Architecture Studies

Students of a UNLV School of Architecture class in sustainability have started a blog which outlines some interesting ideas for the UNLV campus.

Here is the introduction they have provided about the blog:
"In Fall 2007, Alfredo Fernandez-Gonzalez offered AAE 495/695 Special Topics in Sustainable Development. The class project initially entailed its 17 students to scour the UNLV campus to find "missed opportunities" in regards to sustainability. The following are ideas that sparked interest from UNLV Facilities or provided more opportunities for research and education."

Check out the blog at
http://unlvsustainability.blogspot.com/

Thanks to student Tim Albertson for the blog information!

This URL was posted on the listserv for the Society of Building Science Educators. Humorous short video on solar gain!

http://current.com/items/87604641_ecospot_runner_up_cheeto_and_vinn

The Chronicle of Higher Education has produced a four-minute audio slide presentation on the current Solar Decathalon in D.C. They show some of the houses and talk to some of the students.

http://chronicle.com/media/flash/v54/i09/solar/

And of course see the winners on the Solar Decathalon site http://www.solardecathlon.org/

Have a look at the "Black Balloon" video
http://whatcounts.com/t?ctl=190CD0C:391D43A6D25FEF1F5A0555344F88DB4AFDF24EE4C962
This short video helps in visualizing how our daily actions produce global warming.

Thanks to former UNLV School of Architecture faculty Richard Beckman for forwarding the information on this!

The Chronicle of Higher Education [available through Libraries' subscription to UNLV faculty, students and staff] reports on a project by University of Cincinnati architecture students that will be entered in the US Dept of Energy Third Annual Solar Decathlon. The article and short video are at http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i45/45a04001.htm?=attw

WorldChanging July 11, 2007 has a summary of web sites dealing with climate change. The sites range from those providing insight into how the idea that there was no problem with the climate came to be promoted, to those which provide the scientific consensus (and facts) that we do in fact have a problem! duh! The article is by Alex Steffen.

http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007016.html

The American Institute of Architects has announced the 2007 Committee on the Environment Awards for the top ten green projects. http://www.aia.org/press2_template.cfm?pagename=release_042307_COTE

For us west coasters, there are two in California and one in Oregon -- with a second Oregon one among the honorable mentions. Although Nevada had a winner last year, this year we did not place.

Greening America's Schools: Costs and Benefits http://www.resourcesaver.com/ewebeditpro/items/O59F10148.pdf by Gregory Kats was recently released (date on the report is October 2006). Sponsors of the report include the American Institute of Architects and the U.S. Green Building Council.

An interesting study -- however a caveat has been posted on the Society of Building Science Educators list: the study uses LEED credits to indicate a level of "green" that may not be substantiated with actual tests. [It is generally acknowledged that estimates of energy use prior to building often do not pan out in practice.]

A previous report by Gregory Kats dated December 2005 is on a similar topic: National Review of Green Schools: Costs, Benefits, and Implications for Massachusetts. http://www.cap-e.com/ewebeditpro/items/O59F7707.pdf

If you are looking for news on energy and environmental policy, one of the Libraries subscription databases covers just that: Greenwire. It can be found in the Libraries list of databases http://www.library.unlv.edu/search/databases/index.html#G

Greenwire describes itself thusly:
"With an average of more than 20 stories a day, Greenwire covers the complete spectrum, from electricity industry restructuring to Clean Air Act litigation to public lands management."

Thanks to the Libraries' Government Publications specialist Sidney Lowe for alerting me to this valuable resource. (Some of you may remember Sidney from her days in the Architecture Studies Library!)

The Global Emergency Teach-In web cast held Feb. 20 will be available online on Feb. 23 at
http://www.2010imperative.org/webcast.html

Having already seen Ed Mazria speak at UNLV School of Architecture last fall, as part of the Klai Juba lecture series, I confess I was hoping for more than statistics and what is -- for those that have attended the lecture, explored the Architecture 2030 web site http://architecture2030.org/and embraced the 2010 Imperative initiative http://www.2010imperative.org/ -- a fairly standard message.

Speaker Chris Luebkeman of ARUP did mention three ARUP projects that will be of interest:
Dongtan Eco-city http://www.arup.com/eastasia/project.cfm?pageid=7047, Beddington Zero Energy Development in London http://www.arup.com/feature.cfm?pageid=5844, and The Gap Headquarters Builidng in San Bruno California http://www.savingsbydesign.com/awards-2000/2000awards.html#gap.

The Panel Discussion in the afternoon in the Architecture Studies Library was lively and informative. It was taped curtesy of Randy Hale, and will soon be available for viewing in the Architecture Studies Library. Speakers are listed on the ASL web site at http://www.library.unlv.edu/arch/events/2007_2010teachin.html

The Panel was organized and moderated by NEAT Lab Director Alfredo Fernandez-Gonzalez. The NEAT Lab has produced 2030 Challenge- Environmental Design in the Face of Climate Change DVD which will soon go to all NAAB accredited architecture schools. The DVD was developed by the NEAT Laboratory to increase the environmental literacy of students, faculty, and practicing professionals in the architecture, planning, and design communities. The NEAT Lab web site http://www.unlv.edu/labs/neatl/ has other tools of interest.

Several challenges or suggestions for how to proceed to bring the UNLV Campus to carbon neutral. More on this in a separate posting.

Campuses all over the country are committing to reducing carbon emissions and doing their part to fight global warming. What will UNLV do? At the panel discussion in the ASL following the emergency teach-in today, Alfredo Fernandez-Gonzalez outlined the steps that need to be taken.

To learn more about the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment go to http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/html/commitment.php

The global emergency teach-in to discuss the role of the building professions in addressing the crisis in our environment happens this Tuesday 9am -12:30 pm PST. [See related blog postings on the 2010 Imperative and the 2030 Challenge.]

The teach-in is via online transmission and response. There will be three venues on the UNLV campus for the transmission:

Moyer Student Union Theater (UNLV students, faculty, and staff ONLY)
Architecture Building Auditorium - ARC 127 (open to the public)
Architecture Studies Library (open to the public)

The morning teach-in will be followed by a panel discussion in the Architecture Studies Library from 2pm - 3:30.

The Natural Energies Advanced Technologies (NEAT) Laboratory, the UNLV School of Architecture, and the Architecture Studies Library invite you to the Global Emergency Teach-in: The 2010 Imperative! Join us!

[thanks to School of Architecture faculty member and Director of the NEAT Laboratory Alfredo Fernandez-Gonzalez for allowing me to crib from his campus announcement of the event. He will also be making an important announcement at the afternoon's panel discussion -- you won't want to miss it!)

Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis has recently been issued by the United Nations http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM2feb07.pdf and is already being widely discussed.

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports on discussions in Congress in an article titled "House Hearing on Global Warming Features Politics, Research, and Flatulent Dinosaurs." http://chronicle.com/daily/2007/02/2007020901n.htm

These DVDs on sustainability and related issues just arrived in the Architecture Studies Library.

HC 79 E5 S8642 2004 Sustainable environments [DVD]
HT 352 U6 E53 2004 The End of suburbia: oil depletion and the collapse of the American dream [DVD]
NA 2542.36 S872 2004 Sustainable architecture [DVD]
SB 457.9 E53 S872 2004 The Sustainable landscape: ecological design principles [DVD]
TA 403.6 R472 2005 Resourceful materials and methods for building construction [DVD]
TH 4860 B85 2005 Building with awareness (+ text) [DVD]
TH 4860 G74 2006 Green building: your edge in the home building marketplace [DVD]
TL 220 W48 2006 Who killed the electric car [DVD]

The Regional Animal Campus by Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects of Las Vegas was the winner of one of the 2006 top ten green projects awards from AIA's Committee on the Environment.

The AIA/COTE description of the project is at
http://aiatopten.org/hpb/overview.cfm?ProjectID=658

More information on the Architecture Studies Library web pages on this project can be found at http://www.library.unlv.edu/arch/aia/awa2005/b05065.html and in the Architects and Buildings Database at http://www.library.unlv.edu/arch/archdb/arch.php

The news release came out in April of 2006, so this is not exactly news. But it was brought to my attention lately that it is important to highlight what we are doing in Las Vegas to forward the green agenda. This project is one outstanding example.

Metropolis Magazine has a nice offering of online content. It is labeled as "continuing education" but you need not register to read the materials.

There are several continuing education segments dealing with green design, including "Green Interior Design" and "Urban Eco-Sustainable Networks."

http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/continuing_education.php

A January 18, 2007 posting on Worldchanging titled "Multifamily, Affordable, Urban and Green" explores housing that is both sustainable and affordable. http://www.worldchanging.com/archives//005850.html

The posting refers to projects on both the east and west coast.

The ASL has recently acquired the book Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century. HC79 E5 W676 2006

It is described as "a compendium of the most innovative solutions, ideas and inventions emerging today for building a sustainable, livable, prosperous future."

Sustainable materials are a key ingredient to both responsible architecture and technological and design innovation. Such is the message of two books recently received in the Architecture Studies Library:

Transmaterial: A Catalog of Materials that Redefine Our Physical Environment
TA403.6 T73 2006

and

Material Connexion: The Global Resource of New and Innovative Materials for Architects, Artists, and Designers
TA403.6 B4568 2005

Both titles are in the library's reference section.

Both titles have a backstory.

Transmaterial is a labor of love of architect Blaine Brownell of NBBJ. An article in Architect (November/December 2006, 80-87) details his activities and interests. Mentioned in the article is his blog at http://transstudio.com/tm/ -- also on the subject of new ecology-friendly materials.

Material Connexion has offices in several locations in the world, including New York. They sell a subscription to their database of products. The ASL does not currently subscribe. If you would be interested in the library pursuing a subscription, let me know! More information about Material Connexion is at http://www.materialconnexion.com/pa1.asp

BuildingGreen has announced this years top 10 green building products. The list and further information is available at http://www.buildinggreen.com/press/topten2006/index.cfm One product that seems especially interesting is a way of turning concrete into a source of renewable energy credits!

The top products were selected by the editors of Environmental Building News.

The Libraries subscribes to BuildingGreen Suite which includes Environmental Building News and GreenSpec, the product directory. [Go to http://www.library.unlv.edu/search/databases/index.html#B and scroll down for the title.]

Federal Computer Week fcw.com reports in a November 20 article by Michael Hardy that the U.S. "General Services Administration has mandated that new buildings designed through its Public Buildings Service use building information modeling in the design stage." For GSA, even in this initial application, BIM has the advantage of allowing simplified checking of energy efficiencies and other data-based components.

The potential power of BIM (Building Information Modelling) beyond the design stage is touched upon in this short article.

The Architecture Studies Library reference section has a title of interest to anyone hunting for a program in sustainable design. The title is Ecological Design and Building Schools, and the author is Sandra Leibowitz Earley [Oakland: New Village Press, 2005]. Call number NA2108 E27 2005. Both continuing education and academic degree programs are covered, as well as programs not affiliated with colleges and universities. The book also includes a history of sustainability education initiatives which makes very interesting reading.

Unfortunately no programs are listed for Nevada, although a few online courses are included.

The Stern Review Report on the Economics of Climate Change is must reading. The summary of conclusions is at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/8A8/C1/Summary_of_Conclusions.pdf

The full report can be read at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/stern_review_economics_climate_change/stern_review_report.cfm

This report from the British government strongly states that although it will cost us to make necessary changes to reduce greenhouse emissions, the costs are much less than the cost will be to deal with the consequences of unabated climate change. They estimate that if we [and by "we" they mean everyone -- it IS a global problem] don't act soon and forcefully the world will be facing a major upheaval on the scale of a world war or the great depression.

The full report is in six sections:

Climate change: our approach
Impacts of climate change on growth and development
Economics of stabilisation
Policy responses for mitigation
Policy responses for adaptation
International collective action

The first speaker in the Klai Juba Lecture Series "The 2030 Challenge: Environmental Design in the Face of Climate Change" was Ed Mazria. The posting in this blog on the 2010 Imperative relates highlights from his lecture. The tape of his presentation is in the Architecture Studies Library. More on Ed Mazria and his accomplishments is at http://www.library.unlv.edu/arch/events/lectures/edwardmazria.html

Pliny Fisk spoke at the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Architecture on October 20. The tape of his presentation is now available in the Architecture Studies Library. The announcement of his lecture http://www.library.unlv.edu/arch/events/lectures/plinyfiskIII.html, the 2nd in this fall's Klai Juba Lecture Series, includes a brief summary of Fisk's work in sustainable design. More can be found on the web pages of his non-profit organization The Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems http://www.cmpbs.org/

The third speaker in the series, John Reynolds, spoke Nov. 1. The announcement gives more information: http://www.library.unlv.edu/arch/events/lectures/johnreynolds.html. The tape of his presentation will soon be available!

The last speaker is Susan Roaf, speaking Monday, Nov. 6. The announcement is at http://www.library.unlv.edu/arch/events/lectures/susanroaf.html

This series has been fabulous!! Many thanks to Klai Juba Architects for sponsoring the series. Kudos to Alfredo Fernandez-Gonzalez for putting together an outstanding slate of speakers.

The role of landscape architecture in sustainability initiatives and responses to global warming is critical. The recognition of this reality was front and center at the recent American Society of Landscape Architects conference in early October. The theme of the conference was "Green Solutions for a Blue Planet." ASLA met jointly with the International Federation of Landscape Architects, and the international perspective was certainly appropriate for this world-wide issue. A student report on the conference can be found at http://www.planetizen.com/node/21561. Another report by a graduate student / professional landscape architect is at http://www.planetizen.com/node/21562.

The Architecture Studies Library has several titles worth examining on the topic of landscape architecture and sustainability. Here are a few:

Regenerative Design Techniques: Practical Applications in Landscape Design by Pete Melby and Tom Cathcart [SB472.45 M45 2002]

Ecology Community and Delight: Sources of Values in Landscape Architecture by Ian H. Thompson [SB472 T48 2000]

Landscape Planning: Environmental Applications by William M. Marsh [HD 108.6 M37 2005]
Note: this title includes case studies such as "Modifying Urban Climate and Reducing energy Use Through Landscape Design."

Ecology and Design: Frameworks for Learning by Bart Johnson and Kristina Hill [SB472.45 E39 2002; also available as an e-book] Note: approaches to teaching ecology in landscape architecture studio and classes.

There is much more on this topic. and much more to say. For the moment let me just add one more citation, an article specifically on reducing carbon emissions: "Indirect Carbon Reduction by Residential Vegetation and Planting Strategies in Chicago, USA" in the Journal of Environmental Management 61, no. 2 (February 2001): 165-177. The abstract notes that "the effects of shading, evapotranspiration, and windspeed reduction were considered and were found to have decreased carbon emissions by 3.2 to 3.9% per year...."

Who has not yet calculated their personal ecological footprint? If you have not yet done so, go to the Earth Day Footprint Quiz site http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp and spend about 15 minutes to determine how close to the norm you are.

Of course being average is none too admirable. The World Wildlife Fund issued its Living Planet Report Oct. 23. (The news release is at
http://www.worldwildlife.org/news/displayPR.cfm?prID=322 and contains a link to the actual report at the end.) One of the two indexes reported on is the Ecological Footprint for the world, which has "tripled between 1961 and 2003. This report shows that humanity's ecological footprint exceeded biocapacity by 25 per cent in 2003. In the previous Living Planet Report 2004 (based on data to 2001), this figure was 21 per cent." And the U.S. had the second highest ecological footprint.

In the better news category, the WorldChanging web site team, citing a Reuters article, reports Oct. 26 on the use of wind turbines in 80,000 single-family homes in Great Britain. http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/005162.html

We sure get a lot of wind in Southern Nevada.

I'd like to draw your attention to two resources that have the potential to be basic tools in addressing the most immediate of the 2010 Imperative challenge to professional design schools: that "all projects be designed to engage the environment in ways that dramatically reduce or eliminate the need for fossil fuels."

The first is a subscription database/site to which UNLV Libraries subscribes: BuildingGreen Suite. Since it is by subscription the instructions on how to access it apply only to UNLV library patrons. Go to http://www.library.unlv.edu/search/databases/index.html#B and select BuildingGreen from the alphabetical list. On the BuildingGreen site is a substantial directory of green building products and Environmental Building News. The Suite itself is described on the site thusly: "The BuildingGreen Suite integrates online versions of GreenSpec, Environmental Building News, and a database of more than 100 high-performance building case studies."

The second is a freely available site from the University of Minnesota College of Architecture. Their Sustainable Design Guide http://www.sustainabledesignguide.umn.edu/default.htm is seen as a design tool. It provides goals and strategies in six areas: waste, water, materials, energy, site, and interior environment. Each section is divided into subsections. Each subsection has resources, actions, and examples. Students wanting to apply this guide to their projects will be rewarded with both guidance and information. There is also a documents section which provides the framework for project evaluation, in environmental terms.

A colleague suggested the Industrial Designers Society of America Ecodesign Section site as a source of extensive information on materials and curricula and links relevant to eco literacy [thanks Heather!]. It is a site that will take a while to explore since it is extremely rich.

http://www.idsa.org/whatsnew/sections/ecosection/index.html

The links section alone is worth the visit!
http://www.idsa.org/whatsnew/sections/ecosection/selectedlinks.html

Yesterday, Sept. 25, Ed Mazria spoke to a full house in the Architecture Studies Library. Attendees at this first of the 2006-2007 Klai Juba Lecture Series included students, faculty, and architects. The video/DVD will be available in the ASL in the near future.

Ed Mazria is the force behind the 2030 Challenge. The challenge is to create carbon neutral building by 2030. The incremental steps to achieve this goal are outlined at http://www.architecture2030.org/open_letter/index.html

The lecture highlighted the role of the building industry in global warming and the responsibility and power that lies with architects to save humans on the planet. The American Institute of Architects has accepted the 2030 Challenge, putting them in a leadership role. LEED is now lagging in advocating the standards needed to halt global warming.

Ed Mazria called on today's architecture, planning, engineering, and landscape students to step up as well. He issued the 2010 Imperative here, at UNLV, for the first time -- to be followed up this week with a series of lectures at California architecture schools. The 2010 Imperative is a challenge to professional schools to look to their programs and their facilities to achieve the following by 2010:

1. beginning next semester, "all projects be designed to engage the environment in ways that dramatically reduce or eliminate the need for fossil fuels"

2. by 2010, achieve complete ecological literacy in professional design education

3. make the school's facility carbon neutral -- either by renovation or by buying credits if necessary.

There will be a global emergency teach-in February 2007 on the 2010 Imperative. It will last 3 1/2 hours and go to schools all over the world. More information will be forthcoming.