Wind Engineering: Making Sustainable Design a Breeze

Jordan Beardy-Singh, CPP Wind Engineering and Air Quality Consultants

When people think of sustainable building design, we often think of the types of materials, or energy consumed by a building. However, when we begin to consider how to incorporate these features into a design, wind begins to play a critical role in turning an average design into a refined one.

Starting with how we define design wind speeds and extreme events, the source of our wind data is the first key step that defines the rest of the design. From structural to mechanical, a site-specific design wind speed can provide material savings when accurate wind loads are available, successful implementation of onsite energy generation, green roofs that last within the built environment, reduced operational downtime during severe weather events, and ventilation systems that are safe and energy-efficient. When and how wind engineering is incorporated into the design process is just as important as the design itself and can define what value can be gained.

A well-thought-out design strikes a balance between comfort, safety, and sustainability. This presentation will focus on how wind engineering is typically considered in design and provide insights into how a detailed wind engineering analysis can contribute to sustainability, energy use, and decarbonization goals associated with laboratory design.

Learning Objectives

• Provide a broad overview of wind engineering and the different modeling tools that can be used to conduct an assessment;
• Provide insight into the benefits that project-specific meteorological data can provide and how it can be used to both refine a design and make it more resilient;
• Identify and explain the various types of wind engineering assessments that can contribute to a designs sustainability/decarbonization goals; and
• Explain the benefits that wind engineering can bring to a design when involved early in the process, and conversely the challenges when involved later in the design process.

Biography:

Jordan Beardy-Singh has been an air quality consultant since 2017 and has supported the success of client building performance objectives using wind tunnel and numerical modeling for exhaust dispersion analyses. His work spans numerous industries including healthcare, higher education, and laboratories.

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