ENS2210 Sustainable Building Design & Construction

Intermediate · 1 credit · NAT - Natural Resources

Description: Students investigate sustainable building trends to reduce energy consumption, resource consumption and waste production. Areas of investigation include building techniques, material usage and life cycle management.
Prerequisite: ENS1020: Fostering Stewardship
Supporting courses: DES3095: Architectural Design DES3115: Industrial Design DES3125: Interior Design DES3135: Landscape Design

Outcomes The student will:

1 describe the impact of built environments on the natural environment, considering: • use of energy, water, air, land, forest and mineral resources • occupant health and productivity • waste, pollution and environmental degradation • effects on biodiversity
2 identify and describe the elements of a built environment’s life cycle, including but not limited to: • location, sighting and design • construction • operation and maintenance • renovation • deconstruction and/or demolition
3 investigate and analyze trends in sustainable building design and construction
- 3.1 identify and describe building trends that consider occupant health; e.g., exposure to natural light, floor plans, air quality and flow, acoustics, materials
- 3.2 explain the effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the off-gases they produce; e.g., finishing paints, carpets, plastics
- 3.3 describe ergonomic interior design; e.g., counter heights, illumination location, step heights
- 3.4 analyze efficient building practices that consider energy and water usage; e.g., solar collection, climate specific vegetation, natural air currents, rain water collection
- 3.5 identify and describe new technologies in building design; e.g., centralized water usage systems, helical wind turbines, photovoltaic materials
- 3.6 investigate, explain and analyze sustainable building and design certifications (e.g., LEED, the Green Globes system, high performance building), considering:
  - 3.6.1 efficient use of energy, water, land and other resources
  - 3.6.2 protecting occupant health and increasing productivity
  - 3.6.3 reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation
  - 3.6.4 effects on biodiversity
4 investigate and illustrate alternatives and consequences associated with current issues involving sustainable building design and construction
- 4.1 analyze a variety of issues and problems affecting building design and construction; e.g., legislation versus no legislation, public perception of sustainable building design and construction, the value of sustainability, environmental impact assessment plans and legislation
- 4.2 explain how philosophies and goals of different sustainable building design and construction practices are sometimes incompatible with each other, and how conflicts and trade-offs may occur
5 create, present and defend a sustainable building design, considering: • the building’s life cycle • occupant health • recycling, reducing and reusing waste • ergonomic interior design • efficient energy and water usage • new technologies in building design • conservation and preservation of biodiversity • reclamation of brownfield land (unused and underused commercial and industrial land) • community revitalization
6 demonstrate basic competencies
- 6.1 demonstrate fundamental skills to:
  - 6.1.1 communicate
  - 6.1.2 manage information
  - 6.1.3 use numbers
  - 6.1.4 think and solve problems
- 6.2 demonstrate personal management skills to:
  - 6.2.1 demonstrate positive attitudes and behaviours
  - 6.2.2 be responsible
  - 6.2.3 be adaptable
  - 6.2.4 learn continuously
  - 6.2.5 work safely
- 6.3 demonstrate teamwork skills to:
  - 6.3.1 work with others
  - 6.3.2 participate in projects and tasks
7 identify possible life roles related to the skills and content of this cluster
- 7.1 recognize and then analyze the opportunities and barriers in the immediate environment
- 7.2 identify potential resources to minimize barriers and maximize opportunities