**3. Process of producing and revising sustainable structure design guidelines**

The process of producing and revising the sustainable structure design guidelines and sustainability checklist is demonstrated in **Figure 3**. The upper area of the figure is the theoretical world; the lower area is the practical world.

*3.1.1 Identification of problems related to the relevant structures*

*3.1.2 Identification of the requirements for sustainable design*

*3.1.3 Determination of elements, variables, and their desired values*

if it is not common in current ordinary structures [9].

and systems related to the relevant structures.

**3.2 Revision process of the design guidelines and checklist**

problems [12].

variable.

**281**

specified as the requirements.

*How to Design Sustainable Structures*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95012*

In the first stage, system designers identify environmental, social, and economic problems related to the relevant structures, while observing trends in understanding such problems. The basis for the identification is that the problems affect the total six stability conditions shown in **Figure 2**, such as health, safety, and environ-

Next, based on the specified problems, system designers identify the requirements for sustainable design of the relevant structures. For example, if "global warming and climate change" are specified as problems in the first stage, "energy saving," "use of renewable energy," and "conservation of green spaces" can be

In the third stage, system designers convert the requirements for sustainable design into the framework of "element-variable-desired value," which can be found in the design guidelines and checklist. The aim of this conversion is the convenience of system users. The framework of "element-variable-desired value" concretely shows design targets of each part of the relevant structures; thus, it enables the system users to quickly find what should be designed and the design courses [12]. First, system designers determine "elements," considering both the standard structures and the requirements for sustainable design. Structures in one category consist of almost the same component parts; accordingly, system designers can select important parts of the standard structures as elements. Moreover, they may add necessary elements to cover all of the requirements for sustainable design. For example, when "use of renewable energy" is identified as one of the requirements, "equipment for harnessing renewable energy" should be added as an element, even

Next, system designers determine "variables" by examining the relationships between each element and the relevant stability condition(s), as well as the related requirement(s) for sustainable design. For instance, if "equipment for harnessing renewable energy" is an element, its relationships with the relevant stability conditions, namely environmental preservation and sustainable use of natural resources, as well as the related requirement, namely use of renewable energy, should be examined. Consequently, "harnessed renewable energy" can be determined as its

After that, system designers set the variables' "desired values" to meet the relevant stability conditions. If "harnessed renewable energy" is the variable, its desired value can be set at "100% or more of the total energy usage." When determining "desired values," system designers also consider trends in technology

The "sustainable design guidelines" and "sustainability checklist" need to be revised, adjusting to changing situations, and higher user-friendliness and accuracy. The revision process can be divided into three spheres: (1) changes in the theoretical

mental preservation. When identifying problems, system designers take up local/particular problems in their country or region, in addition to global/general

**Figure 3.**

*Process of producing and revising the sustainable structure design guidelines and sustainability checklist.*

The middle part shows the route of preparing and utilizing the "sustainable design guidelines" and "sustainability checklist." System designers first produce or revise the design guidelines and checklist through the process of three stages. After that, system users employ the design guidelines and checklist. Subsequently, structure users utilize the completed structures that have been designed with the guidelines and checklist.

The four blocks on the left side demonstrate the items to check when producing or revising the design guidelines and checklist. The contents of these four blocks can change over time. On the other hand, the two blocks at the lower right demonstrate the items to check when revising the systems, on the basis of the feedbacks from the guidelines/checklist users and the structure users.

#### **3.1 Production process of the design guidelines and checklist**

The production process of the design guidelines and checklist is composed of three stages: (1) identification of environmental, social, and economic problems related to the relevant structures, (2) identification of the requirements for sustainable design of the relevant structures, (3) determination of elements, variables, and their desired values in the design guidelines and checklist [12].

### *3.1.1 Identification of problems related to the relevant structures*

In the first stage, system designers identify environmental, social, and economic problems related to the relevant structures, while observing trends in understanding such problems. The basis for the identification is that the problems affect the total six stability conditions shown in **Figure 2**, such as health, safety, and environmental preservation. When identifying problems, system designers take up local/particular problems in their country or region, in addition to global/general problems [12].
