University of Minnesota
89 Church Street S.E., room 145
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Tel 612.624.7866

Research initiatives in sustainable design

Faculty research includes a great variety of work, ranging from hands-on application of research in built projects to studies of material performance and sustainable design tools. Recent research includes the following investigations.

Renewable Architecture Education Initiative
The Renewable-ARCHITECTURE Education Initiative (RAEI) will provide the hands-on knowledge, resources, and tools that design professionals need to integrate renewable energy, assess its economic costs, and determine its environmental benefits. A comprehensive continuing education curriculum and online design resource will be developed to help designers integrate innovations in solar and renewable energy in Minnesota architecture. The initiative will bring together the educational and technological expertise of the College of Design and the Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR) at the University of Minnesota, the American Institute of Architects Minnesota (AIA MN) in cooperation with their Committee on the Environment (COTE), the Green Institute, the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES), and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA).

HUD Affordable Housing Initiatives
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has award a multi year grant to establish a Community Outreach Partnership Center. The project Affordable Housing Initiatives Case Study Prototypes is a partnership between the University of Minnesota, the Greater Frogtown Community Development Corporation, and the Wilder Foundation. The partnership has three over arching goals; create sustainable, healthy, and culturally responsive, affordable housing; explore the cost reducing potential of new technology; and educate students at the College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture on aspects of affordable housing.

Single Family Demonstration Project
The University, in collaboration with the Wilder Foundation, has designed a pilot house with the goals of building an affordable, healthy, energy efficient, and sustainable home that is attractive and suitable for the occupants. A primary aspect of the pilot house project is the investigation of new technology, specifically the use of engineered wood panels that reduce material, improve indoor air quality, and lead to cost savings. CSBR provided sustainable design support for the demonstration house. The sustainable objectives are; reduce and conserve overall water and energy consumption; improve indoor environment quality; decrease environment impact of materials and waste, and explore innovative technology.

Minnesota Green Affordable Housing Guide
The Guide is a web-based resource to assist designers, contractors, and housing agencies integrate affordability and sustainability for cold climate housing. The design tool is intended for new affordable housing construction; however, it is also a valuable resource for integrating cost effective sustainable design strategies in all new residential construction. It includes comparative analyses of house size and configuration to evaluate the costs, environmental impacts, and energy performance of construction components, assemblies, and systems. (www.greenhousing.umn.edu)

Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide
The Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide is a design tool that can be used to set sustainable design priorities and goals; develop appropriate sustainable design strategies for a particular project; and to determine performance measures to guide the design and decision-making process. It can also be used as a management tool to organize and structure environmental concerns during design, construction, and operations phases. (www.msdg.umn.edu)