Download or read book Sustainable Energy Consumption in Residential Buildings written by Klaus Rennings and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-07-30 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the residential buildings sector accounts for around 30 percent of the final energy demand in Germany, this sector is increasingly becoming the focus of public attention with regard to climate change. In this book, decisions on energy consumption by private households are examined. The analyses are based on several empirical methods. The results show that the road to more sustainable energy consumption in residential buildings is not hampered by a lack of will on behalf of the consumers. However one should be realistic that there are many instances where improving thermal institution involves additional economic costs for individual households.

Download or read book Real Prospects for Energy Efficiency in the United States written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2010-06-10 with total page 349 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: America's economy and lifestyles have been shaped by the low prices and availability of energy. In the last decade, however, the prices of oil, natural gas, and coal have increased dramatically, leaving consumers and the industrial and service sectors looking for ways to reduce energy use. To achieve greater energy efficiency, we need technology, more informed consumers and producers, and investments in more energy-efficient industrial processes, businesses, residences, and transportation. As part of the America's Energy Future project, Real Prospects for Energy Efficiency in the United States examines the potential for reducing energy demand through improving efficiency by using existing technologies, technologies developed but not yet utilized widely, and prospective technologies. The book evaluates technologies based on their estimated times to initial commercial deployment, and provides an analysis of costs, barriers, and research needs. This quantitative characterization of technologies will guide policy makers toward planning the future of energy use in America. This book will also have much to offer to industry leaders, investors, environmentalists, and others looking for a practical diagnosis of energy efficiency possibilities.

Download or read book Sustainability through Energy Efficient Buildings written by Amritanshu Shukla and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2018-03-20 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book covers chapters ranging from introduction to recent technological challenges, case studies of energy-efficient buildings with policy and awareness issues, fundamentals and present status along with research updates and future aspects on topics focusing on energy-efficient construction, materials Provides comprehensive information on energy efficient buildings including policy and energy audit aspects with case studies Examines application of PCMs in passive heating and cooling in buildings; role of active TES and energy saving potential

Download or read book Sustainability in Energy and Buildings written by Anne Hakansson and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-29 with total page 1092 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume contains the proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Sustainability in Energy and Buildings, SEB12, held in Stockholm, Sweden, and is organized by KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden in partnership with KES International. The International Conference on Sustainability in Energy and Buildings focuses on a broad range of topics relating to sustainability in buildings but also encompassing energy sustainability more widely. Following the success of earlier events in the series, the 2012 conference includes the themes Sustainability, Energy, and Buildings and Information and Communication Technology, ICT. The SEB’12 proceedings include invited participation and paper submissions across a broad range of renewable energy and sustainability-related topics relevant to the main theme of Sustainability in Energy and Buildings. Applicable areas include technology for renewable energy and sustainability in the built environment, optimization and modeling techniques, information and communication technology usage, behavior and practice, including applications.

Download or read book Energy Sustainability in Built and Urban Environments written by Emilia Motoasca and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-11-09 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book covers different aspects of energy sustainability in residential buildings and neighborhoods, starting from the construction and design aspects, and moving on to HVAC systems and lighting, and the applications, harvesting, use and storage of renewable energy. The volume focuses on smart and sustainable use of energy, discussing both the technological advancements and the economic, social and environmental impacts. Novel approaches to recycling of waste and materials in the context of residential buildings are also presented. This volume will be of interest to researchers and policy makers working in the fields of renewable energy, sustainable design and city planning.

Download or read book Energy Efficiency in Buildings written by José Manuel Andújar and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2020-04-28 with total page 412 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Buildings are one of the main causes of the emission of greenhouse gases in the world. Europe alone is responsible for more than 30% of emissions, or about 900 million tons of CO2 per year. Heating and air conditioning are the main cause of greenhouse gas emissions in buildings. Most buildings currently in use were built with poor energy efficiency criteria or, depending on the country and the date of construction, none at all. Therefore, regardless of whether construction regulations are becoming stricter, the real challenge nowadays is the energy rehabilitation of existing buildings. It is currently a priority to reduce (or, ideally, eliminate) the waste of energy in buildings and, at the same time, supply the necessary energy through renewable sources. The first can be achieved by improving the architectural design, construction methods, and materials used, as well as the efficiency of the facilities and systems; the second can be achieved through the integration of renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal, etc.) in buildings. In any case, regardless of whether the energy used is renewable or not, the efficiency must always be taken into account. The most profitable and clean energy is that which is not consumed.

Download or read book Home Energy Information written by David C. Green and published by Springer. This book was released on 2014-11-17 with total page 61 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book contains the data required to measure and manage energy consumption in residential buildings. This book describes energy information in detail so that any homeowner can measure energy use on a continuing basis, make decisions regarding how to conserve energy, implement improvements, then monitor the results of those improvements. In the past, it has been difficult to collect residential energy consumption data in real-time. This book helps overcome that challenge by teaching readers how to use self-installed data collection devices that monitor consumption of circuits or appliances, along with freely available information to benchmark against other homes in the area. It demonstrates how information derived from many sources, such as the kWh listed on an electric bill, can be combined into simple calculations that illuminate how well conservation efforts are working from day to day, month to month, or year to year. Homeowners have ultimate control over the decision making process required to realize energy savings. This book simplifies the tasks of collecting, calculating and reporting energy information to the homeowner, putting the power to conserve energy in the hands of the people who will ultimately benefit the most directly from conservation efforts.

Download or read book Energy Policy Instruments and Technical Change in the Residential Building Sector written by M. Beerepoot and published by IOS Press. This book was released on 2007-11-28 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Energy performance policy in the building sector - such as is described by EU Directive known as EPBD - has the aim of reducing energy consumption in buildings. Given the importance of the development of innovations in energy technology, and a transition to a sustainable energy supply system, it is necessary that policy instruments for energy conservation in the building sector stimulate the development and diffusion of innovations. This publication contributes to knowledge about the content of energy performance policy and concludes that the effect of energy performance policy in encouraging innovation is limited. The study of the innovation system of the Dutch construction industry identifies how the project-based nature of the construction industry is an obstacle to ‘learning-rich’ collaboration between the various stakeholders. The study contributes to the discussion about the impact of government policy for energy conservation in the building sector, in the context of climate change policy.

Download or read book Environmental Impacts During the Operational Phase of Residential Buildings written by Inge Blom and published by IOS Press. This book was released on 2010 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To date, the focus in the field of sustainable building has been on new building design. However, existing residential buildings inflict great environmental burden through three causes: continuous energy consumption, regular building maintenance and replacements. This publication analyses and compares these three causes of environmental burden and shows that material resources needed for replacements generally have a limited potential to reduce environmental impact. Reducing energy consumption for climate control and electrical appliances is much more effective. According to the author, sustainable measures should be tested for shifts in the kind of environmental impact caused due to the use of alternative types of energy resources and altered material quantities. The sustainability of the electricity supply is essential to decrease the total environmental impact of the residential building stock.

Download or read book Guideline for sustainable energy efficient architecture and construction written by Rückert, Klaus and published by Universitätsverlag der TU Berlin. This book was released on 2014-07-22 with total page 182 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nowadays there is an ever growing awareness regarding inevitable importance of sustainable development and its sub topics such as environment protection, ecology, resource saving, energy efficiency, etc. Due to massive and rapid development in recent years, this topic is getting more crucial in developing countries for instance Iran. It is getting more obvious that most of the development activities in absence of precise analysis of current conditions, as well as consequences of such activities, will lead to devastation of natural resources. The resources that is essential for further development of the country. Therefore, It is necessary to deal with sustainable development and environmental issues from the broader perspective, where includes items underlying immediate causes of environmental impact and at the same time tries to improve them. Sustainability or sustainable development is an umbrella covering many issues and aspects, among them energy, which is the key item, because energy consumption of buildings could have an impact on environment more than other aspects. Considering the huge portion of energy consumption in construction industry and housing sector, paying special attention to improvements in this sector is essential. Following this goal, the aim of this publication is to highlight procedures and practices which promote sustainable construction that is about creating a better quality of building and more healthy places to live in. Procedure of sustainable design includes various approaches and methods to develop energy efficient and environmentally sensitive buildings. Such approaches and methods demonstrate how to design, develop and construct all buildings in general and residential buildings in particular. Among various approaches towards sustainability, “Passive solar strategies” are well-known thanks to their cost efficiency and context friendliness of its principals and measures. The approach of passive design (architectural) strategies could be considered as the most applicable approach for resource saving and sustainability, thinking about special situation of Iran in particular and the Mena region in general. Such an approach requires paying special attention to climate, social characteristics of current or prospective inhabitants, topographical-physical characteristics as well as architectural characteristics of the understudied area. The relationships and interactions among society, building and its architecture and climate is “Site-specific” and dynamic. Therefore, they should be studied and properly analyzed throughout a specific project process for each certain place. The most expecting outcomes are precise definitions of passive design strategies, generally for buildings in MENA Region and especially for Iran. This publication is prepared in the young cities project framework, as the reasonable outcome of the developed pilot projects. The book starts with introducing the target group, related definitions and a brief overview on a conventional approach and its impact on environment. This chapter ends up with a brief review on benefits of applying sustainable guidelines. As the next step, after analyzing the climate and its relationship with thermal comfort and building, the main principals of passive solar design are introduced. The selected principles are: orientation, day-lighting, shading, thermal mass, insulation and ventilation. After a brief introduction of the principals, each one is explained in detail through its general principles and design strategies. Sustainable construction is examined based on its main pillars: construction systems, building elements, ecological building materials, and applicable measures for building physic. Construction systems are sorted out in six main groups as: block work- brick infill, block work- lightweight block infill, conventional panels, light weight steel frame, tunnel form structural system and precast modular. All selected systems are introduced based on following factors: brief description of the building concept, factory production, insulation, wastage, finishes, labor, installation, transport- lifting, services, hydronic cooling/ heating and safety. Then main building elements are examined. Here the elements are limited to: foundations, walls, floors, roofs, doors and windows. After a short description, different types of each element are introduced. Ecological building materials are investigated in chapter four. To find a base to compare, several common criteria are selected such as: embodied energy, pollution and waste, local production, reusability and recyclability, durability and interdependency. Applicable measures for building physic are examined in chapter five. The selected main measures are as follows: insulation, glazing, thermal mass, day-lighting, shading, ventilation and air-tightness. After describing the general principles of each measure, several recommendations in frame of design considerations are provided. Die enorme Bedeutung nachhaltiger Projekte wie Umweltschutz, Ökologie, sparsamer Umgang mit Rohstoffen, Energieeffizienz usw. dringt immer stärker in unser Bewusstsein. Aufgrund der massiven und rasanten Entwicklung in den Schwellenländern, z. B. Iran, gewinnen Umweltschutz und Nachhaltigkeit immer mehr an Relevanz. Ein einseitiges Wirtschaftswachstum, ohne Berücksichtigung ökologischer und klimatischer Bedingungen, verursacht die Zerstörung der Umwelt und Rohstoffe, Ressourcen, die für die weitere Entwicklung der Länder unverzichtbar sind. Es ist unumgänglich, sich umfassend mit nachhaltiger Entwicklung und ökologischen Aspekten auseinanderzusetzen, die unmittelbaren Auswirkungen auf die Umwelt zu erfassen und gleichzeitig Möglichkeiten einer Optimierung aufzuzeigen. Nachhaltigkeit und Umweltschutz erfassen eine Vielzahl von Themen und Aspekten, u. a. den Energieverbrauch; ein wesentlicher Faktor, da der Energieverbrach in Gebäuden den größten Einfluss auf die Umweltbilanz hat. In Anbetracht des enormen Energieverbrauchs in Bauwirtschaft und Wohnungsbau ist es unerlässlich, gerade in diesem Bereich eine Optimierung in der weiteren Entwicklung zu verfolgen. Diesem Ziel folgend, werden in dieser Publikation Verfahren und Methoden, für nachhaltige Bauweisen, unter Berücksichtigung einer besseren Bauqualität und gesundheitlicher Aspekte, erläutert. Die Maßnahmen nachhaltigen Designs beinhalten verschiedene Ansätze und Methoden, energieeffiziente und umweltfreundliche Gebäude zu entwickeln. Sie zeigen Entwurf, Konstruktion und bauliche Ausführung von Gebäuden im Allgemeinen und Wohngebäuden im speziellen. Neben den verschiedenen Ansätzen sind die „passive solar strategies“ die wohl namhaftesten Methoden, da diese sehr rentabel und daher für Bauherren attraktiv sind. Angesichts der speziellen Situation im Iran im Besonderen und der MENA-Region im Allgemeinen, könnten die passiven Design- (Architektur-) Strategien als eine der am besten anzuwendenden Methoden für Rohstoffeffizienz und Nachhaltigkeit betrachtet werden. Dies setzt eine besondere Berücksichtigung des dortigen Klimas, der sozialen Charakteristiken derzeitiger oder zukünftiger Einwohner als auch der topographisch-physischen und architektonischen Charakteristiken der betroffenen Region voraus. Beeinflussung und Beziehungen zwischen Gesellschaft, Gebäuden, Architektur und Klima sind „lokal spezifisch“ und dynamisch. Deshalb sollten diese Faktoren für jeden Standort neu geprüft und analysiert werden. Die Resultate dieser Analysen, allgemein für Gebäude in der MENA-Region und im Besonderen im Iran, zeigen deutlich die Überlegenheit von passiven Designstrategien. Diese Publikation ist das Resultat der entwickelten Pilotprojekte im Rahmen des Young Cities-Projektes. Sie beginnt mit der Vorstellung der Zielgruppe, relevanten Definitionen und einem kurzem Überblick des konventionellen Ansatzes und dessen Einfluss auf die Umwelt. Das Kapitel endet mit einem kurzen Rückblick über den Nutzen nachhaltiger Bauweise. Nach Analyse des Klimas und seine Beziehung zu thermischem Komfort und Gebäuden werden die wichtigsten Prinzipien passiver Solarenergie vorgestellt: Orientierung, Tageslicht, Schatten, thermale Masse, Isolierung und Ventilierung; ihre Grundlagen und Designstrategien detailliert erläutert. Nachhaltige Konstruktion und deren Hauptpfeiler, Bausysteme, Bauelemente, ökologische Bauelemente und anwendbare Maßnahmen für die Bauphysik, werden anschließend beleuchtet. Dabei wurden die Konstruktionssysteme in sechs Hauptgruppen gegliedert: Ziegeleinfüllung, leichtgewichtige Ziegeleinfüllung, klassische Füllwände, leichtgewichtige Stahlrahmen, tunnelförmige Struktursysteme und vorgefertigte Modelle. Anhand folgender Faktoren werden diese eingehend dargestellt: Baukonzepts, Fabrikproduktion, Isolierung, Abnutzung, Verarbeitung, Arbeitsaufwand, Installierung, Transport-Beförderung, Services, hydronische Kühlung/Heizung und Sicherheit. Die Hauptbauelemente wie Unterbau, Wände, Boden, Dächer, Türen und Fenster werden beschrieben und verschiedene Baureihen dieser vorgestellt. Das vierte Kapitel befasst sich mit ökologischen Baumaterialien. Um hierbei eine vergleichbare Basis zu finden, wurden gemeinsame Kriterien ausgewählt: graue Energie, Verschmutzung und Abfall, lokale Produktion, Wiederverwendung und Recycling, Nachhaltigkeit und Interdependenzen. Im fünften Kapitel werden anwendbare Maßnahmen für die Bauphysik, wie Isolierung, Lasur, Wärmemasse, Tageslicht, Schatten, Ventilation und Luftdichte, untersucht, deren Grundlagen beschrieben und Empfehlungen bezüglich der Gestaltung präsentiert

Download or read book Active House Smart Nearly Zero Energy Buildings written by Lone Feifer and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-06-14 with total page 138 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book provides an overview of the Active House (AH) vision, intended as a building design method “beyond” the passive approach for buildings of the future that will be more and more connected, smart and innovative. It offers a novel philosophical design approach in which buildings, new or renovated, are in balance with natural, renewable energies and become “concentrators-distributors” of energies instead of being consumers of resources. The book is composed of five chapters, providing information on fundamental aspects of innovations toward resource-efficient buildings, as well as case studies presenting the concept in practice. It demonstrates that a completely new design approach is possible, and that a turning point has been reached. Lastly, it shows how the AH Alliance, along with designers, institutions, industries and academies, is bringing a breath of fresh air to the world of construction.

Download or read book The New Net Zero written by Bill Maclay and published by Chelsea Green Publishing. This book was released on 2014 with total page 578 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The new threshold for green building is not just low energy, it's net-zero energy. In The New Net Zero, sustainable architect Bill Maclay charts the path for designers and builders interested in exploring green design's new-frontier net-zero-energy structures that produce as much energy as they consume and are carbon neutral. In a nation where traditional buildings use roughly 40 percent of the total fossil energy, the interest in net-zero building is growing enormously--among both designers interested in addressing climate change and consumers interested in energy efficiency and long-term savings. Maclay, an award-winning net-zero designer whose buildings have achieved high-performance goals at affordable costs, makes the case for a net-zero future; explains net-zero building metrics, integrated design practices, and renewable energy options; and shares his lessons learned on net-zero teambuilding. Designers and builders will find a wealth of state-of-the-art information on such considerations as air, water, and vapor barriers; embodied energy; residential and commercial net-zero standards; monitoring and commissioning; insulation options; costs; and more. The comprehensive overview is accompanied by several case studies, which include institutional buildings, commercial projects, and residences. Both new-building and renovation projects are covered in detail. The New Net Zero is geared toward professionals exploring net-zero design, but also suitable for nonprofessionals seeking ideas and strategies on net-zero options that are beautiful and renewably powered.

Download or read book Solution Sets for Net Zero Energy Buildings written by Françios Garde and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2017-06-19 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Net Zero-Energy Buildings have been the object of numerous studies in recent years as various countries have set this performance level as a long-term goal of their energy policies. This book presents a unique study of 30 NZEBs that have been constructed and have had their performance measured for at least 12 months. The study is based upon an international collaborative research initiated by the International Energy Agency - the Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (SHC). It is the first book to evaluate building strategies in houses, educational buildings and offices that have been demonstrated to work in practice. It examines how the design challenges of climate and building type have been addressed, and to what extent the various design approaches have been successful. This book presents convincing evidence that a careful re-thinking of conventional design norms can achieve a far greater performance benefit than is normally feasible. It identifies `solution sets? that work at the whole building level and at the individual building design challenge level for each climate and building type. In doing so, the book provides guidance as to how to improve the design by learning from these cases. Unusually for a book of this type it has examples of buildings in what are conventionally labeled "hot" and "cold" climates. A simple process is proposed for the reader to commission the analysis of their own climate to assess not only the conventional measure of how hot or cold or humid it is, but also to assess its suitability to support other NZEB technical challenge solutions sets such as Daylight or Natural Ventilation or comfort based climate conditioning.

Download or read book Optimal Design and Retrofit of Energy Efficient Buildings Communities and Urban Centers written by Moncef Krarti and published by Butterworth-Heinemann. This book was released on 2018-03-27 with total page 646 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Optimal Design and Retrofit of Energy Efficient Buildings, Communities, and Urban Centers presents current techniques and technologies for energy efficiency in buildings. Cases introduce and demonstrate applications in both the design of new buildings and retrofit of existing structures. The book begins with an introduction that includes energy consumption statistics, building energy efficiency codes, and standards and labels from around the world. It then highlights the need for integrated and comprehensive energy analysis approaches. Subsequent sections present an overview of advanced energy efficiency technologies for buildings, including dynamic insulation materials, phase change materials, LED lighting and daylight controls, Life Cycle Analysis, and more. This book provides researchers and professionals with a coherent set of tools and techniques for enhancing energy efficiency in new and existing buildings. The case studies presented help practitioners implement the techniques and technologies in their own projects. Introduces a holistic analysis approach to energy efficiency for buildings using the concept of energy productivity Provides coverage of individual buildings, communities and urban centers Includes both the design of new buildings and retrofitting of existing structures to improve energy efficiency Describes state-of-the-art energy efficiency technologies Presents several cases studies and examples that illustrate the analysis techniques and impact of energy efficiency technologies and controls

Download or read book Energy Efficient Building Design written by Ana-Maria Dabija and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-04-11 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is the result of recent research that deals with the built environment and innovative materials, carried out by specialists working in universities and centers of research in different professional fields ─ architecture, engineering, physics ─ and in an area that that spans from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf, and from South Eastern Europe to the Middle East. This book takes the necessity of re-shaping the concept of building design in order to transform buildings from large scale energy consumers to energy savers and producers into consideration. The book is organized in two parts: theory and case studies. For the theoretical part, we chose from the wide range of sources that provide energy efficient materials and systems the two that seem to be endless: the sun and vegetation. Their use in building products represents a tool for specialists in the architectural design concept. The case-studies presented analyze different architectural programs, in different climates, from new buildings to rehabilitation approaches and from residential architecture to hospitals and sports arenas; each case emphasizes the interdisciplinarity of the building design activity in order to help readers gain a better understanding of the complex approach needed for energy efficient building design

Download or read book Energy Efficient Buildings written by Eng Hwa Yap and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2017-01-18 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book discusses energy efficient buildings and the role they play in our efforts to address climate change, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by considering buildings and the construction sector's unique position along a critical path to decarbonisation from a multi-perspective and holistic viewpoint. Topics covered in the book range from daylighting, building topology comparison, building envelope design, zero energy homes in hot arid regions, life-cycle considerations and energy efficiency analysis to managing energy demand through equipment selection. Each chapter addresses an important aspect of energy efficient building and serves as a vital building block towards constructing a timely and relevant body of knowledge in energy efficient buildings.

Download or read book Advancements in Sustainable Architecture and Energy Efficiency written by González-Lezcano, Roberto A. and published by IGI Global. This book was released on 2021-06-18 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Thermal comfort and indoor air quality (IAQ) issues have gained significant interest in the scientific and technical community involved in building performance analysis and other related subjects. In terms of thermal comfort, the achievement and maintenance of a thermally acceptable indoor environment is affected by energy costs, and energy poverty is a widespread problem globally. There is a call for energy-efficient architecture for a developed and sustainable world. However, with the use of renewable energy that increased considerably in recent years, new technical challenges arose for the energy sector. Consumers are key players in this context, as flexibility in demand is crucial to cope with the intermittent nature of most renewable energy sources. Active demand-side participation is particularly important to ensure the efficient use of locally and globally available energy. Sustainability, human comfort, and healthy living environments have become top priorities. Advancements in Sustainable Architecture and Energy Efficiency explores how housing is a key health factor for individuals and looks at factors such as air quality, ventilation, hygrothermal comfort, lighting, physical environment, building efficiency, and other areas as important pieces in healthy architecture. It discusses how the poor application of these parameters can directly affect human health and how sustainable architecture provides a solution. Beyond just labeling the important facets of architecture for healthy living, this book will look at different perspectives of energy consumption and demand to ensure sustainable energy, increased energy efficiency, improved energy policies, and reasonable energy costs for homes. This book is ideal for architects, designers, engineers, energy engineers, environmental scientists, practitioners, researchers, academicians, and students interested in architecture that is both conducive to healthy living and energy efficiency.