Daniela Raya

Professor Christina Cogdell 

DES 040B

04 June 2024

Valle San Nicolas

 Around the world there are many unique landmarks that have been built around nature. Some landmarks have had a negative impact on the environment while others are environmentally friendly. One beautiful example of an environmentally friendly landmark is Valle San Nicolas clubhouse located in Mexico. Valle San Nicolas is built on the edge of Valle de Bravo, Mexico where the 19,375 square-foot property floats on top of Lake Avándaro. What makes this property unique is the design of it, the clubhouse has a ring-shaped structure and it gives a scenery view that consists of mountains and water.

Being built from mostly primary materials for example the main materials used in this clubhouse and that are seen all throughout the clubhouse is wood, steel, and stone. These materials used in the clubhouse are mainly found on the surface of the earth or on the ground of the earth. Though there might be some toxicness that is released into the environment doesn’t have as large an impact as other production due to the primary materials that are being utilized.

Therefore, Valle San Nicolas due to its location being in the middle of nature located right on the edge of the lake is environmentally sustainable. The use of materials which are mostly primary materials shows the incorporation of natural elements therefore making the clubhouse environmentally friendly. These sources are sustainable because they aren't toxic to the environment given that they are found within the surface or beneath the earth. 

When a home is constructed , or in this case, clubhouse, we only look at the finished product of all the materials being binded together. When looking at the process of these primary materials being harvested, we don't see the waste that is being produced. Although there are some materials that have a lifespan of decades there are some that in a wrong condition can be total waste and have a negative impact on the structure. Primary materials are materials that are used as an input to produce other finished products. Primary materials are used to produce energy. Primary materials are usually found within the earth and are extracted from earth, they can either be materials that are scarce resources or can be produced/grown from the earth. 

When we get a view at Valle San Nicolas, we primarily see the clubhouse is surrounded by wood products (primarily studs) which come from trees. Trees are expected to be grown for a specific amount of time after for the tree to be fully mature and healthy in order to start the process. Through the process of constructing the supply needed for the home, there is waste, parts of the tree which have a secondary use and can have an impact on the environment. The process of turning trees to lumber or any other wood product used in this building had a long process before arriving at its final destination. To begin with the process the trees usually take from 20-30 years to reach maturity and therefore be ready to harvest. During this growing process, there is thermal and chemistry energy being used. Thermal energy is used during photosynthesis, since in order to have photosynthesis you need energy from the sunlight in order to start the chemical energy which helps form compounds that make sugar which feed the trees. After the tree is harvested begins the next process, which is sawing down the tree into planks and boards. This step is the most important because it is the product that is more in demand since it is needed for the construction of a new building. The downfall of this process is that it produces waste that has limited use. Sawdust is the leftover of the previous step about 14% of the logs turned into sawdust, which can be hazardous to the environment due to it being dust which is easy to be blown by the air and inhaled by human beings. Though, sawdust can be recycled and serve a purpose rather than it just being waste. Sawdust can be used to produce energy by being combusted (burned). Sawdust is also fermented to make use for alcohol and methane. As well 31% of the log is waste called wood chips, which is also reused for energy that is then used to make paper and pulp. After the saw process is complete we get 55% of logs that are wood products, which then are put through the drying process. During this drying process only 47% of the wood products are gone into the construction industry. Valle San Nicolas is built with a lot of wood, which can be toxic to the environment due to the amount of trees being removed from the surface of earth.Though the clubhouse finished outcome is environmentally friendly due to wood being a sustainable material.

Valle San Nicolas also contains stone in its design. Stone is one of those materials that are obtained by being extracted, and by itself is not toxic to the environment but is toxic to earth through the extraction process. In order to obtain stone which is found in the massif which are in the mountains. For Valle San Nicolas there is natural stone used all around the clubhouse. The process of extracting stone can be dangerous, the first step to extracting natural stone is to drill a hole in the rock of the mountain. After that step is completed, the next step is to call a blast specialist in order to move onto the blasting method, which is used to cause an explosion which is necessary to extract hard rocks. Extracting rocks is a wasteful process where there is not only visible waste going onto the surface of air, but there is also invisible waste that goes into the air. During this process, there is a lot of equipment that is required in order to obtain natural stone, these equipment are powered by fossil fuels, gas. Once the gas is burnt it leads to an increase of CO2 into the atmosphere which overtime has an impact on the environment. Unfortunately, there is no way to reuse gas once it has been burnt out. Stone though has a toxic process due to the release of toxic gas into the atmosphere. Though once stone is extracted and processed, it can be used for many things like kitchens or in this case Valle San Nicolas, it is used all around on the floor and walls. Stone is a precious resource that must be taken care of due to the scarcity of it; only a limited amount of stone is held in earth and once gone there is no getting more. 

Glass is one of the main materials we see when we look into the Valle San Nicolas clubhouse. Yet, the materials used to make include chemicals, in during the production process fire is used which releases chemicals into the air which is toxic to the environment. The process of making glass can be tedious and difficult due to the amount of steps needed to be done. The prime materials used in making glass are sand mixed with recycled glass, soda ash (sodium carbonate), and limestone (calcium carbonate). Once these materials are put together they are put into a furnace and are heated at approximately 15000 degrees fahrenheit to 2000 degrees fahrenheit.What is used to furnace the materials to make into glass is natural gas combustion. During the melting point we have an increase in air pollution due to sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxide being generated and released into the air. Once this step is completed the glass is poured onto flat sheets to help mold the glass for windows. Once the glass is completed it is distributed to the industry it is in demand for. After the glass is used there is a way to recycle glass since it can be reused to make new glass. For every 1,000 tons of glass that is recycled,  there is a reduction of CO2 emissions by 314 tons going into the air and energy is saved by 345,000 kWh. Though the process of making glass is toxic to the environment due to chemicals used producing air pollution which is an undone action that has no reversing, glass is sustainable and environmentally friendly.  

Transportation is the easiest process in building a landpiece though it also involves waste being thrown into the air with the vehicles used to transport. In most cases transportation of construction materials are transported through land, using trucks and trailers to transport. These vehicles are powered by fossil fuels, specifically gas. Throughout the years gas has been a major contributor to the increased air pollution caused by vehicles burning gas too frequently and fast– especially vehicles needing to consume a lot of fuel to be able to run for long periods of time carrying material that can weigh tons. This increase of CO2 pollution has a negative impact on the long term leading to climate change and global warming. Wood is transported by terrain and what is used is called a flatbed truck which can transport wood weighing up to 52,000 pounds, this varies depending on the distance of where the wood will need to be delivered. Stone due to its dimensions and heavy weight is to be transported on freight trucks with pallets. The stone must meet certain requirements before its transportation since it is heavy materials and can be dangerous for a driver. For glass, it has to be transported cautiously due to its delicacy. When transporting glass what is called a stillage is used during that process to ensure the glass is placed while it is transporting. These three materials all require gas fuel to be used during transportation, which is a non reusable fossil fuel just adding to the waste land.

The construction process is the final destination for the materials, where they are bonded together and made into a masterpiece. Though the construction process is the most harmful to the environment. During the construction process fossil fuels are required in big quantities in order to use the big machines/vehicles needed to build the actual home– in this case the Valle San Nicolas clubhouse. This fossil fuel (gas) is being burnt in large quantities which means there are large quantities of CO2 emissions going into the earth atmosphere, and there is no stopping this until there is a new way to transport these heavy weight materials. Not only is the transportation the only one adding toxins into the surface atmosphere, the materials are also at fault. One necessary material that was not mentioned above was concrete, which is required when building a house, especially a clubhouse in this case, in order to build a foundation. Concrete due to the “embodied energy content” leads to tons of CO2 emission going into the air people breathe in. According to statistics, construction projects are at fault for 23% of air pollution, 50% of climate change, 40% of drinking pollution, and 50% of landfill waste. Construction sites have a large quantity of waste usually coming from packaging of materials. There is tons of trash and waste from leftover materials. These materials are then transported to a landfill site where the trash is being burned adding more CO2 into the atmosphere.  

In conclusion, although the clubhouse has to offer many aesthetically pleasing views, the reality of it is that there was harm done to the environment in the process of making it. Though the clubhouse itself is made of primary materials, there are secondary materials used that have a negative impact on earth. Valle San Nicolas clubhouse is made majorly by primary materials, yet the process to get these materials ready for the actual construction of the clubhouse includes too many steps from the extraction from earth to the actual building of the clubhouse.

Works Cited

America , Building . “How to Ship Lumber, Wood Products & Building Materials | Rail vs Truck Shipping.” Www.up.com, 21 Mar. 2023, www.up.com/customers/track-record/tr032123-how-to-ship-lumber-wood-products.htm#:~:text=When%20lumber%20ships%20over%20the. 

Bergman, Richard, et al. “The Carbon Impacts of Wood Products.” Forest Products Journal, vol. 64, no. 7-8, Dec. 2014, pp. 220–31, https://doi.org/10.13073/fpj-d-14-00047.

designboom, kat barandy I. “Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos’ Valle San Nicolás Clubhouse Floats atop a Lake in Mexico.” Designboom | Architecture & Design Magazine, 1 Feb. 2022, www.designboom.com/architecture/sordo-madaleno-arquitectos-valle-san-nicolas-clubhouse-mexico-02-01-2022/. 

Edward, Simon . “How Is Glass Transported?” Www.toughglaze.com, 26 Feb. 2024, www.toughglaze.com/how-is-glass-transported#:~:text=There%20are%20two%20main%20ways. 

Griffith, Christine. “A Shipper’s Guide to Stone Transport.” Trinity Logistics, a Burris Logistics Company, 3 May 2023, trinitylogistics.com/blog/a-shippers-guide-to-stone-transport#:~:text=Crushed%20stone%20can%20easily%20be. 

HAMMOND, A. A. “Mining and Quarrying Wastes: A Critical Review.” Science Direct, 21 Apr. 1987, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0013795288900166#:~:text=Quarrying%20wastes%20are%20surface%20overburden%20materials%20which%20must,and%20slate%2C%20china%20clay%20and%20crushed%20stone%20quarries .

Inductiv3D. “Traditional Construction and It’s Impact on the Environment.” Www.linkedin.com, 22 Aug. 2023, www.linkedin.com/pulse/traditional-construction-its-impact-environment-inductive3d/. 

Jelly. “How Energy Efficient Is Wood Frame Construction?” Seagate Mass Timber, 30 May 2021, seagatemasstimber.com/how-energy-efficient-is-wood-frame-construction/. 

Kilgore, Georgette. “How Long Does It Take for a Tree to Grow? 45 Trees Ranked by How Fast.” 8 Billion Trees: Carbon Offset Projects & Ecological Footprint Calculators, 27 Feb. 2023, 8billiontrees.com/gardening/how-long-does-it-take-for-a-tree-to-grow/#:~:text=Most%20trees%20take%2020%2D30.

Madaleno, Sordo. “Sordo Madaleno | Valle San Nicolás – Clubhouse.” Sordomadaleno.com, sordomadaleno.com/projects/valle-san-nicolas-clubhouse. 

Megran, Marble & Granite. “Extraction of Natural Stone | MeGran Marble, Limestone & Granite | Natural Stone for Your Ideas!” Www.megran.me, www.megran.me/en/extraction-of-natural-stone/#:~:text=When%20mining%20a%20stone%2C%20the. 

Ravenhall, Author Lucy. “Is Glass Harmful to the Environment?” The Waste Management & Recycling Blog, 15 July 2020, www.forgerecycling.co.uk/blog/is-glass-harmful-to-the-environment/#:~:text=There. 

Resource Center, Agricultural Marketing. “Sawdust.” Www.agmrc.org, 2018, www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/biomass/sawdust#:~:text=Wood%20wastes%20frequently%20are%20combusted. 

Sikra, Sonya. “How Does Construction Impact the Environment? | GoContractor.” GoContractor, 21 June 2017, gocontractor.com/blog/how-does-construction-impact-the-environment/. 

Swedish Wood. “From Log to Plank.” Swedish Wood, www.swedishwood.com/wood-facts/about-wood/from-log-to-plank/. 

Woodford, Chris. “What Is Glass? | How Is Glass Made?” Explain That Stuff, 29 June 2018, www.explainthatstuff.com/glass.html.

Sarvarth Dobhal

Professor Christina Cogdell

DES040

5th Jun 2024

Embodied Energy and Consumption for the Valle San Nicolas Clubhouse

I. Introduction

The Valle San Nicolas clubhouse is a residential complex built sustainably, designed to create a link

between urban architectural design and preserving the pre-existing ecosystem. Sustainability is one of

the key requirements for modern architecture, design, and engineering which due to a rapid decline in

natural resources has become a cause for concern. The design of the complex aims to promote this idea

and also link the picturesque mountain and lake. We see multinational companies in developed societies

aim towards creating large-scale infrastructure with the accommodation of population and maximizing

profits in mind. All this occurs at great environmental risk. With rising concerns regarding global

warming, we also have to take into account the problems associated with production, output, and

reusability of used forms of energy in such structures. With these rising concerns and sustainable design

requirements, we now take a look at The Imperative for Valle San Nicolas Clubhouse in terms of

Sustaining Energy. The Valle San Nicolas Clubhouse is a prime example of sustainable design and

integration of the landscape around it. It is, however, a luxury residential complex which makes it

relatively inefficient in energy preservation. This paper aims to dissect and analyze the various

energy requirements required for the creation, operation, and upkeep of the Valle San Nicolas

Clubhouse, intertwined with supporting in-depth analysis of its design and also proposing

strategies and solutions for its long-term environmental plausibility.

II. Introduction to materials and design of the Valle San Nicolas Clubhouse

We first take a look at the materials used and the design of the clubhouse. The complex features a

circular floor plan constructed majorly of Kebony timber, which is an environmentally friendly building

technology. Other materials that are used for the construction are namely concrete and stone for walls

that are erected, and glass panes that are used for full view-based windows. A concrete foundation works

as a dock. On it, a circular concrete slab supports the CLT structure, which is made up of a radial

distribution of columns in two rings, designed in short spans and joined by an inner and outer circular

beam that serves as open corridors for movement around the building. Aside from the two beams that

stabilize the structure and create the overhangs of the circulations toward the rings, stone walls are

housed in wooden frames, serving to anchor the building in the lake (Projects, sordomadaleno.com).

From the design structure, we also see that American red oak and volcanic stone are also used as

finishings for the clubhouse. From the following, we first take a look at 1) Kebony timber, which is the

major resource used to build the clubhouse. Kebony is a highly durable, sustainable wood with the

aesthetics and performance of the best tropical hardwood. It requires minimal maintenance with low life

cycle costs (FAQs, Kebony.com, 1). Kebony technology combines the infusion of a bio-based liquid

with exposure to temperatures above 100°C to permanently thicken the wood's cell wall. Heat-treated

timber processes are purely high-temperature treatments (170°C - 215°C) that stiffen and make the cell

walls more brittle, without altering the cell structure of the timber, which makes Kebony more efficient

and sustainable (FAQs, Kebony.com, 1). Embodied energy comes mainly from sourcing furfuryl alcohol

used for the treatment; the thermal energy required for heating the wood and mechanical energy for the

pressure treatment of the biobased liquid into the wood. This process takes about 600-1100 kWh/m 3 of

power for the manufacture of Kebony wood (FAQs, Kebony.com, 2). Concrete is primarily made up of

two materials namely cement and water, and further mixed in aggregates. The production of 1m³ of

concrete requires 2,775 MJ of energy. This energy comes mostly from oil burning (Energy

consumption in the production of concrete, geoplastglobal.com, 1). Concrete production requires a

major amount of resources and requires a massive amount of energy as is seen here. Embodied energy

for concrete is majorly chemical energy required for the formation of the mixture. Chemical and

electrical energy is embodied in the drills, hydraulic pumps, and excavators used for raw material

acquisition. Thermal energy is also stored in the raw material during manufacture and baking of clay,

etc. (Golden Gate Bridge, design-life-cycle.com, 1). Stone processing follows the same methods with

mechanical energy being used the most in the creation of stone slabs, and designs. The third main

component is glass which is used for full-scale windows throughout the complex. The primary material

used to make glass is sand which is heated to 3090˚F. Embodied energy is primarily thermal and

mechanical used to heat sand and mold glass respectively. The energy required for glass is 2.4GJ/tonne

of glass. (Renewable Melting and Conditioning Technology, issuu.com, 1). The next section that we

want to focus on is the transportation and distribution of the major materials required for the

construction of the complex.

III. Transport and Distribution

The distribution of materials is done through various methods and there is a major energy requirement in

the transportation of various used materials such as Kebony timber, concrete, stone, and glass.

Transportation for each of these materials is done through various means of road, air, water, or railways.

The most common method is by rail and ships, which produce quite a lot of water and consume a lot of

energy. In the case of a commercial ship, the fuel consumption depends on the speed of the ship, which

is an average of 20-25 knots. An example of a containership with 8000 TEU will consume 225 tons of

bunker fuel per 24 hours. This makes the energy requirement quite high (Fuel Consumption by

Containership Size and Speed, transportgeography.org). The embodied energy in this process is

primarily mechanical and the usage of fuel is the conversion of chemical energy to thermal energy

which is then converted to mechanical energy. The other major transport and distribution mechanism is

by rail. An accurate estimate of the energy required to carry material by rail was not found but the

average energy consumption of a rail from a 2011 report was 13.7 kWh/V-mi (Jinghu Weng, Hesham A.

Rakha, 12).

IV. Usage, Re-use, Construction and Energy

Once materials have been transported and distributed to their designated locations, they are now used for

the actual construction and setup of the complex. The footprint is a third of the floor, and this allows

water to flow in such a way that the natural rainwater runoff does not get affected. The complex sits on a

concrete foundation which also acts as a dock. On it, a circular concrete slab supports the CLT structure,

which is made up of a radial distribution of columns in two rings, designed in short spans and joined by

an inner and outer circular beam that serves as open corridors for movement around the building. Aside

from the two beams that stabilize the structure and create the overhangs of the circulations toward the

rings, stone walls are housed in wooden frames, serving to anchor the building in the lake. The two

rings, one inner and one outer, also serve as open corridors for moving around the building and taking in

near-360-degree views of the landscape, making material and texture selection an important aspect of

the final complex. However, a lower central passageway also shortens journey distances and leads

directly to the main deck, with its bar and TV room, before culminating in the floating pool (Projects,

sordomadaleno.com). From the description above, we see that the major sources of construction that are

used are workers, construction equipment, and other machinery. The forms of energy used here are

animate, and they are majorly thermal and mechanical forms of embodied energy. A) The major

component of the complex, Kebony wood spans the majority of the complex and after analysis of the

layout of the complex, the deduction is that most of the work is animate and it is primarily thermal,

electricity, and mechanical forms of energy. B) Laying a concrete foundation is majorly done by the use

of machinery since it is done over water, and it requires some manpower for the operation of machinery

and for finishing. C) The glass panes are also set up through animate forms of energy which are

primarily chemical and mechanical since this process is also majorly manmade.

In general, we have assumed the trend that the complex is built majorly by hand due to its complicated

structure and location over a lake. This can also be justified by practically thinking about machinery

sizes and that big machinery would not be able to perform such precise tasks. However, at the same

time, small, precise and small machines and equipment such as forklifts may contribute to setting up the

complex. We also take into account power tools that use electrical energy and convert those into

mechanical energy for cutting, screwing, and other tasks.

We now take a look at the amenities and recreational facilities that are present in the clubhouse. The

west wing grants access to the gym, outdoor jacuzzi, spa cabins, and steam room, whilst the east wing

allows groups to unwind with the choice of a bar, kitchen, dining area, barbecue, and firepit. A

swimming lane and sunbathing area located on a pier extension also offer a serene experience that

complements the outdoor scenery (Valle San Nicolas Clubhouse, e-architect.com). Energy requirements

of gym equipment such as treadmills are about 600-700W/hr (How many Watts does a treadmill use,

energysage.com); other equipment includes television sets, firepits, spas, etc which are inanimate energy

consumers and primarily have electrical energy as the embodied energy. Energy is also required to bring

the machinery inside the complex which we can say is primarily done using embodied energy in the

form of animate mechanical energy. Overall, we can see that the energy requirements of the complex are

monumental which does not make it very efficient, raising questions about its efficiency over time. This

leads us to look for energy-efficient solutions for running the complex at the same speed it is being run

currently. We can now look at the recyclability factor and energy used for waste management.

V. Waste Disposal, Recyclability and Management

Waste production in the facility is of multiple types namely: Energy waste, human waste, waste waste,

food waste, and environmental waste. Waste disposal is done majorly through garbage chutes which use

electrical energy to function. Human waste is generated through chemical processes in the human body

which contributes to the chemical energy. The creation of environmental and food waste is also due to

chemical changes which translate to changes in chemical energy. The generation of a high amount of

waste requires more frequent arrival and departure of garbage trucks, which require chemical and

electrical energy to function which is further translated into mechanical energy. During research, we

were unable to find the amount of waste generated and the energy changes for various waste production.

Chemical and thermal energy are the major embodied energy sources that are used for the disposal of

human and other natural forms of waste. There are different ways of concrete disposal, some being:

Inert Dumpster for Concrete Waste, Take it to a Concrete Supplier, Take it to a Local Landfill or

Transfer Station, Take it to a Construction and Demolition Recycling Center for Concrete Recycling,

etc. All these will require transport which embodies chemical energy which is converted to mechanical

energy (Ways to dispose of concrete, discountdumpsterco.com). The disposal of glass is done the same

way by using transportation services to landfills. Do not put anything other than glass in a glass waste

container. Don't overfill containers. To properly seal the box, you must be able to pop up the center

cardboard. When boxes are full, they are sealed, taped closed, and disposed of in a municipal dumpster

by work area personnel (Glass Waste Management, depts.ttu.edu). Disposal and management of kebony

wood is the easiest as it can be repurposed, recycled, or burnt. Burning will require chemical to thermal

energy conversion and repurposed and recycling will majorly use mechanical energy. This leads us to

our final argument about growing sustainability and energy efficiency concerns for the clubhouse.

VI. Energy Requirements and Sustainability

The clubhouse features a wide variety of amenities and its structure is quite complex implying that the

construction of the complex required a sizeable amount of energy and manpower. Finding an estimate of

the daily energy consumption of the clubhouse proved to be impractical as it was not listed anywhere.

Assuming the grand structure has around 150 devices rated at an average power rating of 60W, it would

give us an energy consumption of 216 kWh per day, which is a lot of energy consumption. The average

American household consumes about 10,500 kWh per year, which is 29 kWh/day (Use of energy

explained, eia.gov). This shows us how monumental the difference in running the complex is and urges

us to use practical solutions such as solar power or other renewable sources of energy, such as wind or

even lake water for energy production in the long run, which would increase the energy efficiency of the

complex and allow it to run for a longer period.

VII. Conclusion

Although we are not able to find a lot of information about certain aspects of the clubhouse, this

comprehensive analysis of the embodied energy and the energy requirements of the Valle San Nicolas

Clubhouse helps us understand the process from raw material acquisition to the final waste disposal and

energy-related concerns for the clubhouse. This paper helps us understand the functioning of the

complex and it allows us to dive deep into its various stages which is also a good way to single out

stages that may require too much energy. Focusing on only the energy aspect of the complex also helps

us think about the long-term use of the complex and how it affects the ecosystem around it and helps us

as designers and engineers to use critical thinking to come up with better solutions suited for the

environment.

Bibliography

- Material Sourcing

1. Author links open overlay panelEmanuel Martinez Villanueva a, and

AbstractCross-laminated timber (CLT) is an innovative construction material that

has brought advantages over traditional wood structures. “Design and Simulation

of an Automated Robotic Machining Cell for Cross-Laminated Timber Panels.”

Procedia CIRP, Elsevier, 2 June 2021,

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212827121004881

- Energy used in building the complex (research on how the complex is built)

1. Madaleno, Sordo. “Valle San Nicolás – Clubhouse.” Sordo Madaleno, 24 Feb.

2023, sordomadaleno.com/projects/valle-san-nicolas-clubhouse

- Sourcing and curing of laminated timber from Kebony wood [MAJOR WOOD SOURCE

USED]

1. Author links open overlay panel Emanuel Martinez Villanueva a, and

AbstractCross-laminated timber (CLT) is an innovative construction material that

has brought advantages over traditional wood structures. “Design and Simulation

of an Automated Robotic Machining Cell for Cross-Laminated Timber Panels.”

Procedia CIRP, Elsevier, 2 June 2021,

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212827121004881

2. “FAQs.” Kebony USA, 14 Mar. 2024, us.kebony.com/modified-wood-

about/faqs/#:~:text=This%20process%20occurs%20in%20all,wood%20its%20distinc

tive%20brown%20color

- Volcanic stones used in landscaping

1. Lawns, Westcoast Landscape &. “06 Mar the Origin & Use of Landscaping Lava

Rocks.” Westcoast Landscape and Lawns, 6 Mar. 1970,

westcoastlawns.com/landscaping/origin-use-landscaping-lava-

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- The energy used for the creation of concrete

1. Vaid, Sourabh. “Central Mix Concrete Batching Plant.” SlideShare, Slideshare,

14 Apr. 2018, www.slideshare.net/SourabhVaid2/central-mix-concrete-batching-

plant?from_search=0

- Energy used in making glass

1. Antonio, Mark D., et al. “Energy Efficiency Opportunities in the Glass

Manufacturing ...” Aceee.Org, 2002,

www.aceee.org/files/proceedings/2003/data/papers/SS03_Panel4_Paper_08.pdf

2.

https://issuu.com/quartzbusinessmedia/docs/glass_international_december_janu

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- Energy used in running the complex (imp)

1. DesignBoom, kat barandy I. “Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos’ Valle San Nicolás

Clubhouse Floats atop a Lake in Mexico.” Designboom, Online Resource, 31

Jan. 2022, www.designboom.com/architecture/sordo-Madaleno-arquitectos-valle-

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energy/electricity-use-in-

homes.php#:~:text=The%20average%20U.S.%20household%20consumes,kWh

%20of%20electricity%20per%20year.&text=However%2C%20electricity%20use

%20in%20homes,States%20and%20among%20housing%20types

3. Madaleno, Sordo. “Valle San Nicolás – Clubhouse.” Sordo Madaleno, 24 Feb.

2023, sordomadaleno.com/projects/valle-san-nicolas-clubhouse

a. Indoor Gym: uses electrical energy

b. Spa cabins, outdoor jacuzzi: uses electrical energy, (research on whether

filament-based heating)

c. Dining area, barbecue

- Energy Used in transportation

1.

https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1427870#:~:text=The%20data%20in%20the%2

0NTD,kWh%2FV%20%C2%B7%20km. (Energy requirement for trains)

2. https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter4/transportation-and-energy/fuel-

consumption-

containerships/#:~:text=Fuel%20consumption%20by%20a%20containership,per

%20day%20at%2024%20knots. [Energy requirement for ships]

- Energy response of cross-laminated timber and Kebony wood

1. Lan1, Kai, et al. “IOPscience.” Environmental Research Letters, IOP Publishing,

4 Dec. 2020, iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/abc5e6

2. Savvee_HB. “Embrace Winter with Kebony Wood’s Resilience in Cold Climates.”

Kebony USA, 22 Nov. 2023, us.kebony.com/blog/embrace-winter-with-Kebony-

woods-resilience-in-cold-climates/

- Machine Energy requirement

1. https://www.energysage.com/electricity/house-watts/how-many-watts-does-a-

treadmill-use/

- Disposal and Waste Management

1. https://discountdumpsterco.com/blog/how-to-dispose-of-concrete/#:~:text=3.-

,Take%20it%20to%20a%20Local%20Landfill%20or%20Transfer%20Station,sure%2

0you%20call%20ahead%20first. [Concrete disposal]

2. https://www.depts.ttu.edu/ehs/environmental/hazardous-

waste/glass.php#:~:text=Glass%20waste%2C%20whether%20it%20is,sealable%20li

d%20is%20also%20appropriate [Glass disposal]

Jennifer Ramos

Professor Christina Cogdell

Design 40A

June 5, 2024 

Valle San Nicolas Clubhouse: Waste

  Valle San Nicolas is a place in Mexico where people can go to visit and socialize with each other. It is known to be a doughnut shaped clubhouse. The materials used throughout the construction of Valle San Nicolas clubhouse were used in the construction were wood, stone, glass, and bricks. This paper discusses the different materials used in the construction of Valle San Nicolas Clubhouse, analyzing its impacts and whether the waste is sustainable to the environment. The materials itself that are being used for construction are sustainable. Yet, when it comes to collecting the raw materials it is not sustainable.

 Valle San Nicolas Clubhouse has a lot of materials that are used for the construction such as limestone, wood, clay, and glass. Yet, most of the materials that have been extracted have toxic chemicals that can expose workers doing the labor. One of the raw materials that is extracted and toxic is Limestone because it can risk people from having health issues. According to “Pollution from Construction: What Are the Types & How Can We Prevent it?” by Kristin Guzder, he talks about the implications that Limestone can have on workers who are doing labor when it’s exposed to them. Guzder says, “For employees working regularly on construction sites, there is an increased risk of them developing health complications as a result.”This is important because miners are risking their lives to take out Limestone for the architects. If they are not careful with extracting the raw materials it can affect their health. Another raw material that is extracted and toxic is the making of bricks. The construction of bricks has to do with mining coal and metal. In the reading “Risk of silicosis in cohorts of Chinese tin and tungsten miners and pottery workers (II): Workplace-specific silica particle surface composition by J. Harrison,  J.-Q. Chen, W. Miller, W. Chen,  E. Hnizdo, J. Lu, W. Chisholm, M. Keane, P. Gao, and W. Wallace”, they talk about what the making of clay has and how it can affect the earth. They said, “ Clay minerals can occur as geologic overburden or inclusions in minerals being mined, e.g., coal or metal mines.Clay powders are generated and used in addition to silica powders in pottery manufacturing.” The process of making bricks includes coal mining which is not sustainable, yet the powder that is being used to make the bricks is used for pottery, so it will not be going to waste, but used. This is important information because the materials that are used are not being put to waste. 

Fortunately, a  raw material that is used that can be toxic to laborers is glass. A common thing that a lot of people don’t know is that the process of making glass can have lead in it. According to “National Library of Medicine”, they talk about the making of glass and the risks. In the article, it says,  “Exposure to lead and other substances was evaluated among workers grinding, polishing and glueing leaded crystal glass art objects”  This is not good because that would mean that the raw materials that are used to make glass can affect the workers and cause health issues. Leading the raw materials to not be sustainable to the workers making the glass. Finally,  the raw material wood that is used for the construction of Valle San Nicolas Clubhouse is most talked about to be sustainable, but what if it's toxic. In the reading, “Exposure to Wood Dust, Microbial Components, and Terpenes in the Norwegian Sawmill Industry” by Anne Straumfors, Raymond Olsen, Hanne Line Daae, Anani Afanou, Dave McLean, Marine Corbin, Andrea ‘t Mannetje, Bente Ulvestad, Berit Bakke, Helle Laier Johnsen, Jeroen Douwes, and Wijnand Eduard. The reading talks about the wood and the effects it can have on people. In fact it says, “Sawmill workers are exposed to wood dust (a well-known carcinogen), microorganisms, endotoxins, resin acids (diterpenes), and vapours containing terpenes, which may cause skin irritation, allergy, and respiratory symptoms including asthma.” People get exposed to wood dust that causes certain allergic reactions and affects from wood in general. This is not sustainable because it can cause bigger problems during the construction and mining of wood. The evidence given can be connected back to the main idea that there are certain toxic chemicals that are involved and can cause health issues. This is not sustainable because it can cause a health hazard for people and for the environment. The environment is really important to take care of because it helps us to live better. This can connect to the manufacturing process and what is being put out into the air.

 When talking about the raw materials in Valle San Nicolas it is important to note where the raw materials in general are manufactured, processed and formulated. The raw material wood gets used for the making of construction materials. It is a sustainable material because it gets reused into something better and not wasted. In the youtube video, “ From Trees to Lumber: Watch how boards are made from pine trees” by Rayonier Inc, it talks about the manufacturing process of making cross laminated timber and where it goes after. In the video, Rusty Cobb says, “In this process there is no waste, the green lumber that we produce, the sawdust that’s used in the wood pallet business, shavings is used for a variety of applications as well and then bark is simply used for mulch.” Throughout the construction  of wood, there is no waste that gets thrown out. Instead, it is made and given to the businesses that sell the shavings of wood. 

Another raw material that is reused in the construction of Valle San Nicolas Clubhouse is Bricks. It is something that is used many times, yet we don't know where it goes most of the time. In the reading “THE ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES OF BRICKS” by Charles B. Clark Jr, he talks about what happens to the mined clay after it is used. He says, “More than 95 percent of all the mined clay and shale goes to the plant, and an average of only 3.5 percent of the manufactured product ends up as scrap, most of which is returned to the manufacturing process.” to tell people that clay can also be reused. This is important because it shows how clay can be reused to make something off of what has already been used. Fortunately, bricks are sustainable because they are used when necessary and if there is excess then I can be reused instead of being recycled. Glass can also be reused in a similar way when remaking it to be useful in construction. Glass can be used in many ways, for windows, plates, cups, vases etc, yet the possibilities are endless. According to “The Complete Glass Recycling Process” by Ross Gubberman, he talks about glass being restored and  he brings  up a step in the process of recycling. He says, “This is the end of the glass recycling process, with what is now called “cullet” being sent to produce new products. The cullet (i.e., broken glass) at this stage can be as big as pebbles or as fine as sand.” Gubberman says this to express that not only is glass used to be made in different ways but it can also be used, and recycled.On the other hand, Stone can be reused but in a different way. A lot of people use it for reconstruction, to sell etc. According to “Bertrand”, they talk about why stone is beneficial to recycle in many ways. In fact, it says, “It significantly reduces the need for new extraction and processing, conserving resources and minimising carbon emissions associated with quarrying and transportation.” Expressing that it would be better to reuse the stone that is being recycled. This would mean less mining for stone making it to be more sustainable for the environment. The main significance of the thesis is that it would be more useful and contain less energy that can be used in terms of saving energy.

Throughout the construction process of the raw materials there are transportation systems like trucks, tractors,boats etc. On the other hand, the byproducts of transportation when transporting the raw materials are CO2. In the reading, “Carbon Pollution from Transportation” by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, they talk more about the byproducts of transportations in general. It says, “​Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation account for about 28 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions..” Transportation gives off fossil fuels such as coal meaning that it would give off a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Therefore, CO2 is something that is included when it comes to transportation.

In general, Recycling does take up alot of energy because it saves energy. In the reading, “How does recycling save energy? ” by American Geosciences Institute, it talks about whether or not specific raw materials that are used in Valle San Nicolas clubhouse take up energy. It says, “Extracting and processing raw resources (wood, oil, ore) to make usable materials (paper, plastic, metal) requires a lot of energy. Recycling often saves energy because the products being recycled usually require much less processing to turn them into usable materials.” When people are using machines, like “Plastic machines, paper machines, and glass machines”. This is sustainable because the energy that is being used turns the renewable waste into something useful.

In general, putting the material product being put in the ground there are potential hazards. For 

glass it is possible for glass to be harmful when laborers don't use it in the correct manner.\ According to Bite,“Does Glass Biodegrade? Exploring the Life Cycle of Glass”, it talks about the concerns that glass can cause and the effects of it. It says, “This is because as it breaks down, it remains safe and stable, releasing no harmful chemicals into the soil.” This tells us that although glass is harmful to humans it’s not as harmful environmentally because the chemicals won’t be .This is also mandatory for cross laminated timber wood because it can cause health hazards for breathing, touching it when wet, burning, smelling etc. In the article, “8 - Timber: industrial processes, treatments and adhesives” they express more about the pros and cons of Cross Laminated timber. One out of many cons that they express is, “Burning (when discarded timber is burnt, the chemical toxins are released into the air)” Expressing that there can be hazards to the specified wood, claiming that the wood can be harmed. This is not sustainable because it causes the chemical toxins to be released into the air. A common concern when workers put limestone out during construction is that there can be dust. In the article, “Environmental Hazards of Limestone Mining” by David Barber it goes more in depth of the impacts of dust. Barber says, “Dust is one of the most visible impacts associated with limestone quarrying due to the drilling, crushing and screening of the rock.” When you leave dust lying around it can cause humans to have allergic reactions, dust will be in the air making the air to be more polluted. A common concern when workers put limestone out during construction is that there can be dust. In the article, “Environmental Hazards of Limestone Mining” by David Barber it goes more in depth of the impacts of dust. Barber says, “Dust is one of the most visible impacts associated with limestone quarrying due to the drilling, crushing and screening of the rock.” When you leave dust lying around it can cause humans to have allergic reactions, dust will be in the air making the air to be more polluted. Finally, a concern when the byproducts of bricks/cement is put to the ground it can be dangerous. According to, “Construction hazardous substances: Cement”, the health and safety executive talks about the health and possible tragedies that can happen. The reading expresses,“Wet cement is highly alkaline in nature. A serious burn or ulcer can rapidly develop if it is trapped against the skin. In extreme cases, these burns may need a skin graft or cause a limb to be amputated. Cement can also cause chemical burns to the eyes.” Having the byproducts of cement around is not a good idea. People can get hurt. This is not sustainable because one you're leaving the scraps in a place that can seriously hurt people. This connects back to the claim because it acknowledges that there are potential hazards.

All in all, the raw materials are not as sustainable when it comes to emitting fossil fuels and dust into the earth and the society.Yet, when thinking about the construction site in general, the site can be used to outweigh the weather. The construction site involves water and mountains which can be a good way to be placed in a specific location. They can be used to outweigh the weather for those going to hangout at the Clubhouse. In conclusion, there are a lot of pros and cons about the raw materials that are used for the construction in Valle San Nicolas Clubhouse. 

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Last updated: June 12, 2023.