Activity 2.3.6 Residential Electrical Systems

• What is daylighting?

Daylighting is the use of windows and skylights to bring sunlight into your home
ambient, task lighting, accent lighting

• What are some advantages to providing daylighting?

Improved Life-Cycle Cost, Increased User Productivity, Reduced Emissions, and Reduced Operating Costs

natural day light

• Describe the best orientation for windows in a building in order to take advantage of daylighting.

South-facing windows

Review your affordable home floor plans. Consider how you can better incorporate daylighting into your design. Mark at least one change on the floor plan(s) that will improve the energy efficiency of the home by increasing the daylighting. Make the change on your 3D model.

Locate an electric meter (typically mounted on an exterior wall) and sketch your proposed location for the main panel on the print of your affordable home floor plan. Choose an accessible interior location for the panel that is hidden from public view – perhaps a closet or separate space. Include the electric meter and main panel in your 3D model.

Sketch a preliminary electrical plan on your affordable home floor plan(s).

Sketch the location of outlets, lighting, and switches so as to comply with the Residential Electrical Code Requirements. Think about how each room will be used, what appliances and equipment are needed, and where extra convenience outlets should be placed.

Connect each lighting fixture to at least one switch (or as required by the Residential Electrical Code Requirements) using a switch leg (dashed line). Consider the need for three way switches.

Locate exterior outlets and lights as required by code.

Comply with all New Construction Guidelines for Habitat for Humanity.

Include an electrical service line on your electronic site plan.

(Optional) Revise your Affordable Home Project drawings to include your electrical design. You must determine the best place to show your electrical plan. Sometimes it is easiest to place it directly on a floor plan; other times you will need to prepare a separate electrical plan.

Conclusion

1. How did you incorporate daylighting into your project? Skylight
2. Why are some electrical plans placed on a floor plan and others on a separate sheet?  so you can see them better cause of the furniture.
3. What is important for an architect to know about electrical plans?
4. How does the design of the structure affect the electrical layout?