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A REPORT

ON

ECO FRIENDLY GREEN BUILDINGS

Submitted in partial fulfillment of theStudy Oriented Project BITS C323

BY

G. Sai Koushik (2008A2PS300H)

UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF

Mr. V.R. Vinayaka Rao

Civil Engineering Department

BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE, PILANIHYDERABAD CAMPUS

October, 2010

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CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the report entitled, Eco Friendly Green Buildings and submitted by G. Sai

Koushik ID No. 2008A2PS300H in partial fulfillment of the requirements of BITS C323 Study

Oriented Projects embodies the work done by him/her under my supervision.

Signature of the supervisor

Name:

Designation:

Date:

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I take this opportunity to thank all those who have helped me with continuous guidance and

encouragement at all stages of my work.

I sincerely want to thank Mr. V. R. Vinayaka Rao (Civil Engineering Department, Bits Pilani-

Hyderabad Campus) for giving me this opportunity and for inspiring me. I learnt a lot from him

and sincerely feel that my experiences with him will help me in facing the future challenges.

I also want to thank all those who have directly or indirectly helped me by contributing valuable

information throughout the project.

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ABSTRACT

The concept of Green Building has evolved to create environmentally sound buildings and

reduce the overall impact on human health. Green buildings are designed to efficiently use

energy, water and other natural resources to create a health conducive indoors and reduce the

overall impact on the environment as well as non-renewable natural resources.

To define Green Building and establish a common standard of measurement in India, the IGBC

(Indian Green Building Council) developed Green Building Rating System from the LEED

(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System. In addition, IGBC promotes

whole building design practices, recognizes environmental leadership in the building industry,

stimulates green competition, raises consumer awareness of green building benefits and

transforms the building market into a more environmentally responsible entity. So, in this report

the IGBC Green Building Rating System has been discussed.

IGBC Green Building Rating System addresses green features under the following categories:

Site Selection and Planning, Water Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Materials, Indoor

Environmental Quality, Innovation & Design Process. Methods and techniques under these

categories have been discussed. Case study on few famous green buildings is also presented. The

Green Buildings Paradigm in India has been covered briefly.

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Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 8

2. GREEN BUILDINGS RATING SYSTEM................................................................................ 9

2.1. IGBC Green Homes Rating System..................................................................................... 9

2.1.1. Site Selection and Planning ......................................................................................... 10

2.1.2. Water Efficiency.......................................................................................................... 10

2.1.3. Energy Efficiency ........................................................................................................ 11

2.1.4. Materials ...................................................................................................................... 11

2.1.5. Indoor Environmental Quality..................................................................................... 11

2.1.6. Innovation and Design Process.................................................................................... 12

2.2 IGBC Green Factory Building ............................................................................................ 12

2.2.1. Site Selection & Planning............................................................................................ 13

2.2.2. Water Conservation ..................................................................................................... 14

2.2.3. Energy Conservation ................................................................................................... 14

2.2.4. Material Conservation ................................................................................................. 14

2.2.5. Indoor Environment Quality and Occupational Health ............................................... 15

2.2.6. Innovation in Design ................................................................................................... 15

3. SITE SELECTION AND PLANNING .................................................................................... 16

3.1. Soil Erosion Prevention & Control.................................................................................... 16

3.2. Contaminated Site Remediation ........................................................................................ 16

3.3. Access to Public Transport / Shuttle Services ................................................................... 16

3.4. Basic Amenities.................................................................................................................. 16

3.5. Natural Topography and Landscape .................................................................................. 17

3.6. Heat Island Effect on Roof and Parking Area.................................................................... 17

3.7. Non-Fossil Fueling Facility for Vehicles........................................................................... 17

3.8. Design for Differently Abled ............................................................................................. 17

3.9. Night Sky Pollution Reduction .......................................................................................... 17

4. WATER EFFICIENCY ............................................................................................................ 19

4.1. Natural Landscaping .......................................................................................................... 19

4.2. Dual Flush Toilets .............................................................................................................. 19

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4.3. Rainwater Harvesting System ............................................................................................ 19

4.4. Grey Water Treatments ...................................................................................................... 21

4.5. Drip Irrigation System........................................................................................................ 21

5. ENERGY EFFICIENCY .......................................................................................................... 22

5.1. Sliding Sun Shades............................................................................................................. 22

5.2. Heat Reflecting Roofs ........................................................................................................ 22

5.3. Windows............................................................................................................................. 23

5.4. The Trellis .......................................................................................................................... 24

5.5. Thrombe Walls ................................................................................................................... 24

5.6. Rammed Earth Walls ......................................................................................................... 25

5.7. Well Designed Roof Overhangs......................................................................................... 25

5.8. Light Emitting Diodes ........................................................................................................ 26

5.9. Under floor heating ............................................................................................................ 27

5.10. Ground Source Heat Pump............................................................................................... 28

5.11. Solar Panels ...................................................................................................................... 28

5.12. Wind Cooling Tower........................................................................................................ 29

6. GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS ......................................................................................... 31

6.1. Recycled Denim ................................................................................................................. 31

6.2. Countertops from Recycled Paper...................................................................................... 32

6.3. Concrete with Fly Ash........................................................................................................ 33

6.4. Bricks made of Fly Ash...................................................................................................... 34

6.5. Waste Reduction during Construction ............................................................................... 34

6.6. Bamboo Plywood ............................................................................................................... 35

6.7. Soy Insulation..................................................................................................................... 35

6.8. Other Eco-Friendly Building Materials.............................................................................. 36

7. INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY............................................................................. 37

7.1. Green Adhesives ................................................................................................................ 37

7.2. Natural Flooring Materials ................................................................................................. 37

7.3. House Plants for Fresh Air ................................................................................................. 38

7.4. Air Curtain.......................................................................................................................... 38

8. CASE STUDY ON SOME FAMOUS GREEN BUILDINGS................................................. 40

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8.1. Turbo Energy Limited (TEL), Chennai.............................................................................. 40

8.1.1. Methods and Techniques Implemented ....................................................................... 40

8.1.2. Sustainable Site............................................................................................................ 41

8.1.3. Water Efficiency.......................................................................................................... 42

8.1.4. Energy & Atmosphere ................................................................................................. 42

8.1.5. Material & Resources .................................................................................................. 42

8.1.6. Indoor Environment Quality........................................................................................ 42

8.1.7. Savings......................................................................................................................... 43

8.2. CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre ....................................................................... 43

9. THE GREEN BUILDING PARADIGM IN INDIA ................................................................ 45

9.1. Cost and Benefits of Green Buildings in India ................................................................. 45

9.2. Cost Premium of Green Buildings .................................................................................... 46

CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................................................... 47

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 48

LIST OF TABLES

Table 2-1 IGBC Green Homes Certification Levels ..................................................................... 10

Table 2-2 IGBC Green Factory Buildings Certification Levels ................................................... 13

LIST OF FIGURESFigure 4-1 Elements of a typical Rainwater harvesting system .................................................... 20

Figure 5-1 Sliding Sun Shades- blocks the incoming sunlight and prevents heat gain ................ 22

Figure 5-2 Trellis that is populated with plants during the summer ............................................ 24

Figure 5-3 Thrombe walls mechanism .......................................................................................... 24

Figure 5-4 Roof overhangs............................................................................................................ 25

Figure 5-5 The most common cool tower in use. .......................................................................... 30

Figure 6-1 Recycled Denim used for insulation............................................................................ 31

Figure 6-2 A) Paper Stone B) Richlite C) Shetka Stone........................................................ 32

Figure 6-3 Bricks made of fly ash ................................................................................................. 34

Figure 6-4 Expert spraying dense soy based liquid on the walls.................................................. 35

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LIST OF ABBREVATIONS/SYMBOLS

BTU- British Thermal Unit (A unit of energy equal to the work done by a power of 1000 watts

operating for one hour)

CFL- Compact Fluorescent Lamp

IGBC - Indian Green Building Council

LED- Light Emitting Diodes

LEED- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

PVC- Poly Vinyl Chloride

SHGC- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

UV- Ultra Violet

BEE - Bureau of Energy Efficiency

ECA - Energy Conservation Act

IEA - International Energy Agency

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1. INTRODUCTION

Cities cover less than 1% of the earth's surface but are disproportionately responsible for causing

climate change. Currently, around 50% of the world’s population lives in cities. Until 2030, 60%

of the world's population growth will occur in cities. Cities and urban areas consume some 75%

of the world's energy and are responsible for up to 75% of greenhouse gas emissions. Cities

directly or indirectly account for 60% of world's water use. So a majority of the world's energy

consumption either occurs in cities or as a direct result of the way that cities function. A study

recently conducted showed that more than half of the reduction potential lies within buildings.

Making existing and new buildings to Green Buildings is one of the most effective levers to meet

the challenges of CO2 reduction in cities.

A Green Building is an outcome of a design which focuses on increasing the efficiency of

resource use – energy, water, and materials – while reducing building impacts on human health

and the environment during the building's lifecycle, through better siting, design, construction,

operation, maintenance, and removal.

Green Buildings can have tremendous benefits, both tangible and intangible. The most tangible

benefits are the reduction in water and energy consumption right from day one of occupancy.

The energy savings could range from 20 – 30 % and water savings around 30 – 50%. Intangible

benefits of Green Buildings include enhanced air quality, excellent day lighting, health &

wellbeing of the occupants, safety benefits and conservation of scarce national resources.

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2. GREEN BUILDINGS RATING SYSTEM

Most of the green building rating systems focus on the same point – conservation of resources.

But the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system has turned out to

be the most versatile and robust. So, the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) decided to adopt

the LEED rating system. The IGBC is working in India to indigenize the LEED rating system to

include the local factors.

2.1. IGBC Green Homes Rating System [1]

IGBC, in its endeavor to extend green building concepts to all building types envisioned a rating

program for homes in December 2007. The rating system will be subjected to a review by the

core committee, every 6 months, to ensure that it is updated and contemporary. The rating

system evaluates certain credit points using a prescriptive approach and other credits on a

performance based approach. The rating system is evolved so as to be comprehensive and at the

same time user-friendly. The program is fundamentally designed to address national priorities

and quality of life for occupants. The guidelines detailed under each credit enable the design and

construction of green homes of all sizes and types.

IGBC Green Homes addresses green features under the following categories:

1. Site Selection and Planning

2. Water Efficiency

3. Energy Efficiency

4. Materials

5. Indoor Environmental Quality

6. Innovation & Design Process

The rating system caters to projects like individual houses, apartments, motels, resorts, hostels,

etc. Amongst the different types, projects are broadly classified into two categories:

Projects where interiors are part of scope of work

Projects where interiors are not part of the scope of work

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Interiors include but not limited to materials like interior finishes & furniture and appliances like

refrigerators, fans, lights etc.

Different levels of green building certification are awarded based on the total credits earned.

However, every Green Home should meet certain mandatory requirements, which are non-

negotiable.

Table 2-1 IGBC Green Homes Certification Levels

Certification Level Credits for project with

interiors

Credits for projects without

interiors

Certified 32-39 30 -36

Silver 40-47 36-44

Gold 48-59 45-55

Platinum 60-80 56-75

2.1.1. Site Selection and Planning

Mandatory Requirement 1 Local Regulations

Mandatory Requirement 2 Soil Erosion

Site Credit 1.0 Basic Amenities

Site Credit 2.0 Natural Topography or Landscape: 15%, 20%

Site Credit 3.0 Heat Island Effect – Roof: 50%, 75%

Site Credit 4.0 Parking Facilities for Visitors

Site Credit 5.0 Electric Charging Facility for Vehicles

Site Credit 6.0 Design for Differently Abled

Site Credit 7.0 Green Home Guidelines – Design & Post Occupancy

2.1.2. Water Efficiency

Mandatory Requirement 1 Rainwater Harvesting, 50%

Mandatory Requirement 2 Water Efficient Fixtures

Water Credit 1.0 Turf Design: 20%, 40%

Water Credit 2.0 Drought Tolerant Species: 25%

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Water Credit 3.0 Management of Irrigation Systems

Water Credit 4.0 Rainwater Harvesting, 75%, 95%

Water Credit 5.0 Grey Water Treatment: 50%, 75%, 95%

Water Credit 6.0 Treated Grey Water for Landscaping: 50%, 75%, 95%

Water Credit 7.0 Treated Grey Water for Flushing: 50%, 75%, 95%

Water Credit 8.0 Water Efficient Fixtures: 20%, 30%

Water Credit 9.0 Water Metering

2.1.3. Energy Efficiency

Mandatory Requirement 1 CFC-Free Equipment

Energy Credit 1.0 Energy Performance

Energy Credit 2.0 Energy Metering

Energy Credit 3.0 Refrigerators

Energy Credit 4.0 Solar Water Heating Systems: 50%, 75%,95%

Energy Credit 5.0 Captive power Generation

Energy Credit 6.0 Onsite Renewable Energy: 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, 10%

Energy Credit 7.0 Efficient Luminaries & Lighting Power Density: 20%

Energy Credit 8.0 Energy Saving Measures in other Appliances

2.1.4. Materials

Mandatory Requirement 1 Separation of Wastes

Materials Credit 1.0 Waste Reduction during Construction: 75%

Materials Credit 2.0 Organic Waste Management, Post Occupancy:50%, 95%

Materials Credit 3.0 Materials with Recycled Content: 10%, 20%

Materials Credit 4.0 Rapidly Renewable Materials: 2.5%, 5%

Materials Credit 5.0 Local Materials: 50%, 75%

Materials Credit 6.0 Reuse of Salvaged Materials: 2.5%, 5%

Materials Credit 7.0 Certified Wood Based Materials: 50%, 75%

2.1.5. Indoor Environmental Quality

Mandatory Requirement 1 Tobacco Smoke Control

Mandatory Requirement 2 Day lighting: 50%

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Mandatory Requirement 3 Fresh Air Ventilation

IEQ Credit 1.0 Exhaust Systems

IEQ Credit 2.0 Enhanced Fresh Air Ventilation: 30%

IEQ Credit 3.0 Low VOC Materials

IEQ Credit 4.0 Carpets: 5%

IEQ Credit 5.0 Building Flush Out

IEQ Credit 6.0 Day lighting: 75%, 85%, 95%

IEQ Credit 7.0 Cross Ventilation

2.1.6. Innovation and Design Process

INN Credit 1.1-1.3: To provide design teams and projects the opportunity to be awarded points

for exceptional performance above requirements set by the IGBC Green Homes Rating System

and/or innovative performance in Green Building categories not specifically addressed by the

IGBC Green Homes Rating System.

INN Credit 2: To support and encourage the involvement of IGBC AP (accredited professionals)

in the green home building project.

2.2 IGBC Green Factory Building [2]

IGBC, in its endeavor to extend green building concepts to all building types envisioned a rating

program for factory building in May 2008. The rating system is designed to suit Indian climate

and construction practices. After one year of implementation, feedback from pilot projects will

be reviewed by the core committee and suggestions would be incorporated in the final rating

system. The rating system will be subject to review by the core committee, every 6 months, to

ensure that it is updated and contemporary. The rating system evaluates certain credit points

using a prescriptive approach and other credits on a performance based approach. The rating

system is evolved so as to be comprehensive and at the same time user-friendly. The program is

fundamentally designed to address national priorities and quality of life for factory workmen.

The rating program uses well accepted national standards and wherever local or national

standards are not available, appropriate international benchmarks have been considered.

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The IGBC Green Factory Building addresses both the new and existing factory buildings.

The existing factory buildings should address the following measures (illustrative) before

applying for certification:

Soil erosion control measures in future

Changes in design to accommodate requirements of differently abled people, like easy

access to lifts, rest rooms etc.,

Change to low flow water fixtures

Rainwater harvesting

Limit turf areas

Have policy for use of green materials in future

Minimum fresh air ventilation

Comfort conditions

Use eco-friendly housekeeping materials

IGBC Green Factory Building rating addresses green features under the same categories as of

IGBC Green Homes.

Different levels of green building certification are awarded based on the total credits earned.

However, every Green Home should meet certain mandatory requirements, which are non-

negotiable.

Table 2-2 IGBC Green Factory Buildings Certification Levels

Certification Level Credits

Certified 51-60

Silver 61-70

Gold 71-80

Platinum 81-100

2.2.1. Site Selection & Planning

Mandatory Requirement 1 Compliance with Local Regulations

Mandatory Requirement 2 Soil Erosion Prevention & Control

SS Credit 1 Contaminated Site Remediation

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SS Credit 2 Accesses to Public Transport

SS Credit 3 Basic Amenities

SS Credit 4 Natural Topography and Landscape, 20%, 30%

SS Credit 5 Heat Island Effect on Roof and Parking areas

SS Credit 6 Non Fossil Fueling Facility for Vehicles

SS Credit 7 Design for Differently Abled

SS Credit 8 Night Sky Pollution Reduction

2.2.2. Water Conservation

Mandatory Requirement 1 Rainwater Harvesting, 50% Roof and Non-Roof Run-Off

Mandatory Requirement 2 Low Flow Water Fixtures

WC Credit 1 Limit Turf Area, 20%, 30%, 40%

WC Credit 2 Drought Tolerant Species, 30%, 40%

WC Credit 3 Management of Irrigation System

WC Credit 4 Rainwater Harvesting, 75%, 95%

WC Credit 5 Non-process Wastewater Treatment, 75%, 95%

WC Credit 6 Water Use Reduction, 20%, 30%

2.2.3. Energy Conservation

Mandatory Requirement 1 CFC-Free Equipment

Mandatory Requirement 2 Minimum Energy Performance

EC Credit 1 HCFC Free / Low Impact HCFC Equipment

EC Credit 2 Optimize Energy Performance, 10%, 12.5%, 15%, 17.5%

EC Credit 3 Metering

EC Credit 4 On-site Renewable Energy, 5%, 10%, 15%

EC Credit 5 Green Power, 50%, 75%, 100%

EC Credit 6 Eco-friendly Captive Power Generation

2.2.4. Material Conservation

Mandatory Requirement1 Handling of Non-process Waste (Post Occupancy)

MC Credit 1 Waste Reduction during Construction, 50%, 75%

MC Credit 2 Materials with Recycled Content, 10%, 20%

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MC Credit 3 Local Materials, 50%, 75%

MC Credit 4 Material Reuse, 5%, 10%

MC Credit 5 Certified Wood / Rapidly Renewable Building Materials

2.2.5. Indoor Environment Quality and Occupational Health

Mandatory Requirement 1 Tobacco Smoke Control

Mandatory Requirement 2 Minimum Fresh Air Requirements

Mandatory Requirement 3 Avoid Use of Asbestos in the Building

IEQ Credit 1 Improved Fresh Air Ventilation

IEQ Credit 2 Building Flush Out

IEQ Credit 3 Day Lighting, 50%, 75%, 95%

IEQ Credit 4 Low VOC Materials

IEQ Credit 5 Reduction of Workmen Fatigue (Break out spaces)

IEQ Credit 6 Eco-friendly Housekeeping Chemicals

IEQ Credit 7 Aerobic & Cardiovascular Gymnasium

2.2.6. Innovation in Design

ID Credit 1.1 – 1.4: To provide design teams and projects the opportunity to be awarded points

for exceptional performance above requirements set by the IGBC Green Factory Building rating

system and /or innovative performance in Green Factory Building categories not specifically

addressed by the rating system.

ID Credit 2: To support and encourage the involvement of IGBC AP (accredited professionals)

in the green factory building project.

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3. SITE SELECTION AND PLANNING

3.1. Soil Erosion Prevention & Control

Evolve strategies to stockpile top soil and reuse later for landscaping purpose.

Stockpiled soil can be donated to other sites for landscaping purpose.

Consider adopting measures such as, temporary and permanent seeding, mulching,

earth dikes, silt fencing, sediment traps, and sediment basins as appropriate.

Open areas can be landscaped (e.g. grass, trees, shrubs, etc.). Paved areas can be

installed with permeable paving. For impermeable surfaces, direct all run off towards

storm water collection pits.

3.2. Contaminated Site Remediation

During the site selection process, give preference to contaminated sites. Adopt a site-

remediation plan and cleanup the site using remediation strategies such as pump-and-treat,

bio-reactors, land farming and in-situ remediation.

3.3. Access to Public Transport / Shuttle Services

Locate the factory within 1.0 km walking distance from an intra-city railway station or a bus

stop within 0.5 km walking distance. Alternately, the factory can operate or have a contract in

place for shuttle services to cover 40% of the employees. Provide housing to cater to 40% of

employees within a walking distance of 2 km from the factory.

3.4. Basic Amenities

Select sites which have access to basic public facilities like schools, hospitals, stores

etc.,

Initiate a dialogue with the government and private agencies to develop such

facilities. For the employees, provide basic amenities in-situ.

Provide an area map (to scale) indicating the path and distances from the proposed

factory site to the amenities provided, with supporting photographs.

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3.5. Natural Topography and Landscape

Design the factory building with a minimal footprint (by limiting design needs and

stacking floor plans).

Consider retaining the natural landscapes in the site, to the extent possible.

In sites which have fully grown trees, avoid destruction. Avoid developing paved

surfaces on the site, as much as possible.

3.6. Heat Island Effect on Roof and Parking Area

Reduce heat islands (thermal gradient differences between developed and undeveloped areas)

to minimize impact on the microclimate. Consider installing heat resistant paint and vegetated

roofs to reduce the heat island effect. Typical materials with high reflective properties

include china mosaic, white cement tiles, paints with high Solar Reflective Index (SRI) values

etc.,

3.7. Non-Fossil Fueling Facility for Vehicles

Survey the type of non-fossil fueled vehicles already plying on the roads and also survey the

kind of vehicles which may come up in the future. Create facilities for refueling these types of

vehicles. Consider having adequate number of refueling facilities based on the refuel time

such that at least 5% of vehicles parked can be serviced within one work-shift. While

considering such fueling facilities, ensure that all safety aspects have been addressed. Provide

parking plans showing provisions for non-fossil fueling facility.

3.8. Design for Differently Abled

Identify all probable facilities required to cater to differently abled people. Design the building

to ensure that certain basic minimum provisions for differently abled people are incorporated.

For design strategies, the guidelines as specified by NBC Annex D, Clause12.21 is to be

referred.

3.9. Night Sky Pollution Reduction

Reduce light pollution from exterior and facade lighting to increase night sky access and

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enhance nocturnal environment. Adopt site lighting criteria to maintain safe lighting levels

while avoiding night sky pollution. Survey the energy efficient lighting fixtures available in

the market. Also consider the life of the lamps and evaluate the economic viability.

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4. WATER EFFICIENCY

Water Is Being Wasted! Since 1930, water use has increased by 1% each year, every year. All

experts and authorities agree that this is not sustainable, and urgent action is required.

4.1. Natural Landscaping [4]

Natural landscaping, also called native gardening, is the use of native plants, including trees,

shrubs, groundcover, and grasses which are indigenous to the geographic area of the garden.

Natural landscaping is adapted to the climate, geography and hydrology and should require no

pesticides, fertilizers and watering to maintain, given that native plants have adapted and evolved

to local conditions over thousands of years. However, these applications may be necessary for

some preventative care of trees and other vegetation in areas of degraded or weedy landscapes.

Native plants suit today's interest in "low-maintenance" gardening and landscaping, with many

species vigorous and hardy and able to survive winter cold and summer heat. Once established,

they can flourish without irrigation or fertilization, and are resistant to most pests and diseases.

So by opting for natural landscaping a lot of water is saved.

4.2. Dual Flush Toilets [15]

Dual flush toilets handle solid and liquid waste differently from standard Western style toilets,

giving the user a choice of flushes. Most modern dual flush toilets use less than a gallon of water

(3 liters, approximately) to flush liquid waste and around 1.6 gallons (6 liters) to flush solid

waste. This is a big savings over old toilet styles that used five gallons (19 liters) or more for

each and every flush.

4.3. Rainwater Harvesting System [16]

Rainwater Harvesting is the gathering, or accumulating and storing, of rainwater. Rainwater

harvesting has been used to provide drinking water, water for livestock and water for irrigation

or to refill aquifers in a process called groundwater recharge.

A rainwater harvesting system comprises components of various stages - transporting rainwater

through pipes or drains, filtration, and storage in tanks for reuse or recharge. The common

components of a rainwater harvesting system involved in these stages are:

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A B

Figure 4-1 A) Elements of a typical Rainwater harvesting system

B) Coarse mesh at the roof to prevent the passage of debris

Catchments: The catchment of a water harvesting system is the surface which directly receives

the rainfall and provides water to the system. It can be a paved area like a terrace or courtyard of

a building, or an unpaved area like a lawn or open ground. A roof made of reinforced cement

concrete (RCC), galvanized iron or corrugated sheets can also be used for water harvesting.

Coarse mesh: Coarse mesh at the roof to prevent the passage of debris as shown in figure 5.1B.

Gutters: Channels all around the edge of a sloping roof to collect and transport rainwater to the

storage tank. Gutters can be semi-circular or rectangular and could be made using locally

available material such as plain galvanized iron sheet, folded to required shapes. The size of the

gutter should be according to the flow during the highest intensity rain. It is advisable to make

them 10 to 15 per cent oversize.

Conduits: Conduits are pipelines or drains that carry rainwater from the catchment or rooftop

area to the harvesting system. Conduits can be of any material like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or

galvanized iron (GI), materials that are commonly available.

First-flushing: A first flush device is a valve that ensures that runoff from the first spell of rain is

flushed out and does not enter the system. This needs to be done since the first spell of rain

carries a relatively larger amount of pollutants from the air and catchment surface.

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Filter: The filter is used to remove suspended pollutants from rainwater collected over roof. A

filter unit is a chamber filled with filtering media such as fiber, coarse sand and gravel layers to

remove debris and dirt from water before it enters the storage tank or recharges structure.

Charcoal can be added for additional filtration.

4.4. Grey Water Treatments [17]

Any wash water that has been used in the home, except water from toilets, is called grey water.

Dish, shower, sink, and laundry water comprise 50-80% of residential "waste" water. This may

be reused for other purposes, especially landscape irrigation.

It's a waste to irrigate with great quantities of drinking water when plants thrive on used water

containing small bits of compost. Unlike a lot of ecological stopgap measures, grey water reuse

is a part of the fundamental solution to many ecological problems and will probably remain

essentially unchanged in the distant future. The benefits of grey water recycling include:

Lower fresh water use

Less strain on failing septic tank or treatment plant

Better treatment (topsoil is many times more effective than subsoil or treatment plant)

Less energy and chemical use

Groundwater recharge

Plant growth

Reclamation of otherwise wasted nutrients

Increased awareness of and sensitivity to natural cycles

4.5. Drip Irrigation System [20]

Drip irrigation system, at the most basic level, are constituted by a series of tubes that have holes

opened along them at intervals. The location of the open holes is tailored so as to irrigate most

efficiently the specific garden beds in which drip irrigation systems will be buried, promoting

water conservation. If you have a bed in which perennials are spaced at two-foot intervals, then

there will be corresponding holes in the tubing at two-foot intervals, through which water will be

discharged. You don’t waste any water with drip irrigation systems, because you’re not watering

the intervening area between plants. The dripping occurs only where the plants are stationed.

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5. ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Satisfying today’s hunger for energy comes with enormous and severe environmental costs:

climate change, air pollution, oil spills, river killing dams, and nuclear waste. We do have other

options - a clean energy future could be ours.

5.1. Sliding Sun Shades [5]

Figure 5-1 Sliding Sun Shades- blocks the incoming sunlight and prevents heat gain

Sliding wood sun shades glide along unique, unobtrusive tracks as shown in the figure 3.1. They

are a beautiful passive cooling. Sunshades cool the interiors naturally, using no energy-eating

mechanical technology. On hot days by just sliding them over large windows or glass doors

(especially any that are west-facing) incoming sunlight can be blocked and the heat gain can be

prevented. These hardworking sunshades also add a touch of rural beauty to the home’s exterior

and blend beautifully into almost any architectural style.

5.2. Heat Reflecting Roofs [3]

A lot of heat enters the house or office through the roof. Tiles and sanitary ware can reflect most

of the sun’s heat. So, covering the roof with reflective surface made of leftover broken tiles and

sanitary ware can reduce the power consumed by the air-conditioning systems. Roof gardens also

serve this purpose.

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Other than the tiles and roof gardens, Reflective roof coatings, also known as albedo coatings can

reduce solar heat. Because they can reduce surface temperatures by up to 80°F (about 45°C),

these products also have a big impact on cooling costs. The Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in

California estimates that reflective roof coatings can save homeowners a minimum of 25% in

energy usage.

Another advantage of reflective roof coatings is that they contain UV (Ultra Violet) blocking

pigments. Because UV rays age a roof considerably, the use of reflective roof coatings can

extend the roof's life by up to 15 years. This is especially true in buildings with low slope or flat

roofs which tend to absorb sun energy at a higher rate than slanted roofs. As roof coatings tend to

lose their reflectance properties over time due to dust and dew, regular maintenance, in the form

of reapplications or cleanings, is a must.

Some of the materials used as roof coatings include: elastomeric, polyurethane, and

acrylic paints; single-ply roofing sheets made of rubber, plastic, or PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride);

clay or concrete tiles; and metal, available in both natural and dark-colored sheets. Some

materials can be easily applied with a roller, as in the case of paints, while others, such as PVC

sheets, require the use of caulk or heat sealing done by a professional. If cost is a consideration,

white titanium dioxide paint and aluminum sheets are the best choices. They are inexpensive,

easy to apply, and require little maintenance.

5.3. Windows

Windows can be designed to absorb a high fraction of solar energy, and this helps to reduce solar

heat gain. The SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) is the fraction of solar heat absorbed by the

window. For new windows, the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) will be marked on the

window. For climates where heating bills are low and cooling bills are high, windows with high

SHGC's are preferred to cut down on summer solar heat gain. The high SHGC does have the

negative effect of reducing winter time passive solar heating.

Windows that are coated with ceramic pattern can reflect 70% of light and can help in reducing

heat gain. Double glazed windows with a layer of argon between the panes prevent heat from

entering the house.

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5.4. The Trellis [4] [5]

A B

Figure 5-2 A) an aluminum trellis that is populated with plants during the summer

B) Nice trellis and tree arrangement for outside shading

An exterior vertical trellis works well for shading East or West facing windows, and preventing

excessive solar gain. These windows cannot be shaded by overhangs because the sun is low in

the sky when shining on the East and West sides of the house.

Plants growing on the trellis can provide some additional shading in the summer and allow more

sun during the winter when it’s desirable. A larger trellis can cool an entire wall plus windows

and further reduce heat gain.

5.5. Thrombe Walls [6]

Figure 5-3 Thrombe walls mechanism

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A Thrombe Wall is a wall of dark material built directly behind south facing glazing (used in

cold climates). Like a water wall it stores thermal energy in its mass; however it cuts off the

space from the window and heats up the air that is trapped between the glass and the face of the

wall. This air then moves into the space from the top opening while cooler hair is drawn into the

Thrombe Wall cavity through a bottom opening. The openings can be closed to stop the process

when warm air is not needed.

5.6. Rammed Earth Walls [4]

Rammed earth is a technique used in the building of walls using the raw materials of earth,

chalk, lime and gravel. It is an ancient building method that has seen a revival in recent years as

people seek more sustainable building materials and natural building methods.

One of the significant benefits of rammed earth is its excellent thermal mass; like brick or

concrete construction, it can absorb heat during the day and release it at night. This can even out

daily temperature variations and reduce the need for air conditioning and heating. However

rammed earth, also like brick and concrete, often requires insulation in colder climates. It must

also be protected from heavy rain and insulated with vapor barriers.

5.7. Well Designed Roof Overhangs [6]

Figure 5-4 How roof overhangs can help in maintaining the temperature of the house during

summer and winter.

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Overhangs are most effective for south facing elements (in the northern hemisphere) and at

midday. If the building element bears more than about 30° off true south, the effectiveness of an

overhang, as with any solar feature, begins to decrease significantly. Overhangs only affect the

amount of direct solar radiation that strikes a surface.

The higher overhead the sun is, the shorter the shadow a person will cast on the ground.

However, the short brim of a baseball cap can create a long shadow across the body of a standing

person. The same concept applies in designing overhangs for buildings. Higher, the arc of the

sun, the longer the shadow that the buildings overhang generates along the face of the wall.

Summer shadows extend down walls the furthest, winter shadows the least. Sites closer to the

equatorial path of the sun have deeper-extending wall shadows than ones farther from the

equator, assuming the same overhang length.

5.8. Light Emitting Diodes [7]

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are solid light bulbs which are extremely energy-efficient. Until

recently, LEDs were limited to single-bulb use in applications such as instrument panels,

electronics, pen lights and, more recently, strings of indoor and outdoor Christmas lights.

Manufacturers have expanded the application of LEDs by "clustering" the small bulbs. Today,

LED bulbs are made using as many as 180 bulbs per cluster, and encased in diffuser lenses

which spread the light in wider beams.

The high cost of producing LEDs has been a roadblock to widespread use. However, researchers

at Purdue University have recently developed a process for using inexpensive silicon wafers to

replace the expensive sapphire-based technology. This promises to bring LEDs into competitive

pricing with CFLs and incandescent.

Benefits of LED light bulbs

Long-lasting - LED bulbs last up to 10 times as long as compact fluorescents, and far

longer than typical incandescent.

Durable - since LEDs do not have a filament, they are not damaged under circumstances

when a regular incandescent bulb would be broken. Because they are solid, LED bulbs

hold up well to jarring and bumping.

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Cool - these bulbs do not cause heat build-up; LEDs produce 3.4 BTU's/hour, compared

to 85 for incandescent bulbs. This also cuts down on air conditioning costs in the home.

Mercury-free - no mercury is used in the manufacturing of LEDs.

More efficient - LED light bulbs use only 2-10 watts of electricity (1/3rd to 1/30th of

Incandescent or CFL) Small LED flashlight bulbs will extend battery life 10 to 15 times

longer than with incandescent bulbs.

Cost-effective - although LEDs are expensive, the cost is recouped over time and in

battery savings. For the AC bulbs and large cluster arrays, the best value comes from

commercial use where maintenance and replacement costs are expensive.

Light for remote areas - because of the low power requirement for LEDs, using solar

panels becomes more practical and less expensive than running an electric line or using a

generator for lighting.

5.9. Under floor heating [8] [9]

Under floor heating requires less energy to heat a space than traditional radiators, reducing

energy costs on average between 15% and 40%. They are simple to install and can be combined

with other heat distribution systems where necessary. The under floor heating system is made up

of pipes laid beneath floor, turning it into one large radiant surface. The pipe loops for each room

and links back to the system which is conveniently located in one easily accessible position.

Benefits:

The system reduces running costs by 20% as the boiler consumes less fuel, which in turn

causes less environmental damage.

Under floor heating provides the warmth to a room from the floor up, rather than heating

the ceiling space first.

It is the most comfortable form of heating.

Safe, unobtrusive, freeing wall space and quiet in operation

Reduces humidity within floor coverings preventing dust mites from surviving or

ensuring that they rise to the surface of the covering where regular cleaning removes

them.

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The reduction in air movement with under floor heating also reduces the ingress of

airborne and carpet or floor covering fungi spores leading to an allergy free environment.

5.10. Ground Source Heat Pump [8]

Ground source heat pumps use solar energy naturally stored in soil, bedrock and groundwater as

a heat source. They do require electricity to operate, but efficiently produce up to 5 times heat

energy for every unit of electricity they use.

For ground source heat pumps you will need a different cylinder to those traditionally used in the

home as these need to become more of a heat store, therefore making them bigger in size.

There are a number of types of ground source heat pumps available to suit the heating

requirements of any building, whether it's an existing structure or a new build. They can also be

installed almost anywhere, provided there is sufficient space to lay the ground loops or drill a

bore hole.

5.11. Solar Panels [8]

The sun radiates an immense amount of energy to the Earth. If it could all be tapped, the amount

of solar radiation that reaches the globe every half hour would be enough to meet worldwide

energy consumption requirements for an entire year.

Flat plate collectors:

Turn heat radiated by the sun into hot water. The liquid that circulates through these thermal

solar panels is heated by sunlight; this then passes through a coil in the water tank which in turn

heats the water stored in the tank.

Evacuated tube collectors:

Use the sun's warmth to heat water. Unlike flat plane collectors, evacuated tube collectors are

made up of several cylindrical collectors, which sit in parallel. These panels can collect more

solar energy as the cylinders capture the sun from many angles.

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Photovoltaic Panels:

Save electric energy by converting the sunlight into electricity. By using photovoltaic panels

with a battery, inverter and controller you can start using your own generated electricity for

domestic units. Learn more about solar photovoltaic panels.

5.12. Wind Cooling Tower [23]

Cool towers use gravity to move cool air without any fans, although fans may be used to reduce

the size of the towers. The most common cool towers do this by having a wet pad medium in the

top of the tower. Since cool air is heavier than warm air, it will fall, creating its own airflow.

Wind is not required, but will improve the airflow in a cool tower.

Generally cool towers without fans are from 20 to 30 feet tall and between 6 and 10 feet square

(6'x 6', to 10' x 10'). Typically cool towers of this size will require from 10 to 150 watts, and will

cool 1,000 to 2,500 square feet. Airflow for these cool towers will range from 2,500 to 8,000

CFM (cubic ft. per minute).

Passive ventilation systems rely on the movement of air through buildings to equalize pressure.

The pressure difference can be caused by Wind or the Buoyancy effect created by stratified

warm air. In either case, the amount of ventilation will depend critically on the size and

placement of openings in the building.

Buoyancy ventilation is more commonly referred to as temperature-induced or stack ventilation.

Buoyancy results from differences in air density. The density of air depends on temperature and

humidity. Cool air is heavier than warm air at the same humidity. Thus, airflow is generated by

the dropping of heavier air, forcing lighter air to exhaust. Tower height, or the distance from the

air intake (top of tower) to the air outlet (bottom of tower), will determine the velocity or

pressure of the air. The greater this distance the more air pressure created, similar to a water

column. The tower uses a column of cool moist air (compared to the hot dry air outside) to create

this pressure.

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Wind causes a positive pressure on the windward side and a negative pressure on the leeward

side of buildings. To equalize pressure, fresh air will enter any windward opening and be

exhausted from any leeward opening.

Figure 5-5 the most common cool tower in use. As wind blows through the wet pads, the water

evaporates and cools the air.

Cooler pads sit at the top of a tower with a pump re-circulating water over them. As hot air

passes through the pads it is cooled by the evaporation of the water. Cool moist air is heavier

than hot dry air and drops down the tower and into your house. In order for the cool air to flow

in, hot air must be exhausted.

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6. GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS

A green material is one that simultaneously does the most with the least, fits most harmoniously

within ecosystem processes, helps eliminate the use of other materials and energy, and

contributes to the attainment of a service based economy.

6.1. Recycled Denim [10]

Essentially a form of cellulose insulation, made from old jeans and fabric. Made up of 85% post-

industrial (factory scraps) recycled natural denim and cotton fibers, denim insulation is also

100% recyclable. 10% consists of a boron-based fire retardant which impedes growth of fungus,

mold, and resists pests. Boron is a low-toxic, naturally-occurring mineral that is mined in the

deserts of California and elsewhere. The remaining 5% is polyolefin fibers that are used as the

glue that holds the batts together.

Figure 6-1 Recycled Denim used for insulation

Disadvantages:

May make mice very comfortable.

Advertisements show babies sleeping on it to demonstrate its safety; material data safety

information suggests that masks should be worn when installing because of the borax

added.

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6.2. Countertops from Recycled Paper [11]

It may seem a little odd to make kitchen and bath countertop surfaces from recycled paper, but

such materials are manufactured to be surprisingly durable and versatile for a variety of

applications. They can be used as countertops, tabletops, floors, and wall panels. These easy-to-

care-for countertops resist water, stains and scratches, and do not off-gas toxic chemicals into the

home. They can be easily fabricated with standard woodworking tools. Various edge treatments

can be created as well.

Varieties of Countertops made from Recycled Paper:

A B C

Figure 6-2 A) Paper Stone B) Richlite C) Shetka Stone

Eco-Top is made from a 50/50 blend of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified post-

consumer recycled paper and rapidly renewable bamboo fiber. It won’t fade or discolor over time

and resists scratches and stains.

Paper-Stone is offered in 11 colors and includes two types of post-consumer recycled paper

countertops. Paper-Stone excels in a variety of creative uses from conference tabletops, signs and

plaques, window sills, cutting boards and cutlery handles to furniture, restroom partitions,

cabinets, indoor wall cladding and many more innovative uses.

Richlite makes sustainable countertops from recycled paper. It offers two products that contain

post-consumer recycled content: r50 which contains 50% old corrugated cardboard, and r100

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which is made with 100% recycled paper. Richlite’s unique paper surfaces bring a soft and

comfortable ambience to a room that's rarely achieved through cold, hard stone and plastic solid

surfaces. It’s made from environmentally sustainable resources and is an attractive, durable,

long-lasting material that complements a variety of design tastes.

ShetkaStone is a natural, recycled, paper-based surface that’s strong, durable, easy to care for,

and appropriate for all kinds of architectural and manufacturing projects. Shetkastone is made

from all types of paper: post-consumer and post-industrial fiber based materials such as

magazines, newsprint, cardboard, office paper, even shredded currency.

6.3. Concrete with Fly Ash [12]

Fly ash use improves concrete performance, making it stronger, more durable, and more resistant

to chemical attack. Increased beneficial use of fly ash not only saves money but also solves a

solid waste disposal problem

Fly ash – the most commonly used coal combustion product is a remarkable material that cost-

effectively improves the performance of products it is added to.

When fly ash is added to concrete, the amount of cement that is necessary can be reduced.

Concrete containing fly ash is easier to work with because the tiny, glassy beads create a

lubricating effect that causes concrete to flow and pump better, to fill forms more completely,

and to do it all using up to 10 percent less water. Because the tiny fly ash particles fill

microscopic spaces in the concrete, and because less water is required, concrete using fly ash is

denser and more durable. And fly ash reacts chemically with lime that is given off by

Cement hydration, creating more of the glue that holds concrete together. That makes concrete

containing fly ash stronger over time than concrete made only with cement.

Because fly ash use displaces cement use, it also reduces the need for cement production – a

major energy user and source of “greenhouse gas” emissions. For every ton of cement

manufactured, about 6.5 million BTUs of energy are consumed. For every ton of cement

manufactured, about one ton of carbon dioxide is released. Experts estimate that cement

production contributes to about 7 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from human sources. If all

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the fly ash generated each year were used in producing concrete, the reduction of carbon dioxide

released because of decreased cement production would be equivalent to eliminating 25 percent

of the world’s vehicles.

Conserving landfill space is also an important consideration. Every ton of coal combustion

products that is used to improve our nation’s highways and buildings is a ton that is not deposited

in a landfill, saving the same amount of space that the average American uses over 455 days.

6.4. Bricks made of Fly Ash [13]

Figure 6-3 Bricks made of fly ash

Fly ash, the key ingredient, is a waste product from thermal power plants and is abundantly

available in India. Fly ash is mixed with two other ingredients: lime, which is a by-product of the

acetylene industry and gypsum from chemical plants to make the brick.

They are widely used for the inner skin of cavity walls. They are naturally more thermally

insulating than blocks made with other aggregates. No heating is necessary in making fly ash

bricks, thereby saving fossil fuel and reducing global warming.

6.5. Waste Reduction during Construction [5]

Construction of shallow domes can reduce the usage of steel as a shallow dome does not

require reinforced steel concrete for its construction.

Placing the tiles in a pattern of large and small tiles can reduce the amount of wastage.

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6.6. Bamboo Plywood [14]

Bamboo plywood is made from 100 percent rapidly renewable bamboo, using adhesives that are

both strong and emissions free. Bamboo plywood can be cut and sanded using conventional

woodworking equipment. It can also be glued or mechanically fastened using the same materials

and fasteners commonly used with wood. Bamboo is a low resin, open grained material that

takes stains and finishes exceptionally well.

Bamboo is increasingly being touted as an environmentally friendly, yet durable building

material. Bamboo is lighter than steel and five times stronger than concrete, and can grow

several feet per day. This makes it more economical than lumber from trees, which require years

to mature. In addition, it absorbs four times as much carbon dioxide as most trees.

6.7. Soy Insulation [18]

Soy insulation is a spray-on foam insulation that can be installed in existing and new houses to

help seal out unwanted temperatures flowing in from the outside and save home energy by

decreasing the heating and cooling load that the unwanted heat or cold places on your heating,

ventilation, and air-conditioning system.

Figure 6-4 Expert spraying dense soy based liquid on the walls

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A certified technical expert comes to the home and sprays on a dense liquid on the walls and

ceilings and into the unreachable cracks, holes, and cavities that are unsealable by batts of

fiberglass or cellulose blankets. The layer of liquid expands 100 times into rigid and airtight

foam that serves as insulation for the home. Unlike conventional spray-on insulation, soy-based

insulation is not applied with a formula that commonly contains formaldehyde, a toxic chemical

that will make the foams emit harmful gases as they age on the walls of your house and can

potentially cause cancers. It is, instead, applied with water, thus there are no toxic gas emissions

anytime.

Comparisons of soy-based insulation with other forms of insulation show that this greener type

of technology is just as effective in sealing out unwanted heat in the summer and keeping it

inside during the winter. And contrary to popular belief, soy insulation has zero food interest to

insects, so there is no need to worry about walls and attics being infested with them. They are

also effective in blocking out dust, pollen, pollutants, drafts (without retaining moisture and

developing mold and mildew), and unpleasant noises, while staying right where it should be-on

the walls of your house.

6.8. Other Eco-Friendly Building Materials

Baled straw and a product called POLLI-brick are among the eco-friendly building materials that

are being used more frequently with conventional building materials.

Baled straw is produced by stacking and plastering straw left in the fields after the harvest of

rice, wheat and other grain crops. Historically, these by-products have been burned, however,

baled straw has been demonstrated to be strong, durable and provide excellent insulation.

A company called MINIWIZ recently introduced the POLLI-brick, made from recycled PET

bottles that can be interlocked to build strictures ranging from fences to roofs to walls. The

material is lightweight and offers excellent acoustic and thermal insulation.

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7. INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Indoor air quality is often referred to as the sleeping giant of the building industry. On average,

people in industrialized nations spend about 90% of their time indoors, and most of that is in

their homes. The unfortunate thing is that modern homes can contain substances that are

potentially hazardous to our health. These range from normal dust, to major irritants, such as the

chemical vapor off-gassing from the newer synthetic building materials being used today.

7.1. Green Adhesives

Green adhesives are the new innovation commonly used now a days and adhesives or glue is

the latest product to go green. Green adhesive can be defined as adhesives manufactured from

sustainable raw materials or through an environment-friendly process. The green adhesives

have low volatile organic compound (VOC) emission.

Some of the advantages of using adhesives are:

Almost no left over waste material, you use the entire adhesive and have no disposal

costs.

Green Adhesives improves the public and occupant health standards.

7.2. Natural Flooring Materials

Several natural flooring materials are available to consumers that are renewable and contain

minimal industrial processing. Choosing a green floor can decrease your environmental foot

print, as well as reduce levels of toxicity in the home and increase energy efficiency.

Bamboo Flooring: Elegant, versatile, durable, stable, made with no added urea formaldehyde and

low VOC finish.

Cork: It’s derived from Mediterranean cork oak’s bark. Because cork oaks aren’t harmed in the

harvesting process and can live over 200 years, cork is truly sustainable and one of the greenest

possible flooring options. Naturally resistant to fire, moisture, and insects; insulating for both

sound and heat; and gentle on the feet, knees, and back, cork may be the ideal green floor,

though finish should be checked for VOCs. It's fairly water resistant, making it a good choice for

kitchens and bathrooms. With proper care, cork can last four to five times as long as vinyl

flooring.

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Lyptus: a flooring product that is a hybrid of two species of eucalyptus trees. The trees grow to

full size in less than 25 years and are being used extensively in replanting the rain forests of

South America.

Natural linoleum: "Linoleum"—is a natural and low-VOC product that has been used for over

a century. Linoleum is made from renewable, biodegradable resources. Vibrant, marbled colors

from organic dyes are a hallmark of linoleum, and because the color permeates the material, it

can be sanded for renewed longevity. Linoleum is available in sheets and tiles, which should

always be installed with low-VOC adhesives. Linoleum is produced in Europe.

7.3. House Plants for Fresh Air [19]

There are three common and easily grown house plants that can grow all the fresh air that is

needed indoors:

1. “The Living Room Plant” Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpis lutescens) which converts CO2

to oxygen during the day.

2. “The Bedroom Plant” Mother-in-law’s Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) which does the

same at night.

3. “The Specialist Plant” the Money Plant (Epipremnum aureum) that absorbs

formaldehydes and volatile chemicals from the air.

7.4. Air Curtain [21]

An Air Curtain is a device specifically designed to provide a resistance to air flow through an

opening, without having any physical barrier there. Simply put, an Air Curtain is a fan that is

designed with an air outlet that has a low turbulent air stream that can be angled towards the

incoming air stream in such a manner that the inflow of air can be prevented, and thereby creates

a seal.

Air curtains are often used at interior doorways of industrial and commercial facilities to separate

environments and to provide an invisible barrier for protection against drafts, dirt, odors and

fumes. Air curtains are not designed for security purposes. They are secondary doors that allow

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unrestricted access to the outside while conserving energy. Also, special types of air curtains

protect against flying insects, dust and dirt.

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8. CASE STUDY ON SOME FAMOUS GREEN BUILDINGS

8.1. Turbo Energy Limited (TEL), Chennai [22]

Certified under ‘PLATINUM’ category by LEED USGBC (United States Green Building

Council)

About TEL Green Building,

8.1.1. Methods and Techniques Implemented

Wall: Double wall with stabilized soil cement foundry sand bricks & Aerocon Block with 2 inch

thick EPS insulation in between. This combination has U- Value of 0.054 Btu / hr.ft2 which is

much lower than required U-value of 0.124 Btu / hr.ft2. The U-factor measures how well a

product prevents heat from escaping.

Roof: Albedo Paint on the Roof with Reflectivity of 82% and EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) under

deck insulation with shading effect by solar reflective collector.

Glazing: Energy Efficient Double Glazing with Low –e Coating. This glazing has U Factor =

0.586 Btu / hr.ft2. SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) = 0.24. Hardly uses artificial light during

day.

Lighting Power Density (LPD): This building has on /off type day lighting control in Ground

and first floor open office to reduce lighting energy consumption occupancy sensor with on /off

light control provided.

Solar Air Condition System: First Time a centralized solar air conditioning system of 90TR has

been installed in India. Parabolic dish reflectors generate pressurized hot water at a temperature

of 140 Degree C. This is fed into a Pressurized Hot Water Fired Vapor Absorption Chiller

generates chilled water used for air conditioning the building.

PV cells: 1200 W of Photo voltaic cells to generate electricity from solar energy to for lighting of

the office.

Wind Turbine: 1 Nos., 5 kW mini wind turbine generates electricity. PV cells Wind Turbine

Hybrid System for UPS, lighting offices on cloudy days.

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Solar Lighting: Solar based street lighting. 150 solar street lights in the main roads.

Zero Discharge Site: Rain water from roof harvested in Two Huge ponds through Hume Pipes.

Water is being treated & used for Factory & drinking. Low TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)

reduces Chemicals & frequency of regeneration. The surface water is allowed to percolate

through percolation pits. This & Rain water ponds increases the water table level & the ground

water quality improved. Treated Grey Water used for Garden Areas.

BMS: Building Management System for Monitoring and Validation of design parameters on

electrical energy, fuel consumption, water consumption, fire safety, building security with

surveillance cameras.

Indoor Air Quality: CO2 sensors are installed in Air- conditioned spaces to control indoor air

quality and optimize fresh air intake. This is done by reducing CO2 level without increasing heat

load, for various occupancy levels: “Demand Controlled Ventilation”

Wind Mill: Transfers well water to tanks for horticultural use, by harnessing wind energy

Zero Ozone Depletion Effect: Central AC plant does not use CFC or CHFC, but Lithium

Bromide and water as refrigerant

Wood: Hardwood is not used. 90% of the furniture used is old. Limited Parquet floor area with

rapidly renewable bamboo floor used.

8.1.2. Sustainable Site

Minimum disturbance to the site

Extensive erosion & sedimentation control measures to prevent erosion

Rain water harvesting

Open grid / pervious paver block in pathways & parking areas enhances water seepage in

to the ground

Battery operated chargeable trucks for movement of visitors & for Fork lifts /trucks in

handling of materials inside the campus.

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8.1.3. Water Efficiency

Zero water discharge building

The landscaping & irrigation system have been designed to reduce irrigation water

consumption by 58.9% from a calculated base line case

Water Used is on-site captured rain water and on-site sewage treated waste water in

conjunction with efficient irrigation system.

8.1.4. Energy & Atmosphere

64.4% savings in overall energy consumption than a normal building

25. 81% of the project energy cost is being offset by renewable site generated energy

The hybrid power ( solar PV cell & one wind mill )has an installed capacity of 25.6 kwh

85% reduction in lighting consumption

Cavity wall with aerated blocks

Refrigerant impact per ton is less than 100

150 solar street lights used in the campus

Water pumped from three open wells by the solar PV cell connected to pumps for

campus use.

Water is pumped by a wind mill from one of the open well for irrigating the garden

8.1.5. Material & Resources

Fly ash based bricks

Recycled glass, aluminum, ceramic tiles

Recycled wood

90% of the furniture used is old & refurbished

8.1.6. Indoor Environment Quality

Indoor Air Quality is continuously monitored

Materials selected so as to have no adverse health impact on the occupant

Adequate amount of fresh air in to the building & control of air quality through carbon

di-oxide monitoring

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Use of low volatile organic company carpets paints adhesives & sealants

80% of the building is day lit

100 % of the regularly occupied spaces have access to outside views.

8.1.7. Savings

The Building is designed to save Rs.30 lakhs per annum. Reduction of carbon foot print will be

1000 Tons per annum.

8.2. CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre

CII GBC building in Hyderabad was the first LEED® Platinum rated Green Building outside the

USA at the time of its opening in 2004. In fact, at the time of its construction, it was one of only

a handful of LEED Platinum buildings in the world. The CII is the first building in India to

achieve LEED® certification (October, 2003).

It comprises a balance between imported and locally-available technologies, with some

imports currently being indigenized. Energy consumption is half that of normal building.

Inside the building entire office space uses daylight. Natural light not only saves energy but

also increases productivity. Employees enjoy pleasant atmosphere. Windows are made from

recycled glass. Nearly 90% of materials involve extensive use of waste as recycled matter.

Columns use waste material from tile factory. From performance windows to waterless

urinals, wind towers and biological water treatment ponds, this building is as modern as it

gets.

Extensive green roofs, or roof gardens, cover 55% total roof surface area.

All wastewater and runoff generated by the building is recycled by "root zone treatment"where specially selected plants purify and filter the water that irrigates them. Water leavingthe root zone treatment is directed to one of the three ponds, thereafter to be used for domesticpurposes. The building achieves a 35 percent reduction of municipally supplied potable

water, in part through the use of low-flush toilets and waterless urinals. As part of the zerodischarge design, recycled water from the building is used for irrigation and any runoff isdirected to percolate at grade. During the dry season, the green roofs are irrigated daily.

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Solar voltaic panels produce 100-120 kwhr per day which means 15-20% of daily

consumption. They also shield the roof from directly affecting the sunlight.

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9. THE GREEN BUILDING PARADIGM IN INDIA

Construction is a major economic driver in India. According to the International Energy Agency

(IEA), the buildings sector accounted for the largest share of India’s final energy use between

1995 and 2005. In 2005, this sector consumed 47% of the total final energy use. Residential

buildings accounted for the lion’s share (93%) of the total building energy use the same year.

However to steer global commerce onto a more sustainable path; the green, energy efficient

building concept can prove invaluable for India and need to be addressed with a more

collaborative approach.

Recognizing that energy use and air pollution are important issues in India’s buildings, Indian

government enacted the Energy Conservation Act (ECA 2001), which promotes energy

efficiency and conservation domestically. ECA 2001 mandated the creation of the Bureau of

Energy Efficiency (BEE), authorizing BEE to establish an Energy Conservation Building Code

(ECBC). Under BEE, National Building Code of India (NBC) first issued in 2005, but the issues

of energy efficiency were marginally addressed.

However, in 2007, the Ministry of Power and BEE issued ECBC - the first stand-alone national

building energy code in India. While it is currently voluntary, ECBC establishes minimum

energy efficiency requirements for building envelope, lighting, HVAC, electrical system, water

heating and pumping systems. To develop ECBC, BEE collaborated with a diverse group of

domestic and international technical experts.

Nonprofit organizations like The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), The Energy and

Resources Institute (TERI) are actively promoting green buildings in India.

9.1. Cost and Benefits of Green Buildings in India [24]

In terms of appearance or use, there is no difference between green buildings and conventional

ones. The major differences are that green buildings have improved indoor environment and they

offer operational savings. Green buildings have been observed to have tangible and intangible

benefits.

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The tangible benefits such as the economic advantages are not immediately visible. However, the

lifetime payback is much higher compared with that of conventional buildings, which mainly

accrue from operational cost savings, reduced carbon emission credits and potentially higher

rental or capital values.

The intangible benefits such as social advantages are due to the positive impact of green

buildings in the neighborhood environment. Moreover, due to better working conditions, the

productivity of occupier increases and health problems decreases. The performance of green

buildings in India indicates that platinum-rated buildings have a higher payback period of five to

seven years, while gold-rated and silver-rated buildings have a payback period of three to four

years. These tangible and intangible benefits define the triple-bottom-line returns of green

buildings.

9.2. Cost Premium of Green Buildings [24]

The general sentiment among the developer community is that green buildings cost higher than

similar conventional buildings, and it is difficult to get positive returns on this extra investment.

This issue is mainly due to:

The still-evolving nature of green buildings;

The lack of technical information;

The incomplete/inefficient execution of green projects;

The short-term view on returns, instead of focusing on lifetime return on investment

(ROI) of these buildings.

In mature markets the cost premium range from 1-6%. Cost premium in India is in the range of

6–18% depending on the level of rating. This can be attributed to lack of technical know-how,

immaturity of the market and lack of resources. We foresee the cost premium in India to realign

to the mature markets with the increase in awareness and availability of resources. The objective

of green buildings is to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and

the natural environment. Though its concept is being rapidly popularized in India, there are still a

few hurdles that prevent mass scale adoption by project developers.

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CONCLUSIONS

The construction of the CII-Godrej GBC at Hyderabad, as a green building has enabled a

wonderful market transformation in the country. Building owners and developers today demand

green buildings from the designers. New products like the waterless urinals were first introduced

at the GBC building. Today we have other buildings also installing these urinals. These urinals

which were purchased in 2003, at Rs.14000/- for the Centre are now available for Rs.6500/-.

The green building experiences in India have been exciting and challenging as well. Since its

introduction in 2001, the LEED rating has emerged as a very useful tool in designing a green

building. The LEED rating provided opportunities to introduce new products and materials. The

easy availability of most of the green materials and equipment in the country has made it easier

for the designers to adopt local materials to a very large extent. Now there is an imminent need

for service providers, who would be required in large numbers, not in hundreds but thousands, as

the movement is heading to reach greater heights. The green building movement is here to stay

for the benefit of individuals, society and the country at large

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REFERENCES

1. IGBC Green Homes Rating System Version 1.0

2. IGBC Green Factory Building Rating System Pilot Version

3. Wisegeek.com

4. En.wikepedia.org

5. Youtube.com

6. Daviddarling.info

7. Eartheasy.com

8. greenworks-energy.co.uk

9. greenergy-consulting.co.uk

10. planetgreen.discovery.com

11. greenstrides.com

12. flyash.com

13. green-infra.com

14. tech-product.com

15. howstuffworks.com

16. rainwaterharvesting.org

17. oasisdesign.net

18. ezinearticles.com

19. greenspaces.in

20. landscaping.about.com

21. mitzvahengg.com

22. turboenergy.co.in

23. thefarm.org

24. joneslanglasalle.com

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