Thesis (M.Arch.)--University of Detroit Mercy, 2010. / "30 April 2010". Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-119).

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1981. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-167). / Historically, atria were protected interior patios; well perceived for their climate tempering and spatial amenity to the building; matching a peaceful private outdoor with the yearly climate cycles. Public buildings adopted this in larger scale, and with the ending 18th century, atria and arcades merged to a period of architectural highlights of glass covered interiors in steel and glass. Passages, hotels and public buildings of an emerging industrial society in Europe and Northern States spurred the evolution of the "Great Indoors" as an urban feature. The ecology of these indoors were consciously achieved by passive means of temperature control. With the rise of mechanical conditioning and excessive use of glass at facades by the beginning of this century, atria and arcades disappeared more or less from the architectural vocabulary. The late 1950s though experienced a revival of atria as a commercial amenity in malls, hotels and similar type of public places. These atria, however, were generally mechanical conditioned; just typically being enormous energy wasters. With the growing urge for energy conservation today, new parameters form our buildings. For this, atria and arcades of urban scale and passive control achieve a new validity as energy conscious urban form. As the key to our energy future in buildings lies well in the urban context, whose inventory per se offers already a fair degree of energy efficiency, improvements there would yield greatest rewards compared to current suburban solar sprawl. The re-interpretation of atria and arcades will provide a perfect planning tool for this urban energy conservation. The glass covered indoors will match with urban scale and site restraints and spur urban life for livable norther winter cities. Exploring atria and arcades as climate buffers and interior amenity for snow belt latitudes, this thesis presents an architectural review, and concludes with design patterns for habitable and energy conscious urban indoors. / by Joachim W. Glässel. / M.S.

A study was performed to gain an understanding of the feasibility of an Earth Coolant Tube for use in cooling and heating air for residences and industry. It was concluded that previous studies did not include the effect of coolant tube depth or coolant tube operation over long periods of time. A numerical methods approach using finite difference form of the general energy conduction equation was used to evaluate these effects. It was concluded that a coolant tube 1 foot in diameter and 100 feet long could provide as much as 1/6 ton of refrigeration for a 4 month time period. It was also concluded that for coolant tube performance. This study also presents estimates on expected rates of energy transfer for coolant tubes, and recommends a simplified approach for designing coolant tubes.

An evaluation of energy conservation landscape strategies implemented in a two block section of a single family neighborhood was conducted. A questionnaire containing graphic representations of the energy conservation landscape designs was used and mailed to practicing landscape architects. South wall solar access and rooftop solar access planting schemes were evaluated in addition to the existing condition of the two block study area. The rooftop solar access planting scheme was the most preferred with respect to fulfilling the current design paradigm for single family neighborhood landscapes. In it each residence receives at least rooftop solar access, with half of the dwelling units also implementing northwest windbreaks and east-west shading strategies. The study includes a description of the development of the energy conservation landscape designs and the evaluation process. Also included are discussions of the single family neighborhood landscape design criteria, the preference for the rooftop solar access planting scheme, and recommendations for further research. / M.L. Arch.

The major purpose of this investigation was to assess the impact of household socio-economic factors, dwelling characteristics, energy conservation behavior, and energy attitude on the perceptions of energy-efficient housing alternatives. Perceptions of passive solar, active solar, earth- sheltered, and retrofitted housing were examined. Data used were from the Southern Regional Research Project, S-141, "Housing for Low and Moderate Income Families." Responses from 1804 households living in seven southern states were analyzed. A conceptual model was proposed to test the hypothesized relationships which were examined by path analysis. Perceptions of energy-efficient housing alternatives were found to be a function of selected household and dwelling characteristics, energy attitude; household economic factors, and household conservation behavior. Age and education of the respondent, family size, housing-income ratio, utility-income ratio, energy attitude, and size of the dwelling unit were found to have direct and indirect effects on perceptions of energy-efficient housing alternatives. Energy conservation behavior made a significant direct impact with behavioral energy conservation changes having the most profound influence. Conservation behavior was influenced by selected household and dwelling characteristics, energy attitude, and household economic factors. Significant effects were found between conservation efforts and age, size, and condition of the housing unit, age and education of respondent, family size, and energy attitude. Household economic factors were directly affected by selected household and dwelling characteristics. Age and education of respondent and age and condition of dwelling had significant effects on the proportion of monthly income spent for housing and utilities. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this research, based on classical diffusion of innovations theory, was to examine factors related to the probable adoption or nonadoption of energy-efficient housing alternatives, specifically passive and active solar and earth sheltered/underground dwellings. Three types of factors were examined: demographics (geographical location by state, type of household, stage in family life cycle, race, age, and educational level); energy (belief in the energy crisis, the impact of energy on housing decisions, efforts to reduce utility costs, average monthly utility costs, and the presence of energy-conserving features in the dwelling); and, local regulatory codes for building (the presence of housing alternatives in the locality, the presence of regulatory codes, and the prior need for variances in order to construct alternative forms of housing). The study utilized daca collected as part of a regional research project, S-141, Housing for Low- and Moderate-Income Families. Data from households were collected by means of an interview schedule using a random sample of 1804 households from four counties selected in each of seven southern states after stratification on the basis of income and the number of nonfarm households. Data from local building officials in the same counties were collected using mailed questionnaires. Techniques of analysis utilized included the chi-squared test, analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, the t-test, and discriminant analysis. Findings indicated that probable adopters of the housing alternatives were usually younger, had more education, were in the earlier stages of the family life cycle, believed in the energy crisis, believed the energy situation had impacted housing decisions, had attempted to reduce utility costs, and lived in houses with more energy-conserving features than probable nonadopters. / Ph. D.

Lee Tsup Chung Anthony. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 1996-97, design report." / Includes thesis report: Sustainable architecture ; mother ship earth (1996) / Includes bibliographical references (leave 42 (1st gp.); leave 41 (2nd gp.)) / INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / BACKGROUND / Chapter 2.1 --- CLIENT & PROGRAM / Chapter 2.2 --- SITE SELECTION / Chapter 2.3 --- DESIGN OPBJECTIVE / PLANNING / ZONING STRAEGY / Chapter 3.1 --- DESIGN PJILOSOPHY / Chapter 3.2 --- SITE ANALYSIS / Chapter 3.2 --- MICROCLIMATE / Chapter 3.3 --- DESIGN EVOLUTION / LIFE SAFETY / Chapter 4.1 --- "FIRE ENGINEERING," / Chapter 4.2 --- MEANS OF ESCAPE / STRUCTURE / Chapter 5.1 --- SUPERSTRUCTURE / Chapter 5.2 --- ERECTION SEQUENCE / SPECIAL STUDY - SUSTAINABLE ENERGY / Chapter 6.1 --- ENERGY / Chapter 6.2 --- ENERGY IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY / Chapter 6.3 --- SOLAR STANDARD / Chapter 6.4 --- ENERGY DESIGN IN PROJECT / Chapter 6.5 --- GREEN CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

published_or_final_version / Urban Design / Master / Master of Urban Design

The purpose of this study was to collect and compile data on the principal climatic factors of the Denton area which affect one's personal comfort and health, in order to show how a maximum of these commodities could be secured through manipulation and control of the climate of individual building sites. In the Denton County area the naturally breezy climate of summer, excluding areas near heat-collecting surfaces of pavement and masonry, is not usually uncomfortable out of doors unless one is directly exposed to the sun; but, as a result of improper orientation of houses, indoors one often feels a pressing still heat and a general discomfort. The writer's interest in the field of architecture led to a desire to find out how this condition could be alleviated; therefore, this study was undertaken.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 157-159). / Daylighting is a powerful design element which can have a dramatic impact on people's perception of space, physical and psychological well-being as well as a building's annual and daily energy requirements. Understanding of the way daylight can penetrate a space , dramatize materials, create shadows and patterns, and is reflected and diffused gives an appreciation for light energy as a natural force. Historic precedents, and the response of contemporary architecture to the problems and possibilities of daylighting demonstrate the changes in values, and attitudes about the role of natural light and ventilation as they have been constructed in the landscape over a period of centuries. Three areas are investigated in considering the role of natural daylighting in the context of adaptive reuse. One is the historical evolution of atriums, their use as climate conditioners, as building form generators and as receptors of daylight. The second area is a qualitative and quantitative study of daylight. Topics explored are glazing location, diffusion and reflection elements, and psychological effects, impact on annual energy consumption and physical modeling. The third area of study is the development of a generic atrium piece which is the principal form and organizational generator of a design proposal for the reuse of a typical early 20th century warehouse building. / by John Stephen Crowley. / M.Arch.