*3.1.2 Identification of the requirements for sustainable design*

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 specified as the requirements.

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

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

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 variable.

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 and systems related to the relevant structures.

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

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

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 guide-

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

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

lines and checklist.

**Figure 3.**

**280**

guidelines/checklist users and the structure users.

*Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development*

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

their desired values in the design guidelines and checklist [12].

world, (2) changes in the practical world, (3) feedback from the users [12]. After making preparations from the above three perspectives, system designers modify the guidelines and checklist tables.

problems and local/particular problems observed in Japan. Significant problems are shown in the second column of **Table 1**. Global/general issues include global warming and climate change, and increased medical and nursing care expenses due to aging population. Meanwhile, Japan's local/particular problems include poor

After specifying the housing-related problems, we identified the requirements for sustainable housing design. For instance, "poor indoor thermal performance" requires "improvement of indoor thermal performance." In addition, relevant sta-

In the third stage, we first specified "elements," considering both the standard housing and the requirements for sustainable housing design. When considering the standard housing, we analyzed two factors: "material" and "space" [10, 11]. "Material" regards housing as the complexity of material elements, such as framework, exterior, thermal insulation, windows and doors, interior, and piping. "Space" considers housing as the complexity of spatial elements, such as rooms and areas

> **Requirements for sustainable housing design**

spaces

• Use of renewable energy • Conservation of green

• Extension of housing lifespan

• Use of resource-saving or waste-prevention materials

• Rainwater permeation into the ground • Water saving • Use of rainwater

• Accessible and universal

thermal performance

design

earthquakes

• Poor indoor thermal performance • Improvement of indoor

• Earthquake damage • Higher resistance to

*Problems related to housing and requirements for sustainable housing design identified for the design guidelines*

• Adaptation measures • Health

**Stability conditions**

• Enviropreservation • Sustainable resources

• Sustainable resources

• Safety

• Enviropreservation • Sustainable resources • Health • Safety

• Health • Safety

• Health • Enviropreservation • Sustainable resources

• Safety

indoor thermal performance, and earthquake damage.

*How to Design Sustainable Structures*

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

*4.1.2 Identification of the requirements for sustainable housing design*

bility conditions are demonstrated in the right column of **Table 1**.

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

**Main environmental, social, and economic problems related to**

• Depletion of natural resources

• Harmful influences caused by

• Flood risks due to rainwater flowing

• Increased medical and nursing care expenses due to aging population

climate change

• Water shortage risks

• Global warming and climate change • Energy saving

**housing**

• Waste

out

**Type of problems**

Global/ general problems

Local/ particular problems (in Japan)

**Table 1.**

**283**

*produced in Japan [extracts] [12].*

#### *3.2.1 Changes in the theoretical world*

Obvious changes over time in the theoretical world need to be reflected into the design guidelines and checklist [12]. First of all, searching for recent changes in environmental, social, and economic problems, system designers can modify the list of problems related to the relevant structures. Based on the modified list of problems, the system designers can also amend the list of the requirements for sustainable design of the relevant structures. When amending these two lists, it is also necessary to observe the latest trends in "understanding problems related to the relevant structures" and "understanding about the relevant structures'sustainability." Subsequently, system designers examine amendments to the "elementvariable-desired value" expressions of the design guidelines and checklist.

#### *3.2.2 Changes in the practical world*

Changes over time in the practical world are also necessary to be reflected in the guidelines and checklist. Changes in the practical world include "changes in technology related to the relevant structures" and "changes in systems related to the relevant structure design" [12].

#### *3.2.3 Feedback from the users*

"Feedback from the guidelines/checklist users" and "feedback from the structure users" also need to be examined, as shown at the lower right of **Figure 3** [12]. The feedback from the guidelines/checklist users is information on reactions to the guidelines and checklist, such as comments about the user-friendliness and validity of these systems. Such information is utilized as a foundation for the improvement of the systems. On the other hand, the feedback from the structure users is information on reactions to the completed structures designed with the guidelines and checklist. Such information, including comments on the structures' amenities and sustainability performance, is also useful for improving the systems.

#### **4. Sustainable housing design guidelines**

We produced the sustainable housing design guidelines and sustainability checklist, mainly for use in Japan. After that, we made revisions on the design guidelines and checklist. This section briefly explains the process of producing and revising the sustainable housing design guidelines, anew following the procedure demonstrated in **Figure 3**. In addition, this section has been organized based on Section 4 of our latest study results, "Comprehensive strategy for sustainable housing design."

#### **4.1 Sustainable housing design guidelines produced in Japan**

#### *4.1.1 Identification of problems related to housing*

Producing the design guidelines begins with identifying environmental, social, and economic problems related to houses. In this case, we selected global/general

#### *How to Design Sustainable Structures DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95012*

world, (2) changes in the practical world, (3) feedback from the users [12]. After making preparations from the above three perspectives, system designers modify

Obvious changes over time in the theoretical world need to be reflected into the design guidelines and checklist [12]. First of all, searching for recent changes in environmental, social, and economic problems, system designers can modify the list of problems related to the relevant structures. Based on the modified list of problems, the system designers can also amend the list of the requirements for sustainable design of the relevant structures. When amending these two lists, it is also necessary to observe the latest trends in "understanding problems related to the relevant structures" and "understanding about the relevant structures'sustainability." Subsequently, system designers examine amendments to the "elementvariable-desired value" expressions of the design guidelines and checklist.

Changes over time in the practical world are also necessary to be reflected in the guidelines and checklist. Changes in the practical world include "changes in technology related to the relevant structures" and "changes in systems related to the

"Feedback from the guidelines/checklist users" and "feedback from the structure users" also need to be examined, as shown at the lower right of **Figure 3** [12]. The feedback from the guidelines/checklist users is information on reactions to the guidelines and checklist, such as comments about the user-friendliness and validity of these systems. Such information is utilized as a foundation for the improvement of the systems. On the other hand, the feedback from the structure users is information on reactions to the completed structures designed with the guidelines and checklist. Such information, including comments on the structures' amenities and

sustainability performance, is also useful for improving the systems.

**4.1 Sustainable housing design guidelines produced in Japan**

We produced the sustainable housing design guidelines and sustainability checklist, mainly for use in Japan. After that, we made revisions on the design guidelines and checklist. This section briefly explains the process of producing and revising the sustainable housing design guidelines, anew following the procedure demonstrated in **Figure 3**. In addition, this section has been organized based on Section 4 of our latest study results, "Comprehensive strategy for sustainable

Producing the design guidelines begins with identifying environmental, social, and economic problems related to houses. In this case, we selected global/general

**4. Sustainable housing design guidelines**

*4.1.1 Identification of problems related to housing*

the guidelines and checklist tables.

*Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development*

*3.2.1 Changes in the theoretical world*

*3.2.2 Changes in the practical world*

relevant structure design" [12].

*3.2.3 Feedback from the users*

housing design."

**282**

problems and local/particular problems observed in Japan. Significant problems are shown in the second column of **Table 1**. Global/general issues include global warming and climate change, and increased medical and nursing care expenses due to aging population. Meanwhile, Japan's local/particular problems include poor indoor thermal performance, and earthquake damage.
