Essential Questions

1.    How do you achieve a balance between cost-saving measures, important features, and environmental responsibility when designing a residential structure?

To disan for the clinent, the comunity and the weather.

2.    What are the advantages and disadvantages of using 3D architectural software rather than creating hand-produced plans?

The computer may crash and you lose all your work, and it can coulat formuals for you.

3.    Why are organizations such as LEED important?

They give you the rules and all the other stuff you need.

4.    When planning a project, how does the availability of public utilities impact the design?

it will decrees the time.

5.    What options are available for the management of wastewater from a building?

Use of sewers and septect tank.

6.    What are the important considerations when design a plumbing system?

To minamiz the usag of pip.

7.    Why should a designer know about the different types of lighting and their applications?

so they know what to put and not to put

8.    What are the important considerations when designing an electrical system?

Where the wires are going to the lights and outlets

9.    What information is important when documenting the design of a building?

floor plan, eletrice plan, pluming plan, schedule

Affordable Housing Rendering

Affordable House Project

2.3.6

Activity 2.3.6 Residential Electrical Systems

Introduction

We often take for granted that a light will illuminate when we flip a switch or that there will be an electrical outlet in a convenient location when we want to use a hair dryer. The fact that you do not notice the design of the lighting and electrical system when you are in a building indicates that the designer has done a good job anticipating the needs of the occupants. The electrical system must be designed and constructed according to the applicable building codes and regulations, but it should also be designed with the end user in mind.

In this activity you will research lighting and electrical design topics and review residential electrical code requirements. Using the knowledge you gain, you will layout the electrical system for your Affordable Housing Project.

Equipment

Computer with Internet access

Print of your Affordable Housing Project floor plan(s)

Common Electrical Symbols handout

Residential Electrical Code Requirements

Procedure
Visit the following websites:

U. S. Department of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy website at http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/lighting_daylighting/index.cfm/mytopic=11970.

Whole Building Design Guide at http://www.wbdg.org/resources/daylighting.php

Review the information on lighting and daylighting and complete the following questions.

Describe the three general classifications of lighting uses.

ambiet lighting
task lighting
acsent lighting

• What is daylighting?

Maximize the use of natural daylight in your home to further reduce the need for artificial lighting.

What are some advantages to providing daylighting?

it afeet are helth safty moralconfert podectivity in your home.

Describe the best orientation for windows in a building in order to take advantage of daylighting.

north and south

Review your affordable home floor plans. Consider how you can better incorporate daylighting into your design. Mark at least one change on the floor plan(s) that will improve the energy efficiency of the home by increasing the daylighting. Make the change on your 3D model.
Locate an electric meter (typically mounted on an exterior wall) and sketch your proposed location for the main panel on the print of your affordable home floor plan. Choose an accessible interior location for the panel that is hidden from public view – perhaps a closet or separate space. Include the electric meter and main panel in your 3D model.
Sketch a preliminary electrical plan on your affordable home floor plan(s).

Sketch the location of outlets, lighting, and switches so as to comply with the Residential Electrical Code Requirements. Think about how each room will be used, what appliances and equipment are needed, and where extra convenience outlets should be placed.

Connect each lighting fixture to at least one switch (or as required by the Residential Electrical Code Requirements) using a switch leg (dashed line). Consider the need for three way switches.

Locate exterior outlets and lights as required by code.

Comply with all New Construction Guidelines for Habitat for Humanity.

Include an electrical service line on your electronic site plan.
(Optional) Revise your Affordable Home Project drawings to include your electrical design. You must determine the best place to show your electrical plan. Sometimes it is easiest to place it directly on a floor plan; other times you will need to prepare a separate electrical plan.
Conclusion

1. How did you incorporate daylighting into your project?

To use windows and skylight to bring sunlight in to the house

2. Why are some electrical plans placed on a floor plan and others on a separate sheet?

if you have furnitch and other stuff it my confusu you.

What is important for an architect to know about electrical plans?

make sure you work together.

How does the design of the structure affect the electrical layout?
make sure you put the electrical thing in the right spot.

Essential Questions 2.2

1. What is the difference between R-value and U-value? When are they used?
The U-value is the reciporcal of R- value
2. What are some leading causes of solar gain?
heat going thro windows and doors

3. What key areas of a building can minimize heat loss?
The walls with insalasion will minimize the heat loss.
4. Why is a cost estimate important to create before starting a project?
So you will now how much its going to cost and to also see if you can redus the priss of the project.

Utility Shed

Project 1.2.2 Design Charrette Conclusion

1.    Why is it important to recognize challenges and barriers during the charrette and then identify solutions?

so the people will know whats going on

2.    Among the ideas or thoughts that you prepared for the charrette, were there any that were disregarded by the group? Why? Do you think it was the right decision?

NO because we all were thinking of the same thing. yes

3.    What is the value of using a charrette to investigate the feasibility and development of a building project? Describe specific advantages over a traditional approach in which the client meets with an architect and the architect develops the plan.

they can show you what they are thinking about.

4.    Identify and explain a potential drawback of the plan your team drafted.

The constustion of it and the cost.