Furniture Design Ideas

The possibility of wildfires is a real threat in western arid and semiarid regions of the country. Each year, thousands of acres of land are burned and millions of dollars in property damage result from wildfires. Sustainable residential sites located in these re­gions should be designed to minimize the potential threat of fire damage. The […]

Increased runoff from compacted soil and from hard, impervious surfaces is a signifi­cant environmental problem in urban and suburban areas. Many urban soils have the consistency of concrete and effectively create a solid barrier that prevents surface water from percolating into the ground. Further, roofs, streets, driveways, parking areas, pa­tios, and walks seal the ground’s […]

A related strategy for reducing water consumption on the residential site is to select native or other similar plant materials that grow unassisted in the regional climate conditions. In addition to the normal consideration of hardiness, attention should be given to when precipitation falls and in what amounts. Many geographic locations have distinct cycles of […]

Another naturally occurring event is precipitation, a necessary source of water for all life on the residential site. While essential, precipitation is not predictable in occurrence and varies widely in seasonal and regional amounts. Average rainfall is about 59" in Miami, 42" in Boston, 36" in Seattle, and 7-1/2" in Phoenix.[12] May through Octoberare the […]

Wind is also a potential asset in most regions. During the hot season of the year, air movement enhances the evaporation of moisture from people’s skin and thus gives the perception of cooler air temperatures. Additionally, wind prevents the air in outdoor spaces from becoming too stagnant. The exception to this occurs in hot, arid […]

There are numerous means for protecting both outdoor spaces and the house from the potentially detrimental effects of wind blowing from the westerly direction. These include proper location of outdoor use areas, use of vegetation, and employment of walls/fences as windscreens. Based on the microclimates around a house, it is best to place outdoor use […]

Wind is another climatic factor that must be considered when designing a residential site. Wind affects both human comfort and energy consumption of the house itself. Wind cools the body by increasing the amount of moisture evaporated at the skin’s surface. This is desired when air temperatures exceed the comfort range of 70 to 80°F. […]

Exposure to the sun is desirable for the late autumn through early spring months of the year. This need is greatest in northern regions and less in southern regions of the country. During these months, exposure to sun can increase air temperatures in exterior Figure 3-22 Individual members of an overhead structure should be oriented […]

Second, shade trees provide relief from hot air temperatures through evapotran­spiration, a process of giving off moisture through leaf surfaces. Moisture is taken from the ground by a plant’s roots, moves through its trunk and branch structure, and is released through the plant’s leaf surfaces (Figure 3—18). As this moisture evaporates from the leaf surfaces, […]

Sun protection is most needed for the midday and afternoon hours during the sum­mer season when air temperatures are the hottest. Exposure to the sun during these Good location   кости Figure 3-16 Desirable locations for outdoor spaces during the summer season. times increases heat generated from exposed surfaces and reduces the ability of people […]