The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s BetterBricks initiative and the University of Oregon’s Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory have teamed up to create a new video-driven website to explain the benefits and applications of integrated design. As described on the site, integrated design has four major components: climate, use, building design, and systems.
BetterBricks is the commercial building initiative of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, which is supported by local electric utilities. Through its BetterBricks initiative, NEEA advocates for changes to energy-related business practices in the Northwest buildings. Meanwhile, the Energy Studies in Buildings Laboratory’s (ESBL) research projects are focused on understanding how buildings and related transportation determine energy and resource use. The lab’s goals are to develop strategies for maximum energy efficiency in new materials, components, assemblies, and whole buildings.
The new website, designsynthesis.betterbricks.com, features interviews from green building practitioners on their experiences with integrated design and offers synergy case studies and tools. It is believed that integrated design allows high levels of energy efficiency in new construction and extensive renovation by considering energy in the early stages of the design process.
For more information, visit designsynthesis.betterbricks.com.