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conscious living: green furnishings

I was impressed that Cebu’s furniture industry is actively developing materials, processes and designs that are sustainable. Most of their furniture pieces and accessories now rely on the use of indigenous materials. Because indigenous materials like buri, rattan, abaca, and coconut shells are locally available, more abundant, easily harvested and processed with less energy, they are much more sustainable than wood.

[Photo above, from left: Mantid Bench in rattan, leather and metal from Obra Cebuana. Sunny Day Cocktail Table in rattan, leather & metal from Obra Cebuana. Palwa Occasional Chair in palwa (cocnut fronds) & rattan from APY Cane. Floor lamps and pendant lamps in curled/bent rattan & metal from Accessoria Inc.]

Now, Cebu designers are already exploring the use of forest wastes such as twigs and branches as materials for furniture production. Two examples are Kenneth Cobonpue’s Kris Kros screen (also used for the interiors of Z Bar, to be featured later this week) that uses small bamboo twigs on metal frame, and Naturescast’s furniture and accessories (above) that use cast pulp made of recycled paper and forest wastes (branches and leaves).

[Photo above, from left: Loom Floor Lamp using recycled foil textile (for the shade) from Hacienda Crafts Company. Chaise Lounge in rattan, steel & reused textiles from Pacific Traders. Floor & Table Lamps using camera film on metal frame from Detalia Aurora.]

The industry is also looking into developing recycled materials for furniture and accessories. Hacienda Crafts Company is making woven textiles using shredded foil wrappers and bags of potato chips and other snacks. Such fabrics can be used for lighting (above) and accessories .

These efforts do not only make Cebu’s furniture industry a model of a green and sustainable industry, but they also contribute in making their designs stand out internationally. This just proves that it is possible to be green without sacrificing on beauty and quality.

conscious living: cool spaces 05 – sunshades

Bahay kubo in CELL, Cavite

A green space is a space that is built with the local climate in mind. Our country is a tropical climate. And one of the major difficulties of tropical climates is cooling interior spaces.

Cooling a space mechanically generally takes up as much as 50 percent of the electricity bill. By cutting down on your use of the air-con, not only do you save energy and money, but also any greenhouse gases that may have been emitted by the production of electricity. This series looks at the various ways of being comfortable without turning on the energy.

Sunshades

One of the most efficient ways of preventing direct sunlight from entering spaces is providing sunshades.

Sunshades are horizontal or vertical elements that are strategically placed at windows and other openings to directly block the sun’s rays at any given time of the day. Sunshades can also protect the exterior face from added heat gain, keeping the interior cool. There are certain structures that even placed them on the roof!

Window overhang. Photo by Jacob Termansen from Tropical Style by Gillian Beal (2003)

Sunshades come in all shapes and sizes. They can be large fins at the sides of a window or a group of flat louvers covering it entirely. They can also be a lattice or mesh covering the entire structure. They can be made of steel, aluminum, concrete or wood. Plants, specifically vines and hanging varieties, can also be allowed to creep over exterior supports (and if it’s a fragrant, flowering kind, can generate a nice scent inside when the wind passes through).

Vertical louvers. Photo by Jacob Termansen from Tropical Style by Gillian Beal (2003)

Here is the rule of thumb for the use of sunshades. For north or south-facing windows, use horizontal sunshades due to the vertical position of the sun. For east or west-facing windows, use vertical sunshades due to the low angle of the sun at mornings and late afternoon.

The size and design of sunshades can be computed based on the orientation, location and size of the window. Just ask your capable designer (make sure he/she knows the formulas). Or you can download The Solar Tool from the internet (http://ecotect.com/products/solartool).  Try the trial version for free!

Wide roof eaves of the Manosa house

If you have a limited budget, think about redesigning the biggest sunshade you may already have – the roof eaves! Lengthen the roof eaves to at least two meters. Consider lowering and extending the roof line (if your roof is sloped) to at least eye level and partially protecting your windows. That way, even while standing up and the sun is low on the horizon, you will not experience glare.

Previous: proper orientation, maximize openings, cross ventilation , stack effect

Next: elevate, ventilate and insulate

conscious living: cool spaces 04 – stack effect

A green space is a space that is built with the local climate in mind. Our country is a tropical climate. And one of the major difficulties of tropical climates is cooling interior spaces.

Cooling a space mechanically generally takes up as much as 50 percent of the electricity bill. By cutting down on your use of the air-con, not only do you save energy and money, but also any greenhouse gases that may have been emitted by the production of electricity. This series looks at the various ways of being comfortable without turning on the energy.

Stack Effect

Hot air rises. Cold air sinks.

In essence (and without getting too technical), this is what stack effect means in tropical climates. It is a scientific fact that air movement in interior spaces follows these directions: up for hot and down for cold.

How does stack effect influence the design of spaces?

Illustration by Arch. Stanley Fernandez

Let’s start with a typical room. Having taller or higher windows allows hot air to escape above. It also implies that a higher ceiling is beneficial in keeping the heat as far away from the living zone.

(This is also the main reason why air-conditioning units should be placed above or near the ceiling, so the cold air could naturally sink and not overwork the motor. Overworking the motor leads to consuming more energy. But we’re advocating natural ventilation here as much as possible.)

If the building or house is multi-story, the ground or lower levels are usually cooler than the floor right under the ceiling. Place the important spaces (or where you spend the most time in) on the cooler levels.

In his own home, National Artist for Architecture Bobby Mañosa located the bedrooms on the ground floor. To him, having a cool, comfortable space to rest and sleep in is more essential. The living room, dining room and kitchen are located above (which are quite open and ventilated too).

Stack effect can also be used to divert the hot air out of the space. Chimneys or flues can act as passages for heat to rise and escape. Since chimneys are quite impractical in this climate, stairwells become the main avenue for the hot air. Ensure the release of hot air by providing egresses above the stairwell. The openings can be operable louvers or clerestory windows.

Previous: proper orientation, maximize openings, cross ventilation

conscious living : cool spaces 01– proper orientation

A green space is a space that is built with the local climate in mind. Our country is a tropical climate. And one of the major difficulties of tropical climates is cooling interior spaces.

Cooling a space mechanically generally takes up as much as 50 percent of the electricity bill. By cutting down on your use of the air-con, not only do you save energy and money, but also any greenhouse gases that may have been emitted by the production of electricity. This series looks at the various ways of being comfortable without turning on the energy.

Proper Orientation

One of the best tools you can apply to your space is a compass. Finding the orientation (where the north, east, south and west) of the space will help a lot in identifying, literally, the hot spots.

For our country, the sun (the major source of heat) travel, most times of the year, from east to west in a southern path everyday. From that alone, at any time of the day, three out of four sides of your space is exposed to the direct rays of the sun. Plus, the tropical sun, coupled with the thinning ozone layer and little cloud cover, can be quite intense. The sun can be found at the east in the morning, south at noon, and west in the afternoon. That leaves north as the coolest part.

Diagram by Arch. Stanley Fernandez

Let’s say you’re building your dream house. You place at the north side of your home the important spaces or rooms you spend the most time at during the day. It can be the bedroom or the den. You can place large window facing northwards, assured that no direct sunlight shall enter that room. (The absence of direct sunlight does not necessarily mean dark spaces. The intensity of the tropical sun can light up spaces indirectly.)

It’s also a lot easier if you want the space cooler because you are not starting from a higher temperature. An additional fan (that coincidentally uses a lot less energy than an air-con) may be all that’s needed.

You normally want to put the service areas at the hot parts (east and west) of the house. That can be the kitchen, laundry, bathroom or other spaces you spend time in fleetingly.

So, save up on future energy costs by just finding the right places for your spaces.

Next: proper orientation; maximize openings; cross ventilation; stack effect