Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1149506
W H I T E PA P E R 4 F I V E W AY S A N A R C H I T E C T C A N I N F L U E N C E S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y 4. Optimise your specifications The components of a building's envelope can be optimised to minimise energy use and improve indoor environment quality. The optimal specifications for windows, walls, and roofs vary ¬ not only based upon building type and climate, but also upon the specific design of the building, taking into account its form, orientation, shading strategies, glazing ratios, et cetera. More isn't always better when it comes to these characteristics. For instance, it is possible to have windows that are "too good" -- they keep out the sun's heat even when it would be beneficial. Other properties can exhibit diminishing returns. Understanding how these properties behave in a particular design is critical to identifying the most important places to invest in high-performing materials. 5. Understand & share design performance Behind all of these design measures is a more fundamental philosophy: That architects must truly understand how their designs work. This knowledge can bring sustainability into the realm of design, allowing architects to tackle the challenge of performance creatively, as an equal part of the design process. This means that architects must understand the forces driving energy use in their building, as well as the tradeoffs and dependencies between different design strategies. Is the building heating or cooling dominated? Is it driven primarily by internal or external loads? Which factors will have the biggest impact on performance? Fast, intuitive analysis can provide the data that designers need to answer these questions, and can help architects develop an instinctive understanding of their design. This shift in thinking can provide many benefits. It empowers architects to: • make better, more informed decisions more quickly, • be agile in response to changes as the design progresses, • communicate design decisions more effectively with clients and consultants, • apply creative problem-solving to performance goals from the outset of a project. Above: The graph shows how varying the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), thus influencing how much solar gain is transmitted into the building, can be optimised to find the minimum energy consumption. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is a measure of the solar energy transmittance of a window. This is sometimes also measured using the g-value.