Sustainable/ Green Buildings are the future of the construction industry, they are smart, energy and resource efficient, save the environment and even lead to money savings. Buildings are termed sustainable not only by putting solar panels, but by creating an intergated sustainable strategy with a set intent and clear goals that reflect in every tiny detail and thus contribute to the overall big picture of a high performing building. It is these tiny strategies that one needs to be aware of and stay constantly updated about, in order to understand the market trends, the consumer needs, and even for the sake of innovation in building design. This research guide is a starting point for anyone who wants to learn about sustainable buildings, their philosophies , basic design intents which can form the entire building's guiding philosophy and the exact strategies that can be applied to a project in a particular context. Hopefully these links, and articles inspire students and future professionals to create a better, smarter and higher performing urban environment.
Gilda Santana
- Director, Architecture Research Center / Art & Art History Librarian
- gsantana@miami.edu
- (305) 284-5282
Nishi Bordia
- Student Worker
- nishibordia@miami.edu
- (305) xxxx
- Sustainable architecture and urbanism : concepts, technologies, examples
- Living homes : sustainable architecture and design
- Eco structures : forms of sustainable architecture
- Sustainable architecture : lowtech houses
- Becoming a Green Building Professional A Guide to Careers in Sustainable Architecture, Design, Engineering, Development, and Operations
- Tropical sustainable architecture : social and environmental dimensions
- the Biophilic and bioclimatic architecture : analytical therapy for the next generation of passive sustainablearchitecture
- the Sustainable architecture in Japan : the green buildings of Nikken Sekkei
- Green walls
Basics of green facades and living walls - Considerations for Advanced Green Facde Design
Detailed article about green walls, challenges and opportunities, available systems and considerations - Guide to Living Green Walls
An introduction to living walls and various subtopics - Sustainable Facades
A paper on the passive design techniques, mateerial properties, wall construction and cladding systems, and case studies - Responsive Skins
A blogpost enlisting adjustable technologies that can adapt to variations based on the climate and sun's position - Responsive Textiles vs. Reactive Facade Systems
An investigation using computational investigation defining the ideas of responsive and reactive facades
- Massing and Orientation-Autodesk Sustainability Workshop
A brief introduction to strategies for passive heating - Location, Orientation and Layout
Details about each topic with links to diagrams
- Climatic Considerations for Facades
An article describing design strategies for different climates - Climate Based Facade Design
A paper discussing principles and strategies, systems and specifications and case studies of business buildings in central London - Heat Transfer
Principles of Heat transfer explained - Heat Energy Flows in Building
A brief introduction to heat flow and thermal properties of materials
- Windows, Glass, Ratings, and Installation-Green Building Advisor
Introduction to Window design with interesting links in "Further Resources" - Tips for selecting green windows and doors
Instead of providing strategies, this article provides useful reminders about the factors to keep in mind while designing green fenestration - Daylighting and Fenestration Design
The second half of the paper introduces Strategies for Constructing Resource Efficient Fenestration Systems - Fiberglass Fenestration: A Durable, Sustainable, and Economic Alternative for Windows and Doors
A case for fiberglass fenestration with case studies
- Insulation-Autodesk's Sustainability Workshop
Introduction to insulation with details on insulation materials and their applications - Green Building Alliance-Building Insulation
Brief article about introduction to general insulation - Insulation for Environmental Sustainability-A guide
Extensive details on sustainable insulation in relation with environmental concerns, discusses design considerations and goals - Air Barrier Systems In Buildings-Whole Building Design Guide
Comprehensive guide to air barriers with topics including materials, durability, location of barriers etc - Air Barrier Systems-Building Design+Construction
Comprehensive guide to air barriers with topics including energy, moisture, codes, assemblies and testing - Questions and Answers About Air Barriers-Green Building Advisor
Informative FAQs about Air barriers and useful links in the related articles section
- Net-Zero Water Building Strategies
A comprehensive summary of net-zero water building strategies with informative links and diagrams - Regulatory Pathways to Net Zero Water
Traditional Model versus Living Building Challenge in the context of design pathways to Net-Zero Water, with codes, barriers and recommendations for innovative water projects - Idea Vs. Mainstream Net-Zero water Building
A comparison between the two situations using handy diagrams, great for quick reference - El Design Elements of a Net-Zero Water Building
A comprehensive source for tabulated strategies, successful example projects and links for more information - Best Managment Practices for Decentralized Sourcing and Treatment
Topics include integrated water management, rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment, and future research - Net-Zero Water and moving Beyond Low Flow
Emerging water strategies addressing efficiency and resilience on multiple scales - Your Building Can Achieve Net Zero Water Use
Brief article on quick and general water saving strategies - Path to Net-Zero Water
An brief introduction to Net-Zero Water strategies
- Water Efficiency and Conservation Measures
One-line strategies and measures for water conservation - Green Building Water Efficiency Strategies
An analysis of LEED project data discussing measures, water efficient landscaping, innovative wastewater technologies and water use reduction - Water efficiency and Related Topics
A list of water related terms with their descriptions and links to deeper issues - Indoor Water Use and Improving Performance
A resourceful article on water use, efficiency, potential issues, terms, definitions and supplemental resources - Watersense-Environmental Protection Agency
A one stop-shop for links to water efficiency related issues
- Rainwater Harvesting-Building Green
A simple yet comprehensive introduction to systems and topics in rainwater harvesting - Rainwater Harvesting-Autodesk Sustainability Workshop
Introduction to Rainwater Harvesting - The Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting
Details on system components and sizing, water quality, treatment, cost estimation and incentives - Rainwater and Stormwater Harvesting
Topics include codes, guidance manual, barriers, and standards - The Rainwater Harvesting in The Sustainable Environment
Guide includes regulations, explained concepts, sizing calculations with diagrams and photographs
- Water Efficient Irrigation Landscaping-Autodesk's Sustainability Workshop
The basic ideas behind sustainable irrigation - Efficient Irrigation
Pros & Cons, systems and techniques for sustainable irrigation - More Efficient Irrigation Systems
Details on individual irrigation systems with photographs and links for further reading - the Resources for the Landscape Care Industry
Tabulated topics with strategies and links for further reading - USGBC-High-efficiency irrigation system for mid-rise
List of applicable measures
- Stormwater Management Tools – Ideas and Innovative Techniques
Comprehensive details on the green infrastructure practices, processes of stormwater and case studies - Stormwater Management
Introduction to storage devices and their applicability with links to further readings - Stormwater Management- Green Building Advisor
An article about site drainage with interesting links for further exploration - Stormwater Management Practices at EPA Facilities
Details on various available techniques and systems - Green Infrastructure
A table discussing different strategies with descriptions, implementation and maintenance techniques with photographs - Sustainable Stormwater Management
Strategies in Chapter 3 with case studies
- Green Building with Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems
A study on the environmental impacts of such systems - Building Green-Onsite Wastewater Treatment
Reasons to consider this for a project other than money savings - Future Technologies for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment
Technology roadmap and pathways to emerging high performance wastewater plants - Decentralised/Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Technologies
Links to case studies - Sustainable and Cost-Effective Wastewater Systems
Regulatory Framework in the EU with definitions, technologies,concepts and examples
- Sustainable HVAC Strategies
A brief introduction to Sustainable active systems and strategies - High Performance HVAC-Whole Building Design Guide
A detailed guide on energy and resource efficient HVAC design, with design recommendations, types of HVAC systems and important links - Strategies to Reduce HVAC use
basic strategies with concise introductions - Active HVAC systems-Autodesk Sustainability Workshop
One stop shop about the basics of HVAC and sections to dive deeper into individual topics
- The Role of Extensive Green Roofs in Sustainable Development
- Greenroof Architecture
A comprehensive introduction to green roofs including its types ,environmental and other benefits
- Basic Principles of Passive Design
A quick slideshow about passive design - Passive and Active Design
A case study with analyisis on the interactions between passive and active design - Passive Design Strategies for Energy Efficiency
A clear list of strategies divided into different categories - Passive Solar Design
Details about considerations, commercial status, implementation issues and guidelines for passive solar heating and cooling - Passive Solar Design Strategies: Guidelines for Home Builders
Details about important strategies of passive design and strategies specific to North Dakota with an example - Passive Design Strategies: Sustainability Case Study
Brief article enlisting various strategies implemented on a sustainable urban house - Passive Design Strategies:Hot Dry Climate
Case studies of residential buildings in the hot and dry climate of Nigeria - Passive Cooling and Energy Efficient Strategies: Case Study
Strategies for the design of a hotel on the Southern Coast of Pernambuco, Brazil - Passive Design Toolkit for homes
A step by step detailed guide to passive design including orientations, interior layouts, insulation, windows, lighting and ventilation - Passive Solar Home Design:Energy.gov
A brief introduction to passive solar design
- Natural ventilation-Autodesk Sustainability Workshop
Quantifying natural ventilation with topic links to dive deeper - Natural Ventilation-Whole Building Desing Guide
A detailed guide to natural ventilation including scientific principles, design recommendations, application, codes, and additional resources - Natural Ventilation in Passive Design
A detailed guide including topics like water features and vegetation, building form and envelope, internal room planning, principles of thermal comfort, climate applicability, and use of thermal mass - Natural Ventilation of Buidlings
A brief article enlisting the various applicable strategies - the Natural Ventilation for the Sustainable Tall Office Buildings of the Future
A paper discussing various techniques along with rich case studies - Natural Ventilation
Organised content found in the menu at the end of the page
- Renewable Energy Systems for Commercial Buildings
Details about different renewable technologies and what can be done with them - Renewable Energy Options for Buildings:Case Studies
A paper discussing the technologies and statistics of different renewable technologies in different buildings - Alternative Energy-Whole Building Design Guide
Short descriptions about the various alternative sources of energy available - Renewable Energy Applications for Existing Buildings
A paper discussing different renewable technologies for historical buildings - Putting Renewable Energy to Work In Buildings
An article about renewable energy for environmentally responsible buildings, costs and other considerations
- The New Economics of Energy Storage
An article about models of energy storage and its various subtopics including policy and market limits - The Energy Storage and Buildings of The Future
A paper discussing the importance of auxilary equipment for heating and cooling storage systems - Thermal Storage: Green Building Alliance
The article discusses how to capture and use thermal energy more efficiently - Energy Storage Options for Green Buildings
A brief article with short descriptions about 5 energy storage options for sustainable buildings
- Solar Energy Facts
Know solar energy before advocating for it - Solar Energy Myths Busted
Common misconceptions and arguements against solar power - Solar Power-Sustainable Energy to protect our Economy and environment
Details about systems though which solar energy is captured - Beautiful Solar Architecture
Article discusses common concerns over solar panels seeming like ugly afterthoughts - Integrated Solar Solutions for Buildings
Strategies that make use of solar energy without solar panels - Solar Photovoltaic Guide
Site and structural specifications and safety considerations for PV and best builder practices - Architectural PV Design Considerations
Brief article discussing orientation, placement, and aesthetics of PV - Building Integrated Photovoltaic Designs for Commercial and Institutional Structures
A sourcebook of case studies including design considerations for individual studies - Best Practice Guide-PV
A detailed guide about PV systems including introduction, considerations,and case studies
- Wind Power-Green Building Alliance
A brief introduction to wind power with useful external links - Advantages and Challenges of Wind Energy-Energy.gov
General knowledge about Wind Power - Sustainable Buildings Fueled by Wind Turbines
An list of case studies with short descriptions and photographs - The Folly of Building-Integrated Wind
Introduction to concepts of Building-Integrated Wind and its viability - Wind Turbine Designs
10 beautiful wind turbines that push the limits of design
- Biomass for Heat-Whole Building Design Guide
A detailed description about biomass heating systems, economics and design considerations for integration - Geothermal Energy-Green Building Alliance
A brief introduction to topics in Geothermal Energy - Geothermal Heating and Cooling
The article discusses the processes through which geothermal energy is harnessed from the earth and used by buildings - Warning to Geothermal Energy
The article talks about the challenges and opportunites facing geothermal energy
- Optimize Building Space and Material Use-Whole Building Design Guide
Detailed guide discussing the space related issues and design recommendations, with additional links provided in the resources section - Tiny Apartments
Article discussing sustainable aspects of tiny apartments and micro-housing - Are Micro-Units Greener or Just Smaller
- Sustainable Gardening
Tips, principles and practices for the organic vegetable garderner - Indoor Plants
An article about the benefits of indoor landscaping - Interior Landscaping
Links to multiple articles about plants and the indoors - Gardening Trends
The article talks about how to make gardens more welcoming and manageable
- Efficient Lighting and Daylighting
Short summary on lighting with instructive diagrams of easy to apply strategies - Lighting-Energy.gov
informative links to topics like lighting design, controls, daylighting, energy efficient light bulbs, trivia about LEDs etc - Lighting and Daylighting Design-Autodesk's Sustainability Workshop
Autodesk's Sustainability Workshop teaches beginners how to go about lighting design with useful links and videos - Energy Efficient Lighting-Whole Building Design Guide
Detailed guide on the common types of lamps - Daylighting-Whole Building Design Guide
Detailed guide on daylighting including types of technologies, applications, economics, design considerations and recommendations - Daylighting and Fenestration
Introduction to Daylight design with easy-to-understand basics of multiple daylighting strategies - the Siting with the Sun: Passive Heating and Daylighting
Quick reference for daylighting design strategies in a clear combination with passive heating
- The Role of Ergonomics in Green Building
A paper discussing ergonomics problems - Ergonomics in LEED Building Design
Links to green ergonomic checklists are provided
- Green Building Materials-Autodesk Sustainability Workshop
An article about using recycled and non-toxic materials - How to Choose Green Furniture
A simple article discussing important factors to keep in mind while picking furniture - Furniture, Fixtures and Fittings
Sourcing sustanable FFF, issues, typical FFF items, Checklist for comparing products and a list of product ecolabelling schemes
- Sustainable Finishes
- Interior Finishes
New and reinvented products for healthier interiors - Sustainable Flooring
A catalog of eco-friendly flooring and other green interior products - Flooring Materials: Green Building Alliance
An article discussing about the various sustainable flooring materials available - Eco-Friendly Flooring Solutions
10 most popular flooring solutions with short descriptions and photographs
Gilda Santana
- Director, Architecture Research Center / Art & Art History Librarian
- gsantana@miami.edu
- (305) 284-5282
Nishi Bordia
- Student Worker
- nishibordia@miami.edu
- (305) xxxx
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