A zero impact home is a home that has a low impact on the environment by using less energy, using less electricity, and using less water, as well as releasing less fossil fuels and creating carbon dioxide in the atmosphere without a large change in our way of living. Reducing fossil fuel source electricity is good for the environment because we burn fossil fuels. We are, first of all, polluting the earth. The burning of fossil fuels results in acid rain, water pollution, and lung disease. Also, when we burn fossil fuels and use heat, we are increasing the greenhouse effect. The sun emits infrared, ultraviolet, and infrared radiation. The earth absorbs this energy and converts it to infrared energy. Greenhouses gasses (carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane) absorb this energy and re-emit infrared back into the Earth's atmosphere, trapping it. When the greenhouse effect is increased, the temperature of the earth's atmosphere is increased as well as climate change. Climate change can result in global flooding, melting, and natural disasters. Flooding, melting, and natural disasters can damage homes, bridges, and other civilization. Overuse of our water resources, especially in San Francisco, is not good for the environment because the drought level is high. Shown in the map below, the drought level in San Francisco is severe. Animals, people, and plants need water. Animals need it to live, as well as people, not only for drinking, but also for washing, bathing, etc. Plants need it for photosynthesis to release oxygen into the air so people and animals can breathe. Runoff can be a problem because it can cause flooding, destroying human civilization. Runoff can also create pollutants in the water that animals, plants, and people use to survive. People need good, clean water for drinking, washing, and bathing. Plants need clean water for photosynthesis, or the plant could die. This is a problem because if more and more plants die, we run out of resources for oxygen, which is essential for humans and animals to breathe.
<--Toxic Contaminants!!
Climate information is important because it tells how to cool the home in hot seasons, and how to warm it in cool seasons. Builders can use trees that loose their leaves in cold seasons, and grow them for shade in warm seasons. They can also use overheads for shade, or use shades to block out the sun. They can be retractable so there is no shade/overheads during the winter/cold seasons. The path of the sun is important because it tells you where the sun will be at the most direct or indirect angle, and how the house will absorb the most amount of energy during the day. It will tell you what angle to put solar panels and windows at, and where to face them. For example, at the high school, the sun is highest in the sky at noontime. Builders considered the sun's path/angle so the cafeteria, where we eat lunch, would absorb sunlight.
Site Considerations
The hottest month is September with 15.8 degrees Celsius temperature. The coldest month is January with 10.1 degrees Celsius temperature. The yearly temperature range is 5.7 degrees Celsius. The average temperature is 16.66 degrees Celsius.
Month with most precipitation is January with the precipitation amount of 100.8 mm. Month with the least precipitation is July with the precipitation amount of 0.8mm. The average amount of precipitation is 40.2 mm
During the summer (June 21) the sunrise direction in degrees in 59 degrees. The sunrise direction on compass is NE. The sunset direction in degrees in 301 degrees. The sunset direction on compass is NW. And the height (altitude) of the sun at noon is 75.7 degrees. During the winter (December 21) the sunrise direction in degrees is 119 degrees. The sunrise direction on compass is SE. The sunset direction in degrees in 241 degrees. The Sunset direction on compass is SW. And the height (altitude) of the sun at noon is 28.8 degrees.
Design Features: 1.Instant water heater - reduce the amount of fossil fuels you consume to heat your household water. Secondly, as tankless heaters are typically smaller units than traditional hot water tanks, they require less metal and help reduce the global demand for mining and metal consumption. 2.Rain Barrels- collects rainwater and you can use that water to water your plants or any subsitutes for water because it is water straight from rain fall which has no chemicals from the ground. It also reduces your water bill! 3.Poris pavement- absorbes water so it reduces run off which collects chemicals. Also our drive way is really short so we reduce the use of pavement unlike a long driveway. 4.Reinforced steel corner pillars in the ground- Since San Francisco is common for earthquakes and land slides these corner pillars provide some stable support to prevent the house from sliding/ moving from earthquakes. (labeled as #4 on the diagram) 5. Hollow concrete bricks- Provides thermal and sound insulation: the air in hollow of the block does not allow heat or cold in the house. So it keeps the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Also these bricks are highly durable. 6. Roof made from reinforced cement concrete- High relative strength, resists deformation, thermal compadiabilty not causing unacceptable stresses in response to changing temperatures 7. Solar powered ceiling fans- protects the environment by reducing greenhouse gasses emissions in the fight against climate change 8. Low flow shower head- conserves water, as well as energy. A low flow showerhead can save more than 50% of hot water used in the shower. 9. Energy star washer- use about 20% less energy and 35% less water than regular washers. They also have a greater tub capacity, which means you can wash fewer loads to clean the same amount of laundry. 10. Aqua sensor faucet- Hands free, which are hygienic and it eliminates the transfer of bacteria. It is water saving by being only running when you are washing your hands so it is environmentally conscious. 11. Tankless water heater- a tankless water heater provides hot water only when needed. It heats water on demand, which lowers energy use. 12. Refrigerator with Energy Savor Switch- Refrigerators uses a ton of energy. With the energy savor switch it can reduce Burning fossil fuels, which causes air pollution and contributes to smog, acid rain and global warming. 13. Drying dishes rack- after cleaning your dishes in the rainwater or sink, you can leave your dishes to dry without needing a dishwasher. 14. White wall flats- the wall panels are molded from bagasse, one of the world's most renewable resources, the white wall flats are a durable, biodegradable and environmentally friendly product! 15. Motion sensor lights- when you or any people in a room it turns off the lights, reducing energy. 16. Shades that can let light through or keep light out from going through the floor to ceiling windows. 17. Bamboo table & benches- Bamboo is a durable, long lasting product. It is harmless to the environment. Bamboo is a plant that has been used by many Far East cultures due to its durability and quick growing factor. 18. Candles- when you don’t want to use lights and you can light a non-energy consuming candles. 19. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use at least 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and they last up to 10 times longer. Compact fluorescent light bulbs also generate 70% less heat, so they are safer to operate and can also reduce energy costs. 20. Solar panels- They absorb the sun's energy and transforms it into direct current, which you can use for lights/ general energy uses in your house. Our solar panels are facing south and at a 27.7 degree angle so the solar panels can absorb as much direct rays from the sun. 21. Retractable Over hangs- The over hangs outside create shade which prevents the suns rays coming inside the house during hot summers. 22. Clothesline-Instead of using a dryer and using electricity, we can use a clothesline to dry our clothes. Trees we planted around our house loose leaves in the winter and grow leaves creating shade during the summer. We planted oak tree's and deciduos trees around our house. oak: Deciduous: Blue prints: Doll House view:
San Francisco, CA
37˚ N, 122˚ WWhy build "Zero" Impact Homes?
A zero impact home is a home that has a low impact on the environment by using less energy, using less electricity, and using less water, as well as releasing less fossil fuels and creating carbon dioxide in the atmosphere without a large change in our way of living.
Reducing fossil fuel source electricity is good for the environment because we burn fossil fuels. We are, first of all, polluting the earth. The burning of fossil fuels results in acid rain, water pollution, and lung disease. Also, when we burn fossil fuels and use heat, we are increasing the greenhouse effect. The sun emits infrared, ultraviolet, and infrared radiation. The earth absorbs this energy and converts it to infrared energy. Greenhouses gasses (carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane) absorb this energy and re-emit infrared back into the Earth's atmosphere, trapping it. When the greenhouse effect is increased, the temperature of the earth's atmosphere is increased as well as climate change. Climate change can result in global flooding, melting, and natural disasters. Flooding, melting, and natural disasters can damage homes, bridges, and other civilization.
Overuse of our water resources, especially in San Francisco, is not good for the environment because the drought level is high. Shown in the map below, the drought level in San Francisco is severe. Animals, people, and plants need water. Animals need it to live, as well as people, not only for drinking, but also for washing, bathing, etc. Plants need it for photosynthesis to release oxygen into the air so people and animals can breathe. Runoff can be a problem because it can cause flooding, destroying human civilization. Runoff can also create pollutants in the water that animals, plants, and people use to survive. People need good, clean water for drinking, washing, and bathing. Plants need clean water for photosynthesis, or the plant could die. This is a problem because if more and more plants die, we run out of resources for oxygen, which is essential for humans and animals to breathe.
Climate information is important because it tells how to cool the home in hot seasons, and how to warm it in cool seasons. Builders can use trees that loose their leaves in cold seasons, and grow them for shade in warm seasons. They can also use overheads for shade, or use shades to block out the sun. They can be retractable so there is no shade/overheads during the winter/cold seasons. The path of the sun is important because it tells you where the sun will be at the most direct or indirect angle, and how the house will absorb the most amount of energy during the day. It will tell you what angle to put solar panels and windows at, and where to face them. For example, at the high school, the sun is highest in the sky at noontime. Builders considered the sun's path/angle so the cafeteria, where we eat lunch, would absorb sunlight.
Site Considerations
- The hottest month is September with 15.8 degrees Celsius temperature. The coldest month is January with 10.1 degrees Celsius temperature. The yearly temperature range is 5.7 degrees Celsius. The average temperature is 16.66 degrees Celsius.
- Month with most precipitation is January with the precipitation amount of 100.8 mm. Month with the least precipitation is July with the precipitation amount of 0.8mm. The average amount of precipitation is 40.2 mm
- During the summer (June 21) the sunrise direction in degrees in 59 degrees. The sunrise direction on compass is NE. The sunset direction in degrees in 301 degrees. The sunset direction on compass is NW. And the height (altitude) of the sun at noon is 75.7 degrees. During the winter (December 21) the sunrise direction in degrees is 119 degrees. The sunrise direction on compass is SE. The sunset direction in degrees in 241 degrees. The Sunset direction on compass is SW. And the height (altitude) of the sun at noon is 28.8 degrees.
Design Features:1.Instant water heater - reduce the amount of fossil fuels you consume to heat your household water. Secondly, as tankless heaters are typically smaller units than traditional hot water tanks, they require less metal and help reduce the global demand for mining and metal consumption.
2.Rain Barrels- collects rainwater and you can use that water to water your plants or any subsitutes for water because it is water straight from rain fall which has no chemicals from the ground. It also reduces your water bill!
3.Poris pavement- absorbes water so it reduces run off which collects chemicals. Also our drive way is really short so we reduce the use of pavement unlike a long driveway.
4.Reinforced steel corner pillars in the ground- Since San Francisco is common for earthquakes and land slides these corner pillars provide some stable support to prevent the house from sliding/ moving from earthquakes. (labeled as #4 on the diagram)
5. Hollow concrete bricks- Provides thermal and sound insulation: the air in hollow of the block does not allow heat or cold in the house. So it keeps the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Also these bricks are highly durable.
6. Roof made from reinforced cement concrete- High relative strength, resists deformation, thermal compadiabilty not causing unacceptable stresses in response to changing temperatures
7. Solar powered ceiling fans- protects the environment by reducing greenhouse gasses emissions in the fight against climate change
8. Low flow shower head- conserves water, as well as energy. A low flow showerhead can save more than 50% of hot water used in the shower.
9. Energy star washer- use about 20% less energy and 35% less water than regular washers. They also have a greater tub capacity, which means you can wash fewer loads to clean the same amount of laundry.
10. Aqua sensor faucet- Hands free, which are hygienic and it eliminates the transfer of bacteria. It is water saving by being only running when you are washing your hands so it is environmentally conscious.
11. Tankless water heater- a tankless water heater provides hot water only when needed. It heats water on demand, which lowers energy use.
12. Refrigerator with Energy Savor Switch- Refrigerators uses a ton of energy. With the energy savor switch it can reduce Burning fossil fuels, which causes air pollution and contributes to smog, acid rain and global warming.
13. Drying dishes rack- after cleaning your dishes in the rainwater or sink, you can leave your dishes to dry without needing a dishwasher.
14. White wall flats- the wall panels are molded from bagasse, one of the world's most renewable resources, the white wall flats are a durable, biodegradable and environmentally friendly product!
15. Motion sensor lights- when you or any people in a room it turns off the lights, reducing energy.
16. Shades that can let light through or keep light out from going through the floor to ceiling windows.
17. Bamboo table & benches- Bamboo is a durable, long lasting product. It is harmless to the environment. Bamboo is a plant that has been used by many Far East cultures due to its durability and quick growing factor.
18. Candles- when you don’t want to use lights and you can light a non-energy consuming candles.
19. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use at least 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and they last up to 10 times longer. Compact fluorescent light bulbs also generate 70% less heat, so they are safer to operate and can also reduce energy costs.
20. Solar panels- They absorb the sun's energy and transforms it into direct current, which you can use for lights/ general energy uses in your house. Our solar panels are facing south and at a 27.7 degree angle so the solar panels can absorb as much direct rays from the sun.
21. Retractable Over hangs- The over hangs outside create shade which prevents the suns rays coming inside the house during hot summers.
22. Clothesline-Instead of using a dryer and using electricity, we can use a clothesline to dry our clothes.
Trees we planted around our house loose leaves in the winter and grow leaves creating shade during the summer. We planted oak tree's and deciduos trees around our house.
oak:
Blue prints:
Doll House view:
Blue print (inside house):
Bird's eye view:
Floor Plan: