Exercise 1. Developing the idea of the text complete these statements.
1. Buildings have a considerable impact on the environment, that’s why … .
2. Green architecture or sustainable design is the philosophy of designing a building that is … .
3. In designing green buildings there are several important steps, such as … .
4. Low-impact green building materials that are non-toxic, reusable, renewable, and/or recyclable include … .
5. To minimize the energy loads within and on the structure, it is critical to orient the building … .
6. Optimizing the heating and cooling systems through installing energy efficient machinery, commissioning, and heat recovery is relatively expensive and can add significantly to the projects cost, however … .
7. Power generation is the most expensive feature to add to a building, that’s why onsite generation of renewable energy can … .
8. Green building often emphasizes taking advantage of renewable resources, such as … .
Exercise 2.Read the information that follows and spot that part of the text which can be expanded by these statements.
1. Architects use many different techniques to reduce the energy needs of buildings and increase their ability to capture or generate their own energy
2. The most important and cost effective element of an efficient heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is a well insulated building.
3. Passive solar building design allows buildings to harness the energy of the sun efficiently without the use of any active solar mechanisms such as photovoltaic cells or solar hot water panels.
4. Typically passive solar building designs incorporate materials with high thermal mass that retain heat effectively and strong insulation that works to prevent heat escape.
5. In warm climates buildings are often designed to capture and channel existing winds particularly the especially cool winds coming from nearby bodies of water.
6. In climates with four seasons, an integrated energy system will increase in efficiency: when the building is well insulated, when it is sited to work with the forces of nature, when heat is recaptured (to be used immediately or stored), when the heat plant relying on fossil fuels or electricity is greater than 100% efficient, and when renewable energy is utilized.
7. Windows are placed to maximize the input of heat-creating light while minimizing the loss of heat through glass, a bad insulator. Certain window types, such as double or triple glazed insulated windows with gas filled spaces and low emissivity (low-E) coatings, provide much better insulation than single-pane glass windows.
Exercise 3.On the basis of the information given in the text identify these notions:
green architecture, sustainable design, low VOC-emitting materials, HVAC equipment, thermal mass, active solar, passive solar, "Greywater", PV.
Exercise 3.Split the text into logical parts and think up an appropriate title to each of them.
Exercise 4.Make up a short summary of the text.