This thesis explored the energy conservation requirements necessary to retrofit existing historic structures. Residential and small commercial buildings were selected as significant examples. This study discussed and analyzed the historic, climatic, technical, and economic contexts which impact the energy conservation strategy. The major economic and architectural benefits were identified and described. A methodology was developed incorporating feasible retrofitting measures for historic buildings. This included technical and economic ranking of retrofitting measures with prototypical building type studies documenting the theoretical thermal performance before and after incorporation of retrofitting measures. / Department of Architecture

Photocopy of typescript. / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The National Park Service has provided guidance to the public for years regarding weatherization measures for historic houses. Some of this guidance advised against installing wall insulation, citing the potential for moisture condensation resulting in structural damage. With the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009, a substantial investment was made in the 30 year old Weatherization Assistance Program, which provides federal funds for home weatherization. The program has used wall insulation with no reported problems and proven energy savings. Some State Historic Preservation Offices (who review federally funded actions) protested the use of wall insulation based on the NPS guidance, especially Preservation Brief #3. This thesis describes the fundamental differences between the preservation community’s approach to energy efficiency as compared to the weatherization community’s approach, and addresses some concerns of historic preservation officials regarding perceived potential damage of some weatherization measures, including wall insulation. / Introduction : HP and DOE programmatic agreement -- Energy efficiency guidance from the historic preservation community -- Guidance from the weatherization community -- Analysis of differences between preservation guidance and DOE guidance -- Recommendations. / Department of Architecture

Thesis. 1975. B.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning. / Bibliography: leaves 72-73. / by Carol J. Mancke. / B.S.

The thesis presents a comprehensive overview of the context and significance of ventilation cooling techniques and their feasibility in the United States. Passive cooling is one of the more architecturally interesting ways by which architects could make buildings energy efficient. There is great interest in passive systems since they can lead to a huge reduction of energy costs and support more sustainable building solutions. A number of ventilation system options are available to fill the need for a lower cost alternative to active [conventional] systems. It is the non-residential sector where energy consumption is of most concern and integrating passive natural ventilation in new non-residential buildings is receiving a lot of attention internationally and the U.S. building industry. Interest in improving air quality by passive ventilation is also increasing. / Department of Architecture

Assignment (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although there are serious hurdles to overcome before green, energy-efficient homes become common; the technological and market-based foundations are already in place to support a shift in standard practice. Many organizations, from the federal government to local non-profits, are driving the transition to more efficient homebuilding practices through research, market-based competition, and tax incentives. However, many builders are resisting the transition, due to the fragmented nature of the building industry and a perceived lack of consumer demand. Because of the nature of the US economy, until American consumers understand green homes and demand builders to build them, green homebuilding will not reach its full potential. If building practices are left unchanged, inefficient homes will continue to cause dire consequences to the world because of their contribution to global climate change. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hoewel daar ernstige struikelblokke bestaan, wat oorkom moet word alvorens groen, energie-doelmatige wonings algemeen raak, is die tegnologiese en markgerigte grondslae reeds gelê om ’n verskuiwing in standaard-praktyk te onderskraag. Verskeie instansies – van die federale regering tot nie-winsgewende organisasies – verleen stukrag deur middel van navorsing, markgerigte mededinging en belastingaansporings aan die oorgang na meer doelmatige gebruike rondom praktyke ten opsigte van die konstruksie van huise. Weens die gefragmenteerde aard van die boubedryf en die waarneembare gebrek aan verbruikersaanvraag staan talle bouers egter die vermelde oorgang teen. Weens die aard van die VSA se ekonomie en totdat Amerikaanse verbruikers groen tuistes kan verkoop en by bouers aandring om hulle op te rig, sal groen woningkonstruksie nie sy volle potensiaal bereik nie. Indien boupraktyke onveranderd gelaat word, sal ondoelmatige wonings as gevolg van hulle bydrae tot globale klimaatsverandering steeds aaklige gevolge vir die wêreld tot gevolg hê.

This study presents findings from survey and interview data investigating replication of green building measures by Commercial Building Partnership (CBP) partners that worked directly with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL partnered directly with 12 organizations on new and retrofit construction projects, which represented approximately 28 percent of the entire U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) CBP program. Through a feedback survey mechanism, along with personal interviews, quantitative and qualitative data were gathered relating to replication efforts by each organization. These data were analyzed to provide insight into two primary research areas: 1) CBP partners' replication efforts of green building approaches used in the CBP project to the rest of the organization's building portfolio, and, 2) the market potential for technology diffusion into the total U.S. commercial building stock, as a direct result of the CBP program. The first area of this research focused specifically on replication efforts underway or planned by each CBP program participant. The second area of this research develops a diffusion of innovations model to analyze potential broad market impacts of the CBP program on the commercial building industry in the United States. Findings from this study provided insight into motivations and objectives CBP partners had for program participation. Factors that impact replication include motivation, organizational structure and objectives firms have for implementation of energy efficient technologies. Comparing these factors between different CBP partners revealed patterns in motivation for constructing energy efficient buildings, along with better insight into market trends for green building practices. The optimized approach to the CBP program allows partners to develop green building parameters that fit the specific uses of their building, resulting in greater motivation for replication. In addition, the diffusion model developed for this analysis indicates that this method of market prediction may be used to adequately capture cumulative construction metrics for a whole-building analysis as opposed to individual energy efficiency measures used in green building.

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.

Based on federal and state experience of the late 1970's and early 1980's, this paper examines various policy alternatives that government could implement in promoting renewable energy. The paper assumes that government has an interest in promoting renewables. Therefore, it makes no attempt to advocate why federal or state governments should promote renewable energy. It merely presents a variety of options that these governments might choose to promote renewables as a viable alternative to meet present and future energy demands. The Carter and Reagan administrations at the federal level and the Brown, Deukmejian, and Wilson governorships in California are examined. This time period was selected because of the significant changes which occurred during the 1970's and 1980's in the energy economy and political arena and their resulting impact on the renewable energy industry. The contrast between one decade and the next starkly revealed the effects that government policy had in both cultivating and undermining a relatively infant industry. The thesis presents a detailed case study of Luz International to illustrate those effects. The discussion focuses on the factors affecting the policy formulation process, with emphasis on the importance of the executive office, interest groups, and the legislature. This thesis argues that energy policy formulation is governed or shaped largely by factors that are beyond the control of the renewable energy industry. Examples of such factors are benefit coalitions, short-term mentality of elected officials, and lack of public awareness. Effective policy to facilitate the commercialization of renewable energy technologies must account for the conditions of the marketplace and the political process. / Master of Urban Affairs