Green and Sustainable Design
Key concepts in SWA’s sustainable design for new and existing buildings revolve around whole building integration: the interaction between the site, climate, building mass, building construction, mechanical systems, and occupant use patterns. The goal is to find synergies and efficiencies inherent in the whole.
Initial steps in the process include analysis of favorable site and climate conditions, passive solar strategies, climate-appropriate building construction, and efficiencies in lighting and appliances. Requirements for space conditioning are addressed with smaller, efficient, and well-controlled mechanical systems. Savings achieved by smaller HVAC systems are used for better walls, windows, roofs, and lighting.
SWA reviews indoor air quality, material requirements, construction assemblies, water use, waste management, and anticipated maintenance procedures. Strategies and technologies identified here support and enhance the design concepts generated in the building review, and provide additional environmental and operational benefits.
Results of this sustainable design approach are reduced operating costs and environmental benefits balanced with first-cost expenditures and system flexibility.
Projects:
Improving the built environment through research, sustainable design and technology. © 2008 Steven Winter Associates, Inc.