Environmental Impacts of Construction

Green-Building-And-Design

UPDATED: If you are one of the few who have finished this assignment, jump to the bottom for something new.

In times of energy conservation and resource scarcity, increasing attention is paid to the energy-efficiency of the buildings and structures that we live and work in. Many methods have been developed to increase the energy-efficiency and comfort of the home that we live in.

The following are just some of the methods and techniques used to improve the energy efficiency of modern buildings (some of you may even live in homes that utilize these methods): ground-source heating and cooling, improved insulation, building-envelope systems, technologies to reduce light and noise pollution, energy-conserving lighting, non-toxic building materials, use of local materials.

Although this work may not seem fully connected to our “hands-on” course work, it is a part of the course curriculum and this work that you do will be included in your final grade.

Select one of the methods listed above and create an informational page including pictures or graphics.

Be sure to include the following information:

Brief overview of the technique (include information on historical use i.e. what used to be done)

Benefits to building using this method

Potential drawbacks

Future development/innovation seen for this technique (improvements to come)

Building Sciences (http://www.buildingscience.com/index_html) is a leader in research and development of energy-efficient building design – you may find some useful information on their site.

Include all of this information on a single page. Try to use Canadian sources for your information. Please include links to your sources. Email me the completed project.

THE NEW (Monday, March 25th, 2013)

Among other things you will begin work on a new CNC V-Carve project. If you have not used V-Carve before, here are a few links to tutorials: Youtube and text version.

You will create a V-Carve sign that has a “cut-out” shape – not a simple square or rectangle, but a shape that follows the outline of the sign (like this: example 1, example 2, example 3). You can also make a sign that has a frame such as the one on the right in example 1.

Dimensions will be 12×18 (unless you have a special requirement for something larger). Start by deciding on a graphic or image for you sign and begin experimentation with V-Carve.

Machine time is limited so we will be producing these over the next few weeks while we also work on other projects.