#1 – 3D Architecture
LEED – 3D Architecture and Engineering Design
- Step 1: Use Smart Software to create a home plan.
- Step 2: The Discover Phase transforms your input into a LEED design. This step requires hiring Spartan Consultants* to develop Architectural and LEED Plans for submission.
- Step 3: A Spartan LEED Agreement is drawn up, initial fees paid.
- Step 4: Spartan Buildings submits applications for LEED Certification and the final designs for your building envelope.
Role of LEED Consultant - Spartan Consultants*
While not required for LEED Certification, LEED consultants are often tasked with managing the certification process. This includes assisting the design team with sustainability strategies, defining technical requirements for certification, and submitting the documentation required for certification. The scope of LEED consulting services ranges widely. Still, it is always intended to assist the project team, not to guarantee that it will achieve LEED certification. Ultimately, the design and construction team’s expertise and support will be required for adequately documenting credit opportunities, meeting the prerequisite requirements, and delivering the information promptly.
Commissioning Process
The Commissioning Process includes tasks for each stage of a facility’s planning, design, construction, and operation. Whether commissioning the HVAC Systems or the Building Enclosure, these tasks are primarily the same. The National Institute of Building Standards (NIBS) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) have developed the Total Building Commissioning’s widely accepted process. This Total Building Commissioning Process is described by several published guidelines that are intended to be implemented to illustrate the Commissioning Process for several building systems.
Process Tasks by Phase
- Pre-Design Phase –Smart Software
- Develop Owners Project Requirements (OPR) – Smart Software
- Spartan LEED Consulting Fees Paid by Client
- Develop an Initial LEED Commissioning Plan
- Architectural 3D Design Phase
- Develop Draft Construction Checklists
- Perform a Commissioning Design Review as a Collaborative Effort
- Submit Plans to LEED Authorities and line up inspections of building ponce completed.
- Construction Phase
- Verify that Systems Comply with the OPR
- Occupancy Phase
- Produce Systems Manual
- Complete LEED Process and Receive the LEED Certification for your Building Envelope.
#1 – 3D Architecture & Engineering Design
LEED – 3D
What you see is what you build
Spartan Building specialitsts are architects, designers, builders, and engineers. They are the people who shape the physical world. They are well versed in utilizing the best visualization and 3D engineering tools to produce our clients’ dreams into actual structures. Our experts draw and computer sketch, explore your ideas, figure things out, and show our clients what the building looks like before one nail is driven. They draw because they can share a unique experience not offered by many building firms in the industry.
Solid Core Structural Insulated Panel [SIP] Buildings
Think of the home as a six-sided box in which all six sides need to have the most cost-effective insulation possible. Think of a beer cooler; the closer the results to building a beer cooler, the better. As determined by energy modeling, the R-values on each side of the box must be sufficient to reach the zero net energy goals. SIP panels provide maximum results using thicker insulated walls, which are super-efficient. These include floor and roof panels that give the best home insulation materials and methods to achieve Zero Energy Home [ZEH] goals and objectives. SIPS provides a continuous air barrier. All the cracks, holes, and exterior envelope penetrations of an average sick-built home are problematic. A SIP building is systematically sealed on all sides. All electrical, HVAC, venting, gas, and water inserts are minimized and included in the design.
Final Architectural Designs
Spartan’s main goals for clients are delivered in the achievement or near achievement of a Zero Energy Home [ZEH]. Spartan realizes that there are affordable Zero Energy Homes. These should still match the building owner’s budgets compared to the LEED design objectives. Spartan uses standard building techniques combined with advanced 3D Models and Architectural visualizations that define all building aspects.
The Building Envelope – energy modeling
Spartan Buildings utilize Sketchup, AutoCAD Revit, Lumion, and Building Information Management (BIM) Software to perform two main functions of energy modeling. The first is to calculate the expected annual energy use for any house design. The second function is to utilize built-in optimization and a database of existing home designs similar to the ones our customer wants to build. Spartan consultants will identify the least expensive way to design a net-zero energy house envelope.
The BIM software programs include a database of user-modifiable construction cost data. This feature allows Spartan Building specialists to determine whether a house with 8-inch-thick SIP walls and double-glazed windows will cost more than a home with 6-inch-thick foam and triple-glazed windows. The program will also determine which of these options will perform best in your climate area. Spartan Buildings specialists review various zero-energy homes’ scenarios to improve envelope specifications until optimal results are achieved. After all, including energy-efficiency measures in a new home reduces the total cost to the homeowner for utilities and mortgage payments compared to a code-minimum house — up to a point. As more and more improvements are included in the design specifications, energy costs are reduced until a point is reached that is optimal from a cost perspective. Beyond this optimal point, the designer may achieve further energy savings. Still, the homeowner’s monthly costs for utilities and the mortgage begin to rise.
The point of diminishing returns is known
It’s a useful program, even if you aren’t building a zero-energy house. Once envelope improvements start costing more than a photovoltaic (PV) array, they become a low investment. Most homeowners don’t want to pay $5,000 for extra insulation if the investment yields lower annual savings than a $5,000 PV system. By identifying the point at which envelope improvements stop making sense, Spartan designers arrive at the least-cost envelope for a zero-energy house. Even if you aren’t interested in including a PV system, our analysis can still be useful. After all, it always makes sense to design a house with the lowest combination of utility bills and mortgage payments — even if it isn’t a zero-energy house.
Spartan Buildings consider actual energy prices and prevent the homes’ design with more insulation than designers who assume that energy prices will stay steady. The Spartan design analysis method involves searching all categories such as wall type, ceiling type, window glass type, HVAC type, etc. to find the most cost-effective combination at each sequential point along the path to zero net energy. Improvements in the building envelope and equipment are achieved when simulations are performed. The most cost-effective combination is selected as part of the final design description based on the results.
Spartan Buildings
Spartan Buildings is a systems integration and technology consulting company that aims to help solve sustainability challenges. We deliver smart building technologies, with the objective to apply the most modern smart building concepts and net zero energy innovations towards LEED Certification. read more..