B55 Analyse and model environmentally sustainable project design solutions

B55.1 Analyse environmental characteristics to evolve design solutions

Performance Criteria - this involves being able to...
(a) identify relevant environmental characteristics which are likely to influence detailed design solutions, assess their significance and prioritise them
(b) identify and calculate data relevant to the environmental characteristics in order to assess their relative implications for detailed design solutions
(c) apply the data to alternative detailed design solutions, taking into account interactions between different configurations
(d) calculate the relative effectiveness of different design solutions to achieve the most environmentally sustainable results
(e) analyse and test the detailed design solutions against all relevant environmental characteristics and related design criteria, and re-check the results
(f) select the preferred detailed design solutions and present them to people who have an interest / The Range...
[1] Identify
• standard lists and procedures;
• investigative research;
• energy surveys and assessments of existing buildings
[2] Environmental characteristics:
• heating and cooling – natural (solar) and artificial;
• thermal insulation and air-tightness (cavity wall, loft, underwall, internal/external solid wall);
• ventilation - natural and artificial;
• light – natural and artificial;
• sound – absorption and insulation;
• fire –protection and insulation;
• moisture ingress and condensation;
• flood risk;
• topography and ground condition
[3] Interactions between different configurations:
• orientation;
• effects of location, shelter and shading;
• building form and structure - new and existing;
• properties of building fabric;
• thermal bridging and air leakage;
• hygro-thermal performance (transportation of heat, air and moisture through the building envelope);
• thermal transmittance, thermal bypasses, sequencing of construction processes, location and continuity of insulation;
• passive design and new active technology/ products/innovations;
• new and renewable energy systems for use in buildings
[4] Related design criteria:
• function;
• physical;
• fit and tolerances;
• practicality, buildability and disassembly;
• health and safety;
• maintenance;
• life cycle cost factors;
• materials, components and systems availability and capability;
• environmental quality & sustainability;
• aesthetics;
• technical;
• energy/resource/waste management;
• carbon rating;
• flexibility and adaptability;
• access (including disability)
[5] Present:
• sketches;
• drawings;
• physical models;
• electronically;
• diagrams;
• mathematical modelling;
• photomontage;
• mock-ups;
• written reports;
• cost estimates;
• orally


B55 Analyse and model environmentally sustainable project design solutions

B55.1 Analyse environmental characteristics to evolve design solutions

The Evidence - performance and process
Product Evidence:
(1) Identified and assessed environmental characteristics and calculations of relevant data and assessed implications for design solutions (a,b) [1,2]
(2) Records of data applied to alternative detailed design solutions including interactions between different configurations and their effectiveness (c,d) [3]
(3) Records of analysis and testing of the detailed design solutions against all relevant environmental characteristics and related design criteria, and re-check the results (e) [2,4]
(4) Selected detailed design solutions (f) [5]
Process Evidence:
(1) Presentations of detailed design solutions (f) [5] / The Evidence - knowledge and understanding
(1) What do you identify as relevant environmental characteristics which are likely to influence detailed design solutions, assess their significance and prioritise them (understanding) (a) [1,2]
(2) What do you identify as the data relevant to the environmental characteristics in order to assess their relative implications for detailed design solutions? (understanding) (b) [1,2]
(3) How do you calculate data relevant to the environmental characteristics in order to assess their relative implications for detailed design solutions? (application) (b) [2]
(4) How do you apply the data to alternative detailed design solutions, taking into account interactions between different configurations? (application) (c) [3]
(5) How do you calculate the relative effectiveness of different design solutions to achieve the most environmentally sustainable results? (application) (d)
(6) How and why do you analyse the detailed design solutions against all relevant environmental characteristics and related design criteria, and re-check the results? (e) [2,3]
(7) How do you test the detailed design solutions against all relevant environmental characteristics and related design criteria, and re-check the results? (analysis) (e) [2,3]
(8) How and why do you select the preferred detailed design solutions and present them to people who have an interest? (evaluation) (f) [4]
(9) How do you present the preferred detailed design solutions to people who have an interest? (application) (f) [4]