The Evolution of Design Process - Sustainable Design: The Science of Sustainability and Green Engineering - page 9

3. Education and goal setting

4. Site evaluation
5. Baseline analysis
6. Design concept

7. Design optimization
8. Documentation and specifications

9. Building and construction
10. Post occupancy

Note that like the stepwise model, this model for the most part does one thing
at a time. However, each step includes feedback to the preceding steps (see Figure
1.4). The design concept does not show up until the sixth step and is followed
immediately by a comparison of design options. A key difference, however, is
the extent of integration of goals into the design process. In fact, Mendler et al.
identify global goals that must be part of a green design 6 :

Waste nothing (a “less is more” approach; reuse, avoiding specification of
scarce materials).
Adapt to the place (indigenous strategies; diversity, form fit to function).
Use “free” resources (renewable energy, renewable materials, locally abun-
dant resources).

NEED
PROGRAM

*SCHEMATIC

*DESIGN
DEVELOPMENT

FEED-
BACK
LOOPS

*TECHNICAL
DOCUMENTATION

CONCEPTION

FEED-
BACK
LOOPS

COMPLETION

FEED-
BACK
LOOPS

FEED-
BACK
LOOPS

*REGULATORY

BUILD

EVALUATION

Figure 1.4 Transitional green
design model.
Note: D, design expertise; T, technical
expertise; B, building expertise;
*

FEED-
BACK
LOOPS

FEEDBACK
LOOP

B D D

B B

T

T

T

T

B

B

D

D

T

= review cycle.

D