Green Buildings

 

Incorporating excellent practices that result in environment protection, water conservation, energy efficiency, usage of recycled products and renewable energy, is termed as going green.
     The buildings in which we live, work, and play protect us from Nature's extremes like cold, heat, wind, rain, and snow. But these structures affect and shape our environment too. Constructing and operating buildings requires enormous amounts of energy, water, And materials and creates large amounts of waste.

Police Office Complex at Gulbarga, wherein Green Building concepts have been adopted. click here to view the temperature statistics

Where and how they are built affects the ecosystems around us in countries ways, And the buildings themselves create new Indoor environments that present new environmental problems and challenges

The building sector is growing at a rapid pace and is the third largest consumer of energy, after industry and agriculture. World over, today, the focus is on constructing “Green Buildings”, which addresses environmentally sustainable issues.

Adoption of environmentally being technologies and practices in the building sector contributes to conserving the national resources, besides saving on the operating costs.

Green building concepts

Green building contemplates thermal comfort at optimum energy consumption. US Green building council who are leaders in energy and environmental designs rate buildings based on energy utilization keeping constant comfort level as envisaged in ASHRAE specifications. As per ASHRAE specifications comfort level for brain work is achieved when the room temperature is 24 oC, relative humidity is 55 - 60% and input of fresh air is 20cft per minute per person. This is generally achieved only with the help of air conditioners. Input of electrical energy at optimum level to achieve above comfort conditions determines rating.

Alternatively by using evaporative cooling techniques comfort level could be improved in arid regions by reduction of temperatures to tolerable limits.

Corporation is adopting evaporative cooling techniques for construction of IGP office complex at Gulbarga to bring down the temperatures from 44 oC to 34 oC. Special wind towers are built inside the buildings to achieve this reduction. In addition other methods to radiate heat and provide cooling effect inside the rooms are achieved by rat trap composite masonry and china mosaic cladding on special vaults.

These cooling techniques - also known as passive architecture will also be considered for special rating of green buildings by GBCUS. Corporation has already applied for certification by LEEDS under GBC.

This will be the first GREEN building in the Government sector in the country.

What is a Green building:

A Green Building is one that is environmentally responsible, profitable and a healthy place to live and work. Green Buildings ensure that waste is minimized at every stage during the construction and operation of the building, resulting in low costs.

Green Building applies to both existing and new construction, from a simple commercial space to large development projects.

     A Green building is one which incorporates several Green, features, such as:

  1. Effective use of existing landscapes.
  2. Use of energy efficient and Eco-friendly equipment.
  3. Use of recycled and Environmental friendly Building materials.
  4. Indoor air quality for human safety and comfort.
  5. Efficient use of water.
  6. Use of Non-Toxic & recycled materials.
  7. Use of renewable energy
  8. Effective controls and building management system

What constitutes a Green Buildings?

a) Sustainable Site:

  • Use nature effectively
  • Task steps to prevent loss of soil, either by wind\facility.
  • Select the site close to Local transport facility.

b) Water use efficiency:

   A Green building is on which incorporates several several Green features, such as:-

  • Capture storm water from impervious areas of the building for ground water re-charge or reuse.
  • Do not use potable water for landscape irrigation. Use recycled water/storm water.
  • Install moisture denser on plants for water conservation.
  • Use recycled water for NVAC system.
  • Use recycled water for toilet flushing.
  • Use ultra high efficiency water fittings and controls.
  • Monitor water consumption through on-line controls.

c) Energy efficient and eco-friendly equipment:

  • Design orientation of the building to get maximum day-lighting.
  • Use Green roof and Green wall to avoid heat gain into the building
  • Adopt spectrally natural glass materials such that it reduces heat gain minimize lighting of landscape features
  • Use of energy efficient goods.
  • Use zero CFC base refrigerants in refrigeration and air-conditioning system


Solar Energy being used for pumping water at IGP Office Complex at Gulbarga.

  • Use renewable energy to reduce environmental impacts associated with fossil fuel energy use.
  • Establish baseline date for energy consumption.

D) eco-friendly building materials and resources:

  • Select materials such that a major portion of the building is recyclable during renovation and re-construction.
  • Use materials having longer life which ultimately can reduce environmental impact in materials manufacturing and transporting
    (woods,flooring,paneling,cabinet,doors,frames,brick,light,fixtures etc..)
  • Use locally available materials for construction, thereby reducing environmental impact resulting from transportation and supporting to the site area.
  • After construction of the building, recycle or salvage at least 50 to 75% (by weight) of construction, demolition and land clearing waste.
  • Allocate separate space for sorting and storing waste disposals (e.g. News paper, organic substances, dry waste etc..)The location of storage place should be easily accessible for the workmen.
  • Provide rest / charge room with shower facility for residents commuting on two wheelers & four wheelers.
  • Design waste bin .which allows for easy cleaning and thereby and avoid health hazards.

e) Indoor air quality:

  • the intake air should be clean –suction should not be lose to exhaust fan, a/c exhaust, cooling tower and other source of contamination .
  • Install online CO2 systems for monitoring indoor air quality though building automation system.
  • Provide sufficient fresh air intake use non –toxic materials to avoid contamination of air.
  • Avoid exposure of building occupants to potentially hazardous chemicals provide controls for temperature, ventilation and lighting system, which can be controlled based on individual requirements.
  • Use of low VOC content material(paint, carpet, sealables)
  • System control to maintain IAQ

Benefits of Green Buildings

Going for Green Buildings have tremendous benefits, both tangible and intangible. The most tangible benefits is in reduction of operating energy and water costs right from day one during the entire life cycle of the building.

Green Buildings offer a range of economic and environmental benefits.

  • 30 % to 40% reduction in operation cost
  • Health and safety of building occupants
  • Enhance occupant comfort
  • Improve productivity of occupants
  • Imbibe best operational practices from day one
  • Incorporate latest techniques and technologies

Green Building Potential

The Green Building movement is advancing at a rapid pace in India. Considering the tremendous benefits that Green Buildings can result in, several corporate and Government agencies are considering Green Buildings by design.

This could open up a plethora of opportunities for several stakeholders like construction industry, architects, material and equipment manufacturers etc.

The projected growth potential for Green Buildings in India is estimated to be Rs.730 crores by the year 2007.

Daylight Harvesting

Large size windows are designed so that maximum sunlight enters the building during daytime minimizing the use of electrical energy during the day. Use of special glass panes reduces heat radiation from coming in. Solar lights are provided all around the building for illumination during the night.

Composite walls

Composite stone and brick masonry sandwiched with rat traps insulate the building against heat from solar radiation. Terrace green grass, china mosaic and covered vaults too aid in reducing the effects of heat radiation. Pseudo triangular pillars enhance the passive architectural beauty of the building.

Wind Towers

The building includes ten numbers of Reverse Chimneys or Wind Towers to improve thermal comforts inside the building by bringing down the inside temperature by about 10 degrees C. The Towers are provided with charcoal Trays and cold water sprinklers to filter and reduce the temperature of the hot air by evaporative cooling.

View presentation on Green building

INTERNET

     http://usgbc.com

     http://worldgbc.com

     http://www.greenbusinesscentre.com