A set of examples of sustainable projects that I have designed throughout the last few years at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona.

1. Habitat for Humanity House - Chino, CA
This project aimed to design a house for Habitat for Humanity that
would serve as an example showing that affordable housing could also
be sustainable. This three bedroom, two bathroom house was designed
with the client in mind, using a combination of passive strategies to
maintain comfort.
The main building materials of this design are SIPS panels for the
walls and roof, double glazed low-e windows, wood lattice evaporative
cooling panels, and a CMU block interior wall for direct heat gain.
During the summer, outdoor temperatures climb as high as 105 outside
but the indoor temperature doesn’t exceed 78 degrees. During the
winter, temperatures dip to around 35, but the minimum indoor
Front View temperature is 65 degrees.
12” SIP roo ng
Double glazed low-e operable windows
CMU block thermal mass wall
Rigid Insulation w/ ber cement siding
8” SIP walls w/ ber cement siding (exterior)
4” SIP walls w/ painted drywall (interior)
Sliding glass doors
Wood Screen Evaporative Cooling system
4” Concrete Slab on Grade
Expansion Joint
Back View Section View
Floor Plan showing Daylighting Analysis (Ecotect) View of Patio Screens used for Evaporative Cooling
Summer Strategies and Analysis
During the summer months, the house
utilizes a combination of evaporative cooling
screens and stack ventilation to maintain
a comfortable interior temperature during
the majority of the summer. The overhang
is designed specifically to prevent direct
sunlight from entering the hallway of the
house.
3D Section showing Ventilation (WinAIR) and Insolation ((Ecotect) Analysis showing Indoor Temperatures in Summer (HEED)
Winter Strategies and Analysis
During the winter months, the sun is
lower in the sky allowing for direct sunlight
to penetrate through the sliding glass doors
and heat up the CMU block wall - collecting
and storing heat in order to maintain a
comfortable interior temperature through
the cold winter nights.
3D Section showing Insolation (Ecotect) for Winter Heat Gain Analysis showing Indoor Temperatures in Winter (HEED)
Sarah Buck - 2008

2. Children’s Orthopedic Hospital - Murrietta, CA
The challenge for this project was to design for deconstruction
- using a bolted steel framed building. As a Children’s Orthopedic
Surgery and Healing Center, this project needed to create a welcoming
environment for the children, as well as for the staff who occupy the
building throughout the year.
Front View
A playful serpentine path to the main entrance was designed with
the children in mind, allowing them to playfully travel past the rainwater-
collection pond on their way towards the hospital. A combination
of skylights and light-shelves allow for controlled natural light levels
throughout the building, while atrium spaces between the building’s
wings help to bring nature into the building. A path at the rear of the
site plays off of the one at the main entrance, winding through nature to
provide a peaceful setting for the families that visit the hospital.
Back View
5’ X 3’ pv panels
200 watts each
recycled denim
insulation
recycled steel column
W6 x 25 reflective surface
web joist 12k5 (5’ o.c.) aluminum framed
light shelf
bolted moment double glazed, low-e,
frame connection argon-filled windows
4” concrete slab
3” composite decking fiber cement siding
recycled wide flange 3” composite decking
W12 x 26 (20’ o.c.)
Front View - Rainwater Collection Pond natural paint 4” concrete slab
wall finish
gypsum board
recycled light gauge
steel frame
linoleum aluminum framed
sun shade
recycled
rubber tile
fiber cement siding
4” concrete slab
Site Rendering
Floor Plan - Second Floor
Floor Plan - First Floor showing Site
Sarah Buck - 2009

3. Eco-Loft - New Orleans, LA
The goal of this project is to design a sustainable house for
the Broadmoor neighborhood of New Orleans. This site creates
a challenge due to the 9’ base flood elevation - but instead of be
deterred by that I’ve chosen to build my project vertically instead
of the typical long narrow house. Building vertically allowed me to
create flexibility in the 800 SF floor plan - creating a loft space that
can function as either a bedroom or a bonus room. The loft design
also allowed for me to maximize both stack and cross ventilation,
and at the same time allowed for plentiful natural light throughout
all living areas of the house. When combined with other strategies,
this house becomes an example of change for the better within the
New Orleans area.
Rendering - View from Street
Stack E ect
High-E ciency Fixtures
LEED WE 3.2 - 6 points
Rainwater Collection Solar Hot Water Panels
LEED WE 1.1 - 4 points LEED EA 7.3 - 3 points
Photovoltaic Panels
Indirect Northern Light LEED EA 10 - 10 points
Winter Sun
Outdoor Air Cross-Ventilation
LEED EQ 4 - 3 points Summer Sun
SIPS Walls
LEED EA 2.2 - 2 points
Rainwater re-use in toilets
Carport - Open Air
LEED EQ 10 - 3 points
Drought Tolerant Plants
LEED SS2.4 - 2 points
Rainwater Storage Tank
Rainwater Irrigation
LEED WE 2.3 - 4 points
E cient Hot Water Distribution
LEED EA 7.1 - 2 points
Water E cient Clothes Washer
LEED EA 9.2 - 1 point Sectional Diagram showing Sustainable Strategies
Summer - Insolation Analysis (Ecotect) Winter - Insolation Analysis (Ecotect)
Summer Strategies and Analysis Winter Strategies and Analysis
During the summer months, the house utilizes a combination of During the winter months, the lower sun angle allows the sun to
stack ventilation and cross ventilation to help keep the house cool. penetrate into the building on the second floor and loft area - helping to
The overhangs on the south facing facade prevent direct sun from bring warmth through the building. Small ceiling fans located at the highest
penetrating within the living spaces, Due to humidity, air conditioners point of the house help to push the warm air downwards, circulating it
need to be used during parts of the summer - but the solar panels throughout the house. SIPS walls and roof help to create a tightly sealed,
help to offset this energy usage and maintain a net-zero energy well insulated building - while also lowering construction costs and keeping
building. the project within its $100,000 budget (not including solar panels).
Sarah Buck - 2010