Design Assistance - Residential and Commercial Building Design Reviews
The NC Solar Center provides residential and commercial design review services to builders, architects, designers, owners and others involved in the design of a commercial or institutional building or of single-family or duplex homes located in North Carolina.
The two main goals of these reviews are to:
- provide hands-on-training in the area of energy efficient/renewable energy design of professionals who will replicate the knowledge gained in future buildings
- increase the amount of professional knowledge and high performance building stock that includes some or all of these characteristics: sustainable design principles, energy efficiency, passive solar, active solar, low maintenance and thoughtful resource use in building materials, water and land.
The content of these reviews is determined by the needs of the building industry professional or owner and may include guidance concerning:
- Orientation and taking advantage of the sun; site vegetation locations
- Rule-of-thumb calculations (as required by NC passive soalr Tax credits) for the quantity of glazing and thermal mass needed for different types of passive collection systems; design of night insulation for wall openings
- Preliminary advice for daylighting in commercial buildings and connections with potential daylighitng consultants
- Sizing of building overhangs and different types of fixed, mobile and seasonal shading device designs
- Energy efficiency in site design, building design, materials, air sealing, heating and cooling systems, appliances, lighting, etc.
- Solar hot water system design for both domestic and space heating purposes as well as pool heating
- Photovoltaic (solar electric) design for emergency and back-up systems
- Mechanical, electrical, water, energy rater and other professional references
- Sustainable building principals in materials, indoor air quality, site selection, water use, maintenance, etc.
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