Transportation Energy Analysis for Single-Family Residential Construction in California Tyler Langley Since the oil crisis of 1973, energy use in the United States of America has been a growing area of concern. Studies have shown that the construction industry is responsible for almost half of all annual energy consumption. With this awareness, the analysis of energy use within the related construction fields has become an emergent subject. One facet of construction energy use that has been less studied than others is that of the energy consumed in transporting building materials from manufacturing plants to construction sites. This thesis proposes a methodology for determining the energy consumed during the transportation of building materials to a construction site and applies this methodology to estimate the transportation component of the total energy consumed in the lifecycle of a residential building in California. Comparisons are then drawn among the embodied energy of the materials used in the construction of the building, the energy used to transport the materials and the products used in the on-site assembly of the building, and the energy consumed during the occupancy of the building. The first chapter covers the intent of the thesis, as well as a categorization and explanation of the main areas of energy usage in the construction industry. This is followed by a delineation of the methodology used to research transportation energy. Chapter 2 details the development of the framework that is discussed in Chapter 1. This includes the unique problem areas of calculating transportation energy, the resulting parameters that focus the area of study, and the general assumptions derived from those parameters. Chapter 3 is a case study of a single-family two-story house in northern California. First, the considerations and reasons for the choice are defined, establishing this as a representative residence for the area. The material choices and structural system choices are also discussed. Then, the framework introduced in Chapter 2 is applied in the case study. This introduces more case-specific problems in the types of calculations used for estimating transportation energy. Chapter 4 contains a summary of the findings as well as a reflection on the process followed by suggestions for future research and application for the subject of transportation energy usage. In this summary, it is shown that the energy used in transportation of materials to the site of the case study house amounts to 10.5 million Btu, which is roughly 2.5% of the embodied energy, and 21% of the occupational energy usage per year.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is the nation's principal tool for accomplishing river conservation. Congress intended for the Act to apply to rivers regardless of ownership of adjacent lands, but efforts to implement the Act on rivers bordered by private property have met with limited success. This paper presents the underlying issues related to private land applications, explores the range of ideas and opinions existing among river conservation experts, agency river planners and others regarding how to work with these issues, identifies areas of general concurrence and least agreement, and makes recommendations for future private land applications of the Act.

During 1973 a series of land use planning workshops for local officials and interested citizens was held in the multi-county planning districts of the state of Utah. The workshops were based on a planning process which had been used in Wasatch County, Utah, to develop the Heber Valley Plan. The emphasis of this process and of the workshops was the involvement of the citizens of the community in the planning process and the use of natural resource information as an additional basis for making planning decisions. The evaluation includes a description of significant results of the Heber Valley Plan, events leading to a series of workshops, a typical workshop program, and activities which followed the workshops. A questionnaire was sent to a sample of workshop participants in order to assess the response to the program. A content analysis was made of written comments on the returned questionnaires. A rating sheet was also prepared for use in evaluating or preparing educational literature for land use planning. Results showed the workshops to be successful in creating awareness of the need for community input and the uses of natural resource information. They were less successful in providing "how to do it" type information. Included in the Appendix are A Workbook on Land Use Planning, prepared specifically for these workshops, and The Heber Valley Story, also distributed at the workshops.

Mobility in the western U.S. is defined primarily by the private automobile. Since the conclusion of WWII, the private automobile has become readily available to the public, and as a result, has heavily influenced the design of our modern cities in the west. In recent years the connections between high motor vehicle use and rising obesity rates, crumbling road infrastructure, and deteriorating air quality have caused city officials to reexamine the transportation systems of the west. One solution advocates, city officials, and planning professionals have begun examining is active transportation (walking, cycling, and public transit). Research suggests that a robust active transportation network not only diversifies mobility options, it also encourages compact urban development, cleaner air, and a move active population. This thesis developed a methodology for examining and documenting the components of an active transportation network in the western U.S. This was done though a comprehensive literature review to glean important active transportation policies, infrastructure, and best practices. Then, two western U.S. case study cities with relatively high amounts of cycling, walking, and public transit use were selected and analyzed with site visits and planning professional interviews. The data gathered throughout this first phase of the research was then synthesized, and reoccurring themes about cycling, walking and public transit were identified. These themes were labeled as the prerequisites for active transportation in cities of the western U.S. and were documented and prioritized based on their potential impact. The themes were vetted by planning professionals in the two case study cities as well as in Cache Valley to insure accuracy and validity. A final version of the prerequisites was then documented. The final phase of this research applied the prerequisites to the transportation system in Cache Valley, UT in order to insure the list was valid and reproducible under a variety of conditions. The outcome of this phase was GIS map displaying an alternative future for active transportation in Cache Valley, UT.

This thesis identifies and reviews problems of and the methodology for solving these same problems that confront many of the central business districts in most cities in the United States. Population. street systems, traffic control, parking, and land use as well as street appearance are considered. Problems of congested traffic , shabby, out-of -date and even dilapidated store fronts, as well as pollution, street construction, parking availability are all very real problems in city centers. Contemporary concepts, approaches, ideas of landscape architects and city planners are examined and applied to solving these problems. The commercial district of Logan, Utah is considered, the problems are identified, and the methodology for solving these problems is applied to this particular situation.

<p>This paper intends to offer insights into the internationally recognized LEED Green Building Rating System by taking a closer look at the short-­ and long-­term upsides and downsides of the system in a Finnish construction project, case Lintulahti. This qualitative research has been based on a research model and the primary data has been collected by conducting interviews with industry professionals involved in the project. A great deal of academic literature claims that the benefits of green building exceed its costs. The empirical findings in this paper imply that this claim is valid even for the case study and that LEED can be applied in a Finnish project. However, several challenges related to the implementation exist.</p>

Color has a large impact on our psychological and physiological responses. This study examines the value of color as a component in a healing environment for pediatric patient rooms by measuring color preferences among healthy children, pediatric patients, and design professionals. Environmental satisfaction is a significant mediator between the physical environment and children’s health. Previous color preference studies have typically been done with small color chips or papers, which are very different from seeing a color applied on wall surfaces. A simulation method allowed for investigating the value of color in real contexts and controlling confounding variables. The findings of this study demonstrated that blue and green are the most preferred, and white the least preferred color, by both children and design professionals. Children’s gender differences were found in that boys prefer red and purple less than girls. Pediatric patients reported lower preference scores for yellow than did healthy children. These findings lead to color application guidelines for designers to understand color more and eventually to create better environments for children and their families.

This paper intends to offer insights into the internationally recognized LEED Green Building Rating System by taking a closer look at the short-­ and long-­term upsides and downsides of the system in a Finnish construction project, case Lintulahti. This qualitative research has been based on a research model and the primary data has been collected by conducting interviews with industry professionals involved in the project. A great deal of academic literature claims that the benefits of green building exceed its costs. The empirical findings in this paper imply that this claim is valid even for the case study and that LEED can be applied in a Finnish project. However, several challenges related to the implementation exist.

The energy efficiency of a building is directly related to the heat transfer between the building and the outside environment. In order to limit the heat transfer to the building by solar radiation cool roofs have been developed which increase the solar reflectivity of roofs. This report investigates the potential application of high reflectivity coatings to roofs at Pomona College and the energy benefits that could result. Cool roofs are used to address two prevalent environmental concerns: high cooling loads and Urban Heat Islands. These two problems are linked and exhibit the potential micro and mesoscale benefits of reducing roof surface temperature. Cool roofs are part of a larger set of solutions to tackle these two issues and so must be considered in the context of the multitude of other mitigation measures. This report discusses the ways in which a cool roof affects a building envelope and Urban Heat Islands, and what this means in the context of Southern California and Pomona College. Due to the already energy efficient clay tile on most Pomona roofs, the gains from reflective coatings would be limited. However there are several flat roofs on campus that could benefit from the application of a reflective coating. These benefits would come in the form of cooling energy cost reduction to individual buildings. These benefits would not be so drastic as to necessitate immediately applying reflective coatings, but flat roofs should be updated with an energy efficient coating as part of regularly scheduled resurfacing

Color has a large impact on our psychological and physiological responses. This study examines the value of color as a component in a healing environment for pediatric patient rooms by measuring color preferences among healthy children, pediatric patients, and design professionals. Environmental satisfaction is a significant mediator between the physical environment and children’s health. Previous color preference studies have typically been done with small color chips or papers, which are very different from seeing a color applied on wall surfaces. A simulation method allowed for investigating the value of color in real contexts and controlling confounding variables. The findings of this study demonstrated that blue and green are the most preferred, and white the least preferred color, by both children and design professionals. Children’s gender differences were found in that boys prefer red and purple less than girls. Pediatric patients reported lower preference scores for yellow than did healthy children. These findings lead to color application guidelines for designers to understand color more and eventually to create better environments for children and their families.