Construction Ecology Module 12

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Construction EcologyModule 12

• Green architecture
• Malcolm Wells

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Outline

• Introduction
• Trends in the World Today
• Underground Buildings
• Conclusions

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Life on Earth

• Humans have become Earths master tinkerers
  without really understanding all the parts and
  the ways they interact-Aldo Leopold
• In the USA buildings are responsible for 35 of
  all the CO2 emissions.

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Building Materials

• Life cycles of the materials and their use are
  controllable by the designers and developers of
  the buildings.
• Knowing this, buildings are still built as though
  there are infinite amounts of resources available.

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BUPATO

• Buildings Paving Toxic Green Lawns
• Architectures message to future generations it
  is okay to build dead buildings on formerly
  living land
• How can we change perceptions so we can find a
  friendlier way to build.

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Underground Buildings

• Overcoming Prejudices
• Damp Tunnels, Wet Basements and Caves
• Mold, Mildew and Insects
• Reality
• Light, Dry and Comfortable
• Green and Friendly

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Construction

• Structure is commonplace
• Waterproofing
• Insulation
• Soil
• Mulch
• Plants

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Section of an Underground Structure
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Structure

• Concrete
• Allow concrete to cure and then make sure it is
  smooth
• Timber Framing or Steel
• Has to be coated with waterproofing to prevent
  rot or rust

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Waterproofing

• Sheets or Liquid Membrane
• Care must be taken not to puncture the sheets
• If Liquid is used, it must be coated thoroughly
• Weatherproof
• This insures that the building is weatherproof
  for all intensive purposes

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Insulation

• Insulation Board
• This slows the transfer of heat and also helps
  with protection of the waterproofing
• This step helps to level the thermal mass of the
  surrounding earth which results in a temperature
  leveling effect.

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Earth and Foliage

• Prevents Erosion
• Integrates the Building into the landscape making
  it a part of the ecosystem.
• Provides protection of the interior from the
  elements.
• (missing page 279)

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Construction and Operation Costs

• 10-15 premium
• With design considerations, this can be
  eliminated
• Almost no fuel usage due the earths resistance
  to temperature changes.
• The embodied energy is low due to the longevity
  of the buildings structure

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Conclusions

• Underground construction has very little impact
  on the environment
• The use of concrete and steel are justified in
  the fact that a typical building theoretically
  could last for centuries
• The costs of using the building are very low
  since the systems that control it are natural and
  passive.