a high level of performance, even when compared to current building
practices. As modern society faces the problems associated with climate change, this
valuable lesson of maximum performance with minimum resources can be taken from
our continent’s earliest inhabitants and applied to our own building philosophy.
As the settlements developed into cities and regional governments drew lines into States,
primitive housing evolved into vernacular housing throughout the country. Improved
tools and methods meant that homes could be built from logs and milled wood rather
than sticks and branches, and fire pits evolved into fireplaces with chimneys. Some of
these vernacular types are the stylistic basis for houses that continue to be built around
the country to this day, but the new homes do not authentically reflect the original
8
structures’ formal response to the weather. There are contemporary designs that do,
however, respond to climate, with a variety of architectural approaches, including a
more modern aesthetic. Specific contemporary examples, along with primitive and
vernacular housing types, are described in this chapter as precedents for the design
strategies presented in the learning tool.
Each of the precedents was placed into a template for presentation and reference in
the learning tool; these images are given in Appendix A, organized by climate zone,
from Zone 1 to 22.
2.1 Climate Responsiveness of Primitive Housing: Native American Dwellings
The primitive vernacular of the Native Americans’ dwellings varied considerably from
one end of North America to the other, although in nearly every tribal culture, response
to climate in their dwelling design is evident. Climate responsiveness, however, is
by no means the single determining factor in each design; the multitude of factors
involved in the small structures of primitive people belie their simplicity. Native people
had to deal with the often limited availability of materials and lack of technology in
their construction process; they took great care in siting their structures, for reasons
of defense or based upon their environmental conditions; natives also demonstrated
their need for food storage in their shelter design. Social interaction and religious
beliefs were two of the more prominent reasons in developing a dwelling in a particular
tribal culture, and are probably why so many different forms of the house have been
found within a limited number of climate zones.
5
Still, when climate is viewed as a modifying factor in house design, the knowledge
and discrimination that the Native American builders displayed in dealing with their
particular microclimates is rather remarkable. Their dwellings were “thermal control
devices”; as dwelling design has evolved in America, technologies such as the air
5 House Form and Culture, chapter 2.
9
conditioning unit have become our thermal control devices, but primitive people had
no such option. They HAD to face the realties of the climate in which they resided, and
they did so with a keen persistence. Natives from the East, the Plains, the North, and
the West and Southwest faced their greatest challenges in dealing with temperature
– they used a variety of techniques in dealing with it, including high mass walls and
shading. Many Natives also employed migration patterns to regulate their relationship
with the weather, moving closer to water at particular times of the year or away from
cold. Other environmental factors were at play, as well: Natives had little recourse
when it came to humidity but to find more efficient ways of ventilation; they manipulated
wind to help control both temperature and humidity; and they found ways of letting in
sunlight without letting in the rain. A closer examination of Native American dwellings
across the continent yields more specific innovations in response to climate in primitive
buildings that might reveal themselves in form, in interior adornments, or just in the
way the inhabitants used the structures.
2.1.1 Native American dwellings in the East cited in the Learning Tool.
In the Northeastern corner of the United States, the temperate climate affected how,
when and where the Algonquian, Iroquoian, and Siouan language groups built their
wigwams and longhouses. They used patterns of seasonal migration to moderate
their exposure to climate – they moved into the deep woods in winter for greater
cover and in spring, they moved back towards ponds and clearings for easier access
to food. The actual architectural form of their houses is difficult to discern since their
building materials rotted over the years; however, discovery of the foundations of their
lodges show a spiral pattern in the post holes, which indicates that the entryways were
curved, probably to shield occupants from the weather.
A portable, flexible roofing system was a key trait to wigwams. Wigwams were
hemispherical dwellings roofed with mats made of reeds or grass that could be rolled
10
up to let in light and air, to moderate shade, and rolled up entirely when it was time to
migrate seasonally (Figure 2.1.1a). The wigwam enclosures were “pliable, lightweight,
and provided effective insulation”
6
since they used dead air space between mats in
which convection currents were
trapped by leaves. This concept
evolved to a double wall system
employed by modern wigwams,
which, when combined with a
primitive form of radiant floor heating,
creates a very livable shelter.
Native Americans in the Southeast corner of the continent had much different climatic
considerations than their neighbors on the Northern seaboard. The climate in the
Southeast United States is subtropical, and Natives had little in common with the
Northern builders other than the availability of
saplings for use as building material in their
respective woodland ecologies. The most notable
dwelling type of the south is the “chickee”, which
was the traditional housing type of the Seminole
Indians (Figure 2.1.1b). The chickee employed
post and beam construction to create a platform
that was elevated up to 3’ off the ground, and a
pitched roof that was covered in thatch with a
ridgepole height of not more than 12’ above the
ground. This “ingenious adaptation”
7
to the
extreme climate provided the Seminoles the
maximum relief to the perpetual heat of the south;
6 Native American Architecture, chapter 1.
7 Native American Architecture, chapter 2.
Figure 2.1.1a: A typical wigwam.
Figure 2.1.1b: A typical Chickee.
11
it meant that the structures could be cooled by ventilation both above and below the
living area, in addition to elevating the floor above the ground level where ground
water fluctuated and pests lived. The air flowed freely around them while the deep,
low eaves of their thatch roofs provided them with shade and shelter from frequent
torrential rains. The Indians’ simple but effective building technique was validated in
1965 when Hurricane Cleo struck Miami and apartment buildings were leveled “but the
Indian chickees remained standing.”
8
2.1.2 Native American dwellings in the Plains cited in the Learning Tool.
In the central plains, the climate ranged from temperate to continental steppe to
highlands; the ecology was primarily prairie and the available building materials were
timber, saplings, sod, grass, reed, hide, and canvas. The building types used by the
vast number of Natives in the Plains were earthlodges, grass houses, tipis, and pit
houses. Earthlodges were rectangular in their earliest forms and in the Dakotas, while
the lodges of the Central Plains were more square, and only later became circular.
They were quite large – typically, they were 40 to 60 feet in diameter but could be
as large as 90 feet from wall to wall. This large structure was supported by an inner
support square and an outer support circle made of logs; nearly 100 rafters were
placed over the framing to allow willow branches, prairie grass, and then a finishing
layer of sod to be placed on top. Winter earthlodges were similar but more steeply
pitched, and both roof constructions were effective in keeping out precipitation, as
well as being a gathering place for the children to play, or where men watched for
approaching enemy tribes.
The most celebrated of the Plains’ dwelling structures is the tipi. The tipi is not a true
cone, as many think: it was actually closer to a leaning cone, which looked like an egg
in plan, where the steeper side braced the structure against prevailing westerly winds.
The tipi was made with large pine poles – three or four, or even more, depending on
8 Native American Architecture, chapter 2.
12
the tribe and area – and the tops of the poles were attached together with a long piece
of rope (Figure 2.1.2a). When the poles were finally raised up and spread apart, the
tension of the rope connection actually secured the poles more, which, when coupled
with its angled configuration, made it less likely to collapse. After the poles were
raised, the tipis were covered in buffalo hides or
canvas; in the colder months, an inner lining was
stuffed with grass to provide more insulation
while snow was banked around the outside. In
warmer months, the flap of the tipi was propped
up by its grommets to catch breeze and provide
shade. Tipis were braced against windstorms by
ropes that were stretched from the poles at the
top to anchors in the floor; during rainstorms, the
smoke flaps at the top were folded over each
other, and an inner lining known as a “dew cloth”
also helped insulate the tipi while protecting
those asleep below from the rain that dripped down the poles. The versatile covers of
the tipis were extremely functional in the weather but wore significantly after only about
a year of use; often, if the leather couldn’t be patched, it was recycled, for instance,
into diapers for babies.
Probably the oldest dwelling type in North America is the pit house, which was used
extensively in the plateaus and was a common sense solution to the cold, since it used
the mass of the earth itself as insulator and temperature regulator (Figure 2.1.2b). Pit
houses were circular, dug-out dwellings that were heated with central fires, framed
with wood, and roofed with dirt from their own excavations. The roof bracing was
especially well constructed with rafters arranged in concentric circles, upon which was
placed pine needles, grass, cedar bark in heavy rainfall areas, and finally, the earth
Figure 2.1.2a: A typical tipi.
13
and sod. Grass sprouted on the roofs in spring and allowed the pit houses to blend
into the landscape.
Figure 2.1.2b: A typical pit house.
2.1.3 Native American dwellings in the Northern U.S. cited in the Learning Tool
In the arctic and the subarctic, the diverse ecologies of the tundra, mountains, forests
and waterways were tied together by one characteristic: exposure to extreme cold.
The Eskimo-Aleut, Athapaskan, and Algonquian Indians used more familiar building
materials like sod, timber, stone, and saplings, but also were also able to use materials
like snow and seal skin in more permanent structures that their southern neighbors
did not.
One of the most well known primitive structures is the iglu, which was, in reality, less
common than winter structures framed with whatever building materials were available.
These winter houses usually faced the water and had lower floor levels surrounded
by raised sleeping platforms; they created innovative cold-trap entryways that angled
downwards into the ground then back up and through a trap door, which maximized
interior temperatures and kept the spaces livable. In a sense, winter structures were like
an elevated cave, where the inhabitants had a complex way of monitoring temperature
by paying attention to the color of the flame in their fire pit. In the western Arctic, trees
were available for building, and the roof of the winter structure was framed with wood,
then layered with dirt and snow. Occasionally a layer of old skins rubbed with fat was
14
introduced as waterproofing, and sometimes water was splashed on top of the whole
structure, which promptly froze into an ice shell and sealed the whole construction.
Originally the word “iglu” meant any winter house,
9
but the word evolved in the 19th
century to mean only buildings made with snow blocks. Only Central Eskimos used
iglus all winter long, while the tribes in the East and West used them as temporary
structures (Figure 2.1.3a). The iglu was usually placed strategically on the east or
south facing snowdrifts after the sea ice froze for the least exposure to the winds. It
was built by cutting blocks out of unlayered snow fresh from a storm and spiraling
them up the sides like a corkscrew. The
Eskimo building team usually consisted of
two men, one who excavated the snow
blocks out of what would become the floor
of the iglu, and the other on the outside
who would stack the blocks. This small
structure, which used a keystone snow
block that capped the catenary roof, was
considered “a feat of engineering”.
10
After the primary structure was finished, women
and children would fill in any gaps on the exterior with snow, and sometimes a
translucent piece of ice would be placed in the structure to allow light in. The iglu is
able to insulate remarkably well when a natural ice seal is created as the snow ages
and ices over.
Subarctic shelters varied like the climate; they almost always included a food cache,
which protected their food from scavenging animals. They ranged from semi-
subterranean barabaras, which had sod roofs that blended into the terrain; to pole
houses, which could be found on the coasts and were built 7-10 feet above ground.
9 Native American Architecture, chapter 5.
10 Native American Architecture, chapter 5.
Figure 2.1.3a: Construction of an iglu.
15
These pole houses were covered in walrus hides that formed to the pole framing as
they dried. Moss insulation stuffed between the wood and the skin of the dwelling
provided some relief from the cold temperatures and the ocean winds.
2.1.4 Native American dwellings in the West.and Southwest citied in the Learning Tool
From the temperate and precipitation-rich forests of the Northwest coast to the sun-
drenched, arid deserts of the Southwest, the dwelling types of the Western Native
Americans were as varied as the climate zones. In the Northwest, where “cedar was
to the Northwest Coast Indians what buffalo was to Plains Indians”,
11
sophisticated
techniques in wood construction evolved with plank houses (Figure 2.1.4a), which
were constructed with huge logs for post and beam frames and split planks for their
walls and shed roofs. In present-day California, the relation between dwelling types
and climate was evident. A slightly different version of the pit house, which was sited
along water and with southern exposure when possible, was the preferred winter
shelter among Central Valley people.
Redwood, which was naturally
resistant to infestation and rot, was a
dominant building material here; its
straight grain meant that boards split
evenly, and when overlapped on roofs
and left unfinished, its natural grooves
channeled rain runoff.
From Southern California eastward to present-day Arizona and New Mexico are some
of the most recognized Native American cultures and their dwellings. The Navajo
Indians lived in hogans, kis, and ramadas, which were small, single-room structures
that were almost always built by their occupants and were versatile in changing weather
11 Native American Architecture, chapter 6.
Figure 2.1.4a: Plank house of Northwest Coastal Native
Americans.
16
conditions. They spent most of their summers under simple arbors or ramadas while
the ki was used in winter; a ki was roughly 10 feet in diameter and was a more sturdy
structure that provided ample shelter from windstorms.
The Pueblo is a distinctively Southwestern Indian style of dwelling that is now
considered to be one of the most persistent architectural heritages in North America.
12
Pueblo dwellings built by Natives were remarkably ahead of their time; adobe walls, at
Pueblo Bonito in particular, were built with interlocking stones, which created a
structurally sound foundation that supported up to 5-story structures. In other instances,
adobe walls were made with stiff mud that had been piled up by hand with little more
than wood framing for the ceilings that had been procured from trees up to 50 miles
away. The Hohokam people reused trash dumps hundreds of years before such sites
were deemed “brownfields” – they leveled over their trash dumps and leveled them
with clay, thus creating new foundations for temporary temples or dance grounds.
The Pueblos of the Ancestral Pueblo cultures (previously referred to as “Anasazi”)
were particularly elaborate. Their building started with semi-subterranean structures
with the rear facades backed against a cliff and evolved to Cliff Palace (Figure 2.1.4b),
a dramatic multi-story structure built under a cliff at Mesa Verde, CO, which, because
of its orientation, absorbs the sun in winter
months and mostly avoids it in the summer
months. Houses at Acoma are oriented
South-Southeast for protection from
westerly winds and for solar gain, while
skylights were placed in the roof for
illumination. Although the Pueblos were
vulnerable to water at drainage points,
adobe walls themselves have been found to stand up relatively well to precipitation
over time; during normal weathering conditions in New Mexico, “a traditional adobe
12 Native American Architecture, chapter 6.
Figure 2.1.4b: Cliff Palace.
17
wall’s vertical surface erodes about one inch in 20 years”,
13
which indicates its durability
in comparison to modern materials like cement plaster.
14
2.1.5 Summary of Climatic Responses in Primitive Housing in the U.S.
In the primitive housing types then, moderation of climate is achieved using very
limited materials to maximum effect. The most important elements in the creation of
the primitive dwelling types are the following:
Where to site the dwelling; •
Orientation of the structure in relation to the sun; •
Use of earth to build walls or enclose the shelter completely; •
Using a minimum amount of openings (with the exception of the totally open •
Chickee);
Creation of some sort of portal for ventilation. •
These basic concepts will reappear later in vernacular and contemporary housing
precedents, and will manifest in some form within the confines of the learning tool
using modern design elements and language.
2.2 Climate Responsiveness of Vernacular Housing in the U.S.
Vernacular housing types in the U.S. vary widely from coast to coast, but several of
those that evolved from primitive housing types, in particular, responded to climate
and environmental factors very well, and were more livable than their predecessors.
Those cited in this thesis are here to demonstrate the effect that careful consideration
of architectural form and function had on the living spaces of the early settlers in the
country, and how familiar house forms developed from these early structures.
13 Spectacular Vernacular, appendix.
14 Native American dwelling research originally conducted in conjunction with “Native American
Vernacular Design in Response to Climate”, Kemper, 2008.
18
2.2.1 Vernacular Housing Types Cited in Learning Tool
Found in the Plains region, sod houses, or dugouts, were a latter day version of primitive
pit houses. They were either semi-subterranean or completely above ground, and
were notable for their use of sod “bricks,” which were stacked to created earthen walls
that provided excellent insulation against the summer heat and winter cold. Wood
planks and shingles were eventually used to help shed water from the leaky sod roofs
(Figure 2.2.1a).
Midland log houses were found in the Mid-Atlantic, Mid-South, and Appalachian
regions of the U.S. Their overall shapes and placement of their chimneys varied, but
their defining characteristic was the use of squared logs and notched joints to create
their strong and massive walls, which offered sturdy protection from the elements
(Figure 2.2.1b).
Tidewater south houses, or I-houses, were a common vernacular type seen in the
Southeastern U.S. and along the Atlantic Coast. They are usually “bookended” by
Figure 2.2.1a: Sod house from the 1800’s.
Figure 2.2.1b: Midland log house.
19
fireplaces, since central heat is not as necessary in the milder climate. They also
have full-width shed roof porches that provide shelter from the sun and from frequent
thunderstorms (Figure 2.2.1c).
Figure 2.2.1c: A typical I-house.
Saltbox houses were common in New England, where the winters are cold and long,
so the main living space was centered around a hearth which acted as the source of
heat for the house. Often the interior space was expanded by half a width in the rear
of the house by extending the roof plane of this gable-side structure. The houses often
faced South and the lowered rear deflected the cold Northwest winds over the building
(Figure 2.2.1d).
Shotgun houses are a trademark of the American south and are characterized by their
narrow footprint. They are typically one room wide and two or three rooms deep; they
have no hallways, but interior doors are located sequentially in plan to allow ventilation
Figure 2.2.1d: A typical saltbox house.
20
from the front door to pass through to the rear of the house. They often have a pitched
roof with a gabled front, and are often elevated off the ground plane in wetter areas
such as New Orleans, where flooding is a real threat (Figure 2.2.1e).
Figure 2.2.1e: A typical shotgun house.
Gable-front-and-wing houses are found throughout the Northeast and Midwestern
U.S. Their primary structure resembles an I-house with an added wing and their roofs
are pitched with the gables in front. They often have L-shaped wrap-around porches
with shed roofs to protect and shade the entry and windows from rain and too much
sun (Figure 2.2.1f).
Charleston singles were prominent in Charleston, South Carolina. They are distinct
for their single-room deep construction and consistent east-west orientation, with a
double-story porch that spans the south side of the structure. Large windows shaded
by the porch were placed on the south facade to gather more sunlight, and along with
the single room depth, they also allow for more cross ventilation (Figure 2.2.1g).
Figure 2.2.1f: A gable-front-and-wing
house.
21
Figure 2.2.1g: A typical Charleston
single house.
The Craftsman house is a vernacular dwelling style that appears in many parts of the
country. One of the premier examples of this style is the Gamble House of Pasadena,
California, which has unique outdoor sleeping porches and clerestory windows for
ventilation. Typical Craftsmans are notable for their low-pitched gabled or hipped
roofs, deep eaves which shade windows and walls, and exposed rafters or brackets
under the eaves (Figure 2.2.1h).
2.2.2 Summary of Climatic Responses in Vernacular Housing in the U.S.
Vernacular housing types in the United States are the formal basis for many homes
that are built in the country today, and they evolved from their climate-responsive
primitive predecessors to include more advanced construction techniques. The most
consistent elements in the creation of the vernacular dwelling types are the following:
Shed or angled roofs that shed rain more effectively; •
Weather-tight construction detailing; •
Figure 2.2.1h: A Craftsman house.
22
Single room deep layouts or wings for better ventilation; •
Strategically located interior heat sources. •
These concepts are still seen in contemporary dwellings, which are covered in the
next chapter.
2.3 Climate Responsiveness of Contemporary Housing Types in the U.S.
While primitive and vernacular housing types are illustrative of how residential structures
in the early United States developed in response to the variety of climates in North
America, contemporary housing types are probably of the most interest to homeowners
in the present. The following examples, which are taken from various publications,
display a plethora of building techniques and technologies that set them apart from
standard, often wasteful, building practices that have been in place for decades. Many
of these houses hearken back to architectural principles that primitive builders used,
and in doing so, prove the value of these techniques to a new generation.
2.3.1 Contemporary Home Case Studies Cited in Learning Tool
Charlotte Residence by William McDonough + Partners: This residence is located
just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, and is oriented optimally for solar gain and
daylighting. It is built from reclaimed wood and Structurally Insulated Panel System
(SIPS) walls. It also utilizes a geothermal radiant heating system in the floor to
supplement the warmth of the sun in cooler months, and its roof has deep eaves for
shading in the heat of summer.
Mill Valley Straw Bale House by David Arkin & Anni Tilt: Located in Marin County,
California, this home uses straw bales, which have superior insulative qualities,
as structure and insulation in its exterior envelope. Recycled materials were used
throughout and the roof uses insulation of sprayed cellulose. Clerestory windows top
23
off the space and allow natural light to fill the interior, while the deep eaves of the roof
shade the windows from the hottest part of the day (Figure 2.3.1a).
Lake Washington House by Jim
Olson/Olson Sundberg Kundig
Allen: This home sits adjacent to the
shore of Lake Washington on Mercer
Island, just outside of Seattle. It is
constructed of metal panels, wood,
and other recyclable materials, and
has a green roof. Additionally, Jim Olson designed a special “chimney” wall that defines
the character of the house, and funnels breezes from the lake into and throughout the
interior. The house also has a supplemental radiant floor heating system and sun
control shades.
Tucson Mountain House by Rick Joy: The Tucson
Mountain House is a modern house design with a
traditional building twist; it is made with rammed
earth walls, which are erected in layers within a
formwork. These walls are thick and massive, so
they absorb heat during the daytime and release
it during the cool desert night. The deep eaves of
the roof also shade window walls, and operable
windows close to the ground level provide cross
ventilation (Figure 2.3.1b).
Giles Loft/Studio by Lake/Flato Architects: The Giles Loft/Studio project in San
Antonio, Texas, is an adaptive reuse of an old warehouse building. The structure was
Figure 2.3.1a: Mill Valley Straw Bale House by David
Arkin & Anni Tilt
Figure 2.3.1b: Tucson Mountain House
by Rick Joy
24
resurrected - after two fires that nearly destroyed it completely - into living and working
spaces for the homeowner. Plaster walls on the interior act as thermal collectors and
the saw-tooth shaped roof windows bathe the space in natural light, thus reducing the
energy needed for electric lighting.
Wright-Easton Residence by David Easton and Cynthia Wright: The Wright-Easton
Residence in Napa, California, is built with rammed earth, which is a specialty of the
homeowners. In addition to the rammed earth walls and floor, which act as thermal
mass, it utilizes recycled materials, clay tile roofs, and radiant heat floors, all of which
help it to be comfortable in the absence of mechanical heating and cooling. Its east-
west orientation and south-facing windows also help with the heating load (Figure
2.3.1c).
Wiggins-Logan Residence by Jim Logan and Sherry Wiggins: The Wiggins-Logan
Residence in Longmont, Colorado, utilizes double adobe exterior walls and rammed
earth interior partitions for thermal mass. Its heat comes largely from a south-facing
window wall and is supplemented by radiant floor heating. Windows are filled with
argon gas, which help insulate the assemblies, and solar panels on the roof lessen the
house’s electric load.
Figure 2.3.1c: Wright-Easton Residence by
David Easton and Cynthia Wright.
25
Warkentin Residence by David Arkin:
This house in Marin County, California, is
constructed with rice straw bales and recycled
materials. The structure is post-and-beam
with straw bale infill; the roof is pitched to
shed water away from the exterior walls,
which are coated with stucco. The windows
are dual glazed low-e windows and the heat
is supplemented with a radiant floor system (Figure 2.3.1d).
Swan Residence by Simone Swan: The Swan Residence is in Presidio, Texas - one of
the hottest areas in the country. It was built with thick adobe walls and a limited number
of openings that are exposed to the hot sunlight. The exterior walls are plastered with
a lime and sand mixture which allows trapped moisture to escape (Figure 2.3.1e).
McGee Residence by Lynn McGee: The McGee Residence of Durango, Colorado is
constructed of rammed earth walls combined with a light straw clay mixture for added
insulation. This is helpful since it sits at a high elevation. Its structure is timber frame
with traditional wood joinery, horizontal bamboo rods for strength, and reused plywood
Figure 2.3.1d: Warkentin Residence by David
Arkin.
Figure 2.3.1e: Swan Residence by Simone Swan.
26
forms in the roof. The exterior is covered in natural plaster and radiant floor heating
contributes extra heating to the house.
Hunt Residence by Craig Henritzy: The Hunt Residence in Napa, California, uses
Rastra for its construction; this is a precast forming system of long modules made
of recycled polystyrene and cement which are set and then filled with concrete. The
house blends into the hillside, and it relies on its passive solar window walls, operable
skylights, and massive floors and walls for much of its interior comfort.
Harding Residence by Paul Weiner: The Harding Residence in Tucson, Arizona, is a
straw bale house designed in a bungalow style that blends in with the neighborhood.
The first course of bales is impaled on rebar in stem walls around the modified shotgun
floor plan and the highly-insulative straw bale walls were then covered in wire mesh
to receive plaster. The overhang of the roof keeps rain off the walls and the windows
use low-e glass.
Gannett Residence by Alison Gannett: The Gannett Residence of Crested Butte,
Colorado is a Victorian-style straw bale home in a National Historic District of the city.
Its steep pitched roof easily sheds snow while its entry acts as a solar collector. It uses
double-hung windows with low-e mirror glass, cotton insulation in addition to the straw
bale, and radiant heat floors. A central woodstove helps to heat the home (Figure
2.3.1f).
Figure 2.3.1f: Gannett Residence by
Alison Gannett.
27
Chouinard Residence by Robert Mehl & Kit Boise-Cossart: The Chouinard Residence
on the Central California coast is made almost entirely of recycled materials; these
include wood, salvaged roof tiles, chunks of discarded sidewalk, and slabs from
demolished buildings. The power is supplied mainly by a photovoltaic array and
insulation is a nontoxic cementitious foam called AirKrete. Water comes from a holding
tank and radiant floor heating helps to warm the house.
Bennett Residence by Michael McGuire: This straw bale house sits in the Jemez
Mountains of New Mexico. Its southern orientation captures not only the most of the
sun’s rays but also provides the best views of the surrounding wilderness. The well-
insulated roof sits atop cement-stucco covered straw bale walls with an estimated
insulation of R-60. The windows are dual-pane, the lighting is fluorescent, and the
house’s water is supplied by a cistern.
Adobes de la Tierra by William Tull: Adobes de la Tierra is a village of 16 adobe homes
in Scottsdale, Arizona, built in the adobe vernacular style of the Southwest. The walls
rely on the thermal mass of the adobe with additional insulation; they have shutters
that shield the windows from excess sunlight and central, “beehive” style fireplaces.
Trout Farm Complex by Polly Cooper & Ken Haggard: This San Luis Obispo, California
dwelling is constructed of straw bale walls with aircrete and blown-in cellulose insulation.
It uses insulating and movable shades to modulate solar gain; its south facing low-e
windows have optimized overhangs and wingwalls, also to direct the sun. Concrete
block shear walls are not only structural, but they absorb thermal mass as well, and
skylights help keep electric lights off during the day. There is also a hydro and solar
electric power system, along with solar hot water.
Ledge House by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson: The Ledge House sits in the mountains
of rural Maryland along a south slope to take advantage of solar gain. It is built with
28
logs, heavy timbers, and stone to blend into the landscape. Its shed roofs allow rain
and snow to slide off easily and provide large overhangs to prevent the most intense
sunlight from penetrating the space (Figure 2.3.1g).
Johnson-Jones Residence by Jones Studio, Inc.: The Johnson-Jones Residence of
Phoenix, Arizona, is made of 2’ thick rammed earth walls and uses recycled materials
throughout. Its rainwater harvesting system is a decorative and sculptural exterior
element, and it benefits from its optimal orientation and abundance of daylight, which
help it save energy.
Hesperia Museum and Nature Center by Nader Khalili: Although not specifically a
home, the structures in Hesperia reflect a very specific and innovative style of building
small structures that use simple concepts to deal with climate. Using mile-long
sandbags and barbed wire, “Superadobe” walls are coiled in place to form rammed
earth type walls that effectively protect inhabitants from extreme temperatures, similar
to how domed igloos work in extreme cold.
Gibson Boathouse/Studio by Robert Oshatz: The Gibson Boathouse and Studio on
Lake Oswego in Oregon is a simple earth sheltered structure with a sod roof. It is
Figure 2.3.1g: Ledge House by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson.
29
constructed of natural materials including stone and wood, and its grass roof helps
greatly to moderate its interior temperature in any weather.
de Renouard Residence by Hubbell and Hubbell Architects: This Jamul, California
residence is a straw bale house embedded on its north edge in a hillside, leaving many
of its south facing operable windows open to solar gain. Large roof overhangs prevent
the most intense sunlight while a solar hot water system saves energy. Cellulose
insulation, Energy Star appliances, and native landscaping contribute to additional
energy and water savings.
Margarido House by Mike McDonald: The Margarido House is the first new home in
the US to be both LEED-H Certified and Greenpoint rated. It utilizes a roof garden for
climate moderation, a radiant floor heating system, solar electric and solar hot water
heating, and recycled materials. It also employs thermal mass for passive solar gain,
a water reclamation system and drought-tolerant landscaping.
Zero Impact House by Maryann Thompson: The Zero Impact House in North Easton,
MA, is designed to be low maintenance and uses recycled and reclaimed materials
throughout. Windows on the south facade allow solar gain to warm the house, but an
overhang and cross-ventilation prevent the space from overheating in warmer months.
Pellet stoves are used for heat when needed while solar panels on the roof supply
renewable energy.
Geothermal Residence by Maryann Thompson: This residence in Boston, MA, is
organized to take advantage of the path the sun takes daily around the site; all rooms
receive light on at least two sides. In addition to south facing windows for solar gain,
the house benefits from cross-ventilation, large overhanging trellises for shade, and
30
use of natural materials. A geothermal heating and cooling system reduces energy
usage (Figure 2.3.1h).
Tanner Residence by Max Strang Architecture: This home in Winter Haven, Florida,
is raised off the ground on concrete columns to prevent rot and encourage cross-
ventilation through and around the house. It was built with prefabricated elements
and highly reflective roof and siding materials that reflect, instead of absorb, the hot
Florida sunlight. It also has low-e glass windows, sustainable wood finishes, and an
on-demand hot water system.
Spicewood House by Miro Rivera Architects: This residence in Spicewood, Texas, is
constructed of natural materials and is oriented so that its long sides face the north
and the south. The roof has deep overhangs to allow solar gain in the winter but shield
windows from the most intense sunlight. A rainwater collection and recycling system
offsets water usage and geothermal coils displace heat into the ground.
Seatrain Residence by Office of Mobile Design: The Seatrain Residence sits an
industrial area near Downtown Los Angeles, California. It is built entirely of recycled
shipping and storage containers, steel, wood joists, and glass. In fact, all of the principal
building materials for the house were found on site, so there were no shipping costs for
Figure 2.3.1h: Geothermal Residence by Maryann
Thompson.
31
materials. Xeriscaping, or landscaping that requires little supplemental irrigation, was
used in the front of the home.
Edgemoor House by David Jameson: The Edgemoor House of Bethesda, Maryland,
is a contemporary house in a traditional post-war neighborhood. An existing onsite
structure’s foundation was used for the new home’s footprint, with the addition of
geothermal radiant heating and chilled coil water cooling. Low-e argon gas windows
reduce heat loss while natural materials fill the interior.
Crowder House by Faleide Architects: The Crowder House in Breckenridge, Colorado,
utilizes low- to no-maintenance non-combustible materials, 4” thick concrete floors
for thermal mass, and a radiant floor heating system. Double-pane low-e windows
fill a south-facing window wall to allow solar gain, while the stair tower allows stack
ventilation by drawing hot air up and out through vents.
Arbor House by Moskow Architects: This small house on Martha’s Vineyard, MA,
is heated and cooled without the use of fossil fuels through careful siting, window
placement and thermal mass. In fact, it uses a ratio of 1 square foot of solar glazing
to 7 square feet of thermal mass. Its high R-value walls and two high-efficiency wood
burning stoves contribute heat, while shading devices and exhaust fans prevent
overheating (Figure 2.3.1i).
Figure 2.3.1i: Arbor House by Moskow Architects.
32
2.3.2 Summary of Climatic Responses in Contemporary Housing in the U.S.
There are many different examples of environmentally responsive contemporary
homes in the United States today, and this chapter covered but a fraction of those.
These homes employ both simple and sophisticated techniques for climate moderation
as well as basic principles of passive solar design. Still, patterns emerge throughout
the case study homes, and some of the more effective strategies for reduced energy
consumption in these homes are following:
South facing windows
Radiant floor heating •
Low-e glass windows •
Geothermal heating/cooling •
Use of recycled materials in construction and finishing •
Use of straw bale, rammed earth, or adobe walls for insulation •
Use of thermal mass •
Window overhangs or shading systems •
Photovoltaic solar arrays for supplementing energy supply •
Baseline energy consumption of modern homes - with their appliances, mechanical
heating and cooling, and entertainment systems - is much higher than that of their
primitive and vernacular ancestors. However, these elements represent a full spectrum
of methods for reducing energy consumption from peak energy use in today’s
homes. With persistent education of homeowners and implementation of these and
other strategies, more modern houses may yet become models of reduced energy
consumption.
33
Chapter 3: Resources that Promote Saving Energy Through Design
3.1 Literature Review
Most of the strategies used in the learning tool have come from a combination of
precedent research and detailed study of the following publications: Sun, Wind &
Light: Architectural Design Strategies by G.Z. Brown and Mark DeKay; and Climatic
Building Design: Energy-Efficient Building Principles and Practices by Donald Watson
and Kenneth Labs.
3.2 Existing Web Sites that Promote Saving Energy in Homes
There are several web sites that visitors can log onto and provide input about their
homes, and energy saving strategies will be returned in some form. One of the
most prominent is the Home Energy Saver (http://hes.lbl.gov) which was developed
by the Environmental Energy Technologies Division of Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory. This allows you to input your Zip Code and additional information, which it
then uses to calculate average costs of energy usage for a year, and potential energy
savings (Figure 3.2a). Other web sites are the ENERGYguide (www.energyguide.
com) and the US Department of Energy sites (www.energy.gov, www.energysavers.
gov), which yield lists of possible energy saving opportunities (Figures 3.2b and 3.2c).
None of them work very effectively as learning tools for homeowners, or serve to
instruct visitors on architectural design strategies.
34
Figure 3.2a: Screen shot of Home Energy Saver online tool.
Figure 3.2b: Screen shot of U.S. Department of Energy “EnergySavers.gov” online
interface.
35
Figure 3.2c: Screen shot of U.S. Department of Energy “No cost and low-cost
tips to save energy” Web page.
3.3 Existing Tools that Assist Homeowners with Energy Efficiency
Many of the existing tools available for determination of a dwelling’s energy efficiency
are geared towards mechanical systems and conservation of energy through more
efficient systems. Available programs, such as the downloadable HEED (http://www2.
aud.ucla.edu/energy-design-tools/) (Figure 3.3a), approach the problem largely from
this angle. Other computer tools for determining energy efficiency are Energy-10,
EnergyPlus, EnergyPro, eQuest, and Revit/IES; most of these are designed for
professionals, or are for the purposes of checking the code, and involve sophisticated
understanding of existing or proposed conditions in a house. This learning tool seeks
to fill a void in that it focuses on and describes architectural interventions for homes
and leaves it up to the homeowner whether these strategies would be more or less
cost-efficient. It is hypothesized that a physical, architecture design change could be
as effective as a mechanical intervention, with potentially less money spent but more
value added.
36
Figure 3.3a: Screen shot of HEED program available for
download at http://www2.aud.ucla.edu/energy-design-tools/.
3.4 The Mahoney Tables
The Mahoney Tables were developed by architect Carl Mahoney with John Martin
Evans and Otto Konigsberger and were first published in 1971 by the United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs. They are a set of reference tables that
use climate data and simple calculations to give design guidelines in a spreadsheet
format. Of the six tables in the system, four are used to enter climatic data and two
yield relevant design criteria. The first four tables relate to air temperature; humidity,
precipitation, and wind; comparative values for comfort conditions and climate; and
indicators relating to humid or arid conditions. The remaining two tables discuss
both schematic design and design development recommendations.
15
The Mahoney
Tables are extremely useful in many parts of the world, but focus on tropical and
temperate climates, and do not present design recommendations in a way that has
reached a wide portion of the population. Climate data must be found, calculations
must be performed, and the tables must be filled in manually. In 2005, a USC MBS
thesis student completed a tool
16
that made the Mahoney Tables more user-friendly,
to an audience of students and designers alike (Figure 3.4a). This thesis focuses
15 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahoney_tables
16 “Mahoney Tables Plus: A Tool for Sketch Design Recommendations for a Building” by Sarada
Chidambareswaran.
37
more on teaching a homeowner in a specific climate zone in the United States about
renovation design strategies that would save energy in their home through a graphic,
online interface.
Figure 3.4a: Screen shot of Mahoney Tables calculation tool
interface.
38
Chapter 4: Methodology for Researching Design Strategies and
Assignment to Climate Zones
There are several layers of research associated with this project, each with its own
process and format, and each is described below.
4.1 Determining Energy-Saving Design Strategies for Dwellings
Research was conducted on the wide variety of architectural elements that can be
employed in order to help a dwelling save energy using data from available publications.
The elements were placed into a matrix that shows the architectural elements and
their effectiveness in heating, cooling, ventilation, daylighting, and/or power; and by
what characteristics they are defined (see Section 4.4).
4.2 Determining Appropriate Climate Zone Map for User Interface
The climate map chosen for the user interface of the web learning tool is a zone map
developed by Mark DeKay of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, due to the in-depth
study associated with it and its practical application of real conditions in the country.
Mark DeKay’s book Sun, Wind and Light was also used extensively in development
of the learning tool with regards to design strategies, so it stands to reason that this
climate zone map would be a logical choice for this learning tool’s user interface.
4.3 Determining Precedents for Environmentally Responsive Dwellings in Each
Climate Zone
Research was conducted on the various types of primitive, vernacular, and contemporary
housing types using data collected from multiple publications on the topic, which was
then compiled and assembled into a matrix. This matrix displays the relative area of
the country in which the precedent type is located, along with the respective climate
zone, comfort statistics associated with the climate zone based on data points, and
the notable passive solar and sustainable characteristics of the selected precedent.
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The precedents used in the final version of the learning tool are chosen based on
location and successful use of architectural strategies in maintaining a livable interior
environment (Table 4.3). A full compilation of the precedents used (within their graphic
template: see section 5.1) can be seen in Appendix A.
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Table 4.3. Dwelling precedent matrix used in research.
Modern dwelling precedents.
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Table 4.3, continued. Dwelling precedent matrix used in research.
Modern dwelling precedents.
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Table 4.3, continued. Dwelling precedent matrix used in research.
Modern dwelling precedents.
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Table 4.3, continued. Dwelling precedent matrix used in research.
Modern dwelling precedents.
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Table 4.3, continued. Dwelling precedent matrix used in research.
Modern and vernacular dwelling precedents.
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Table 4.3, continued. Dwelling precedent matrix used in research.
Primitive dwelling precedents.
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4.4 Assigning Design Strategies to Climate Zones
Assigning design strategies to a climate zone during the research of this learning tool
was a multi-step process. First, the climate data for the main data point location and
a second location of the selected climate zone is downloaded from the necessary
source and loaded into Climate Consultant 4.0. This program not only yields climate
information for the selected city in graphic format, it also yields a psychrometric chart
that displays percentages of the year during which certain design strategies are
appropriate; it also then yields a list of design guidelines. The design guidelines yielded
for the primary data point and secondary data point locations is used in generating the
primary list of design strategies that are associated with a particular climate zone for
the learning tool.
After a primary list of design strategies is generated, this list is compared to the
precedents associated with the climate zone and the supplementary data that goes
with each. If the list is validated, it is kept in full, and the design strategies are then
organized into each zone. If precedents are found in particular climate zones that
could indicate the usefulness of additional design strategies, those design strategies
are added to the list. Ultimately, a matrix of design strategies evolves to represent
all of the climate zones and corresponding design strategies, which is then used to
populate the learning tool (Table 4.4). A full compilation of the strategies used (within
their graphic template: see section 5.1) can be seen in Appendix B.
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Table 4.4. Matrix of energy-Saving Renovation Design Strategies.
Design strategies shown with relation to qualities, cost, construction ease and climate zone.
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Table 4.4, continued. Matrix of energy-Saving Renovation Design Strategies.
Design strategies shown with relation to qualities, cost, construction ease and climate zone.
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Table 4.4, continued. Matrix of energy-Saving Renovation Design Strategies.
Design strategies shown with relation to qualities, cost, construction ease and climate zone.
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Table 4.4, continued. Matrix of energy-Saving Renovation Design Strategies.
More labor-intensive design strategies shown with relation to qualities, cost, construction ease and climate zone.
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4.5 Standards for Evaluation of Data Gathered
All data gathered from literature, which is corroborated by other sources, will be
included in the main data set for the learning tool.
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Chapter 5: Design and Implementation of Web Learning Tool
The design and implementation of the Web learning tool was undertaken in three primary
phases: creation of content, design of the interface, and deployment. Although started
sequentially, work continued on each in parallel throughout the process; the content
was the impetus for the creation of the site, the interface is the means of communicating
the content, and the deployment was the final and most technically challenging part of
the process, but the most necessary to reach the desired audience.
5.1 Creation of Content
The primary goal of the Web learning tool is to communicate to homeowners what
renovation design strategies would be most useful for reducing energy in their
respective climate zones. Upon completion of this research, as described in Chapter
4, a template was created for presenting each of the design strategies in a graphic and
descriptive way, with scales for several qualifiers. These qualifiers include whether
the strategy assisted in daylighting, heating, ventilating, cooling or giving power to
the home; whether the strategy would be easy or difficult to construct; and whether
the strategy would be cost effective or costly. The qualifiers are described in more
detail below. A template was also developed for presentation of the precedents, as
described in Chapter 2. All of the elements for the content were created from scratch
in Google Sketchup, Adobe Illustrator, or Adobe Photoshop, and optimized for the Web
using Adobe Fireworks.
5.1.1 Strategy Qualifier #1: What does it do?
Each of the energy-saving renovation strategies listed on this Web site is given one or
more of five designations: daylighting, heating, ventilation, cooling, or power (Figure
5.1.1a). These categories describe what the strategies are best used for; in other
words, will it help the homeowner with ventilating and heating the home, or just with
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cooling? Will it help with incorporation of renewable energy, i.e. power? And so on. The
five categories are shown here with their respective icons.
Figure 5.1.1a. Five qualifiers for design strategies. Figure 5.1.1b. Five qualifiers for design strategies,
shown with gradients suggesting effectiveness.
The icon for each category also describes how well the design strategy works. For
instance, in the example in Figure 5.1.1b, by looking at the icon, one could say that the
strategy is about 50% good at daylighting; not useful for heating; about 75% good at
ventilation; about 50% good at cooling; and not useful for power. Each design strategy
varies in its effectiveness and therefore, the symbols will change in appearance to
reflect this.
5.1.2 Strategy Qualifier #2: How difficult is it to construct?
The next symbol used describes how difficult the renovation design strategy might be
if the homeowner were to undertake the project on their own. The symbol used is a
tiny hammer, and the scale ranges from “Easy” to “Difficult” as seen in Figure 5.1.2.
5.1.3 Strategy Qualifier #3: How much does it cost?
The final symbol used is a dollar sign, which describes how much the renovation
project might cost. The scale for this qualifier ranges from “Least Costly” to “Most
Costly” as seen in Figure 5.1.3.
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Figure 5.1.2. Scale for difficulty of construction. Figure 5.1.3. Scale for cost.
5.1.4 Design of Strategy Template for Web Learning Tool
The graphic template developed for presenting each design strategy is simple but
incorporates the primary name of the strategy; a brief description; 3D or 2D drawings
or diagrams with notes that represent visually what the strategy does in the home; and
each of the three qualifiers previously described. The template is also stylistically in
line with preliminary designs for the Web interface, which will be described in Section
5.2. This information, when finally combined with the graphic template, yields an
image for each strategy that can be used over and over in the Web Learning Tool. An
example of the resulting image can be seen in Figure 5.1.4.
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Figure 5.1.4. Example of design strategy in template for learning tool.
5.1.5 Design of Precedent/Case Study Template for Web Learning Tool
In addition to creating a graphic image for each design strategy, it was thought that a
similar process would be useful for presentation of the precedents in the Web Learning
tool as well, since the precedents could be used for comparison in each climate zone,
often as built proof of how particular design strategies worked in that part of the country.
The precedents are described as “case studies” on the Web Learning tool for easier
understanding by new users; the template developed was graphically similar, but not
exactly like, the graphic for the design strategies. The subtle difference in graphic
representation is intended to make certain that the user notices that they are dealing
with a different type of information. An example of a resultant case study image can
be seen in Figure 5.1.5.
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Figure 5.1.5. Example of case study house in template for learning tool.
5.2 Design of the Interface
After review of existing Web sites, such as those mentioned in Chapter 3, the interface
of the Web learning tool was designed with simplicity in mind. These precursor Web
sites, while ultimately full of useful information, may not be very accessible or visually
friendly for average users. In fact some of them seem cluttered, and often the information
was difficult to find. The ultimate goal in the design of this Web learning tool was to
make useful information more easily accessible and meaningful for homeowners, or in
fact any average users.
The interface was designed with an emphasis on visual clarity using Adobe Illustrator,
Fireworks, and Photoshop, and it was assembled in Adobe Dreamweaver. To that
end, a single sans-serif font family was used throughout; bold colors were used in the
presentation of maps and content; and distracting auxiliary information was kept at
a minimum. The resulting initial interface for the Web learning tool, now dubbed the
“green your home” tool, is seen in Figure 5.2a.
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Figure 5.2a. Screen shot of map interface in “green your home” learning tool.
The interface maintains its basic premise throughout; navigation is on the left in the
gray sidebar, while the important information is disseminated primarily in the wider
area to the right with the white background. The process of finding design strategies
relative to climate zone is a step-by-step process; first, the visitor selects a general
region of the country, as seen in Figure 5.2a. The user is then presented with that
swath of the country and is asked to select the Climate Zone in which they live, as
seen in Figure 5.2b. The interface attempts to use bold colors as seen in the original
DeKay climate zone map, for clarity to the user; however, with the great potential for
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population areas to lie in climate border zones, even the most visually clear map can
be slightly misleading.
Figure 5.2b. Screen shot of climate zone selector in “green your home” learning tool.
Finally the user reaches a screen that yields the renovation design strategies for their
particular climate zone. There is a link at the top of the page that directs them to
explore case studies if they wish (Figure 5.2c); if they want to view design strategies,
they only need to click on the links listed to see each. An example of this interface can
be seen in Figure 5.2d and Figure 5.2e.
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Figure 5.2c. Screen shot of Case Studies in “green your home” learning tool.
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Figure 5.2d. Screen shot of design strategy selector in “green your home” learning tool in which users
can click on links to design strategies that are preferred in their climate zones.
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Figure 5.2e. Screen shot showing two of the given design strategies for a climate zone. The links in the
list in Figure 5.2d jump to these images, while the “return to list” links jump back to the list.
There are 22 climate zones; each yields precedents, which can be seen in Appendix
A, and a set of corresponding design strategies, which can be seen in the matrix in
Chapter 4.4. The complete set of images showing the design strategies can be seen
in Appendix B.
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5.3 Deployment
Deployment of the Web learning tool involved purchasing a domain name and hosting
space, which were both accomplished through Dreamhost.com. The name “Green
Design Collective” was chosen for recognizability as well as with future expansion
in mind; it is thought that the tool could eventually become part of a larger service to
promote energy conservation. With the use of Adobe Dreamweaver and a free File
Transfer Protocol (FTP) program, the Web site and learning tool were uploaded and
are now accessible to anyone on the World Wide Web. Additionally a survey was
created and added via link to each page of the Web site so that users can voluntarily
give feedback when they have tried it out.
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Chapter 6: Results from Use of the Web Learning Tool
When the entirety of the GreenDesignCollective was finally uploaded to the World
Wide Web, it was lightly publicized using email distribution lists, the Facebook social
networking system, and on local blogs. An invitation was given for visitors to take a
look at the Web site during its “beta testing period” and to take a voluntary survey in
which they could provide feedback on its usefulness. The survey, while completely
informal and unscientific, provides great insight into how such a tool might eventually
evolve into a more powerful source of information.
The voluntary survey focuses on three general topics: 1) is the Web site easy to
use and understand? 2) Is the learning tool meaningful? 3) By extension of the
information gathered in the learning tool, could the users take action on energy saving
design strategies in their own homes? There were three questions each per topic,
with a final question for any additional comments on any part of the site, for a total
of 10 questions. The results of the survey, observed between February 2 and March
15, 2009, will be discussed in the following sections, with graphs for each question
displaying the results gathered.
6.1 Design and Navigation
The basic design and navigation of the GreenDesignCollective is virtually as important
as the information presented; if it is to communicate effectively to a broad base of
users, then it must be as clear and engaging as possible. Nonetheless, this is perhaps
the most difficult quality to measure, since the target audience is not necessarily aware
of Web site designs that they respond to more than others, or why they respond to
them. For this reason, the questions posed in the first part of the survey were simple
and direct.
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6.1.1 Question 1.
Question number 1 in the user survey was meant to gauge overall impression of the
site’s clarity: “On visiting the greendesigncollective.com for the first time, did you find it
easy to navigate? Meaning, are the text, graphics, and links clear to you?” The results
are seen in Figure 6.1.1.
Figure 6.1.1. Results from user survey question 1.
The answers were intentionally vague as to reflect a first impression of the site. Some
of the user feedback given for the design and navigation of the Web site in the final
comments section is as follows:
“The grey type and links are a little hard to read. I would choose either a different •
color or make them bold.”
“Maybe add a little space between the menu choices on the left nav menu. And •
maybe point out somehow that they are meant to be sequential. I didn’t get the
hammers and $$$ until I went back and did one-by-one menu choices.”
“Get the colors working together better on the site (the home tips seem like they •
were designed by an entirely different person than the banner and navigation).
Ditch the center-stacked type on the front page. Give us an occasional image to
keep visual interest higher.”
“Green underlines while hovering over link = good, but the grey links throughout •
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are a little hard to see - being green all the time might be better. Too much detail
in globe in header logo – more abstracted might be good”
6.1.2 Question 2.
Question number 2 in the user survey was meant to pinpoint trouble areas: “Did you
experience any “broken links”; did any images not show up; did your browser not work
for the site; or did you experience any other technical problems? Please select all that
apply.” The results are seen in Figure 6.1.2.
Figure 6.1.2. Results from user survey question 2.
The results of this question, generally speaking, show the Web site working consistently
for a majority of users, especially since not a single person had compatibility issues
with their browsers, and only one broken link was found. As such, no further user
feedback was provided on the site’s functionality.
6.1.3 Question 3.
Question 3 in the user survey was a subtle attempt to find out if the users realized how
many pages were on the site, and if they knew they had viewed them: “What other
pages of the greendesigncollective.com did you view? Please select all that apply.”
The results are seen in Figure 6.1.3.
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Figure 6.1.3. Results from user survey question 3.
As expected, the “green your home” link was the most visited page according to the
users, possibly due to the prominence of the link in the navigation bar.
6.2 “Greening” Your Home
The “green your home” tool is the biggest part of the Web site and the point of this
thesis. As such, making sure that it works and is meaningful to the user is a major
concern. The second part of the survey is meant to address this issue.
6.2.1 Question 4.
Question number 4 in the survey was created to ascertain if the user was comfortably
able to find their climate zone in the learning tool: “Upon entering the “green your
home” tool, did you have any trouble selecting your region? And after that, your climate
zone?” The results are seen in Figure 6.2.1.
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Figure 6.2.1. Results from user survey question 4.
Nearly 20% of respondents to this question reported having some difficulty finding
their climate zone, and several comments were left to this effect:
“I think that you should consider labeling on the map for “green your home”. •
Honestly, I didn’t know exactly which section LA was. maybe it’s just me…”
“Maybe a zip code entry to tell you what region you are in? Also, I was unsure of •
what the interactive map case studies were supposed to do.”
“I wasn’t completely sure whether I am in climate 7 or 17, maybe name large •
cities located in a region once the climate zone has been chosen”
“labels on the zone would help, even if it’s just counties” •
“Climate zone maps are really nice and super-clear, but they could probably be •
a little smaller so that you don’t have to scroll”
“I wasn’t sure if LA was in the tiny brown zone, maybe you could add a few major •
city names like to Google map?”
These responses indicate that the climate zone maps, while generally clear, may be
need more information to be effective.
6.2.2 Question 5.
Question number 5 in the survey was meant to gauge the user’s overall comprehension
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of the information presented to them in the learning tool: “You just clicked on your
climate zone and - Voila! You are presented with a list of renovation projects that could
save energy in YOUR house. Is this information useful to you?” The results are seen
in Figure 6.2.2.
Figure 6.2.2. Results from user survey question 5.
The respondents’ reactions to this question were mixed. Some of the responses are
better understood with the many comments that users left regarding the tool and its
features:
“I think I knew all that, in theory at least.” •
“I found the variety of project informative, but I was left wanting better information •
(or links) to the value or the project, not just the cost”
“Although I would like to do many of these things, it can be costly to do it. Not •
meaning adding energy efficient light bulbs, but windows, etc. I would like to
see a price breakdown on how much, ballpark range, these suggestions would
cost.”
“Yes, it is nice but it all costs a significant amount of money that I don’t have and •
I can’t rebuild my house”
“As a property owner, given current operating costs and household income, •
it is difficult to consider renovations that do not either result in short term net
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energy savings (including the renovation). The market also precludes reliable
assumptions re resale value. I think information that quantifies energy savings
would be an interesting addition. $$ and/or impact on the environment.”
“a lot of the pages are really wordy (nature of the beast, I know)... The “Green •
Your Home” part seems to be the key feature (it’s definitely the coolest part), so
maybe it should be featured more prominently, maybe with a BIG link in the center
of the page, instead of as part of the sidebar... Overall, awesome concept!”
“In the boxes that describe a particular strategy, you should provide links to •
applicable reports, data, case studies that employ those specific strategies. Also,
at the top of the page of the specific strategies for your specific “zone,” you
should have a section of links specifically applicable to the region. (Resources,
strategies, etc.)”
These comments highlight previously realized limitations of the tool while also drawing
attention to a large user group that is not being addressed: apartment-dwellers or
residents of buildings who have little to no control over their living space.
6.2.3 Question 6.
Question number 6 in the survey asks users if filters would help them to find specific
information about the design strategies: “Would you find this information more useful
if you could sort by one of the following filters: (Select as many as you think would be
useful; feel free to add your own).” The results are seen in Figure 6.2.3.
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Figure 6.2.3. Results from user survey question 6.
This question addressed a void that many visitors had realized in their exploration of
the learning tool, as the following comments and additional suggestions illustrate:
“exactly what I was hoping for: a ‘sort by’ button, there is an impressive selection •
of options, maybe a bit overwhelming without a filter specific to the user.”
“Time it Takes (although this is related to ease)” •
“Non-renovation projects (ie for renters) (or grandmas)” •
“amount of materials, amount of time, amount of technology...” •
“Reversibility (for historically-sensitive projects)” •
“more information about each project, or links to more specific sites that can •
help with each strategy. It seems more of a list than an actual design guide. But,
a comprehensive list is a really important resource and the only place to start. I
just told you this but a filter would be rad. Also, more user inputs regarding their
current living situation could be used as a filter for the strategies.”
“I like the idea presented in this survey of making the renovation projects sortable •
by different categories. Maybe the page would be better suited by a gridded
layout (the box/ notecard layout) now? What about things I can take away from
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the site, printouts of projects I select, etc? Good work! (ps, not a big deal, but I
don’t like the green on the front page.)”
“more ‘sort by’ buttons: such as (you mentioned) plus sorting by the daylighting/ •
heating/ventilation/cooling/power options. ...okay, I just found those at the top
of the page, and I didn’t realize that they were buttons, so maybe re-itterate the
bright icons used throughout as the ‘sort by’ category buttons. Also, as a renter,
I’m feeling a little left out. I don’t know what to suggest, maybe a separate section
directed towards renters, so we don’t feel bad about all the wonderul things we
can’t do ;-)”
In truth, filters were planned for the Web learning tool from the beginning but more
knowledge of the required coding must be developed in order to make them work
properly. The results of this survey question, however, validate their usefulness to the
potential and desired audience.
6.3 Moving beyond the Web site to taking action
The last section of questions on the voluntary user survey was meant to stretch the
visitors’ minds in a provocative way; by posing questions about their own dwelling
situations and their typical use of the internet, it was thought that the visitors could
reflect on the existing capabilities of the learning tool and how it could become more
useful to them for taking action in their own living situations. Although there is no
scientific way of measuring this intangible quality, the responses and comments are
revealing, nevertheless.
6.3.1 Question 7.
Question number 7 on the survey asks a hypothetical question that homeowners in
many parts of the United States may not consider an option: “Hypothetically speaking,
if you knew that you could economically renovate your house and do away with central
heating and air conditioning altogether, would you do it? (Heating and cooling a space
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can be achieved efficiently with natural ventilation, fans, space heaters, hearth, etc.).”
Results are seen in Figure 6.3.1.
Figure 6.3.1. Results from user survey question 7.
The results of this question are enlightening, and the comments left in response are
helpful to understanding a potential strategy to fight global warming:
“Depends on where I live at the time, in SF you rarely need either normally” •
“I don’t have central heat or air conditioning. (also a renter).” •
“Only if I had been in a place that had done it and knew it worked. It gets very hot •
here in the summer!”
“I would want the option to supplement on really hot/cold days” •
“I wouldn’t remove my existing system, but would stop using it (although I remain •
skeptical about cooling when its > 100 degress outside”
“n/a to my living situation (renter)” •
“If I had an unlimited supply of money, yes” •
“It would depend on your definition of “economically” but if I could afford it, yes” •
“I rent, but if I owned and had the $, YES!” •
Overall, an encouraging 95% of respondents indicated that they would eliminate (or
stop using) mechanical heating and cooling systems in their homes if they could afford
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to renovate it in such a way that would allow them to do so. This reveals that perhaps
a lack of energy efficiency in many modern homes is not for lack of will, but for lack of
funds. Is cost then the insurmountable obstacle to fighting global warming? Or are
there peripheral issues involved as well, such as perception of one’s comfort level in
the home? This Web site only begins to address these issues.
6.3.2 Question 8.
Question number 8 attempts to find how willing users of the Web site would be to
interact with other users, and with the information: “If given the option, would you be
interested in rating or reviewing the design strategies presented on the site? And would
you read ratings and reviews from other users about how effective these strategies
are?” The results are seen in Figure 6.3.2.
Figure 6.3.2. Results from user survey question 8.
The results here are mixed. Comments reveal that users perhaps do not know what
value this type of added feature would provide to the existing information, that they do
not have the time to do this, or that they are uncomfortable discussing strategies with
which they do not have first hand experience:
“this option might clutter the website with personal/ subjective chatter.” •
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“Not in a position to review them having limited experience, but would like to read •
others to gauge where a renovation is worth considering.”
Still, one-third of respondents said that they could see value in a system of reviewing
energy-saving design strategies, and this is helpful for future development of the site.
6.3.3 Question 9.
Question number 9 tries to address the blog feature on the site, and to find out how
open the audience is to receiving new information through a blog feed: “Did you
check out the greendesigncollective/blog? Would you consider subscribing to the blog
if it were regularly updated with news about green design, saving energy, and “low-
hanging fruit”? (You can subscribe by clicking on the icon at the right of the address
line at the top of your browser.)” The results are seen in Figure 6.3.3.
Figure 6.3.3. Results from user survey question 9.
The multiple-choice answers to this question were intentionally tongue-in-cheek in an
effort to gauge users’ attitude toward blogs but also to gently persuade them to take a
look at it. Very few comments were left in response to this question:
“oh my! low hangin fruit makes me blush! Yeah, I bookmarked your site!” •
“I didn’t look at it, but I’m the apartment dweller. If I was buying a home, I would •
be interested.”
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“Not a blog fan.” •
User response to the blog indicates that more work must be done to attract people to
the site for continual but concise information dissemination.
6.4 Overall comments
Question number 10 in the user survey asked the respondent for any additional
comments that may not have been covered by previous questions: “Do you have
any additional thoughts, comments, or suggestions about the GreenDesignCollective,
in general or in particular? Your constructive feedback is greatly appreciated!” This
question required a text answer here, and as such, no graph can be generated to show
results. However some of the responses are seen below (a complete list of user-
generated comments from Survey Question 10 is presented in Appendix C):
“I would consider revising the section regarding planting directly on the skin of •
one’s structure. While it does have an effective insulatory value, the roots of such
climbers do damage to the structure, more specifically brick facades. Frames/
scaffold like structures would probably work best in these instances; the plant
has something to take root to, but one’s tuck pointng is safe.”
“The only place where I was puzzled was the interactive map. Not sure if there •
are supposed to be pictures of the model structures, but they would have been
helpful. Also, a pop-up with a link to even basic specs for the building or to other
mentions of the structure on the GDC site would have been good. I just wasn’t
sure what purpose it serves, other than showing that there are model buildings
all over the country.”
“Your survey pinpointed all the things I was going to suggest! Perhaps one more •
would be to organize it according to strategies. ie. daylighting, ventilation, etc
since certain households may have a particular problem that they would want to
look at. :)”
“I would have liked a key for the interactive case study map. What is the difference •
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between a tree and a sun?”
“Post your site on Craigs List and get more poeple looking when you’re ready!” •
Many of the comments left refer to issues with the Interactive Case Study Map, •
or easier ways of organizing the information with which they are presented.
Whatever the case, the respondents’ comments are extremely useful for future
work on the site.
6.5 Preliminary Assessment of Site Traffic using Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a free service that can be used to track site traffic, visitor
demographics, and pages visited, amongst other things, on any Web site that signs up
for a free account. Prior to launch, Google Analytics coding was inserted into the HTML
pages of the GreenDesignCollective so that vital information about the usage of the
web site could be tracked. Although little specific information can be derived from the
Analytics reports, it can be seen how long visitors are spending on each page, where
visitors live, and what referring sites are sending visitors to the GreenDesignCollective.
This information is constantly being collected and can be used to guide the future
development on the site.
6.5.1 Actual pages viewed and time spent per page.
From January 30 to March 15, 2009, the top 10 pages viewed on the
GreenDesignCollective.com and percentage of total can be seen in Figure 6.5.1.
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Figure 6.5.1. Google Analytics report of Top Content on the GreenDesignCollective.
6.5.2 Where visitors are from.
From January 30 to March 15, 2009, the top 10 countries sending visitors to
GreenDesignCollective.com can be seen in Figure 6.5.2, along with how many pages
per visitor and average time spent on the site.
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Figure 6.5.2. Google Analytics report of top countries sending visitors to the GreenDesignCollective.
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6.5.3 How visitors found the site.
From January 30 to March 15, 2009, the top five referring Web sites which sent visitors
to GreenDesignCollective.com can be seen in Figure 6.5.3, along with what key words
were used to find the site when searches were performed on the internet.
Figure 6.5.3. Google Analytics report of top referring Web sites sending visitors to the
GreenDesignCollective.
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Chapter 7: Conclusions and Implications for Users
In the early stages of formulating this project, it was stated that global warming is
perpetuated, in part, by consumption of energy in buildings; it was proposed that
global warming is a global, not a local, problem; it was postulated that alleviation
and reduction of global warming would occur if reduction in energy consumption by
buildings were to occur; and it was hypothesized that reduced energy consumption in
at least the residential building sector might be accelerated by providing single-family
homeowners with information about how to reduce their energy usage. Furthermore,
the problem was approached from a pragmatic standpoint: should single-family
homeowners want to reduce their energy consumption, the most cost-effective way
to do so would be to renovate their existing home instead of building anew. In order
to communicate energy-saving renovation strategies to single-family homeowners, an
interactive Web learning tool was proposed, designed, and deployed in beta testing
mode, and results were collected from there.
In observing both the beta-version of the Web learning tool and the reactions to it
from users who took the survey, one of the emerging themes is that of potential.
Homeowners responded positively to the idea that they could alter or renovate their
homes to save energy; apartment-dwellers said that they would renovate if they owned
their own home or if they had the flexibility to do so within their apartments. Almost all
respondents said that they would renovate if they had the finances. Furthermore, users
of the learning tool responded positively to the information presented to them, and in
many cases asked for ways to make it more useful; either by filtering the strategies, or
with additional information that they could use to actually renovate their living spaces.
These types of responses indicate that the public is open to communication about
ways that they personally can save energy, and that the only thing they lack, perhaps,
is means.
81
However much the research demonstrated that it is possible to create a simple learning
tool to reach a certain segment of the population, the process of building the tool
also revealed the limitations inherent in such an exercise. For instance, the sheer
volume of information that was collected, sorted and presented is much larger than
first anticipated, and likely represents only a portion of the total body of research on
the subject of energy-saving design strategies for homes. Additionally, the research
gathered was for single-family homes; if the learning tool is to reach a broader
audience, the survey shows that it must include information for dwellers of multi-family
residential structures to the extent possible, even if the information lies beyond the
boundaries of the current learning tool. Also gathered from the results of the survey is
the realization that people have conflicting views and varying opinions regarding the
“best” presentation method for this information, a debate which will not likely diminish
with further revisions of the learning tool and accompanying Web site.
Furthermore, despite its best intentions, the Web site, while it provides some of the
information necessary for an energy-conscious home renovation, provides no outlet
for follow-through. While people expressed interest in conducting these types of
renovations, and voiced that they lacked the means for doing so, the site currently
gives no assistance towards finding the means, nor is there any way to determine
how many users actually acted on the information and performed renovations on their
homes. For those who did perform renovations, there is also no method of feedback to
record effectiveness or overall energy savings. If the site is to truly fulfill its mission as
a catalyst in the fight against global warming, such options will become necessary.
Nevertheless, with the creation of content for this learning tool and the rest of the Web
site open to development, therein lies the potential for a meaningful dialogue with the
public about how to save energy in their homes. This Web site and learning tool acts
as a conduit; information about how to save energy in a home exists, but average
82
people may not seek it out if they are not presented with it. Added to the equation is
the rapid pace at which people living in the age of advanced technology are presented
with stimuli of every imaginable kind – not only television and radio, but also email,
blogs, RSS feeds, text messages and micro-blogging. The constant barrage of
information is difficult for even the most tech-savvy person to maintain and absorb.
So if someone is told that they can save energy in their homes, the information needs
to be clear and the person needs to be able to absorb it quickly. To make it meaningful,
the subject will want the option of interacting with the information, collaborating on it,
or communicating with others about it – the definition of Web 2.0 .
In conclusion, this learning tool, as a first attempt at channeling an existing body
of specific design knowledge into a format that can be digested by a wide and
electronically-saturated audience, was therefore successful. It engaged users with its
simple but vibrant graphics, even where there is room for improving the appearance
and effectiveness of the interface. It raised users’ awareness of architectural strategies
for saving energy in dwellings, even if the user could not apply these strategies to their
own dwellings, whether because of structural limitations or cost constraints. It indicates
the willingness on the part of many users to integrate these energy-saving strategies
into their homes, if they have more information with which to make informed decisions,
and if they have the finances. In the end, determining that some sort of communication
could be established with a lay audience to teach them about saving energy is half
the battle. Figuring out a way to bridge the gap from helping homeowners learn about
saving energy to taking action on it in their own homes is next forefront in the fight
against global warming, and that bridge takes on a new sense of urgency for those
who want to save money on energy in the country’s revised economic landscape.
83
Chapter 8: Future Work and Research
It has been established that a conduit of information can help average people learn
about saving energy. But currently the learning tool and existing Web site are only a
one-way conduit – that is, information is taken from one area (design professionals)
and presented to another (lay people). How much more valuable could the learning
experience be if it were opened up to become a two-way information conduit? If the
user could both receive information, and then provide feedback on how accurate the
information is, or how well a particular strategy works, would that make the learning
tool even more useful? This chapter will focus on these and other questions.
The first section focuses on improvement and expansion of the learning tool based in
part on user feedback. The second section will discuss the mission of the Web site as
a whole and possible expansion to other media.
8.1 Web Site Learning Tool Expansion
Much of the response in the user surveys focused on alternative ways of looking at
the renovation strategies; more filters are desired, along with information about how
to execute the strategies, how much they would cost, etc. These topics, along with
additional options and modifications, are covered in this section.
8.1.1 Climate Zone Map Modifications
One of the recurring themes throughout the user feedback loop was the request for
more information on the climate zone maps. The maps were effective for roughly
4 out of 5 users, but many people responded that they were confused by the maps
and that additional graphic information, such as the locations of cities or county lines,
would be helpful for finding the correct climate zone. Therefore, one of the first tasks
84
in improving the learning tool is altering the climate zone interface to include more map
delineation.
8.1.2 Clarification of Interactive Case Study Map
Several users indicated that the purpose of the Interactive Case Study Map, or its
relationship to the case studies themselves, was unclear. This map was created using
the Google Map interface and was opened for user collaboration; however, to date,
not one user has attempted to alter or add to the map in any way. A greater attempt
must be made to clarify this map and its purpose to the learning tool. The map itself
is quite a powerful piece of information, but it must be taken from a static map to look
at on a computer screen, to a dynamic map which helps the users understand climate
zones.
8.1.3 Filters
One of the most requested elements in the user survey was the ability to filter the
design strategies in more flexible ways; for instance, by cost, by ease of construction,
or by time it takes. However, this requires a more advanced type of coding than the
Web site currently uses. Therefore, in order to make the learning tool more meaningful
to its audience, a strategy for employing additional filters must be devised. It is thought
that this could be undertaken with JavaScript, but additional research is needed to
determine if this is an appropriate tact.
8.1.4 User Input: Reviewing Existing Strategies and Commenting
One of the questions posed in the user survey was if the visitor would be open to
rating or reviewing the design strategies, or if they would read ratings or reviews of
the strategies by others. Although the results here were mixed (see Section 6.3.2), it
is thought that this feature would provide added value to the user’s experience in the
learning tool. In fact, a vast amount of information presented on the internet currently
85
is rated or reviewed, from restaurant reviews on sites such as Yelp.com, or even on
the Google search engine itself, with the ability to give a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs
down” if the search results returned are in the correct genre. Therefore, eventually, if
the site could be developed to such a point, the ability to allow users to rate or review
design strategies would be of paramount importance.
8.1.5 Links to Designers, Contractors, and Vendors
Another request made in the user survey was the ability to link to designers, contractors,
vendors or other entities that would help the homeowner commence the specified
renovation project. This is an excellent idea and one which has been considered;
however, as the Web site currently addresses a national audience, additional coding or
perhaps a search function would be required in order to execute this properly. Further
research is necessary to determine how to efficiently utilize this type of function on the
current Web site.
8.1.6 User Input: Submission of New Strategies
Currently the body of information presented in the learning tool is static; the body of
information itself cannot be changed unless the site administrator creates and inserts
the content in the appropriate places in the learning tool. However, for the tool to truly
be dynamic, the user must be able to submit new energy-saving strategies of which
they are aware and which are not already presented in the tool. The submission would
need to go through some sort of vetting process and would likely be open for rating or
review to the rest of the users on the site. But, like the Interactive Case Study Map,
this function would transform the learning tool from a one-way conduit of information
into a truly interactive experience. Like the other functions, more research is required
on what method of coding would be most effective in making this feature a reality.
86
8.1.7 Expansion of Strategies to Include Multi-Family Housing
One of the most glaring patterns throughout the user responses in the survey is the
prevalence of visitors who don’t actually own their own freestanding homes. These
are the people who are apartment- or condo-dwellers and likely have very little to no
control over the exterior envelope or interior features of their dwelling. Considering
that a vast majority of the United States population lives in some sort of urbanized area,
the likelihood that a good portion of visitors to the site will live in multi-family residential
buildings is high. These visitors cannot be ignored; although the site currently covers
architectural and renovation strategies for freestanding structures, the next logical step
would be to take a look at lesser impact energy-saving strategies, sometimes known
within the design community as “low-hanging fruit”. Lower impact design strategies
can be useful for apartment dwellers as well as homeowners, so the presentation of
these techniques would be a valuable addition to the learning tool. More research is
needed to determine if there is an easier way of presenting these strategies than the
existing labor-intensive method already utilized in the tool.
8.2 GreenDesignCollective: Mission, Media, and Outreach
Although most of the attention on the GreenDesignCollective.org and -.com is currently
focused on the “green your home” learning tool, the site was created with a loftier goal
in mind: to start a dialogue within a given community about how to design greener
buildings. Such is the meaning behind the tag line on the home page: “empowering
your community to save energy through design.” The “green your home” tool serves
this goal through encouraging a specific user group – homeowners – to save energy
by renovating their homes in a way that will make them energy efficient. In the long
run, it is hoped that the mission of the site will evolve to include multiple user groups,
including homeowners and end-users of all buildings, but also to gather input from
the design community itself. If the site is to respond to the fast pace of information-
87
gathering and continue to grow, then a feedback loop must be established, and it is
essential that the design community is a part of that.
Furthermore, the GreenDesignCollective cannot just be a “Web site.” It must truly
embrace its role as a learning tool, but it also must be a forum, a bulletin board, a news
feed, a database, and a search engine. These functions are still only a fraction of the
operations that one encounters on a modern Web 2.0 site, which defines the level of
user involvement that the site strives to attain. As such, the Green Design Collective
must explore jumping to other forms of media. Two examples of this expansion
process are the social interaction Web site Facebook, and the iPhone application.
By creating an extension of the GreenDesignCollective on Facebook, users could
interact with the functions of the Web site without ever leaving their Facebook page.
This makes sense since some people, particularly college students, spend copious
amounts on time on this site. A mock-up of a hypothetical Facebook interface for the
GreenDesignCollective is seen in Figure 8.2a.
88
Figure 8.2a. Hypothetical Facebook interface for the GreenDesignCollective..
Another way of reaching out to a larger audience in order to continue the green design
dialogue is by creating an application for the very popular iPhone. A mock-up of a
hypothetical iPhone app interface for the GreenDesignCollective is seen in Figure
8.2b.
89
Figure 8.2b. Hypothetical iPhone application interface for the GreenDesignCollective..
Whatever the method, it is clear that the GreenDesignCollective must continue to reach
out to the community if it is to work as it intended. The knowledge of more responsible
and environmentally-friendly building techniques must be made available to a larger
audience if the challenges of global warming are to be met head on. Although the
design community has a head start on the knowledge of how the Earth got to this point,
and what we might do to fix it, the general population probably doesn’t have this same
access to knowledge. It is the job of the design professional to design a good building
not only for their client but for the community, and the GreenDesignCollective hopes
to help fill whatever knowledge gaps may remain in society’s very serious information
void.
90
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Trulove, James Grayson. New Sustainable Homes. Collins Design, New York, NY,
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van Dresser, Peter. Passive Solar House Basics. Ancient City Press, Santa Fe, New
Mexico, 1995.
Wade, Alex and Neal Ewenstein. 30 Energy Efficient Houses…You Can Build. Rodale
Press, Emmaus, PA, 1977.
Watson, Donald, editor. The Energy Design Handbook. The American Institute of
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Appendices
Appendix A
Following are each of the precedents covered in Chapter 2 and used in the online
learning tool. They were placed in a graphic template for the purposes of the tool and
can be seen in context online at www.greendesigncollective.org. They are organized
here in order by Climate Zone.
Climate Zone 1.
Climate Zone 2.
93
Climate Zone 3.
Climate Zone 4.
Climate Zone 5.
94
Climate Zone 5 (cont.).
Climate Zone 6.
95
Climate Zone 7.
Climate Zone 8.
96
Climate Zone 9.
Climate Zone 10.
Climate Zone 11.
97
Climate Zone 12.
Climate Zone 13.
Climate Zone 14.
Climate Zone 15.
98
Climate Zone 16.
Climate Zone 17.
Climate Zones 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.
The only precedent available for the Alaskan climate zones is the igloo. Research did
not reveal any further climate responsive-homes in Alaska.
99
Appendix B
Following are each of the design strategies researched and used in the online learning
tool. They were placed in a graphic template for the purposes of the tool and can be
seen in context online at www.greendesigncollective.org. They are organized here in
no particular order.
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
Appendix C
Following is a list of all comments left to date by visitors to the GreenDesignCollective
Web site and those who voluntarily took the accompanying survey. The comments are
in reverse chronological order, meaning, in order from latest to earliest.
I would like it to go the next step and provide interactive ‘what if’ scenarios and 1.
estimated savings for each project, and then the total selected projects for my
own house.
1. Regarding the question of whether or not to put up reviews of each technique 2.
: I really like the idea of *not* having reviews, because I feel like so much
information out there on the internet today is exactly that kind of subjective, “well
I did this (slightly but not completely related thing) and it TOTALLY SUCKED”
and the next guy says the opposite, and you end up getting stuck waffling
between the two, trying to figure out whose situation you’re more similar to,
etc. After so many, many fruitless searches for information that turn up nothing
but these kinds of back-and-forth, vague, opinionated reviews, I positively
HUNGER for a site that I can trust, a voice of authority that I know has done the
homework and that I can learn from. This is the niche that I think this website
could really fill : the “This Old House” of green design, if you will. To that end, I
would appreciate not having the techniques gunked up with a lot of ill-specified
reviews turning me indecisive about something that should be straightforward.
HOWEVER, if you feel reviews would be helpful, I would strongly suggest that
you allow people to submit possible reviews, and that you & the website staff
vet them carefully, edit them / tweak them as necessary for clarity, specificity,
informational content, etcetera, and post them in a seperate part of the website
labelled “design technique reviews” or something like that. 2. I LOVE the
glossary. Every website should have a glossary!!! I do think, though, that it
would be that much better even if the glossary definitions contained links to the
related wikipedia page so that if people are interested in learning even more,
108
they can head right to wikipedia for more info on a particular word. Just some
thoughts. This website is cool!! I would most definitely use it, and tell others
about it too.
Some of the navigation hypertext is not as obvious as it should be. A contrasting 3.
color, font, underline, or other means to make them more obvious would be
appreciated. Nice site. Good luck with your thesis.
good job, 15 points! 4.
I would consider revising the section regarding planting directly on the skin 5.
of one’s structure. While it does have an effective insulatory value, the roots
of such climbers do damage to the structure, more specifically brick facades.
Frames/scaffold like structures would probably work best in these instances;
the plant has something to take root to, but one’s tuck pointng is safe.
more ‘sort by’ buttons: such as (you mentioned) plus sorting by the daylighting/ 6.
heating/ventilation/cooling/power options. ...okay, I just found those at the top
of the page, and I didn’t realize that they were buttons, so maybe re-itterate the
bright icons used throughout as the ‘sort by’ category buttons. Also, as a renter,
I’m feeling a little left out. I don’t know what to suggest, maybe a separate
section directed towards renters, so we don’t feel bad about all the wonderul
things we can’t do ;-)
In the boxes that describe a particular strategy, you should provide links to 7.
applicable reports, data, case studies that employ those specific strategies.
Also, at the top of the page of the specific strategies for your specific “zone,” you
should have a section of links specifically applicable to the region. (Resources,
strategies, etc.)
more information about each project, or links to more specific sites that can help 8.
with each strategy. It seems more of a list than an actual design guide. But, a
comprehensive list is a really important resource and the only place to start. I
just told you this but a filter would be rad. Also, more user inputs regarding their
109
current living situation could be used as a filter for the strategies.
The only place where I was puzzled was the interactive map. Not sure if there 9.
are supposed to be pictures of the model structures, but they would have been
helpful. Also, a pop-up with a link to even basic specs for the building or to
other mentions of the structure on the GDC site would have been good. I just
wasn’t sure what purpose it serves, other than showing that there are model
buildings all over the country.
The grey type and links are a little hard to read. I would choose either a different 10.
color or make them bold.
Em your survey pinpointed all the things I was going to suggest! Perhaps one 11.
more would be to organize it according to strategies. ie. daylighting, ventilation,
etc since certain households may have a particular problem that they would
want to look at. :)
a lot of the pages are really wordy (nature of the beast, I know)... The “Green 12.
Your Home” part seems to be the key feature (it’s definitely the coolest part),
so maybe it should be featured more prominently, maybe with a BIG link in
the center of the page, instead of as part of the sidebar... Overall, awesome
concept!
Maybe add a little space between the menu choices on the left nav menu. And 13.
maybe point out somehow that they are meant to be sequential. I didn’t get the
hammers and $$$ until I went back and did one-by-one menu choices.
Great Job! 14.
I think that you should consider labeling on the map for “green your home”. 15.
Honestly, I didn’t know exactly which section LA was. maybe it’s just me…
Keep on truckin! 16.
I would have liked a key for the interactive case study map. What is the 17.
difference between a tree and a sun?
I like the idea presented in this survey of making the renovation projects sortable 18.
110
by different categories. Maybe the page would be better suited by a gridded
layout (the box/ notecard layout) now? What about things I can take away from
the site, printouts of projects I select, etc? Good work! (ps, not a big deal, but I
don’t like the green on the front page.)
As a property owner, given current operating costs and household income, 19.
it is difficult to consider renovations that do not either result in short term net
energy savings (including the renovation). The market also precludes reliable
assumptions re resale value. I think information that quantifies energy savings
would be an interesting addition. $$ and/or impact on the environment.
Read some Edward Tufte, specifically with regards to the lowest possible 20.
contrast theory. Get the colors working together better on the site (the home
tips seem like they were designed by an entirely different person than the
banner and navigation). Ditch the center-stacked type on the front page. Give
us an occasional image to keep visual interest higher. Sorting as mentioned
above would be a huge improvement. Read about web design principles, and
take note of the details of highly sophisticated websites you come across- right
now this reads as something done by an academic, not a designer, whereas
something that was pleasant to look at and held the reader’s attention would do
a world of good in terms of actually getting this information out to the public.
great work!!! 21.
Post your site on Craigs List and get more poeple looking when you’re ready! 22.
Maybe a zip code entry to tell you what region you are in? Also, I was unsure 23.
of what the interactive map case studuis were supposed to do.
Nice job cousin! 24.
Emily - Great work! Stream of consciousness feedback…here we go: Green 25.
underlines while hovering over link = good, but the grey links throughout are a
little hard to see - being green all the time might be better Too much detail in
globe in header logo – more stylized / abstracted might be good I like the Lie To
111
Me reference with the * I don’t know what you have planned for the final version
for the front page, but content, possibly straight from the blog, is probably
the best option Climate zone maps are really nice and super-clear, but they
could probably be a little smaller so that you don’t have to scroll (at least I
have to on my MacBook Air) It would be nice to be able to sort the suggested
improvements by cost or difficulty so that people would be able to more easily
see what is the easiest / most affordable options Some of the pages, such
as the case studies and the suggested improvements lists seem a little long
(too much scrolling) – breaking them up, such as the case studies by climate
zone or the improvements by cost / ease / biggest help, might help. Using the
accordion javascript like on the links page might work if you can insert images.
The glossary and links are extensive and well done. For the more extensive
improvements, might it be worth it to include some sort of information (from
the AIA and or USGBC?) about how to find an architect / LEED AP to help with
those improvements? I’m always free to chat if you want any more feedback
as you progress.
Abstract (if available)
Abstract
Architecture plays an important role in the challenges associated with global warming in that buildings are responsible for half of all greenhouse gas emissions due to energy usage. In order for greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced quickly and effectively, clients as well as designers should understand the basic principles of sustainably designed buildings. This thesis attempted to find correlations between precedents in primitive, vernacular, and contemporary housing in order to establish a set of viable renovation design strategies for homeowners looking to reduce their energy consumption. This information was presented to homeowners and clients in the form of a learning tool meant to simplify basic architectural principles and communicate them effectively (Figure A). The result is an interactive web site, which yields design strategies based on regional precedents specific to climate zones. This tool established a framework for a new way of disseminating information about building efficiency to the end user.
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Asset Metadata
Creator
Kemper, Emily Renee
(author)
Core Title
Using architecture in the fight against global warming: presenting viable energy-saving renovation design strategies to homeowners via an interactive web learning tool
School
School of Architecture
Degree
Master of Building Science
Degree Program
Building Science
Publication Date
04/24/2009
Defense Date
03/11/2009
Publisher
University of Southern California
(original),
University of Southern California. Libraries
(digital)
Tag
Architecture,carbon emissions,climate zones,design strategies,energy efficiency,energy-saving,global warming,homeowners,Internet,OAI-PMH Harvest,passive design,primitive structures,renovation,Residential,single-family homes,vernacular,web site
Language
English
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Electronically uploaded by the author
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Advisor
Schiler, Marc E. (
committee chair
), Milne, Murray (
committee member
), Noble, Douglas (
committee member
), Petrunia, Paul (
committee member
)
Creator Email
ekemper@usc.edu,emilykemper@gmail.com
Permanent Link (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-m2110
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Kemper, Emily Renee
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Repository Name
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Repository Email
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Tags
carbon emissions
climate zones
design strategies
energy efficiency
energy-saving
global warming
homeowners
Internet
passive design
primitive structures
single-family homes
web site