GREEN BUILDINGS

DEFINITION

 A building which can function using an optimum

amount of energy, consume less water, conserve
natural resources, generate less waste and create
spaces for healthy and comfortable living, as
compared to conventional buildings, is a green
building.
 INTRODUCTION

 Green building design is a practical and climate conscious

approach to building design.

 Various factors, like geographical location, prevailing

climatic conditions, use of locally available and low
embodied energy materials and design parameters relevant
to the type of usage of the building are normally taken into
consideartion.

 Such an approach ensures minimum harm to the

environment, while constructing and using the building.
 INTRODUCTION

 Green building brings together a vast array of practices, techniques,

and skills to reduce and ultimately eliminate the impacts of buildings
on the environment and human health.

 It often emphasizes taking advantage of renewable resources, e.g.,

using sunlight through passive solar,active solar, and
photovoltaic techniques and using plants and trees through green
roofs, rain gardens, and reduction of rainwater run-off.

 Many other techniques are used, such as using wood as a building

material, or using packed gravel or permeable concrete instead of
conventional concrete or asphalt to enhance replenishment of ground
water.
 BENEFITS OF GREEN BUILDINGS

 A Green Home can have tremendous benefits, both tangible and

intangible. The immediate and most tangible benefit is in the reduction
in water and operating energy costs right from day one, during the
entire life cycle of the building.

 Tangible benefits
Energy savings : 20 - 30 %
Water savings : 30 - 50%

Intangible benefits
Enhanced air quality,
Excellent day lighting,
Health & wellbeing of the occupants,
Conservation of scarce national resources
Enhance marketability for the project.
 MEASURES TO MAKE A GREEN BUILDING

 The measures that need to be taken to make a green building can be

distributed over three different phases of construction. These are:
 Measures taken before construction
 Site selection
 Soil and landscape conservation
 Health and well being
 Conservation and efficient utilisation of energy and resources
 Waste management.
 Measures taken during construction
 Soil and landscape conservation
 Conservation and efficient utilisation of energy and resources
 Waste management
 Health and well-being
 Measures taken to maintain the building during operation.
 MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION -
SITE SELECTION

 Location of site
 Easy availability of public transport and public conveniences.

 Rehabilitate sites damaged by environmental contamination

 Reducing pressure on undeveloped land.
 MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION -
SOIL AND LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION

• Reduce hard paving on site

 Minimise storm water run-off from the site.

 Efficient planning of utilities

 Minimise road and pedestrian walkway lengths.
 MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION -
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

 Indoor finishes
 Paints having high volatile organic compounds should be avoided.
 Sealants and adhesives should be water based rather than solvent-based.

 Appliances
 Zero ODP (ozone depletion potential) insulation should be used.
 HVAC and refrigeration equipment should be HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbon) and CFC
(chlorofluorocarbon) free.
 Fire suppression and fire extinguishing systems should be halon-free.
 Electrical appliances used should be BEE star-rated.

 Water treatment
 Groundwater and municipal water should be treated properly to meet the basic water
quality norms applicable.

 Air quality
 Provision for smoke free rooms in public and commercial buildings.

 Universal accessibility
 Provision of facilities like ramps and toilets for the physically challenged.
 MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION -
CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENT UTILISATION OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES

 Water conservation
 Energy Conservation
 Alternative Materials
 MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION -
CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENT UTILISATION OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES
Water Conservation

 Landscaping
 Use of local plants and trees for landscaping.

 Fixtures and fittings

 Water efficient low-flow fixtures should be used.

• Water recycling and reusing

 Facilities for recycling and reusing water should be provided.
 Waste water can be treated and used for activities like irrigating plants or used in WC's.
 Rainwater harvesting systems should be integrated into the building design so as to utilize
maximum possible rain water.

• Recycling of water
 Recycling of water is another important aspect of water conservation.
 Raw sewage can be recycled using aquatic plants like duckweed and water hyacinth to
produce clean water suitable for re-use in irrigation and industry.
 The plants themselves can be harvested and used for producing biogas.
 In these systems natural processes are fully utilised, thus saving a lot of energy.
MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION -
CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENT UTILISATION OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES
Energy Conservation

 Solar Energy
 Ventilation

 Bio - Mass
 Automated Building Systems
 MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION -
CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENT UTILISATION OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES
Energy Conservation – Solar Energy

Sources of renewable energy like solar, wind, biomass, fuel cells, etc. should be utilised as for
as possible.
 Solar energy
 Solar energy can be utilized in various ways to reduce usage of electricity.

 Day lighting
 Day lighting refers to the lighting of spaces using light from the sun. Light reaching a
particular point inside a building may consist of:

(1) Direct sunlight

(2) Diffused light or light from skylights
(3) Externally reflected light (by the ground or other buildings).
(4) Internally reflected light -from walls, ceiling and other internal surfaces. Louvers may
be used to regulate the amount of light entering the building and permit ventilation.
MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION -
CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENT UTILISATION OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES
Energy Conservation – Solar Energy
 MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION -
CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENT UTILISATION OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES
Energy Conservation – Ventilation

A good ventilation system needs to be ensured so as to reduce the requirements of

artificial ventilation. This can be achieved through
various techniques and devices.

 Wind towers
 Wind towers are used in hot and dry climates for
cooling purposes.
 The tower has openings at the top which direct
wind into the building.
 The tower can have openings in one or many
directions depending on the direction of wind
flow.
A necessary requirement for using a wind tower
is that the site should have consistent winds at
good speed.
 MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION -
CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENT UTILISATION OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES
Energy Conservation – Ventilation

 Induced ventilation
 Passive cooling by induced
ventilation is used in hot and
humid climates as well as hot and
dry climates.

 This method involves the heating

of air in a certain area of the
building to create a difference in
the temperature of air causing it to
move.

 Hot air rises and escapes to the

atmosphere drawing in cooler air
and thereby causing cooling.
 MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION -
CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENT UTILISATION OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES
Energy Conservation – Ventilation

 Earth-air pipe system

 The earth air pipe system consists of a
pipe buried at a depth of about 4 to 5
metres below the ground.
 The earth air pipe system takes
advantage of the fact that
temperature at a depth of about 4 to 5
metres is equal to the annual average
temperature.
Air is blown through it by a blower at
one end of the pipe while the other
end is connected to the building to
which it supplies conditioned air.
Air flowing through the pipe gets cooled (in summer) or heated up (in winter)
before entering the living space of a building.
 MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION -
CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENT UTILISATION OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES
Energy Conservation

 Biomass
 Biomass can be used to produce
various types of energies in the form of
gaseous or liquid fuels.

 Plants, agricultural residues and

municipal, animal and human wastes
can all be used as biomass.

 The processing of vegetable oils to

biodiesel to produce heat and power.

 As a source of lighting.

 To substitute a part of diesel for

machines with dual fuel engines.

 Converted to heat and power by

directly burning.
 MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION -
CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENT UTILISATION OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES
Energy Conservation

 Automated building systems

 Automated HAVC systems can be used to regulate the functioning of
air conditioners and heating equipment. These sensor-based systems
regulate the functioning of air-conditioners and room heating devices
based on the indoor environmental conditions.
 Sensor controlled lighting appliances that regulate the amount of light
based on the available natural light should be preferred.
 MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION -
CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENT UTILISATION OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES
Alternative Materials

 Locally available materials should be preferred over materials that need

to be brought in from distant places.
 Alternative materials like those which can be produced with lesser
energy or materials which can be generated from wastes should be used
over conventional building materials.
 Use of local materials saves a lot of energy on transportation.
 Some alternative materials that can be used are:
 Fly ash, for bricks, outdoor paving and in concrete.
 Sand and aggregate obtained from pulverised debris.
 Recycled steel for reinforcement.
 Ferro-cement and precast concrete for beams, slabs, staircases, lofts ,
balconies, lintels, sunshades and 'jalis‘
 MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION -
CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENT UTILISATION OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES
Alternative Materials

 Industrial waste based bricks and blocks, aerated lightweight BPC

concrete blocks, Phospho-Gypsum based blocks and Latoblocks for
masonry structures.
 Fibre reinforced Clay Plaster / Non-erodable Mud Plaster / Phospho-
Gypsum Plaster for different plastering work.
 Terrazzo flooring for terraces and semi-open areas
 Alternative materials for timber like MDF board, Mica Laminates and
Veneers on composite boards should be used instead of natural timber.
Timber used must be renewable timber or from salvaged wood. Boards
made of bamboo, bagasse, coir composite boards and fibre reinforced
polymer boards should be used.
 Unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) or High Density Polyethylene
(HDPE) products and products with recycled aluminium and brass
components should be used for electrical fittings and fixtures.
 MEASURES TAKEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION –
WASTE MANAGEMENT

 Reduce waste generation

 Biodegradable waste should be recycled. Waste that cannot be recycled

should be disposed off safely.

 Energy can be generated from biodegradable waste. This reduces

pollution.
 MEASURE TAKEN DURING OPERATION AND MAINTAINENCE OF
THE BUILDING MAINTAINENCE

All appliances and systems installed should be properly maintained when the
building is operational.

 Regular monitoring and maintainence of services ensures efficient functioning.

This reduces wastage of energy due to malfunctioning of appliances.
 PRIMARY RATING SYSTEMS IN INDIA

 There are three primary rating systems in India:

 GRIHA - "Green Rating for Integrated Habitat

Assessment”

 IGBC - "Indian Green Building Council”

 BEE – “The Bureau of Energy Efficiency”

 PRIMARY RATING SYSTEMS IN INDIA

 There are three primary rating systems in India: GRIHA, IGBC and BEE.

 GRIHA stands for "Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment" and has
been developed keeping in mind the various conditions and requirements
specific to the design and construction of green buildings in India.

 IGBC stands for "Indian Green Building Council" and provides the LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) ratings for green buildings
devised in the United States in India.

 The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) launched a Star Rating Programme in

2009, for office buildings in order to accelerate the Energy Efficiency activities
in commercial buildings. The programme developed by the Bureau of Energy
Efficiency, BEE is based on actual performance of the building, in terms of
specific energy usage (in kWh/sq m/year).
 PRIMARY RATING SYSTEMS IN INDIA

 There are three primary rating systems in India: GRIHA, IGBC and BEE.

 GRIHA stands for "Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment" and has
been developed keeping in mind the various conditions and requirements
specific to the design and construction of green buildings in India.

 IGBC stands for "Indian Green Building Council" and provides the LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) ratings for green buildings
devised in the United States in India.

 The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) launched a Star Rating Programme in

2009, for office buildings in order to accelerate the Energy Efficiency activities
in commercial buildings. The programme developed by the Bureau of Energy
Efficiency, BEE is based on actual performance of the building, in terms of
specific energy usage (in kWh/sq m/year).
 GRIHA

 GRIHA is the National Rating System followed in India and has been
conceived by TERI and developed jointly with the Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy, Government of India. It is a green building 'design
evaluation system', and is suitable for all kinds of buildings in different
climatic zones of the country.

 GRIHA helps people assess the performance of their buildings against

certain nationally acceptable benchmarks. It evaluates the
environmental performance of a building throughout its life cycle. The
rating system is based on accepted energy and environmental
principles. It tries to strike a balance between the established practices
and emerging concepts, both national and international.
 GRIHA

 GRIHA rating system consists of 34 criteria categorised under four

different sections. Some of them are:
 Site selection and site planning
 Conservation and efficient utilization of resources,
 Building operation and maintenance, and
 Innovation.

• Eight of these 34 criteria are mandatory to be fulfilled, four are partly

mandatory, while the rest are optional. Each criterion has a number of
points assigned to it.
• Different levels of certification (one star to five stars) are awarded
based on the number of points earned.
• The minimum points required for certification are 50.
 GREEN BUILDINGS IN INDIA

 GRIHA rating system consists of 34 criteria categorised under four

different sections. Some of them are:
 Site selection and site planning
 Conservation and efficient utilization of resources,
 Building operation and maintenance, and
 Innovation.

• Eight of these 34 criteria are mandatory to be fulfilled, four are partly

mandatory, while the rest are optional. Each criterion has a number of
points assigned to it.
• Different levels of certification (one star to five stars) are awarded
based on the number of points earned.
• The minimum points required for certification are 50.