Green Home Design Team

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS last updated 01.04.08
Got questions? Check out our FAQ or contact us directly for more information.

GENERAL
What is Green Design?
Green design (sustainable design) is a practice of design that reduces the building impact on the environment through the effecient use energy, water, and materials. This is achieved throughout each step of the process: design, development, construction, maintenance, and removal of a structure. Green design is broad and covers many different fields. For more information read the wiki here.

What is TIES?
TIES stands for Teams In Engineering Services. It is an organization that promotes service learning by allowing students to get hands-on experience working with real nonprofit clients. Students gain experience in leadership, teamwork, and technical problem solving. We are one of the server al teams that make up the UCSD TIES organization. You can learn more about TIES on their main site.

Are you a part of the UCSD Habitat for Humanity chapter?
No, we are a separate team from the UCSD Habitat for Humanity chapter. Our goals are more focused on design and engineering for Habitat for Humanity, whereas the UCSD Habitat for Humanity chapter helps through volunteer work and help with funding.

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
What do I need to do to join the team?
You need to be a student at UCSD and in an Engineering or Science major. You may register for the course by first visiting the TIES Sign up page here. After being approved, you will need to add the ENG100L course with the appropriate section. You need have already taken or concurrently taking ENG100 to enroll in ENG100L.

Does ENG100 have anything to do with ENG100L?
The projects and work done in ENG100 is to prepare students for a real world team based environment. This is useful for the type of work seen in ENG100L projects such as the Green Home Design Team.

What qualifications are you looking for?
We are looking for motivated individuals who will take initiative to move the team forward. A portion of the projects are focused on technical aspects and require the prior knowledge of structural design/analysis and CAD. However a large portion of projects deal mainly with green building, and will require research, cost analysis, and innovation. These skills can be attained through experience with the team.

I have a conflict with the scheduled meeting time. Can I still be a part of the team?
Being present at the meetings is a integral part of the ENG100L experience and also a part of the grade. You could try other TIES projects that fit your schedule or check back next quarter.

Can this be used as Technical Elective credit?
Yes, for engineers this course can be used as part of a technical elective credit. Most engineering departments will require 1 quarter of ENG100 and 1-2 quarters of ENG100L for a technical elective credit. Please check with your engineering department for more details.

I am in Sixth College, can I use this for my Practicum?
Yes, for Sixth College students, this course can be used for your Practicum. You will still need to submit your practicum proposal on time before taking the course.

What kind of workload should I be expecting?
Unlike other courses, the week to week workload can vary greatly. On average this project will demand about 6-10 hours per week including lectures, meetings, and individual/team work.

How is the grading performed?
Grading is based on 3 main aspects, team work, individual work, and peer/faculty evaluations. The following is a general breakdown:

Individual 30%
Weekly Reports .............. 10%
Design Notebook ............. 10%
Attendance .................. 10%
Team 40%
Mid quarter Report ........... 15%
Final Presentation .......... 10%
Final Report ................ 15%
Evaluations 30%
Peer Evaluation ............. 10%
Faculty Advisor Evaluation .. 20%

Do I have to show up for the Friday in class lecture?
Yes, role is taken during the Friday Lecture class.

PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS
Do you work exclusively with Habitat for Humanity San Diego or do you have other nonprofit clients?
As of now, our only nonprofit client is Habitat. However we are open to having additional clients both regional and national.

Who do I contact for more information about being a part of the team?
You can visit the TIES homepage (ties.ucsd.edu) or contact the TIES director mbratton@ucsd.edu