Active Design is an evidence-based approach to the development of buildings and communities that uses architecture and urban planning to make physical activity and healthy foods more accessible. Affordable housing represents an ideal target for incorporating these strategies, since lower-income communities are disproportionately affected by obesity and chronic disease, and often have less access to health-supporting resources. This multi-disciplinary panel will share how Active Design supports healthier housing for people of all incomes and abilities.

It is said that homebuilding can look back at 300 years of history unimpeded by progress. It’s a bit of an exaggeration, but the energy-sucking, defect prone truth is unacceptable. Homeowners, society, and even the health of our planet have been underserved by the quality standard of our homes. As the vicious cycle of climate change accelerates, we must achieve a home quality paradigm shift now. That will mean thinking differently, acting differently, and doing differently.

Speaker: Tedd Benson, Bensonwood & Unity Homes

Designing for durability is essential for green buildings, because if you double the life of a building, regardless of construction type, you halve the environmental impact of its construction. In the design of buildings and building components to achieve long-life, moisture must be managed and understood, including the ability to have effective and efficient maintenance and repair. Drawing upon decades of hands on experience, two building scientists will present the nitty-gritty of good design that embraces and understands moisture.

This active-learning workshop will explore the challenges of sustainable design in developing countries.  Following a brief presentation and discussion of recent projects, participants will be divided into small groups for a charrette focusing on two current projects where resilient design and energy independence are critical.  One project is at the very beginning stage while the other is further advanced, leading to a variety of design challenges to address.  The workshop will conclude with group presentations and an open discussion.

The Living Building Challenge Energy Petal is intended to signal a new age of design, wherein the built environment relies solely on renewable forms of energy and operates year round in a pollution-free manner. In this in-depth review of the Energy Petal, participants will gain an understanding of how to create Net Zero Energy buildings. This interactive session will present detailed case studies of several Net Zero Energy certified buildings - identifying the design and operational challenges these projects had to overcome to meet their Net Zero Energy goals.

In a cold climate, the sun is a commodity not to be ignored. In 2014 engineer Marc Rosenbaum gave you the master's session. This session comes from the perspective of a designer who also works to integrate the sun in all aspects of design. High performance, energy efficient buildings should take advantage of what the sun provides. Designing in concert with the sun can bring comfort and beauty to the experience of being in a space. This session explores various ways residential design and construction can benefit from the sun's energy.

This workshop will investigate the design process for analyzing and constructing a building envelope to meet aggressive air-sealing goals for new and renovated commercial and institutional projects in cold climates. Example details from four case study buildings will be shared with a central focus on decisions, changes, best practice guidelines, thermal analysis, lessons learned and specific challenges encountered during the construction process.