Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
group of experienced practitioners are drowned in the ocean of the available
information and do not have a complete and clear grasp of what kind of knowledge
is really necessary for a real effi cient and sustainable building design. Usually
the younger professionals are more comfortable when they are working with
software, but not only are not completely familiar with complicated aspects of the
software they are using, but also do not have the adequate knowledge of how
the actual HVAC systems work or even what entities regulate the effi ciency of those
systems. On the other hand in a few cases the older professionals not only are not
comfortable to work with the software to be kind to say, but also are hesitant of
specifying and designing the newer systems due to their more degree of comfort
with design of the traditional systems. There is an empty space demanding for a
holistic yet not too lengthy guideline that can point towards the missing skills and
knowledge for both younger and older professionals to make them capable of acting
effi ciently in their practices, specifi cally when energy saving is the focus of the
design. Therefore I felt that in the current market there is an immediate need for a
source of information that can offer a balance discussion between the traditional and
modern engineering concepts and topics that knowing them are now necessary for
an architect or engineer to function with an energy-saving target mindset in the ever-
changing fi eld of building design. The target of this topic therefore mainly is to
provide the essential and necessary overall knowledge about applicable energy
related references and topics for both students and younger practitioners to quickly
familiarize themselves with the structure of the industry and to become more effec-
tive architectural or HVAC engineers in their professional practice.
This topic is divided into an introduction and fi ve major sections. In the fi rst
section (introduction) I have reviewed the logic and classifi cation of the topic sub-
jects and targets briefl y. In the second section I have introduced the concept of the
integrated design and its importance for an energy conscious design. In addition I
have discussed the concept and also the need for developing building specifi c
knowledge categories. Categorizing knowledge helps to not only reduce the ineffi -
ciencies derived from unfamiliarity of the young and even experienced architects
and engineers (design players) with the concepts in their trades, but also decreases
these ineffi ciencies in relationships with different design trades in order to improve
the energy effi ciency of the design process collectively.
In the third section I have pointed to the most important codes and standards that
set up the required rules and frameworks for building energy effi cient design. I have
discussed the performance based standards and design and have depicted the
differences between that and prescriptive based standards and design as well.
The importance of the indoor air quality which has become one of the most impor-
tant aspects of sustainable design is also reviewed and discussed in this section.
Finally I have closed the section by referring to the most important legal issues
concerning the design team and discussed the provisions that are necessary for a
defensive building design.
In the fourth section I have presented the general information regarding different
types of the HVAC systems, important factors in HVAC system selection, and advance
HVAC systems including an overview of hybrid ventilation system and control systems
