|
By Stephanie Horowitz
Developing useful in-house expertise in the area of high-performance buildings can be a challenge for small firms, especially when you’re starting from scratch. Here are some suggestions for professional development that can help your firm bulk up its in-house expertise. Before you start, think both about what you want to learn and the learning method or style that best suits you (or the professional you decide to invest in).
|
|
Building Science 101
Tap into the free resources from Building Science Corporation (BSC). The website has amazing articles that range from wall section basics to advanced topics on potential pitfalls of insulating historic brick facades. We regularly refer to their details and reports as a best practice. BSC also offers in-person seminars throughout the country on various topics. For a particularly entertaining and insightful seminar, check-out one by Joe Lstiburek, PE.
|
|
Net Zero Energy Homes
If you practice in a cold climate, seek out Marc Rosenbaum’s online classes on Heat Spring. He is an engaging speaker with a deep knowledge of high-performance homes and buildings. The self-paced class provides great instruction, follow-on information resources and access to feedback directly from the instructor. One of our project managers found this helpful in making the switch from commercial to residential projects. Marc also offers a class on Deep Energy Retrofits (super insulating and air sealing existing buildings).
|
|
Passive House
This one isn’t for the novice. Passive House (or Passivhaus) is gaining traction in the US as an aggressive energy standard for new and existing homes and buildings, offering thermal comfort, resilience, and minimal energy bills. Unlike LEED, Passive House is a performance-based standard focused solely on energy performance, so no checklists here. Notable projects range from single family homes to the residential high-rise on the Cornell Tech campus in New York. I learned a new appreciation of detailing, relating both to thermal bridges and air barriers, among other things. The training is an investment of time and money, but it is well worth it. My partner and I have attended the training, as have our project managers. http://www.phius.org/ or http://www.passivehouseacademy.com/
|
|
Energy Modeling
Energy modeling benefits the individual project as well as your firm. By modeling your projects, you can compare them and begin to discern the influence of design on energy performance. Join the AIA’s 2030 Challenge. It will allow you to see how your projects stack-up to others like it (all of the information is anonymous). 2030 suggests a basic energy model from the EPA called Target Finder. If you’re looking for an in-house energy model for a residential project, try REM/Design. They have a 90-day free trial available on their website. Sefaira has been popular as an in-house model for my colleagues who focus on nonresidential work. They offer a plugin for both Revit and Sketchup.
|
|
Resilience
Start a conversation. A colleague at Perkins + Will described a practice at her firm. Each year, they ask the following three questions (paraphrased below) of each of their projects:
- What is the climate projection for the region?
- What stresses does this create for your building/community?
- What is your project doing about it?
Start here and you’ll be off on the right track.
Do you have experience with the resources I mentioned or other suggestions to offer? Join the conversation with @AIA_COTE on twitter #GoingGreen.
Stephanie Horowitz, AIA, CPHC is a member of the COTE Advisory Group and Managing Director of ZeroEnergy Design (ZED), a green architecture and energy consulting firm. Stephanie is a recipient of the AIA’s Earl R. Flansburgh Young Architects Award and named Boston Home Magazine's Best Green Architect. In addition to her role at ZED, Stephanie has served on the Massachusetts Designer Selection Board and is a founding board member of Passive House Massachusetts. Stephanie is a Certified Passive House Consultant and a Massachusetts Registered Architect. Her views are her own.
|