CA56 - Education over systems
The importance of talking logically about energy, Mass Timber Group, Zero Emissions Buildings, Etc.
NEWSWORTHY
THE SPONSOR
Thanks to The Mass Timber Group for generously supporting this issue.
Get a 20% discount for their upcoming Summit with the code CARBONARCHITECT.
THE TOPIC
This is my house.
It’s built in 1978 and it’s wonderfully simple.
Two bedrooms, One bathroom, 1066SF, 2x4 wood construction.
It’s simple, efficient design is all we need as a family of 5.
Saturday was a beautiful summer (like) day in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada.
High of 28C with clear skies and views as far as the eye can see.
You can imagine the temp on our second floor at the end of the day.
We face due south with zero tree cover until about 5pm.
In a word. Sweltering.
However, the beauty of this design is in the opportunities for cross ventilation.
The main part of our home is 3.6m (12’) deep with windows on either side.
After about 8pm we open up the windows and voila.
In about 15 mins the entire house is cooled down to a reasonable summer temperature.
(The key here is we don’t need to sleep in 19C homes during the summer)
It’s a beautiful and simple design that allows for users to cool and control their space.
One of the keys here is the shallow plan depth that has been lost on all new townhouse developments that end up with 12m (40’) deep units which are very difficult to ventilate.
So we’ve got a great design, what’s the problem?
The problem is people.
As I’m writing this newsletter it’s currently 17C. After a hot day, the temperature difference between inside and outside can be 10C.
Sadly, all 10 of my neighbours have closed blinds, closed windows, and closed doors.
Air conditioners running even though they could crack a window to let out the heat.
As architects and building designers, we need to talk and think differently about our buildings.
Systems are great, and I’m a huge fan of innovative systems.
Heat pumps, wind turbines, solar arrays, bring it all on.
BUT that cannot be a replacement for people understanding how energy works.
We all do it in ways, but once you become more energy-aware it changes how you act.
Let’s start talking more about energy, and how it use it wisely.
SIDENOTE:
The advantages of opening a window vs using AC go far beyond energy.
At this very moment my open office window has these added benefits:
Smelling my neighbour’s blossoming tree
Hearing the neighbourhood can chase down a mouse
Watching who is coming and going from our complex
Hearing the leaves rustle in the slight breeze
Talking about things differently will help us think about things differently, and that’s what we need.
THE PERSON
Jean-Baptiste is an Architect-Engineer with a passion for sustainability and low-carobn design. He currently works with the Department of Education in the UK where he advises on school more sustainable school design. He is also a regular content creation on LinkedIn so he is a must follow for me!
THE PROJECT
The Sudby School by Henning Larsen is a beautiful nod to the Viking heritage of the site and uses environmentally minded materials and energy-efficient technologies to create a learning environment that is unique and inspiring. In particular, the exterior facade uses a thatched straw cladding from local agricultural waste.