Sustainable Development “Big Box”

City of Charlotte Land Development

Dr. Terence J Fagan

?Global Issues?

Global Issues

Depletion of Natural Resources

• Soil • Timber• Oil• Minerals• Energy

Global Issues

Energy (we need it) Consumption

Perspective: If I ride my bike 17 mph I can generate 100 Watts of power. If Everybody rode their bike for an 100 Watts then the world power would be 6.5 x 1011 W or .65 TW

Further World Energy Break Down 2006

With ecosystems in decline, the limits to future profits are…

…fish…

…not boats…

First Industrial Revolution:People are scarce and

nature is abundant - increase labor productivity

Next Industrial Revolution:People are abundant

and nature is scarce — increase resource productivity

Sustainability

WHAT IS IT NOT?

Sustainability (Global Solution)

“ Human has the ability to make development sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.” (Bruntland Report)

Think Like an Ecosystem

"Away has gone away, remember when we used to through things away” (McDonough & Braungart, 2002).

Sustainable Projects Currently Working On

• Teaching “Big Box” Adaptive Reuse at UNCC• Life Cycle Assessment of Eco-Box• Integrating sustainable design practices into

curriculum• Organizing BioFuel Class at CPCC• Organizing Solar Seminar• Part of Center of Sustainability leadership

team

Local Issues “Big Box”

• No added value to the community

• Crime

• Ascetically unpleasant

•  Reduce property tax values

• Impede the attraction of new retailers and manufactures

Class Description “Big Box” Adaptive Reuse

This course will explore the renovation of an abandoned retail space in Charlotte, NC. The class will evaluate the current condition of the facility, suggest future uses of the building and propose conceptual designs that could result in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable application.

People Involved in “Big Box”

• Dr. Helene Hilger – Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor at UNCC

• Dale Brentrup – Architect Professor at UNCC

• Brett Tempest – Ph.D. Candidate in Civil Engineering at UNCC

• The Nichols Company – Owner of building

• Students

• Terence J Fagan (me)

Holistic Design

• Design is applied foresight

• Good design is not designed in a vacuum

• Optimize components of a system together 

Tunneling Through the Cost Barrier

 

Tunneling Through the Cost Barrier

 

The whole system should be optimized.All measurable benefits should be counted.The right steps should be taken at the right time and in the right sequence.

Integrating Design to Capture Multiple Benefits

Original Design - • 14 Pumps• 95 hp

Integrating Design to Capture Multiple Benefits

Using Whole Design Approach - • 1 Pump• 7 hp

Benefits• 92% Energy Savings (YES that is a lot of $$$$$$)• + reducing capital cost

HOW???New specs required two design changes• Larger Pipes (reduce friction)• Laid out pipes FIRST (reduces pipe length)

Energy Efficiency

Conserve and use Energy efficiently!

Renewable Energy

• Solar - 99.9% of the earth’s energy comes from the SUNo Wind - Suns heat also drives windso Biomass – Sunlight causes plants to grow

• Ocean – Can produce thermal energy from sun and mechanical energy from moon (Not talked about)

Renewable Energy• Hydrogen – Once separated from an

element, it can produce energy (Not talked about)

• Hydro Power – Uses flowing water to capture energy (Not talked about)

• Geothermal – Taps into earth’s internal heat

Renewable Energy Technologies• Passive Solar Energy• Solar Thermal Heat• Solar Thermal Power Plants• Photovoltaic Power Generation• Wind Power• Biomass• Hydro-elctric Power• Geothermal Energy

Low Impact Development (LID)Mimic a site’s predevelopment hydrology by using design

techniques that infiltrate, filter, store, evaporate, and detain runoff close to it source.

Low Impact Development (LID)

•simple and effective•Economical•Flexible•balanced approach

Case StudyRenovating a 200k ft2 Office

• 20 yr old office building near Chicago • Windows had failing seals• HVAC system needed renovation.

Design Solution• Superwindows, deep daylighting, efficient lights and office

equipmentBenefits• 4 x smaller, 4 x more efficient HVAC cost less than

renovating old one• That 200k pays for everything else• Design would save 75% of energy; much better comfort; -5

to +9 month payback• >100k US buildings await similar retrofits

• No electric lights are on in eitherphoto• Top classroom has no lightshelfbut high luminance ratios, makingthe room feel dark compared tothe bright window• Bottom classroom under samecondition but with lightshelfappears bright with moderateluminance ratios• Lower classroom saves 75% ofelectricity, so can afford books• Students learn 20–26% faster inwell-daylit classrooms• Leverage from education toprosperity and democracy…Courtesy of Greg Franta FAIA, ENSAR Group, Boulder CO

School in Curibita, Parana Brazil