Sustainability in Architecture

Understanding various Approaches towards Sustainable Design

Rutvik Agnihotri

FOR LJ SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

Ki Monastery, Spiti, India – 11th Century Photo: Rutvik Agnihotri

What is Sustainable Architecture?

Architecture that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.
 Why Does It Matter?
•Today the Earth has a population of 7
billion people and we are adding 1
billion more people every 15 years.

•Consequently there is an increasing

amount of land getting urbanized with
accompanied increase in consumption
of energy in the construction sector.

•This alarming demographic growth

combined with the global energy crisis
has been a major trigger for the
sensitization to ecological concerns in
our lifestyle, our habits, our
environment and more generally on
the future of our planet.

• In recent years, climate change, air

pollution, depletion of natural
resources and biodiversity, waste
generation, depletion and pollution of
water resources became global issues
that require urgent actions to be taken.
Photo: Google Images
 Why Does it Matter?
•A great quantity of CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere throughout the life-cycle of a building from
the production of building materials, the construction of a building itself, the occupation period,
renovation, possible rehabilitation and its final demolition.

•It is estimated that almost 50% of total energy costs in the developed countries is used for building
practices and construction.

•The construction industry is also one of the major sources of pollution. Therefore the contribution of
building industry to global warming can no longer be ignored.

Photo: Google Images

 Understanding Sustainability In Architecture

One’s beliefs, knowledge, values, contextual factors

affects his/her relationship with nature and also the
way he designs. It is necessary to consider the roles of
various factors, to understand the relationship between
humans, nature, and technology, as no entity exists in
complete isolation.

Figure - The 3 spheres of sustainability

Source: http://earthbabyblog.org

The process of designing architecture which can be termed

Figure - Man-nature relationship sustainable is one of enquiry, experience, analysing the information
at hand, negotiation and consensus. It is about a synthesis between
Source: Ekblaw, Jessica Anne. "Ecological Dualisms Undone: Exploring the
Roles of Ideologies, Zero Waste, and Qualitative Life-Cycle Analysis in ethics, environmental, social and economic contexts, and personal
Punta Cana’s Building Material Culture." 2012. 30 March 2014. beliefs and values.
 Various Perspectives towards Sustainable Architecture
Ten Shades of Cradle to Cradle Center for Vernacular Understanding Green rating
Green - William Alternative Approaches sustainable systems
- Peter Buchanan Mcdonough & Technologies (UK) architecture (BREEAM, LEED,
Michael Braungart - Gerard Morgan - Terry Williamson, GRIHA)
Antony Radford,
Helen Bennets
•Low energy/ High •Regenerative •CAT is concerned •It proposes an •These can be •These systems
performance design. how our societies integrated broadly categorized quantify and set
•Replenishable use technology. It is approach to under standards for the
sources •The cradle to cradle a living community sustainability with Environmental, environmental &
•Recycling approach, is to look that explores the major emphasis on Socio-cultural, energy performance
•Embodied energy at waste as food; as emerging climatology, solar Economic of buildings, and
•Long life, Loose fit a nutrient for alternative passive architecture, Performance and based on the
•Total life cycle something new technologies to find bio-climatic and low Building Longevity, execution of those
costing which is to come. out how can it work energy design to which further talk principles they
•Embedded in place for us in the most provide sufficient about GHG certify whether the
•Access and urban •To design a product efficient way. human comfort, use emissions, depletion building is 'Green' or
context from the beginning, of local renewable of ozone layer, not.
•Health and in such a way that and recycled waste disposal,
happiness after its effective materials and renewable •It looks at - site
•Community and life, it is used either promoting local resources and non- selection/developm
connection as a biological skills. renewable ent, energy & water
nutrient – one resources, bio- efficiency,
which goes back to diversity, long life, atmospheric
the earth without recyclability, local emissions, materials
leaving any harmful materials and skills, & resources, indoor
traces, or as a occupants, workers, environmental
technical nutrient – ethical labour, life- quality and
one where it cycle costs, material innovation in
continually and labour costs. design.
circulates within the
industry as a
nutrient.
Context is everything!
Sustainability As Linked To Various Parameters Of Designing

Climatic Concerns

Site Planning

Building Layout & Orientation

Landscape Planning

Passive Design Strategies

Building Material & Construction Techniques

Energy Efficiency

Water Efficiency
Sustainability As Linked To Various Parameters Of Designing

Climatic Concerns

Site Planning

Building Layout & Orientation

Landscape Planning

Passive Design Strategies

Building Material & Construction Techniques

Energy Efficiency

Water Efficiency
Climate & Climatic Zone
Climate & Climatic Zone
Sustainability As Linked To Various Parameters Of Designing

Climatic Concerns

Site Planning

Building Layout & Orientation

Landscape Planning

Passive Design Strategies

Building Material & Construction Techniques

Energy Efficiency

Water Efficiency
 Site Selection & Planning
Photo: Google Images

Greenfield Site Brownfield Site

• When it comes to designing the first issue an architect has to take into consideration is the site and
its surrounding areas.
• The selection of Land is of as much importance as Designing of a building.
• This is to understand aspects like orientation and placement of open spaces taking climate into
consideration.
• Also if there is any existing vegetation on site, steps should be taken to retain them.
• Site planning is also important to ensure proper planning of shaded and pervious paving and to
reduce hard paving in landscaping and promote vegetation.
Site Selection & Planning
Examples of Compact Cluster Planning
Photo: Google Images
Sustainability As Linked To Various Parameters Of Designing

Climatic Concerns

Site Planning

Building Layout & Orientation

Landscape Planning

Passive Design Strategies

Building Material & Construction Techniques

Energy Efficiency

Water Efficiency
Building Orientation
Examples of North-South oriented buildings in Ahmedabad
Photo: Google Images
Plan Form
Building Types
Courtyards at various scales in Ahmedabad
Photo: Google Images
Sustainability As Linked To Various Parameters Of Designing

Climatic Concerns

Site Planning

Building Layout & Orientation

Landscape Planning

Passive Design Strategies

Building Material & Construction Techniques

Energy Efficiency

Water Efficiency
Landscape Planning
Landscape Planning

Source: Abhinav Journal (2013)

 Landscape Planning
Shading by Trees & Vegetation
Vegetation and trees in particular, very effectively shade and reduce heat gain. Shading and evapotranspiration (the
process by which a plant actively release water vapour) from trees can reduce surrounding air temperatures as much
as 5°C. Different types of plants (trees, shrubs, vines) can be selected on the basis of their growth habit (tall, low,
dense, light permeable) to provide the desired degree of shading for various window orientations and situations. The
following points should be considered for summer shading :

• Deciduous trees and shrubs provide summer shade yet allow winter access. The best locations for deciduous trees
are on the south and southwest side of the building. When these trees drop their leaves in the winter, sunlight can
reach inside to heat the interiors.

• Trees with heavy foliage are very effective in obstructing the sun’s rays and casting a dense shadow. Dense shade is
cooler than filtered sunlight. High branching canopy trees can be used to shade the roof, walls and windows.

• Evergreen trees on the south and west sides afford the best protection from the setting summer sun and cold
winter winds.

• Vertical shading is best for east and west walls and windows in summer, to protect from intense sun at low angles,
e.g. screening by dense shrubs, trees, deciduous vines supported on a frame, shrubs used in combination with
trees.

• Shading and insulation for walls can be provided by plants that adhere to the wall, such as English ivy, or by plants
supported by the wall, such as jasmine.

• Horizontal shading is best for south-facing windows, e.g. deciduous vines (which lose foliage in the winter) such as
ornamental grape or wisteria can be grown over a pergola for summer shading.
Sustainability As Linked To Various Parameters Of Designing

Climatic Concerns

Site Planning

Building Layout & Orientation

Landscape Planning

Passive Design Strategies

Building Material & Construction Techniques

Energy Efficiency

Water Efficiency
 Passive Design Strategies
What is Passive Cooling?
• A ‘passive’ solar design suggests the use of natural processes for achieving required thermal
comfort inside the building.

• The flow of energy in passive design is by natural means: radiation, conduction, or convection
without using any energy intensive mechanisms.

• To prevent heat from entering into the building or to remove once it has entered is the main
principle in passive cooling concepts. This depends on two conditions: the availability of a heat
sink which is at a lower temperature than indoor air, and the promotion of heat transfer towards
the sink.

Environmental heat sinks are:

• Outdoor air (heat transfer mainly by convection through openings)

• Water (heat transfer by evaporation inside and / or outside the building envelope)

• The (night) sky (heat transfer by long wave radiation through the roof and/or other surface
adjacent to a building

• Ground (heat transfer by conduction through the building envelope)

 Passive Design Strategies
Shading Strategies For Building & Openings

Shading is the most important building design strategy for comfort in the hot-dry climate. Shading
of openings like windows is very important and in any case the Window-Wall-Ratio (WWR) should
not be more than 60%. Effective day lighting is possible with a much lower WWR.

Photo: Google Images

 Passive Design Strategies
Shading Strategies For Building & Openings

The design of effective

shading devices will
depend on the solar
orientation of a particular
building facade.

For example, simple fixed

overhangs are very
effective at shading south-
facing windows in the
summer when sun angles
are high. However, the
same horizontal device is
ineffective at blocking low
afternoon sun from
entering west-facing
windows during peak heat
gain periods in the
summer.
 Passive Design Strategies
Shading of Roof

• Shading the roof is a very important method of reducing heat gain. A cover over the roof, made of concrete or
galvanized iron sheets, provides protection from direct radiation. Disadvantage of this system is that it does not
permit escaping of heat to the sky at night-time.

• A cover of deciduous plants and creepers is a better alternative. Evaporation from the leaf surfaces brings the
temperature of the roof to a level lower than that of the daytime air temperature. At night, it is even lower than
the sky temperature. Broken china mosaic or ceramic tiles can also be used as top most layer in roof for reflection
of incident radiation.

Photo: Google Images

 Passive Design Strategies
Solar Chimney
A solar chimney is a device that induces natural
ventilation by the thermal-buoyancy effect. The
structure of the chimney absorbs solar energy
during the day, thereby heating the enclosed air
within and causing it to rise.

Thus air is drawn from the building into an

opening near the bottom of the chimney. The air
exhausted from the house, through the chimney,
is replaced by ambient air. They can also improve
the comfort of the inhabitants during the day if
they are combined with an evaporative-cooling
device.

Photo: Rutvik Agnihotri

 Passive Design Strategies
Induced Ventillation

• Passive cooling by induced ventilation can be very

effective in hot and humid climates as well as hot
and dry climates.

• This method involves the heating of air in a

particular area through solar radiation, thus creating
a temperature difference and causing air
movements.

• The draft causes hot air to rise through stack effect

and escape to the ambient, drawing in cooler air and
thereby causing cooling. In effect, a solar chimney is
created to cause continuous air circulation.
 Passive Design Strategies
Wind Towers

• In a wind tower, the hot ambient air enters the

tower through the openings in the tower, gets
cooled, and thus becomes heavier and sinks down.

• When an inlet is provided to the rooms with an

outlet on the other side, there is a draft of cool air. It
resembles a chimney, with one end in the basement
or lower floor and the other on the roof.

• The top part is divided into several vertical air

spaces ending in the openings in the sides of the
tower. In the presence of wind, air is cooled more
effectively and flows faster down the tower and into
the living area.

• The system works effectively in hot and dry climates

where diurnal variations are high.
Passive Design Strategies
Wind Towers

Near Hyderabad, Pakistan – Earth-covered wooden

wind catchers, or hawadans, adorn rooftops. The use
of wind catchers was dying out with the introduction
of air conditioning. However, with the increased cost
of electricity & frequent power outages, hawadans
are once again becoming common.
Photo: Built by Hand
 Passive Design Strategies
Evaporative Cooling

• Evaporative cooling is a passive cooling technique in

which outdoor air is cooled by evaporating water
before it is introduced in the building.

• Its physical principle lies in the fact that the heat of

air is used to evaporate water, thus cooling the air,
which in turn cools the living space in the building.

Photo: Google Images

 Passive Design Strategies
Roof Pond

• In this system a shallow water pond is provided over

highly conductive flat roof with fixed side thermal
insulation. The top thermal insulation is movable.

• The pond is covered in day hours to prevent heating

of pond from solar radiation. The use of roof pond
can lower room temperature by about 20°C.

• While keeping the pond open during night the water

is cooled by nocturnal cooling. The covered pond
during the day provides cooling due to the effect of
nocturnally cooled water pond and on other side
the thermal insulation cuts off the solar radiation
from the roof.

• The system can be used for heating during the

winter by operating the system just reverse. The
movable insulation is taken away during day so the
water of pond gets heated up by solar radiation and
heating the building. The pond is covered in night to
reduce the thermal losses from the roof and the hot
water in the pond transfers heat into building.
 Passive Design Strategies
Passive Downdraft Evaporative Cooling
• This systems consists of a downdraft tower with
wetted cellulose pads at the top of the tower.

• Water is distributed on the top of the pads,

collected at the bottom into a sump and re-
circulated by a pump.

• Certain designs exclude the re-circulation pump and

use the pressure in the supply water line to
periodically surge water over the pads, eliminating
the requirement for any electrical energy input.

• In some designs, water is sprayed using micronisers

or nozzles in place of pads, in others, water is made
to drip. Thus, the towers are equipped with
evaporative cooling devices at the top to provide
cool air by gravity flow.

Figures: Google Images

 Passive Design Strategies
Passive Downdraft Evaporative Cooling

Torrent Research Centre

Inspector General Of Police Complex,

Gulbarga
 Passive Design Strategies
Earth Cooling Tubes
• The use of earth as a heat sink or a source for
cooling/heating air in buried pipes or underground
tunnels has been a testimony to Islamic and Persian
architecture.

• The air passing through a tunnel or a buried pipe at

a depth of few meters gets cooled in summers and
heated in winters.

• Parameters like surface area of pipe, length and

depth of the tunnel below ground, dampness of the
earth, humidity of inlet air velocity, affect the
exchange of heat between air and the surrounding
soil.

Photos: Rutvik Agnihotri

Passive Design Strategies
Earth Cooling Tubes
 Passive Design Strategies
Earth Berming
• This technique is used for passive cooling as well as
heating of buildings, which is made possible by the
earth acting as a massive heat sink.

• At depths beyond 4 to 5m, both daily and seasonal

fluctuations die out and the soil temperature
remains almost constant throughout the year.

• Thus, the underground or partially sunk buildings

will provide both cooling (in summer) and heating
(in winter) to the living space.

• In an earth bermed structure the reduced

infiltration of outside air and the additional thermal
resistance of the surrounding earth considerably
reduces the average thermal load.

• Further the addition of earth mass of the building

acts like a large thermal mass and reduces the
fluctuations in the thermal load.

• Hence with reference to thermal comfort, an earth

sheltered building presents a significant passive
approach.
 Passive Design Strategies
Daylighting
• Daylighting is the practice of placing windows, skylights, other openings, and reflective surfaces so that sunlight
(direct or indirect) can provide effective internal lighting.

Clerestory Window Skylight Northlight

Light Shelves Atrium Light Pipe Light Tubes

Photos: Google
Sustainability As Linked To Various Parameters Of Designing

Climatic Concerns

Site Planning

Building Layout & Orientation

Landscape Planning

Passive Design Strategies

Building Material & Construction Techniques

Energy Efficiency

Water Efficiency
 Building Materials
• Materials are directly or indirectly linked to the designing of
the building right from the inception of the concept,
throughout the life-cycle of the building to the disposal.

• When selecting materials, we have to consider various

factors for sustainable outcomes through optimal decisions.
If the different variables are considered for selection of
materials, it may help to cut down on the embodied energy
in a building, CO2 emissions in the environment, energy use
in materials production processes, environmental impact
throughout the life cycle, energy consumption, and air
quality discomfort.

• A material creates environmental and socio-economic

impacts at 5 different stages:

EXTRACTION
/RAW PRODUCTION
MATERIALS

DISPOSAL
TRANSPORTATION
/WASTE

OPERATION/
MAINTENANCE
 Building Materials

Framework to assess the sustainability of a building material are as follows:

Environmental Factors Socio-Cultural Factors Physical Properties Cost
Energy Cultural Impact Thermal Properties Affordability
Raw materials and its distance
Locality of Materials Thermal Conductivity (K) Material Cost
(in Kms)
Distance of finished product
Continuity of Skills Thermal Transmittance (U) Labour Cost
(in Kms)
Raw Material (source) Ethical Labour Strength Properties Maintenance Cost
Extraction/ Raw material
Safety and Health Compressive Strength
Embodied Energy
Extraction (Human Labour) 1. Exposure to dust Durability
Transportation energy of Raw
2. Exposure to heat Fire Resistance
Materials
Production Energy of material 3. Exposure to air pollutants Weather Resistance
Production (Human Labour) 4. Manual Handling Risk Thickness
Limitations with respect to
Total Embodied Energy Equity (Men/Women)
size, weight and handling
Embodied Energy per cubic
Dry Density
meter
Water Acoustic Properties
Production (Mixing+Curing) Sound Reduction Index
Environmental Impact Water Permeability
Emissions Water Absorption
Disposability
Material Toxicity
 Building Materials

Five walling materials namely Fired Clay Brick, Fly Ash Brick, AAC Block, Hollow Concrete Block
and Solid Concrete Block were studied and evaluated by analysing their positive and negative
impacts on environment and people and categorized as follows:

HIGHLY DESIRABLE

DESIRABLE

LESS DESIRABLE

LEAST DESIRABLE
 Building Materials

Evaluating the impacts of selected walling materials

Factors Materials

Autoclaved Aerated Hollow Concrete Solid Concrete

Fired Clay Brick Fly Ash Brick
Environmental Factors Concrete Blocks Blocks Blocks
229x110x75 230x110x75
600x200x200 390x190x190 390x190x190

Energy
Raw materials and its distance (in Kms)
Distance of finished product (in Kms)
Raw Material (source)
Extraction/ Raw material Embodied Energy
Extraction (Human Labour)
Transportation energy of Raw Materials
Production Energy of material
Production (Human Labour)
Total Embodied Energy
Embodied Energy per cubic meter
Water
Production (Mixing+Curing)
Environmental Impact
Emissions
Disposability
Material Toxicity
 Building Materials

Autoclaved Aerated Hollow Concrete Solid Concrete

Fired Clay Brick Fly Ash Brick
Socio-Cultural Factors Concrete Blocks Blocks Blocks
229x110x75 230x110x75
600x200x200 390x190x190 390x190x190
Cultural Impact
Locality of Materials
Continuity of Skills
Ethical Labour
Safety and Health
1. Exposure to dust
2. Exposure to heat
3. Exposure to air pollutants
4. Manual Handling Risk
Equity (Men/Women)
 Building Materials
Autoclaved Aerated Hollow Concrete Solid Concrete
Fired Clay Brick Fly Ash Brick
Physical Properties Concrete Blocks Blocks Blocks
229x110x75 230x110x75
600x200x200 390x190x190 390x190x190
Thermal Properties
Thermal Conductivity (K)
Thermal Transmittance (U)
Strength Properties
Compressive Strength
Durability
Fire Resistance
Weather Resistance
Thickness
Size, weight and handling
Dry Density
Acoustic Properties
Sound Reduction Index
Water Permeability
Water Absorption
Autoclaved Aerated Hollow Concrete Solid Concrete
Fired Clay Brick Fly Ash Brick
Cost Concrete Blocks Blocks Blocks
229x110x75 230x110x75
600x200x200 390x190x190 390x190x190
Affordability
Material Cost
Labour Cost
Maintenance Cost
Alternative Building Materials & Construction Techniques

Fly Ash Sand Lime Gypsum Bricks

Alternative Building Materials & Construction Techniques

Compressed Earth Blocks

Alternative Building Materials & Construction Techniques

Clay Flyash Burnt Brick

Alternative Building Materials & Construction Techniques

Marble Slurry Brick

Alternative Building Materials & Construction Techniques

Ferrocement Wall Panels

Alternative Building Materials & Construction Techniques

Rat Trap Bond Brick Masonry

 Alternative Building Materials & Construction Techniques

TERRACOTTA FILLER SLAB

•Terracotta filler slab are basically solid
reinforced concrete slabs with partial
replacement of the concrete in the tension zone
by a filler material. The filler material could be
cheaper and /or lighter.

•Filler slab is based on the principle that for roofs

which are simply supported, the upper part of
the slab is subjected to compressive forces and
the lower part of the slab experience tensile
forces. Concrete is very good in withstanding
compressive forces and steel bears the load due
to tensile forces.

• Thus the lower tensile region of the slab does

not need any concrete except for holding the
steel reinforcements together.

•Thus the filler slab consumes less concrete and

steel due to reduced weight of slab by the
introduction of a less heavy, low cost filler
material. It also has the advantages of thermal
insulation.
 Alternative Building Materials & Construction Techniques

RBCS (Reinforced Brick Concrete Slab)

•Reinforced brick slabs has been successfully
used for a long time through out India for roofs
and intermediate floors but it has failed to
receive recognition as a standard slab system.

•It is a particular RCC slab where some of the

bottom half (tension zone) concrete portions are
replaced by filler brick blocks material.

•This filler material is so placed as not to

compromise structural strength, by replacing
unwanted and nonfunctional tension concrete,
thus resulting in economy.

• Aesthetically pleasing pattern can be achieved

without plaster. Such floors are economic
compared to conventional reinforced concrete
floors because the filler material is cheaper.
Today it is an alternative variant to waffle slab.
Alternative Building Materials & Construction Techniques
Alternative Building Materials & Construction Techniques
Sustainability As Linked To Various Parameters Of Designing

Climatic Concerns

Site Planning

Building Layout & Orientation

Landscape Planning

Passive Design Strategies

Building Material & Construction Techniques

Energy Efficiency

Water Efficiency
Energy Efficiency
Sustainability As Linked To Various Parameters Of Designing

Climatic Concerns

Site Planning

Building Layout & Orientation

Landscape Planning

Passive Design Strategies

Building Material & Construction Techniques

Energy Efficiency

Water Efficiency
Water Efficiency
 Water Efficiency

Water being a scarce resource, assumed sacred connotations & was almost celebrated in the form
of magnificent stepwells (vavs) & lakes constructed during Solanki & Sultanate period.

A great degree of perfection was achieved in the construction of vavs & tankas used for harvesting
rainwater falling on the terrace of any building.

Dada Hari ni Vav

 Water Efficiency
Tankas

Tankas are underground tanks generally built

beneath the courtyard or any other open space
in houses of walled city of Ahmedabad.

They formed an important source of water

considering the absence of a centralized supply
system in the medieval time.

The basic components which convey the runoff

water to the storage device in case of tankas are:

•Terrace or roof structure of the building which

act as catchment area

•Gutters and pipes that convey the runoff water

to the storage facility

•First flush system that diverts water from initial

rains away from the storage tank

•The underground tank that stores the harvested

water

•An overflow mechanism

Water Efficiency
 Water Efficiency

Waste Water Treatment

Approximately 70% of domestic water is released as wastewater, most of which can be recovered if it is properly
treated. Hence, wastewater should be seen as a resource rather than waste. Wastewater can be mainly classified
into two categories:

•Grey water – wastewater generated from kitchens, laundry, bathrooms, etc.

•Black water – wastewater from toilets containing faecal matter and urine, which is also called as “sewage”

Both grey water and black water can be suitably treated by Root
zone wastewater treatment and reused for non-potable
applications such as toilet flushing and kitchen gardening. Among
the many types of STPs, Root Zone Wastewater Treatment (RZWT) is
the most innovative and eco-friendly system.

The Root Zone Waste Water Treatment system is a low cost, virtually
zero energy and maintenance-free plant.
 Water Efficiency
The root zone wastewater treatment undertakes the following steps:

• Pre-treatment done in a Settler – a device that separates the liquid from the solid
• First treatment takes place in a Anaerobic Baffled Reactor – a device with several identical
chambers through which the effluent moves from top to bottom.
• Second treatment happens in an Anaerobic Filter – a device filled with a filter material (cinder),
through which the effluent moves from top to bottom.
• Third treatment takes place in a Planted Gravel Filter – a structure filled with gravel material and
planted with water-resistant reed plants, which provide oxygen to the passing effluent.

Main DEWATS modules for physical and biological wastewater treatment

Water Efficiency
“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors;
We borrow it from our children.”

– Native American Proverb