Regionalism and the design of low-rise building envelope systems

• Main Author: Tapia, Jason W. (Jason Wilfredo)
• Other Authors: John Fernandez and John Ochsendorf.
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2010
• Subjects: Architecture.
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/59203

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2010. === "June 2010." === Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-86). === This investigation proposes the use of a three-pronged approach to evaluating building envelopes for low-rise affordable housing in urban contexts: construction cost estimating, building performance modeling, and cradle to grave life cycle assessment. Two climate regions were investigated: hot-humid and hot-dry, in two large urban cities: Phoenix and Miami. The envelope systems compared were conventional for the practice area versus best practice and high r-value systems. The results demonstrate that the application of the three-pronged method yields data architects can use to improve energy performance, reduce costs and limit negative environmental impacts. === by Jason W. Tapia. === S.M.