Ecological Planning, Design, and Construction

Instructors: Jim Edgcomb, Jeff Schoellkopf, Jim Newman, Keith Giamportone 

Course Description: This course will explore the broad range of issues of what is variously called ecological, green, environmental, and sustainable design. Through lectures, seminars, field trips, and a design charette we will develop a framework for understanding these issues and making value based design decisions. Tours will include residential and commercial buildings, renewable energy systems, and biologically based water treatment systems. We will address the impacts of our built environment on the natural envi ron ment and impacts on our health and well-being. We will study various systems, including LEED, for establishing design processes and evaluating results. This course is intended as a broad survey course and is suitable for architects, engineers, architecture and environmental studies students, builders, developers, and facility managers.

Beginner to intermediate.

Suggested Readings in preparation for course:

Establishing Priorities with Green Building

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/article.cfm?filename=040501a.xml

Available for free from Environmental Building News

Tentative course schedule

Sunday

Evening

Greetings and Introductions

Overview - So, what's the big deal? What are the real issues?

Monday

Morning

Overview

Rating systems introduction

Design Charette Introduction

Setting the stage for the design charette

Sustainable planning and site

Afternoon

Local Vermont Tours

Evening

Design studio

Tuesday

Morning

Southern VermontTour

Afternoon/Evening

Daylighting and Energy

Introduction to issues and use of models

High performance buildings and energy

Systems design

Wednesday

Morning

Design Charette

A real design charette with a real project and real stakeholders

Local Tours 1. Design project site (others TBD)

Thursday

Morning

Northern Vermont Tours

Afternoon/Evening

Studio

Continue work on studio charette project

Friday

Morning

LEED vs. BREEM – A closer look at rating systems and how they relate to creating green buildings.

Design Charette

Afternoon

Final review of design charette project

Graduation celebration