The document outlines a course on commercial building science focusing on creating comfortable environments through sustainable design and is registered with the American Institute of Architects for continuing education credits. It covers key concepts of green building, principles of sustainable design, factors affecting thermal comfort, indoor air quality, acoustics, and visual comfort, aimed at enhancing the building's environmental performance. The course includes learning objectives, an overview of the LEED Green Building Rating System, and ends with a summary of the topics covered to reinforce the learning experience.

1. USGBC Course ID 90006150
Commercial Building Science -
Comfortable Environments
Through Sustainable Design

2. CertainTeed is a Registered Provider with the American
Institute of Architects Continuing Education System.
Credit earned upon completion of this program will be
reported to CES records for all AIA members.
Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are
available upon request.
This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional
education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or
construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material
of construction or any method or manner of handling, using,
distributing, or dealing in any material product. Questions related to
specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the
conclusion of this presentation.
This course qualifies for HSW credit.
This course qualifies for Sustainable Design credit.

3. CertainTeed Building Solutions
1

4. Copyright
This presentation is protected by U.S. and international copyright
laws. Reproduction and distribution of this presentation without
written permission of the sponsor is prohibited.  CertainTeed
Corporation

5. Learning Objectives
After completing this course you will be able to:
• Understand concepts of green building through sustainable
design
• Describe three principles of sustainable design
• Understand credit categories for a green building rating system
• Describe several factors affecting thermal comfort
• Understand ways to improve indoor air quality through
controlled ventilation & material selection
• Understand how to create superior acoustical environments
through sound control design practices
• Understand design strategies that help create a high quality
visual environment

6. Contents
1. Overview of Green/Sustainable Design
2. Principles of Sustainable Design
3. Overview of LEED green building rating system
4. Thermal comfort
5. Indoor air quality
6. Acoustical comfort
7. Visual comfort

7. Green Design
A Reference for Green Design Techniques
• Respects nature & natural
order of things
• Minimizes negative human
impacts on natural
surroundings, materials &
resources
• High performance over full
life cycle of building
• Sustainability: Providing for
present needs without
compromising future needs

8. Sustainable Design
• Basic objectives:
– Reduce consumption of non‐renewable resources
– Minimize waste
– Create productive environments
• Building projects should result in an optimal balance of:
– Costs
– Environmental benefits
– Societal benefits
– Human benefits
– Meeting mission & function of intended facility
• May cost more initially, but can yield savings over time

9. Buildings in the United States
Energy Use Water Consumption
39% 12%
Electricity Consumption CO2 Emissions
68% 38%
Source: www.epa.gov/greenbuilding

10. Module 1
Principles of Sustainable Design

11. Design for
People & the
Environment
Life Cycle
Design
Conservation
of Resources
Sustainable
Design

12. • Energy
Conservation of Resources
– Energy‐conscious community & site
planning
– Optimal thermal performance
– Passive heating & cooling
– Alternative energy sources
– Low‐embodied‐energy materials
– Energy‐efficient equipment &
appliances
• Water
– Native landscaping
– Low‐flow lavatory toilets & fixtures
– Rainwater collection & reuse
– Water collection & recycling
• Materials
– Use material‐conserving
design & construction
– Properly size building
systems
– Rehabilitate existing
structures
– Use reclaimed or recycled
materials & components

13. Life‐Cycle Design
• Pre‐building phase
– Manufactured with renewable resources
– Harvested/extracted without ecological
damage
– Recycled or recyclable
– Durable over time with low maintenance
– Distributed with low energy costs
• Building phase
– Minimize site impact on ecosystem
– Provide waste water separation facilities
– Use non‐toxic construction materials
– Plan routine maintenance with
environmentally friendly material
• Occupancy phase
– Recycle building
components & materials
– Adapt existing structures
to new occupants
– Develop existing land &
infrastructure

14. Design for People & the Environment
• Minimize impact on nature
– Understand how construction
affects nature
– Respect topographical contours
– Do not disturb water table
– Preserve existing flora & fauna
• Community site planning
– Consider a scale larger than any
single structure
– Avoid polluting site & surrounding
area
– Promote mixed‐use development
– Integrate public transportation
– Create walking & bicycling paths
• Provide for human
comfort & convenience
– Provide thermal, visual &
acoustical comfort
– Use non‐toxic, low‐emitting
materials
– Create visual environments
connected to exterior
– Provide fresh, clean air &
access to operable windows
– Accommodate people with
differing physical abilities

15. Module 2
Understanding the LEED
Green Building Rating System

16. What is LEED?
• Independent third party rating system
• Developed by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
• Standard for measuring a building’s environmental
performance

17. LEED Categories, Prerequisites & Credits
• Five “base” categories, plus 2 “bonus” categories
• Buildings earn points for meeting LEED credit criteria
• Refer to LEED Reference Guides for details
Category Prerequisites Credits
Sustainable Sites 1 8
Water Efficiency 1 3
Energy & Atmosphere 3 6
Materials & Resources 1 7
Indoor Environmental Quality 2 8
Innovation in Design 0 2
Regional Priority 0 1
* LEED NC 2009

18. LEED Points & Certification
Regional Priority, 4
Innovation in Design, 6
Indoor Environ.
Quality, 15
Materials &
Resources, 14
Energy &
Atmosphere, 35
Water Efficiency,
10
Sustainable Sites,
26
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Possible Points
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Certified

19. Resources for Sustainable Design
• US EPA
www.epa.gov/greenbuilding
• US Green Building Council (USGBC)
www.usgbc.org
• Sustainable Buildings Industry
Council
www.sbicouncil.org
• Department of Energy Sustainable
Design Program
www.pnl.gov/doesustainabledesign
• Whole Building Design Guide
www.wbdg.org/design
• High‐Performance School
Buildings Resource and Strategy
Guide
www.hpschooldesigntraining.com
• Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory
Environmental Design Library
www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/GreenA
ll.html
• University of Michigan – School
of Natural Resources
Environment, Sustainable
Architecture Module:
– Introduction to Sustainable
Design
www.css.snre.umich.edu

20. Module 3
Thermal Comfort

21. Meeting Standards for Comfort
• ASHRAE Standard 55
“Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy”
• ISO 7726: 1998
“Ergonomics of the thermal environment ― Instruments for
measuring physical quantities”
• ISO 7730: 1994
“Moderate thermal environments ― Determination of the
PMV & PPD indices and specification of the conditions for
thermal comfort”

22. Thermal Comfort Factors
• Air temperature & humidity
• Radiant temperatures
– Floors
– Walls
– Ceilings
• Vertical temperature
differences
• Drafts (air velocity)
• Secondary factors
– Daily & seasonal change
– Occupant age (metabolic rate)
– Clothing insulation
55

23. Human Comfort Range

24. Impact of Activity on Comfort
0.8
1
1.2 1.2
1.6
2
3
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Metabolic Rate (met)
Reclining Seated,
quiet
Office,
school
Standing,
relaxed
Light
activity,
standing
Medium
activity,
standing
High
activity
Occupant Activity Level

25. Clothing Impacts Comfort
• ASHRAE Standard 55 –
clothing insulation
values for typical
ensembles
• Clothing insulation
measured in clo units
1.5
1
0.5
0
Clothing Insulation Value (clo)
Naked Summer
Attire
Business
Attire
Winter
Outdoor
Clothing

26. Module 4
Indoor Air Quality

27. Creating Acceptable IAQ
• Quantity
– Minimum ventilation rates
• Quality
– Maximum airborne
contaminant levels
• Goal:
– Minimize potential for adverse
health effects on occupants
62.1

28. • Ventilation
Quantity Control
– Air flow rates in breathing zones
– Air distribution effectiveness
– Air flow zone requirements at diffusers
• Air distribution
– Exhaust duct location
– Outdoor air intake
– Combustion air

29. Quality Control
• Moisture management
– HVAC System
• Dehumidification systems
• Drain pans
• Humidifiers & water spray
systems
– Building envelope
• Weather resistive barriers
• Vapor retarders
• Continuous air barriers
• Air stream surfaces
– Mold growth resistance
– Erosion resistance
• Contaminant capture
– Particulates
• Filtration (MERV)
– Gases
• Concentration monitoring
• Removal (activated charcoal)
– Heat exchanger & finned‐tube
coil cleaning

30. Humidity Impact on A/C System Design
• Sensible heat loads do not consider effects of
moisture in air
• Latent heat loads consider water vapor in air
• Humidity ratios indicate amount of moisture in air
• Geographic location determines humidity ratio
118 112
144
144

31. Air Classification & Recirculation
ASHRAE Standard 62.1
• Air quality must be
evaluated for:
– Contaminant
concentration
– Sensory‐irritation intensity
– Odor offensiveness
• Four classifications:
– Class 1 – Low
– Class 2 –Moderate
– Class 3 – Significant
– Class 4 – Harmful, Highly
objectionable
Chemical
Storage
Janitor
Closet
Private
Toilet
Break
Room
Laboratory
Hood
Commercial
Kitchen
Hood (Non‐grease)
4
3
2
1
Spaces Airstreams

32. Attached Parking Garages
• Goal: Limit entry of
exhaust into occupied
spaces
• Garage air pressure ≤
adjacent space
• Isolate garage & use
airtight vestibules
– Separate garage & adjacent
occupied space

33. Airborne Contaminants
• Moisture
• Bio‐aerosols
– Bio‐organisms
– Mold
– Pollen
• Gaseous Contaminants
– Ammonia, carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide
– Volatile organic
compounds (VOCs)
• Particles

34. Guidelines for Environmental Emissions
• Provides guidelines on air pollution
due to product emissions
• Certifies products for IAQ
performance
– Formaldehyde & other aldehydes
– Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
– Respirable particles
– Gases
• Ozone
• Carbon monoxide
• Nitrogen oxide

35. Module 5
Acoustical Comfort

36. Superior Acoustic Environments
Minimize:
• Sound reverberation time
• Airborne noise
• Sound transmission
through ceilings
• Impact noise
• Background noise

37. Reduce Sound Reverberation Time
• Sound absorbing
surfaces
• Configure spaces to
dampen sound energy

38. Limit Airborne Noise
• High sound transmission
class (STC) assemblies
• Enclose or separate group
activity spaces from
common areas
Acoustically Efficient Wall

39. Limit Sound Transmission
Through Suspended Ceilings
• High ceiling attenuation
class (CAC) assemblies
• Extend partition heights

40. Reduce Impact Noise
• High impact insulation class
(IIC) assemblies
• Isolate finished floors &
ceilings
– Resilient underlayments
– Absorptive floor toppings
– Resilient suspension systems Acoustically Isolated Floor

41. Minimize Background Noise
• Design HVAC system to:
– Absorb sound energy
– Reduce background noise
• Isolate mechanical
equipment using:
– Vibration dampening
techniques
– High sound transmission
reduction enclosures
• Provide sound masking to
reduce impact of
background noise

42. Open Plan Acoustics
• Open plan work areas –
not separated by ceiling
height partitions
• Speech intelligibility –
dependent on
1. Background noise
2. Reverberation time
3. Shape of space
• Speech privacy: Degree
to which speech is
unintelligible

43. Reverberation Time
• Time (sec) required for sound pressure level in a
room to decrease (decay) by 60 dB
• Shorter reverberation time = more absorptive space
60 dB drop
in sound
Decibel (dB)
Reverberation
Time
Sound
Stopped
Time (s)
60 dB
Initial Avg. Sound
Pressure Level
To Tr

44. Impact of Reverberation Time
• Poor speech intelligibility
• Concentration difficulty
• Increased stress levels
• Premature fatigue
• Increased frequency
of mistakes
• Easier communication
• Better concentration
• Less stress
• Greater efficiency
• Healthier working
environment

45. Reverberation Time Influencers
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
Office Classroom Conference
Room
Theater
Reverberation Time (sec)
• Room volume
• Room shape
• Room surface
absorption
• Number of people &
objects in room
• Less than 1.0 sec for
good speech
intelligibility

46. Speech Intelligibility
• Speech Transmission Index
(STI)
– Measure of intelligibility
– Range: 0 to 1.0
• Rapid Speech Transmission
Index (RASTI)
– STI expressed as percentage
• Articulation Loss of
Consonants (ALcons)
– Percentage of consonants
missed
STI ALcons
Unacceptable
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
100%
33%
15%
7%
3%
0.0
0.3
0.45
0.6
0.75
1.0 0%

47. Speech Privacy
• Making speech less intelligible
• Articulation class (AC)
– Rating of acoustical ceilings & sound absorbing screens for
speech privacy purposes
– <150 = Low performance
– >200 = High performance
• Articulation Index (AI)
– Rating of speech intelligibility for completed office system
0 0.05 0.20 0.35 0.50 1.0
Normal
Privacy
Minimal
Privacy No Privacy Good to Excellent Intelligibility
Confidential
Privacy

48. Acoustical Performance for Schools
• Equipment noise control
– HVAC systems
– Electrical systems
– Plumbing systems
– Instructional equipment
• Background noise limit: 35 dB
• Controlling reverberation
– Sound‐absorbing materials
• Noise isolation
– Between interior spaces
– Open‐plan classrooms
– Outdoor‐to‐indoor
– Impact sound
– Vibrating machinery

49. Module 6
Visual Comfort

50. Visual
Interest
Natural
Daylighting
Artificial
Lighting
Visual
Comfort

51. Lighting Strategies
• Optimize balance between
daylighting & artificial lighting
• Light vertical surfaces
– Increase perceived space
brightness
• Balance quantity & quality of
light
• Control ceiling lighting glare
• Provide controlled task
lighting at workstations

52. Integrate Natural Lighting Strategies
• Provide maximum natural
daylight possible
• Use spectrally selective
coatings
– Avoid excessive heat loss &
gain
• Use passive shading
– Reduce solar loads
• Control window glare

53. Visual Interest
• Provide view & access to outdoors
• Include natural environments
between interior & exterior
spaces
• Create a visually interesting
environment using:
– Scale
– Color
– Texture
– Pattern
– Artwork
– Plants
• Avoid uniformity & visual chaos

54. Resources for Visual Environment
Whole Building Design Guide – Daylighting
www.wbdg.org/design
DOE Buildings Technology Program – Integrated Building Design
www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/design/integratedbuilding
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
www.iesna.org
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Lighting Research Center
www.lrc.rpi.edu
Energy Center of Wisconsin – Daylighting Collaborative
www.daylighting.org
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory – Windows & Daylighting Group
www.windows.lbl.gov

55. Course Summary
We have reviewed the following topics:
• Three principles of sustainable design
• Eight credit categories for LEED Green Building Rating System
• Six factors that affect thermal comfort
• Controlled ventilation design recommendations for acceptable
indoor air quality
• Five sound control design practices that help create a superior
acoustical environment
• How to create visually interesting spaces through controlled &
natural lighting design strategies

56. Thank You for Your
Participation
Any
Questions?

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