CHAPTER 2
Sustainable Technology
CRITICAL THINKING PROBLEMS
Respond to the following as required by the instructions for each problem.
1. Write a brief report about the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as related to the
content in this chapter.
States and local jurisdictions added energy-saving measures to building codes in an effort to
achieve better energy efficiency. Energy codes have been successful in reducing energy consump-
tion through the use of energy-efficient windows, added insulation, and improved air-infiltration
barriers. States and local jurisdictions normally adopt national model energy codes as a basis for
their own codes. In 1998, the first International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) was published
by the International Code Council (ICC). The IECC introduced the most significant efficiency
increase in the history of the national model energy code by specifying practices that make new
and renovated buildings more energy efficient than past practices. Most local jurisdictions have
adopted the IECC as the foundation for their energy codes. Some states and local jurisdictions
have modified the IECC to deal with specific regional or local concerns.
2. Write a report describing the USGBC LEED Program.
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) members came together to create a standard
for green building, called the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green
Building Rating System. This rating system is a national standard for developing energy-efficient
sustainable buildings. Green building refers to a structure and construction processes that are
environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building life cycle. Building life
cycle refers to the observation and examination of a building over the course of its entire life,
including design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. Sustainable
buildings are buildings capable of maintaining their desired function into the future. The terms
green building and sustainable building can be used interchangeably. The following LEED goals
represent the approach to sustainability, as taken from the USGBC website:
• Define green building by establishing a common standard of measurement.
• Promote integrated, whole-building design practices. The term whole building refers to
the building assembly designed and built to maximize sustainable and economic func-
tion through the use of energy and other resources, building materials, site preservation,
and indoor air quality for a structure to run at its maximum efficiency, provide a com-
fortable and healthy environment, and have the minimum impact on the environment.
• Recognize environmental leadership in the building industry.
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• Stimulate green competition.
• Raise consumer awareness of green building benefits.
• Transform the building market.
The LEED building certification program recognizes commercial construction projects that dem-
onstrate the highest sustainability performance standards. The LEED certification requires that
the project meet some mandatory requirements, and earn additional points for implementing high-
performance, healthy and sustainable building practices. The points scored are measured using
the LEED rating system. In the LEED program, various levels of certification are awarded to new
buildings and rehabilitated structures, based on their point value. When completing their con-
struction and operational objectives, a building can earn enough points to be awarded certified,
silver, gold, or platinum levels. For more information about the LEED program, visit the U.S.
Green Building Council website at www.usgbc.org/leed.
3. Write a report describing the Construction Product Sustainability Information Reporting Guide.
The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Construction Specifications Canada (CSC)
publish detailed construction specification formats and procedures that are described in
Chapter 1, Commercial Plans, Specifications, and Construction Management. A specification
is an exact statement describing the characteristics of a particular feature of the project. The CSI
developed the GreenFormat: The Construction Product Sustainability Information Reporting
Guide. GreenFormat is a CSI system that allows manufacturers to accurately report the sustain-
ability measuring properties of their products, and provides designers, contractors, and building
operators with basic information to help meet green requirements. When using GreenFormat,
construction product manufacturers complete an online GreenFormat reporting questionnaire
that collects the sustainable information about their product. Data collected is presented in a
system for access when making sustainability design decisions. Access to the GreenFormat report
is available through www.greenformat.com. Users can print reports on specific products with
information grouped in categories covering product sustainability. New topics are added and
outdated topics are removed as sustainability issues evolve. The structure can be applied to all
construction products and product categories.
4. Write a report discussing the Green Building Initiative.
Green Building Initiative® (GBI) is a nonprofit organization that owns and administers the Green
Globes® green building assessment and certification in the United States and Canada. GBI was
established in 2004 and is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The GBI is dedicated to acceler-
ating the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier, and environ-
mentally sustainable buildings. The GBI seeks to be innovative and provide responsive customer
service by collectively moving toward a sustainable built environment. GBI recognizes that cred-
ible and practical green building approaches for commercial and governmental construction
are critical in this effort. Responding to the reality that one size does not fit all in sustainable
improvements, GBI seeks to create a tailored approach to sustainability that takes into account
building type, purpose, and occupants.
GBI became the first Building Rating Organization to become an American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) Developer. GBI used the ANSI process, recognized for being open, balanced,
and consensus-based, to create ANSI/GBI 01-2010: Green Building Assessment Protocol for
Commercial Buildings out of the Green Globes environmental design and assessment rating sys-
tem for new construction. In 2014, GBI began the process of updating the ANSI/GBI 01-2010
standard to keep the Green Globes New Construction Rating System timely and consensus-based.
Green Globes identifies opportunities and provides effective tools to achieve success. A nationally
recognized green rating assessment, guidance and certification program, Green Globes works
with the construction industry to realize sustainability goals for new construction projects, exist-
ing buildings and interiors.
Green Globes is a science-based building rating system that supports a wide range of new con-
struction and existing building project types. Designed to allow building owners and managers
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to select which sustainability features best fit their building and occupants, Green Globes recog-
nizes projects that meet at least 35 percent of 1000 available evaluation points. The Green Globes
custom-tailored approach helps produce the most sustainable outcomes based on building type
and purpose. The Green Globes cloud-based program provides project team members personal
access and upload information. This minimizes coordination time and shares documentation
tasks.
Green Globes provides support from an expert dedicated to each project. Green Globes third-
party assessors interact with project teams and building owners in real time to create partner-
ships throughout the process. The assessors are skilled in green building design best practices,
engineering, construction, and facility operations. Assessors review documentation, answer
questions, conduct on-site building assessments, and offer insightful suggestions to enhance sus-
tainable practices. The assessment concludes in providing a project with a score of up to 1000
points. The percentage of 1000 points given can grant one of the following Green Globes ratings:
Four Green Globes—85 to 100 percent: Demonstrated national leadership and excellence in
the practice of water, energy, and environmental efficiency to reduce environmental impacts
Three Green Globes—70 to 84 percent: Demonstrated leadership in applying best practices
regarding energy, water, and environmental efficiency
Two Green Globes—55 to 69 percent: Demonstrates excellent progress in achieving reduc-
tion of environmental impacts and use of environmental efficiency practices
One Green Globes—35 to 54 percent: Demonstrates a commitment to environmental effi-
ciency practices
5. Write a report describing Energy Star.
Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S.
Department of Energy created to help save money and protect the environment through energy-
efficient products and practices, and through superior product energy efficiency. Energy Star–
qualified construction must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the EPA. These
projects include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20 to 30 percent more
efficient than standard construction. Energy Star is independently verified to meet the require-
ments. Energy savings are based on heating, cooling, and hot water energy use and are typically
achieved through a combination of
• Building envelope upgrades: The building envelope consists of the roof, exterior walls,
and floor of a structure, forming a barrier that separates the interior of the building from
the outdoor environment.
• High-performance windows.
• Controlled air infiltration.
• Upgraded heating and air-conditioning systems.
• Tight duct systems.
• Upgraded water heating equipment.
These features contribute to improved quality, comfort, lower energy demand, and reduced air
pollution. Energy Star also encourages the use of energy-efficient lighting, appliances, and fea-
tures designed to improve indoor air quality. Verification of a home’s energy efficiency by a third
party is an essential step in getting the Energy Star label and certificate. Verification is generally
dependent on the construction method using a Builder Option Package (BOP). A BOP represents
a set of prescriptive construction specifications for a specific climate zone, based on performance
levels for the thermal envelope, insulation, windows, orientation, heating, ventilating, and air-
conditioning (HVAC) system, and water heating efficiency for the climate zone.
6. Write a report describing the function of net-zero energy or net metering.
Net-zero energy can be achieved with the help of energy producing systems, such as solar col-
lectors, photovoltaic modules, geothermal systems, wind generators, small-scale hydroelectric
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generators, or biopower. Net-zero energy means that the installation generates as much or more
energy than the facility consumes through the course of a year. To accomplish this, the instal-
lation is connected to the utility grid. The energy is fed into the power grid when more energy
is produced than needed, and the facility draws power back from the grid when not producing
enough electricity. The first step to reaching net-zero is consumption reduction. The less power
used, the lower the amount of power needs to be generated. The following provides a variety
of commercial construction applications and systems that are used to help achieve net-zero
energy.
7. Write a report describing passive solar systems, including information about south facing glass,
and use of high heat absorbance materials.
In passive solar architecture, the structure is designed so the sun directly and indirectly warms
the interior. A passive solar system allows sunlight to enter the structure and be absorbed into a
structural mass. The stored heat then warms the inside space during the day and also when the
sun has receded. Window coverings are used to control the amount of sunlight entering, and
vents help control temperature. The structure is the storage system in passive solar construction.
The amount of material needed to store heat depends on the amount of sunlight, the desired
temperature within the structure, and the ability of the material to store heat. Materials, such as
water, steel, concrete, and masonry, have good heat capacity. Several passive solar architectural
methods have been used individually and together, including south-facing glass, thermal storage
walls, roof ponds, solariums, and efficient envelope construction.
South-Facing Glass, Solariums, and Thermal Mass
Direct solar gain is heat created by the sun, which is captured in a structure through south-facing
windows. Large window areas facing south can provide up to 60 percent of a building’s heating
needs when the windows are insulated at night with tight-fitting insulated coverings. Heat gain
during the day is quickly lost when window insulation is not used at night. It is important for
energy from the sun to be retained in floors constructed of or covered with a high heat absor-
bance material, such as tile, brick, or concrete, and special walls made of concrete or masonry or
containing water tubes.
8. Write a report describing Active Solar Systems, including information about solar collectors,
photovoltaic modules, and storage.
The future looks bright for solar technologies. The costs and efficiencies of high-technology sys-
tems are improving. Solar alternatives should be considered as conventional heating and cooling
costs rise and become more concern about oil and gas shortages increase. A qualified solar engi-
neer should evaluate the site and recommend solar design alternatives when preparing a prelimi-
nary design. Additional assistance is usually available from the state or the national Department
of Energy.
Active solar systems are part of a group of green power systems. Green power is electricity
generated from resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and low-impact hydro
facilities.
Active solar systems for space heating use collectors to gather heat from the sun. The heat in the
collectors is transferred to a fluid, and moved to an area of heat storage. Heat stored in the sys-
tem is transported to the interior space by transferring the heat to air and transferring it though
insulated ducts, or by transferring the heat to water, and pumping the water through plumbing
fixtures. Ducts are the pipes used to move hot or cold air in a heating, air-conditioning, and ven-
tilation system. An active solar heating system generally requires a backup heating system that
is capable of handling the entire heating needs of the building when solar gain is reduced to a
minimum. A suitable backup system can include a forced-air system that uses the same ducts as
the solar system, or a ductless heat pump system. Heating and cooling systems are described in
Chapter 13, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Electrical Systems. The backup system is generally fueled
by electricity, natural gas, or oil.
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