TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapters Contents Page no.

1 Objective 8

2 Introduction 9

3 What is Green Building 11

4 Perceptions and Realities 12

5 Green Building” Rating System 14

6 LEED Certification Levels 15

7 History of ―Green Buildings‖ in India 17

8 Green Buildings in India 18

9 Materials 19

A. Steps product Selection

B. FLY Ash

C. FLY Ash Brick

D. Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Block

E. Paints,Finishes &Adhesive

F. High Performance Glas

10 Climatic Analysis 29

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11 Green Building Provisions 31

A. Water Harvesting System

B. Roof water harvesting system

C. Maximum Daylight factor

D. Sun dial & sun path

E. Roof ventilation

F. Tube Cooling

G. Properties of greenery to be provided

12 Energy efficiency 43

13 Why Green building? 46

14 Conclusion 51

15 References 52

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 OBJECTIVE

The objective of study of this green building concept is:

 To know about the green building.

 To study about the perceptions and realities of green building concept.
 To study about the various materials used in green building concept.
(1) Autoclaved aerated concrete blocks (AAC).
(2) High performance glass.
(3) Galvalume sheets.
 To study about various green building provision.
(1) Water Harvesting System
(2) Maximum daylight factor
(3) Sun dial & Sun path
(4) Roof ventilation
(5) TUBE COOLING

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 Introduction

It‘s hard to pick up a newspaper or magazine or turn on your TV without hearing about some
associated topics such as global warming, dwindling water supplies, the ozone layer, the oil
crisis, ethanol, or renewable energy resources. Concern for the environment and the desire to
be more eco-friendly is no longer a nice-to-do, but a must-do for people. The days of being
EITHER profitable OR sustainable are gone. Call that Green business 1.0. We're now coming
around to the fact that adoption of sustainable practices actually increases profitability when
implanted with a solid plan, and most importantly, actually allows companies to make a
positive impact on our society and planet. From planting trees, to using solar energy, to
constructing smart buildings and even collecting litter, India is going all green. These days,
greener pastures are looking more like battlefields for companies to people, all trying to
position themselves as environmentally friendly. Is it a change in corporate and consumer
attitude, or just marketing spin? Are ―caring‖ and ―green‖ just the latest must – have, brand
value buzzwords? The existing literature on ‗greenism‘ is endless in international context, but
there has not much literature available in Indian context. Globally there are a number of
massive changes occurring because of environmental concern. These changes are being
heavily influenced by a variety of environmental, economic, and social factors such as
climate changes, new stricter trade regulations, and a growing awareness by consumers about
how their purchasing habits can affect not only their health, but the health of the world
around them. These issues will increasingly impact not only the quality of life in India, but
also the ability for the country to remain competitive in an ever-globalizing world.
With recent exponential increases in energy pricing, the formerly neglected or
underestimated concept of energy conservation has swiftly assumed great significance and
potential in cutting costs and promoting economic development, especially in a developing-
country scenario. Reckless and unrestrained urbanization, with its haphazard buildings, has
bulldozed over the valuable natural resources of energy, water, and ground cover, thereby
greatly hampering the critical process of eco-friendly habitat development. However, it is not
too late to retrace the steps. The resource crunch confronting the energy supply sector can
still be alleviated by designing and developing future buildings on the sound concepts of
energy efficiency and sustainability. Buildings are part of basic needs. It is for protecting us
from Nature's extremes: cold, heat, wind and rain. But these structures make as well as affect

9
our environment too. Constructing and operating buildings requires enormous amounts of
energy, water, and materials and creates large amounts of waste. Where and how they are
built affects the ecosystems around us in countless ways. And the buildings themselves create
new indoor environments that present new environmental problems and challenges. The
building sector is growing at very rapid pace and it is the third largest consumer of energy,
after industry and agriculture. Environmentally benign technologies and practices can address
sustainability issues and contribute to conservation of national resources, besides saving on
operating cost. World over, today, the focus is on constructing ―Green Buildings‖, which
addresses environmentally sustainable issues in good manner.

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Methodology:
1. Broad overview of rating systems, codes and building bye-laws
2. Survey of buildings in Bangalore and Mysore- atleast 3 buildings

Outcome
The action research will assess the adoption of green building and energy
efficiency concepts with particular reference to Bangalore and Mysore City and
identify issues/ limitations, if any in adopting such concepts.

The viability and costs & benefits of these technologies as revealed out of the
study are useful for application

Green and Energy Efficient Buildings

Green building is one that is built so as to minimise environmental impact and
create healthy indoor environment for occupants. It includes minimising resources
consumed by the building both during its construction as well as its lifetime. A green
building may consist of one or more features either in its construction techniques or in
materials used.

A green building may be a conventional house using best practices and

positioning it to take advantage of the sun. Or it could be a structure built from
alternative or recycled materials. It could have all of its energy needs met by
alternative sources, such as wind turbines and solar panels.

Green buildings emphasize taking advantage of renewable resources, e.g.,

using sunlight through passive solar, active solar, and photovoltaic equipment, and
using plants and trees through green roofs, rain gardens, and reduction of rainwater
run-off. Many other techniques are used, such as using low-impact building materials
or using packed gravel or permeable concrete instead of conventional concrete or
asphalt to enhance replenishment of ground water.

While green buildings include a wide range of issues including water

conservation and energy efficiency, energy efficient buildings concentrate on adoption
of features that minimise use of non-renewable energy. An energy efficient building is
one that from design, technologies and building products uses less energy, from any
source, than a traditional or average contemporary house. This includes adoption of
features such as insulation, energy efficient window design to minimise/ maximise

3
sunlight, glare and air circulation, solar heating and lighting systems, landscaping and
use of energy efficient electrical appliances.

While the practices or technologies employed in green building are constantly

evolving and may differ from region to region, fundamental principles involve: Siting
and Structure Design Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Materials
Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality Enhancement, Operations and Maintenance
Optimization, and Waste and Toxics Reduction. The essence of green building is an
optimization of one or more of these principles.

As per a survey conducted by Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) during

2012, Mumbai has the country's maximum number of environment-friendly buildings
under construction. The city has 60% more green building projects compared to Delhi
and Bangalore, which are second and third on the list. The list has six cities, including
Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai. Mumbai has 319 registered projects that fall in the
green building category and are spread over 229 million square feet. Delhi is second
on the list with 199 projects, followed by Bangalore with 198 and Pune with 197.

There are a number of motives for building green, including environmental,

economic, and social benefits. However, modern sustainability initiatives call for an
integrated and synergistic design to both new construction and in the retrofitting of
existing structures. This approach integrates the building life-cycle with each green
practice employed with a design-purpose to create a synergy among the practices
used.

Green Buildings -Need

There is a growing trend for green buildings all over the world including India.
The energy crisis and environmental pollution concern in 1970s all over the world was
one of the primary reasons for development of green buildings and sustainable
development. Buildings account for a large amount of land. The International Energy
Agency released a publication that estimated that existing buildings are responsible
for more than 40% of the world’s total primary energy consumption and for 24% of
global carbon dioxide emissions.

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 93% of the total building energy use the same year. For sustainable

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development, green and energy efficient building concept can prove invaluable for
India and need to be addressed with a more collaborative approach.

India’s energy needs are expected to more than double by 2030. In the wake of
this growth, energy efficiency becomes more important to reduce the financial burden
of non renewable energy sources. A study by the World Resources Institute calculated
that India could reduce its annual electricity usage by 183.5 billion kilowatt hours by
investing $10 billion (Rs 59,720 crore) in energy efficiency improvements.

Traditional and regional buildings were mostly GREEN. Contemporary life

styles, standard of living and economic status, adoption of standard design and
materials such as large glass facades have contributed to extensive use of energy in
urban areas through use of automobiles, air conditioning systems, lighting and water.
Features used in historic buildings of India such as jaalis, courtyards, stepwells and
wind towers contributed a great deal towards making buildings energy efficient.

For sustainable urban development, traditional wisdom of using locally

available materials and technology, simple designs, adoption of rain water harvesting,
use of solar energy, segregation and reuse/recycling of wastes and greening of
surfaces surrounding the buildings, help in making buildings green and energy
efficient.

Regulation and Operation – International

As a result of the increased interest in green building concepts and practices, a

number of organizations have developed standards, codes and rating systems for green
building certification. In some cases, codes are written so that local governments can
adopt them as byelaws to reduce the local environmental impact of buildings.

Green building rating systems such as BREEAM (United Kingdom), LEED

(United States and Canada), DGNB (Germany) and CASBEE (Japan) award credits
for optional building features that support green design in categories such as location
and maintenance of building site, conservation of water, energy, and building
materials, and occupant comfort and health. The number of credits generally
determines the level of achievement.

Green building codes and standards, such as the International Code Council’s
Draft International Green Construction Code, are sets of rules created by standards
development organizations that establish minimum requirements for elements of green
building such as materials or heating and cooling.
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IPD Environment Code: The IPD Environment Code was launched in February
2008. The Code is intended as a good practice global standard for measuring the
environmental performance of corporate buildings. Its aim is to accurately measure
and manage the environmental impacts of corporate buildings and enable property
executives to generate high quality, comparable performance information about their
buildings anywhere in the world. The Code covers a wide range of building types
(from offices to airports).

ISO 21931: ISO/TS 21931:2006, Sustainability in building construction—Framework

for methods of assessment for environmental performance of construction works—
Part 1: Buildings, intends to provide a general framework for improving the quality
and comparability of methods for assessing the environmental performance of
buildings. It is not an assessment system in itself but is intended be used in
conjunction with, and following the principles set out in, the ISO 14000 series of
standards.

Green and energy efficient buildings – Initiatives in India

Energy Conservation Act 2001: 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) was first issued in 2005, but the
issues of energy efficiency were marginally addressed.

ECBC by BEE: In 2007, the Ministry of Power and The Indian Bureau of Energy
Efficiency issued Energy Conservation Building Code (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.

The code is set for energy efficiency standards for

design and construction with any building of minimum
conditioned area of 1000 Sq mts and a connected demand of
power of 500 KW or 600 KVA. The energy performance index
of the code is set from 90 kWh/sq.m/year to 200 kW.h/sq.m/year where any buildings
that fall under the index can be termed as "ECBC Compliant Building"
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 The BEE has launched a 5 star rating scheme for office buildings operated only
in the day time in 3 climatic zones, composite, hot & dry, warm & humid on 25
February 2009. IGBC rated green buildings are also able to meet or exceed the ECBC
compliance. The Reserve Bank of India's buildings in Delhi, Bhubaneshwar and in
Kerala have been star rated. In Tamil Nadu 11 buildings were star rated by BEE, in
the year 2010, including RBI buildings.

IGBC and TERI: Nonprofit organizations like The Indian Green Building Council
(IGBC) which is a part of Confederation of Indian Industry, The Energy and
Resources Institute (TERI) are actively promoting green buildings in India. IGBC has
adopted the LEED (The Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification
and TERI has developed GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment)
rating system. A whole-building approach to sustainability is rated by addressing
performance in the following areas:

 Sustainable site development

 Water savings
 Energy efficiency
 Materials selection
 Indoor environmental quality.

GRIHA rating system consists of 34 criteria categorised in four different

sections. Some of them are – (1) Site selection and site planning, (2) Conservation and
efficient utilization of resources, (3) Building operation and maintenance, and (4)
Innovation.

LEED-India has adopted several benchmarks for building performance. The

rating levels “Platinum,” “Gold,” “Silver,”
and “Certified” indicate the extent to which
a building excels the requirements of the
National Codes.

IGBC has launched different rating

programmes to suit variety of building types
such as IGBC Green Homes, IGBC Green
Factory Building, IGBC Green SEZs, IGBC
Green Townships, LEED 2011 for India-
New Construction, LEED 2011 for India-
Core & Shell.
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 IGBC has also launched a first-of-its-kind rating system to address
sustainability aspects in existing buildings.

IT/ ITeS companies: Over last few years, IT/ITeS has been a primary contributor in
the acceptance and development of green buildings. The Turbo Energy Limited’s
(TEL) R&D and Administration block in Paiyanur, Chennai, has been certified by
LEED as the greenest building in India and 2nd greenest in the world. Other
prominent green projects include ITC Green Centre (Gurgaon), IGP Office Complex
(Bengaluru), Kalpataru Square (Mumbai) and CII-Godrej Green Business Centre
(Hyderabad).

Comparison of LEED and GRIHA:

LEED is a well established and internationally renowned rating system and is also the
most favoured rating system among the private sector. However, it faces criticism for
being too American as the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has not
allowed it to be indigenized enough for it to work well in the local context. For
example, water is a critical resource in India but LEED offers far fewer points for
water conservation in comparison to GRIHA.

GRIHA on the other hand is made in India, and thus is supposed to have many criteria
that make more sense in the Indian context, such as compliance criteria for worker
safety and well being.

GRIHA is said to be more organized, user-friendly and customized than the LEED
India rating system, which is documentation intensive.

Private buildings: Both the LEED and GRIHA green building rating systems are
voluntary certifications for private sector buildings. Aside from eco-friendly design,
construction, and operation processes, the key benefits of both systems are operational
energy savings and marketability.

Public buildings: GRIHA rating compliance is mandatory for all new CPWD and
Govt. of India and PSU projects.

Cost of ratings: The cost of obtaining ratings under both LEED and GRIHA are
similar and will usually range between Rs.3,50,000 to Rs.5,50,000 depending on the
size of the project.

GRIHA:
 For projects up to 5,000 sq.m built up area – Rs. 3,14,000 + 12.36% tax
 For built up area more than 5,000 sqm – (Rs. 3,14,000 + 3.75/ sqm) + 12.36%
tax
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LEED:
 INR 25000 for members and INR 30000 for non-members; Certification fee
varies by size.
Financial incentives: Many State Governments have adopted incentives to promote
green buildings. Some of them are

 10% property tax rebate for occupants of GRIHA-compliant homes in Pimpri,

Chinchwad, Maharashtra; 50% rebate for the premium paid by developers in
this region is possible

 Registration fee is waived for Government and PSU projects by MNRE

 For building in Kolkata, GRIHA pre-certified buildings can fast-track

environmental pre-clearance. Annual awards and incentives to consultants are
also available. Depending on the rating level and size, up to 90% of the
registration and certification fees can be reimbursed

 The Noida authority awards 1% extra floor area ratio to buildings that commit
to LEED Gold certification

Banks: A key supportive role is shown by India’s biggest bank, SBI is offering
concessions on constructing green developments (lower upfront margin up to 5-10%,
and reduction in interest rate by 0.25%) that could start similar trend across industry.

Green Buildings in India – Scenario:

Indian green building has grown significantly since 2003, when India only had 20,000
square feet of green building. Now, it has about 461 rated green buildings under
LEED and more than 400 rated buildings under GRIHA. India has the second largest
market for sustainable construction in the world.

The growth of green building In India is partially due to a decrease in costs. In

2003, building green was 18 percent more expensive than traditional building, and
now it is only 5 percent more expensive.

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CASE STUDY – MYSORE

Rainfall and climate of Mysore

Mysore district receives an average rainfall of 800 mm with maximum

intensity of rainfall being 50mm per hour. There are 53 rainy days in the district and
on an average about 50% of annual rainfall occurs during the southwest monsoon
period. The rainfall generally decreases from west to east. The coefficient of variation
is around 30% in the west to above 35% in the east, indicative of consistent rainfall in
the west as compared to the east.

The pre-monsoon rainfall is more consistent than the post-monsoon rainfall.

The southwest monsoon had been normal from 1994 onwards till 1999, excessive
during 2000 and deficient thereafter. The northwest monsoon is much better
comparatively being excessive to normal during the recent past. Over all on an annual
basis, there are more normal to excessive rainfall years than deficient ones. While
during 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2005, the district received excess rainfall, during 1998,
2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, it was normal and only during 2006, the district received
deficient rainfall.

The average minimum and maximum temperatures vary from 34 to 21.4oC in

April to 16.4 to 28.5oC in January. Relative humidity ranges from 21 to 84%. Wind
speed ranges from 7.9 in October to 14.1 kmph in July. Annual potential
evapotranspiration is 1533.5 mm. The PET is less than the monthly mean rainfall
during the months of July, September and October in different taluks, thereby
indicating availability of water surplus for recharge to ground water & reuse of rain
water.

RAIN WATER HARVESTING

Introduction
Water is essential to all life forms on earth - human, animal and vegetation. It is
therefore important that adequate supplies of water be developed to sustain such life.
Development of water supplies should, however, be undertaken in such a way as to
preserve the hydrological balance and the biological functions of our ecosystems.
Consequently, the human Endeavour in the development of water sources must be
within the capacity of nature to replenish and to sustain. If this is not done, costly
mistakes can occur with serious consequences. The application of innovative
technologies and the improvement of indigenous ones should therefore include
management of the water sources to ensure sustainability and to safeguard the sources
against pollution.
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 As land pressure rises, cities are growing vertical and in countryside more
forest areas are encroached and being used for agriculture. In India the small farmers
depend on Monsoon where rainfall is from June to October and much of the precious
water is soon lost as surface runoff. While irrigation may be the most obvious
response to drought, it has proved costly and can only benefit a fortunate few. There is
now increasing interest in the low cost alternative-generally referred to as 'Rain Water
Harvesting' (RWH).

Water harvesting is the activity of direct collection of rainwater, which can be

stored for direct use or can be recharged into the groundwater. Water harvesting is the
collection of runoff for productive purposes. Rain is the first form of water that we
know in the hydrological cycle, hence is a primary source of water for us. Rivers,
lakes and groundwater are all secondary sources of water. In present times, we depend
entirely on such secondary sources of water. In the process, it is forgotten that rain is
the ultimate source that feeds all these secondary sources and remain ignorant of its
value. Water harvesting is to understand the value of rain, and to make optimum use
of rainwater at the place where it falls.

Need for Rainwater Harvesting

 As water is becoming scarce, it is the need of the day to attain self-sufficiency to
fulfil the water needs.
 As urban water supply system is under tremendous pressure for supplying
water to ever increasing population.
 To reduce urban flooding
 Groundwater is getting depleted and polluted.
 Soil erosion resulting from the unchecked runoff.
 Health hazards due to consumption of polluted water.

Feasibility for Rainwater Harvesting

The following questions need to be considered in areas where a rainwater cistern
system project is being considered, to establish whether or not rainwater catchment
warrants further investigation:
 Is there a real need for an improved water supply?
 Are present water supplies either distant or contaminated, or both?
 Do suitable roofs and/or other catchment surfaces exist in the community?
 Does rainfall exceed 400 mm per year?
 Does an improved water supply figure prominently in the community's list of
development priorities?
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  If the answer to these five questions is yes, it is a clear indication that rainwater
collection might be a feasible water supply option.

Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting

 Environment friendly and easy approach for water requirements
 RWH is the ideal solution for all water requirements.
 Increase in ground water level.
 Mitigates the effects of drought.
 Reduces the runoff, which otherwise flood storm water drains.
 Reduces flooding of roads and low-lying areas.
 Reduced soil erosion.
 Improves the ground water quality.
 Low cost and easy to maintain.
 Reduces water and electricity bills.

Who can harvest rainwater? And where?

 People planning construction of House, Modification of house, existing house,
etc. from rooftops.
 Govt. Buildings, Institutions, Hospitals, Hotels, Shopping malls etc. from
rooftops and open areas.
 Farmlands, Public Parks, Playground, etc.
 Paved and unpaved areas of a layout / city / town / village

Rainwater Harvesting in Different types of Buildings

Normally, debris, dirt and dust get deposited on the roof during non-rainy
periods. When the first rains arrive, this unwanted material will be washed into the
storage tank. This may cause contamination of water collected in the storage tank
thereby rendering it unfit for drinking and cooking purposes. Therefore, a first flush
system can be incorporated in the Roof top Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RRHS) to
dispose of the first flush so that it does not enter the tank. There are two such simple
systems. One is based on a simple manually operated arrangement whereby, the down
pipe is moved away from the tank inlet and replaced again once the first flush water
has been disposed. In another simple and semi automatic system, separate vertical
pipe is fixed to the down pipe with a valve provided below the T junction. After the
first rain is washed out through the first flush pipe the valve is closed to allow the
water to enter the down pipe and reach the storage tank.

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Sloping roofs
Roofs made of corrugated iron sheet, asbestos sheet or tiles can be utilized for
harvesting the rainwater. Gutters and channels can be fixed on the edges of roof all
around to collect and transport the rain water from the roof to the storage tank. Gutters
can be prepared in semi-circular and rectangular shapes. Locally available material
such as plain Galvanized Iron sheets can be easily folded to required shapes to prepare
semi-circular and rectangular gutters. Semi-circular gutters of PVC material can be
readily prepared by cutting the PVC pipes into two equal semi-circular channels.
Bamboo poles can also be used for making gutters if they are locally available in
sufficient quantity. Use of such locally available materials reduces the overall cost of
the system.
For Thatched Roofs : Step by step approach

If the roof is thatched, The collected rainwater is The filtered water is collected
polythene sheets can be used filtered through a filter filled either in storage tank of
for collecting the rainwater with pebbles in the bottom existing sump and the
and coarse sand on the top overflow water may be
diverted to percolation pit
nearby.
For Sloping / Tiled Roofs : Step by step approach :

In a slopped/tiled house the The collected water is filtered The filtered water is collected
rainwater from the roof is through a filter filled with either in a storage tank or
collected through the gutter in pebbles in the bottom and existing sump. Over flow
the roof. coarse sand on the top. water may be diverted to an
existing open well / bore well
or percolation pit.

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For common houses with RCC roof : Step by Step approach

In houses with sloping Check the weather the rain Interconnect the rainwater
roofs the rain water may be water drain pipes extend up drainpipes if there exist
collected to the half cut to the bottom of the more than one.
PVC pipes fitted along the building.
sloping sides and it may be
directed to either
sump/open well/bore well
or recharge well.

To collect rainwater in a The bottom half of the The inlet rainwater drain
sump construct a filter filter chamber has to be pipe should be on the top
champers of size 2/1/2' * filled either with broken of the filter chamber and
2/1/2' * 2/1/2' bricks/bluemetal/pebbles the outlet pipe connecting
and followed by one feet of the filter chamber to the
coarse river sand. A nylon sump should be at the
mesh has to be provided in bottom.
between the two layers.
The top portion of the filter
chamber should be covered
with RCC slab.

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Surplus spill over water In the absense of In the absense of
from the sump may be sump,filter champer may sump,open well and bore
connected with the existing be connected to the well the rain water may be
open well/borewell or to existing open well / recharged through
the recharge well. borewell. percolation pits and the
bottom of bit should be in
the sandy formation.

Technical Description

A rainwater harvesting system consists of three basic elements: A collection

area, a conveyance system, and storage facilities.

The collection area in most cases is the roof of a house or a building. The
effective roof area and the material used in constructing the roof influence the
efficiency of collection and the water quality.

A conveyance system usually consists of gutters or pipes that deliver rainwater

falling on the rooftop to cisterns or other storage vessels. Both drainpipes and roof
surfaces should be constructed of chemically inert materials such as wood, plastic,
aluminum, or fiberglass, in order to avoid adverse effects on water quality.

The water ultimately is stored in a storage tank or cistern, which should also
be constructed of an inert material. Reinforced concrete, fiberglass, or stainless steel
are suitable materials. Storage tanks may be constructed as part of the building, or
may be built as a separate unit located some distance away from the building. Figure 1
shows a schematic of a rooftop catchment system in the Dominican Republic.

Design Principles

The roof needs to be designed well for rainwater collection. A flat roof can be
gently sloped to drain water towards the storage system. A 'nahani trap' or 'floor trap'
can be placed at the time of casting the roof just near the inlets of the down water

15
 WHAT IS A “GREEN BUILDING”
Green building does not mean building is painted green but building which has incorporated
nature friendly features. Green represents nature.

Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use resources
— 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 are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human
health and the natural environment by:

 Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources

 Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity

 Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation

Effective green building can lead to

1) Reduced operating costs by increasing productivity and using less energy and water,

2) Improved public and occupant health due to improved indoor air quality, and

Reduced environmental impacts by, for example, lessening storm water runoff

And the heat island effect, etc.

In short, ‗A Green building should create delight when entered, serenity and health when
occupied and regret when departed‘

Energy efficient and environment conscious building design is essentially an integrated

approach. The available options in architectural intervention, building materials and design
methodologies need to be carefully evaluated to minimize energy usage, minimize the
ecological degradation that may be caused by the construction of the building and provide
cost effective solutions. The aim is to achieve the desired comfort with the least input of
conventional energy. Though the rules are not very well defined, architects and designers
accomplish the task through solar passive design, use of renewable energy technology
systems, and/or natural building materials. While designing such buildings, not only new

11
building stock can be targeted but also existing buildings can be retrofitted with energy
efficient and eco-friendly technologies, thereby substantially reducing energy consumption.

Perceptions and Realities

Perception #1: Green buildings are costlier

Reality: Considerable research and analysis has been carried out with regard to the cost
impacts of a green building. The cost could be slightly higher than a conventional building.
But then, this needs to be seen with a different paradigm.

The question is how do we compare the costs? There needs to be a baseline

cost for all comparisons to be alike. The incremental cost is always relative and depends on
the extent of eco-friendly features already considered during design. The incremental cost
would appear small if the baseline design is already at a certain level of good eco-design; It
would appear huge if the base design has not considered green principles.

The second and rather a critical paradigm is to look at the incremental cost in
relation to the life cycle cost. This kind of an approach could be revealing. Who knows,
buildings would last for a 50 years or 60 years or 100 years!. Over its life cycle, the operating
cost would work out to 80-85 % while the incremental cost which is a onetime cost is only 8-
10 %.

There is a decreasing trend in the incremental cost over the years. This trend
would continue and we all look forward to the day when the cost of a green building is lower
than a conventional building and it can be easily viewed by the Energy performance of three
‗LEED Platinum‘ rated buildings have been monitored for about 3 years and energy savings
achieved are shown in Table:

Building Built-up Consumption Consumption % Annual

Area of of Reduction Energy
(Sq.ft) Conventional LEED saving in
Building Designed Rs Lakhs
(kWh) Building
(kWh)
Wipro 1,75,000 48,00,000 31,00,000 40% 102
Technologies,

12
Gurgaon

ITC Green 1,70,000 35,00,000 20,00,000 45% 90

Centre,
Gurgaon
CII Godrej 20,000 3,50,000 1,30,000 63% 9
GBC,
Hyderabad

Perception # 2: Green buildings have to be air-conditioned

Reality: Green building concepts and the LEED rating can be applied for non-air
conditioning buildings. It has been applied on three such buildings in India viz. IGP office,
Gulbarga, the Royal Engineering College, Hyderabad and LIC office, Shimoga.

While performing the energy analysis using software tools, such buildings will
input the same cooling system both in the baseline and the proposed design. This ensures that
the building is recognized for any of the other energy efficiency measures incorporated, for
example - envelop, lighting, roof insulation etc.

This kind of an approach also ensures that an apple-to-apple comparison is made while
evaluating two green buildings, whether conditioned or not.

Perception # 3: Green buildings take more time

Reality: There is a general perception that going the green way may affect the project
schedules. This was perhaps the case for the CII-Godrej GBC building when it was the first
time that a green building rating tool was being applied in the country. The design in this case
took about one-and-half years while the construction was completed in about 9 months!

Thanks to the Green building movement; now there is so much of capacity

building that has happened in the country. Now, there is absolutely no difference in the time
involved in constructing a green building vis-à-vis a normal building. The time schedule for
the rating can be synchronized with that of the building. This has been amply demonstrated in
buildings like the Wipro in Gurgaon and Grundfos in Chennai.

13
 “Green Building” Rating System

There have been buildings which adopt one or more green features. To recognize the extent
of green features that a building adopts, Rating Systems have been evolved and come of age
in the US and Europe. These rating Systems are playing a pivoted role in market
transformation of the green buildings. Eco or green design principles are universal; it cannot
be one for USA, one for India and one for Japan. Most of the green building rating systems
touch on the same chord – conservation of resources. But the LEED (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design) rating system has turned out to be the most versatile and robust.
After considering various rating systems, the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) decided
to adopt the LEED rating system.

The LEED green building rating system developed by the US Green Building
Council is now recognized as an international rating system and followed by more than 24
countries. The potential for energy savings is 40 – 50% in buildings, if energy efficiency
measures are incorporated at the design stage. For existing buildings, the potential can be as
high as 20-25% which can be achieved by implementing house keeping and retrofitting
measures.

In India the rating system is organized into five environmental categories:

 Sustainable Sites (max 13 points)

 Water Efficiency (max 6 points)
 Energy & Atmosphere (max 17 points)
 Materials & Resources (max 13 points)
 Indoor Environmental Quality (max 15points)
An additional category, Innovation & Design process (max 5 points)

14
 LEED Certification Levels

Different certification levels are based on the amount of points a building receives for
successful attempts at the six categories. The certification levels range from simply
"Certified" to "Platinum," which is the highest level of LEED certification and the most
environmental and health friendly.

Certification Level Points

Certified 26 to 32

Silver 33 to 38

Gold 39 to 51

Platinum 52 or more

In addition, LEED has a number of different types of certifications including:

 LEED for New Construction: New construction and major renovations (the most
commonly applied-for LEED certification)
 LEED for Existing Buildings: Existing buildings seeking LEED certification
 LEED for Commercial Interiors: Commercial interior fit outs by tenants
 LEED for Core and Shell: Core-and-shell projects (total building minus tenant fit
outs)
 LEED for Homes: Homes
 LEED for Neighborhood Development: Neighborhood development
 LEED for Schools: Recognizes the unique nature of the design and construction of K-
12 schools
 LEED for Retail: Consists of two rating systems. One is based on New Construction
and Major Renovations

15
What does LEED cost?
The cost to achieve LEED certification can depend upon a variety of factors and
assumptions, including:

 Type and size of project;

 Timing of introduction of LEED as a design goal or requirement;
 Level of LEED certification desired;
 Composition and structure of the design and construction teams;
 Experience and knowledge of designers and contractors or willingness to learn;
 Process used to select LEED credits;
 Clarity of the project implementation documents;
 Base case budgeting assumptions.

16
 History of “Green Buildings” in India

The concept of green buildings is not as nascent as we think it is. The

Evolution of housing started by utilizing nature and natural resources like trees and caves as
shelter from the severity of natural elements like sun, rain, wind, etc. Based on such complex
experiences, our Vedic philosophy evolved certain methods to maximize the use of Panch
Mahabhuta or the 5 basic elements of nature, i.e., Jal (water), Agni (fire), Prithvi (earth),
Vayu (wind), and Avkash (space). Our ancient builders tried to harmonies these five elements
in building planning and construction so that maximum advantage of these elements can be
taken and ill effects can be avoided. They called this science as Vastushastra.

The basic principal of Vastushastra is to get maximum advantage out of nature

without harming nature. Leaving open spaces in a centre of a building was done to provide
light and cross ventilation to adjoining rooms. Water storage and prayer rooms were
positioned in the northeast direction to facilitate solar rays to disinfect water and rooms. The
south west portion of the house was made heavy to protect it against heavy winds and heavy
rains. The south east portion of the house receives comparatively less solar rays and hence the
kitchen is placed here so that the general temperature of the kitchen is not raised. This was
the kind of wisdom prevailing at that time. In simple terms, these were the bye-laws for the
planning and construction of any building. Our ancient builders desired that everyone should
follow these rules religiously. Hence, for better implementation of these rules, they coupled it
with fear psychology. They associated each building norm with aspects of personal life and
specified that lack of adherence to these norms would results in loss of health, wealth or even
reputation due to the disapproval of nature gods. This was done to instigate fear so that
building rules are adopted properly. What a way to implement and enforce the laws, without
any police, inspector or supervisors!

17
 “Green Buildings” in India
The Green Building movement has gained tremendous momentum during the
past 6 years, ever since the CII- Godrej GBC embarked on achieving the prestigious LEED
rating for centre at Hyderabad. The ‗Platinum Rating‘ for the Green Business Centre building
has sensitized the stakeholders of the construction industry. Today, several corporate and
Government organizations are considering Green Buildings in a major way.

From a humble beginning of 20,000 sq.ft of green footprint in the country in

the year 2003, to a staggering 10 million sq.ft expected by end 2008,green buildings are well
poised to reach scalar heights. Today a variety of green building projects are coming up in the
country – residential complexes, exhibition centers, hospitals, educational institutions,
laboratories, IT parks, airports, government buildings and corporate offices.

18
 MATERIALS

Introduction:

General changes in the outside ambient temperature affect the comfort level of
inhabitants in the building. The concept of ‗green building‘ incorporates and integrates a
variety of strategies during the design, construction and operation of building projects. The
use of green building materials and products represents one important strategy in the design
of a building. Green building materials offer specific benefits to the building owner and
building occupants, which can be:

Reduced maintenance/replacement costs over the life of the building.

 Energy conservation.
 Improved occupant health and productivity.
 Lower costs associated with changing space configurations.
 Greater design flexibility.
Green materials are environmentally responsible because the impacts are
considered over the life of the product. Therefore it is very important to select these ‗green‘
materials with good selection criteria. These environmental criteria may vary as per the
project. It may also vary depending upon whether the project is a new construction or
renovation of an existing building.

Three basic steps of product selection

Product selection can begin after the establishment of project-specific

environmental goals. The environmental assessment process for building products involves
three basic steps:

1. Research

This step involves gathering all technical information to be evaluated,

including manufacturers' information such as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), Indoor
Air Quality (IAQ) test data, product warranties, source material characteristics, recycled
content data, environmental statements, and durability information. In addition, this step may

19
involve researching other environmental issues, building codes, government regulations,
building industry articles, model green building product specifications, and other sources of
product data. Research helps identify the full range of the project‘s building material options.

2. Evaluation

This step involves confirmation of the technical information, as well as filling

in information gaps. For example, the evaluator may request product certifications from
manufacturers to help and sort out possible exaggerated environmental product claims.
Evaluation and assessment is relatively simple when comparing similar types of building
materials using the environmental criteria. For example, a recycled content assessment
between various manufacturers of medium density fiberboard is a relatively straightforward
"apples to apples" comparison. However, the evaluation process is more complex when
comparing different products with the same function. Then it may become necessary to
process both descriptive and quantitative forms of data.

3. Selection

This step often involves the use of an evaluation matrix for scoring the
project-specific environmental criteria. The total score of each product evaluation will
indicate the product with the highest environmental attributes. Individual criteria included in
the rating system can be weighted to accommodate project-specific goals and objectives.

1. FLY ASH
 The pozzolanic Property of Fly Ash makes it a good resource for the
construction industry.
 As pozzolanic material, Fly Ash is used to manufacture Portland Pozzolana
Cement, Ready Mixed Concrete, various building products including Bricks /
blocks etc.
 As an inert material, it is used for development of low lying areas, construction
of Road Embankments.
 Its use in farmer‘s fields also improves the crop production by 15 to 25%

 FLY ASH BRICKS

20
 ADVANTAGES

 The unburn carbon present in the pond ash helps in reducing coal consumption
up to 5 tonnes per lakh bricks.
 Addition of Ash to the plastic red and black soils reduces drying losses in the
shaped bricks.
 Higher strength bricks can be made from red and black soils.
 Up to 40% additional bricks can be produced with same quantity of top soil.
 Provides better thermal insulation to walls and also reduces dead load on
structures.

2. AUTOCLAVED AERATED CONCRETE BLOCKS (AAC)

AAC is one of the lightest forms of Concrete and is the most technically advanced
material used for the manufacture of mass produced concrete blocks Unique
properties provided in one product:

 Acoustic
 Energy Conservation
 Fire Resistance
 Structural Properties
WHY USE AUTOCLAVED AERATED CONCRETE BLOCKS?

 Large quantities of fly ash from coal based power plants can
be utilized for construction purposes instead of using mining

materials for construction.

 As Nanded is situated near to Parali where Thermal Power station is located

21
 The fly ash is cheaply available for the manufacturing process.

 Optimum use of resources thereby causing minimum

Damage to natural and social environment.

 Reduction in consumption of heavier quarried material

 Minimizes wastage and contributes significantly to the health
And safety of construction workers by providing easily handled

Light weight units

Sizes:

Blocks--Face size 600 x 200

Slabs--Face Size 600 x 600

Thickness ranging from

•75mm

•100mm

•125mm

•150mm

•200mm

•230mm

It is a factory made product can be made available in the desired thickness as per
requirement.

Strength’s of AAC

 AAC products exceed the compressive strength requirements of building codes

and conventional bricks
 Compressive Strength for product is more than 3 N/mm2
 For special applications compressive strength can be made available from 4.0,
7.0 and 8.4 N/mm2
 Bending Strength lies in the range of 15% to 20% of the

22
 compressive strength

 Modulus of elasticity is 1.5 - 3.2 X 103 N/mm2

ADVANTAGES:

a. LIGHT WEIGHT

 Reduces dead load on structures

 Saves in foundations and structural members
 Ideal for seismic & low soil bearing capacity zones
 Construction of additional floors
 Easy handling
 Faster construction
 Quicker construction gives higher worker productivity
 Possible 25% saving in beam costs

b. HIGH THERMAL INSULATION

 Interiors - Cooler in summer & warmer in winter

 Reduces air conditioning costs
 Energy conservation
 Reduces quantum heat of flow
 Delays transmission of heat
 Enhances comfort level by maintaining nearly constant temperature
 Reduces energy costs

c. SOUND INSULATION

 Possess excellent sound reduction capacity

 inherent sound insulating properties make it ideal for controlling noise
transmission between adjoining rooms
 Higher sound insulation to be obtained based on the need by giving higher
density blocks for special applications
 reduces echo effect in an empty room

23
d. GOOD WORKABILITY

 Only material that can be easily cut, drilled, nailed and routed
 Faster installation of plumbing, electrical & other services

3.) PAINTS, FINISHES, ADHESIVES

Most finishes and adhesives contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

which outgas and adversely affect indoor air quality. Lower VOC and non-VOC products
are now readily available from many companies.

In India, the eco-labeling on paints is monitored by BIS which allows a

maximum of 5-30% of VOCs.

4.) HIGH PERFORMANCE GLASS

High Performance Glass is the one which reduces the ingress of the heat and at
the same time allows the highest penetration of the daylight.

Of late, glazing is a favored feature in the buildings. Glazing not only adds to
the aesthetic elements but it also has a good impact on the energy performance apart from
visual and acoustic effects.

24
BENEFITS:

 Energy savings up to 30-40% compared to conventional glass.

 Enhance occupant comfort due to access of day lighting.

Types of High Performance Glass:

a. INSULATED DOUBLE / TRIPPLE GLAZED.

1. GAS FILLED GLAZING

It consist of two or three panes of glass, making it double/triple glazed. The
panes are spaced apart and sealed to make a single a single glazed unit, having air
space between the panes. Thus the glass layers and the air spaces resist the flow. GAS
FILLED GLAZING

25
 To improve the insulation, the gap between the panes is filled by inert gas as
these gases are good resistance of heat. Most commonly used gases are krypton and argon.

2. HEAT ABSORBING TINTST

Tinted glass absorbs a large fraction of the incoming solar radiation. Grey & Bronze tinted
glazing reduces the penetration of light

and heat. Blue & Green offers a greater penetration to the heat and visible light.

26
3.) GALVALUME SHEETS

Galvalume sheet steel having a hot-dip coating of corrosion resistant, aluminum zinc
alloy is available repainted from the manufacturer. The use of prepainted Galvalume sheet
offers the consumer many positive features in addition to the proven superior corrosion
resistance of the substrate. Compared with post painting, the features include:

 More uniform paint coating.

 Reduction of in-plant rejections resulting from defective material treatments and
coatings.
 Longer tool life because of prepainted Galvalume sheet's lubricity and non-
abrasiveness.
 Shorter production schedules by eliminating handling, cleaning and post-
painting.

27
 Elimination of capital equipment by the fabricator; thus, saving money and
maintenance time.
 Reduction of fire hazard and pollution problems by eliminating storage of
volatile solvents.
 No special tooling requirement because prepainted Galvalume sheet is generally
formed on press brakes and roll forming equipment with the same dies and rolls
used for bare steel.

28
 The Climatic Analysis

TEMPERATURE (degree celcious)

Mean Jan May Aug Nov

Max 29.30 44.00 29.90 30.30

Min 15.10 27.10 22.80 17.00

Highest 32.30 44.80 33.50 32.40

Lowest 10.70 23.20 21.20 13.10

Max Recorded 47.20

Min Recorded 5.00

HUMIDITY ( % )

Mean Jan May Aug Nov

Morning 52.00 38.00 86.00 53.00

Evening Nil Nil Nil Nil

Vap Pressure 10.40 17.30 25.70 12.90

Rainfall 900 mm

Annual total

Highest in 24 hr – 235.00 mm

WIND DATA (m/s)

Mean Jan May Aug Nov

29
Morning NE/E W/SW W/NW NE/E

Evening NE/E W/SW W/SW NE/E

Speed 5.79 9.33 10.62 5.31

CLIMATIC ZONE:-

Mean Jan May Aug Nov

Zone T-HU VH-D T-VHU T-HU

T - Temperature > 35 degree

HU - Humid

VH - Very Hot

D - Dry

VHU – Very Humid

30
 GREEN BUILDING PROVISION

1. Water Harvesting System

Catching rainwater when and where it falls for use during no monsoon months is
called rainwater harvesting. This can be done in two ways as surface water by diverting the
rainwater into tanks, ponds etc. or as ground water by ingesting it into the soil. In cities, due
to shrinking of open spaces, rainwater can be harvested only as ground water.

NEED FOR RAINWATER HARVESTING

What is presently happening in our city is that the areas around houses and flat
complexes are paved indiscriminately. As a result all the rainwater runs off into the road and
floods the area making life miserable. It is quite possible to put all this water into the soil
below with a little effort and expenditure so that the precious rainwater is not lost but
becomes available for our use subsequently.

BENEFITS OF RAINWATER HARVESTING

• Rainwater harvesting replenishes the ground water table and enables our dug wells and
bore wells to yield in a sustained manner.

• If the ground water happens to be brackish, harvesting will reduce the salinity. In areas
where the water becomes yellow due to presence of iron salts, rainwater harvesting will
progressively leach out these salts leading to clean water availability in the long run.

• Flooding of low lying areas and roads can be avoided to a large extent, since rainwater that
is not harvested both within the house as well as outside is mainly responsible for flooding.

Roof rain water harvesting System

31
 The schematic below shows the roof rain water harvesting structure. Rain water
is collected from the roof and flows through the drain pipes to a filter below. The roof has a
gradual slope to direct the rain water towards the drain pipes see photo). At the rain center,
the drain pipes are 100 mm wide PVC pipes (see photo) whose average life is expected to be
around 10 years. People have also used cast iron pipes as drain pipes. The choice purely
depends on the individual's preference and cost. The drain pipes are covered with a drain
cover (see photo). The drain cover lets water flow into the drain pipe while holding back the
leaves, stones, and other garbage which can clog the drain pipe. Once in two years it is a
good idea to clean the drain pipes to ensure free flow of water.

When the rainy season begins, the initial water that pours through the drain pipes is not
saved. Instead it is discarded as "first flush" (see photo). This water theoretically just cleans
the drain pipes of dust, leaves, and other garbage collected over the rest of the year. Once the
first flush is cleared, the rest of the water flows through a filter (see photo) into the well at the
site. A total of four drain pipes drain into the filter. The dimension of the filter is as follows:

 Length: 3 ft
 Width: 3 ft
 Depth: 10 ft

The bottom of the filter is filled with 4 feet of pebbles followed by coarse sand
up to 4 ft. The schematic is shown below. The filter can also be made of sponge, but the sand
and pebble arrangement is more economical. If water does not flow freely through the filter
and starts clogging the filter, then the filter will need cleaning. Cleaning involves removing
the sand and the pebbles from the filter and putting them back since over time the dust and
particles from the rain water can clog the pores in the sand and pebbles. The maintenance is
needed once every 10 years or so and costs about Rs. 200/-

32
The water thus filtered is sent to the well attached to the rain center (see photo). When
required, the water is pumped (see photo) to an overhead tank (see photo).

Rain Water Harvesting in Building

33
In the proposed school building the water harvesting system is provided as shown in fig. The
rain water is collected with the help of gutters provided to the roof of building and by using
P.V.C pipes the water is guided in a filter and then the filtered water is stored in a sump. The
sump is a underground structure of masonry or RCC in which filtered water is stored. 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 fibre, 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. After the water being stored in the sump it is raised in
the overhead tank by suitable pumping arrangement.

2.) Maximum daylight factor

34
The maximum daylight factor concept is such that the maximum use of sun light can be
achieved by proper planning of the building. The size of courtyard should be such that the
shadow of any wing should not fall on another wing and the maximum use of light can be
achieved throughout the day.

35
3.) Sun dial & Sun path

In case of planning for a Green Building Sun dial and Sun path are very important factors.
The planning should be done in such away that when sun deflects towards north during
summer then the minimum light should enter into the building and during the winter
maximum light should enter into the building.

4.) Roof ventilation

The roof ventilation rage over the past 15 years has been continuous ridge and
soffit ventilation. These systems are nearly invisible and they create a system through which
air enters your attic space and then gently floats through the attic space. No matter what the
time of year, the air exits the attic space through small gaps at the peak of the roof. These

36
gaps are covered with any number of different products that allow air to pass, but prohibit
rain, snow and insects from entering your attic area. You can't see these vents as they are
almost always covered by the roofing shingles at the peak.

The mechanics of the air movement are quite simple. During warm weather,
the air inside your attic heats up. Since warm air rises, it tends to float out of the high
ventilation spaces. This convection movement naturally draws in cooler outside air to replace
the air that just exited.

Wind that blows across the roof any time of year also acts to vacuum air from
the attic space. The wind blowing across a roof can create a partial vacuum on the leeward
side of a roof. When the wind blows and at the right angle a significant amount of air can be
pulled through the attic space.

Turbine vents have been used for many years in both residential, commercial, agricultural
and industrial buildings. The vents are very affordable, easy to install, and they pump vast
amounts of air from attic spaces.

A small 12 inch diameter turbine vent with a constant wind speed of 5 miles
per hour (mph) can remove 347 cubic feet of air per minute (cfm) from the attic space. A

37
single 14 inch diameter turbine vent that is subjected to 15 mph winds can expel up to 1,342
cfm of air! If the winds are still, the vents still allow air to drift up and out of the attic space,
although not nearly as much

5.) TUBE COOLING

Earth Tubes (also known as ground-coupled heat exchangers, earth cooling

tubes or earth warming tubes) use the Earth‘s near constant subterranean temperature to
warm or cool air for residential, agricultural or industrial uses. They are often a viable and
economical alternative to conventional heating, cooling or heat pump systems since there are
no compressors, chemicals or burners and only blowers are required to move the air.

Most systems are usually constructed from 100 to 600 mm (4 to 24 inch)

diameter, smooth-walled (so they do not easily trap condensation moisture and mold), rigid
or semi-rigid plastic, plastic-coated metal pipes or plastic pipes coated with inner
antimicrobial layers, buried 1.5 to 3m (6 to 10 feet) underground where the ambient Earth
temperature is typically 10 to 23 °C (50-73 °F ) all year round in the temperate latitudes
where most humans live. Smaller diameter tubes require more energy to move the air and
have less Earth contact surface area.

The higher the ambient temperature of the Earth, the less effective they are for
cooling and dehumidification. There are basically three configurations, a closed loop design,
an open 'fresh air' system or a combination:

Closed loop system: Air from inside the home or structure is blown through a U-shaped
loop(s) of typically 30 to 150m (100 to 500 feet) of tube(s) where it is moderated to near
earth temperature before returning to be distributed via ductwork throughout the home or
structure. The closed loop system can be more effective (during air temperature extremes)
than an open system, since it cools and recools the same air.

Open system: outside air is drawn from a filtered air intake. The cooling tubes are typically
30 meters (100 ft) long (or more) of straight tube into the home. An open system combined
with an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) (Energy recovery ventilation) can be nearly as
efficient (80-95%) as a closed loop, and ensures that entering fresh air is filtered and
tempered.

38
Combination system: This can be constructed with dampers that allow either closed or open
operation, depending on fresh air ventilation requirements. Such a design, even in closed loop
mode, could draw a quantity of fresh air when an air pressure drop is created by a solar
chimney, clothes dryer, fireplace, kitchen or bathroom exhaust vents. It is better to draw in
filtered passive cooling tube air than unconditioned outside air.

Installation:

Whether using Earth Tubes with or without antimicrobial material, it is

extremely important that the underground cooling tubes have an excellent condensation drain
and be installed at a 2-3 degree grade to ensure the constant removal of condensed water from
the tubes. When implementing in a house without a basement on a flat lot, an external
condensation tower can be installed at a depth lower than where the tube enters into the house
and at a point close to the wall entry. The condensation tower installation requires the added
use of a condensate pump in which to remove the water from the tower. For installations in
houses with basements, the pipes are graded so that the condensation drain located within the
house is at the lowest point. In either installation, the tube must continually slope towards
either the condensation tower or the condensation drain. The inner surface of the tube,
including all joints must be smooth to aid in the flow and removal of condensate. Corrugated
or ribbed tubes and rough interior joints must not be used. Joints connecting the tubes
together must be tight enough to prevent water or gas infiltration. In certain geographic areas,
it is important that the joints prevent Radon gas infiltration. Porous materials like uncoated
concrete tubes cannot be used. Ideally, Earth Tubes with antimicrobial inner layers should be
used in installations to inhibit the potential growth of molds and bacteria within the tubes.

Efficiency and Effectiveness:

Earth cooling tubes vary widely depending on the location latitude, altitude,
ambient Earth temperature, climatic temperature-and-relative-humidity extremes, solar
radiation, tube diameter / length / depth, soil type (thermal conductivity), soil moisture
content and the efficiency of the building's exterior envelope design / insulation. Generally,
dry-and-low-density soil with little or no ground shade will yield the least benefit, while
dense damp soil with considerable shade should perform well. A slow drip watering system
may improve thermal performance. Damp soil in contact with the cooling tube conducts heat
more efficiently than dry soil.

39
 It is more efficient to pull air through a long tube than to push it with a fan. A
solar chimney can use natural convection (warm air rising) to create a vacuum to draw
filtered passive cooling tube air through the largest diameter cooling tubes. Natural
convection may be slower than using a solar-powered fan. Sharp 90-degree angles should be
avoided in the construction of the tube - two 45-degree bends produce less-turbulent, more
efficient air flow.

While smooth-wall tubes are more efficient in moving the air, they are less
efficient in transferring energy.

Larger tubes permit a slower airflow, which also yields more efficient energy
transfer and permits much higher volumes to be transferred, permitting more air exchanges in
a shorter time period, when, for example, you want to clear the building of objectionable
odors or smoke.

Earth cooling tubes are much less effective in hot humid climates (like
Florida) where the ambient temperature of the Earth approaches human comfort temperature.
However, they can be used to partially cool and dehumidify the replacement fresh air intake
for passive-solar Thermal Buffer Zone areas like the laundry room, or a solarium /
greenhouse, especially those with a hot tub, swim spa, or indoor swimming pool, where warm
humid air is exhausted in the summer, and a supply of cooler drier replacement air is desired.

Benefits:

In the context of today's diminishing fossil fuel reserves, increasing electrical

costs, air pollution and global warming, properly-designed earth cooling tubes offer a
sustainable alternative to reduce or eliminate the need for conventional compressor-based air
conditioning systems, in non-tropical climates. They also provide the added benefit of
controlled, filtered, temperate fresh air intake, which is especially valuable in tight, well-
weatherized, efficient building envelopes.

Alternatives:

An alternative to the earth-to-air heat exchanger is the "water" to earth heat

exchanger. This is typically similar to a geothermal heat pump tubing embedded horizontally
in the soil (or could be a vertical sonde) to a similar depth of the EAHX (earth-to-air heat
exchanger). It uses approximately double the length of pipe of 35 mm diameter, e.g., around

40
80 meters compared to an EAHX of 40 meters. A heat exchanger coil is placed before the air
inlet of the HRV (heat recovery ventilator). Typically a brine liquid (heavily salted water) is
used as the heat exchanger fluid.

Many European installations are now using this setup due to the ease of installation. No fall
or drainage point is required and it is safe because of the reduced risk from mold

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 Properties of Greenery to be provided

As Green Building is nature friendly structure, hence the Greenery to be provided

plays main role. The greenery should be such that,

The following trees are more important for green buildings in India,

1. Champa-
Champa is a tree which is native to India. It has property that it is fully green
during summer and due to which it can block the sun rays and during the winter the fall will
take place and the maximum sunlight is achieved.

2. Ashoka –
Ashoka is a tree which is native to India. The property of Ashoka tree is that it acts
as sound proofing barrier.

- It should give maximum amount of shadow.

- It should be pleasant appearance.
- It should not completely block the sun rays.
- More amount of flora and fauna which have large amount of Flowers should be used
to give the courtyard a pleasant appearance.
- Also the trees can act as sound proofing barriers.

The following trees are more important for green buildings in India,

3. Champa-
Champa is a tree which is native to India. It has property that it is fully green
during summer and due to which it can block the sun rays and during the winter the fall will
take place and the maximum sunlight is achieved.

4. Ashoka –
Ashoka is a tree which is native to India. The property of Ashoka tree is that it act
as sound proofing barrier.

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 Energy efficiency
Energy conservation is possible by judicious design of lighting and HVAC
(heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems, controls and operation strategies.
Increasing insulation levels in conditioned buildings is regarded as the most cost-effective
investment in energy efficiency. Thermal insulation of external walls, roofs and floors, and
double-pane windows can reduce energy consumption for space heating by lowering heat
losses through the envelope of the building. Energy consumption for cooling is also reduced
because of lesser heat gains from outside through the envelope. Energy efficient windows
with their high thermal insulating values and spectral selectivity can make air-conditioning
systems work more effectively. This can lead to reduction in AC loads, lower consumption of
electrical energy and reduction in peak load demand. The use of energy efficient glazing
helps in minimizing unwanted solar gains in summer and heat losses in winter, while
maximizing the amount of useful daylight in buildings. Lighting load constitutes about 10 to
15 percent of the total electrical load of a building, and so energy efficient lighting systems,
such as compact fluorescent lamps and fluorescent tubes with electronic ballast, are generally
recommended instead of conventional lighting fixtures to reduce the lighting load. Although
the initial cost of such installation is high, they last longer and the running cost is also less.
As electricity is efficiently converted to light in energy efficient lamps, the amount of heat
generated is also less.

Use of renewable energy technologies

Renewable energy systems are installed for meeting a partial load of the
building, thus considerably reducing the overall electrical and thermal load. Solar energy
could be utilized for a variety of purposes and in a number of ways: generating electricity,
providing hot water, and heating, cooling, and lighting buildings. Solar photovoltaic (PV) can
provide electricity for lighting. Solar thermal systems may be used for heating water or space
heating and transpired solar collectors can preheat air for the building's ventilation system.
Solar water heaters generate hot water at 60 to 85 degrees C and can conveniently be used for
domestic use. The usefulness of a solar water heater can be ascertained from the fact that a
standard 100 liter capacity system can be installed as an alternative to electric geyser for
residential use that can save 1500 units of electricity annually and could prevent emissions of
15 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year. It is estimated in India that the use
of 1000 solar water heater of a 100 liter capacity each can contribute to a peak load saving of

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1 MW. In cold and sunny climates, solar air heaters can be used extensively to reduce
demand for electricity and firewood for space heating. Solar electricity can be generated by
integrating solar cells in buildings, on roofs and facades, or by installing grid connected
photovoltaic plants. It is an expensive proposition where grid connected electricity is
available, but for locations where conventional electricity is not available or the grid is far
away, it makes an ideal alternative. Further, ‗building integrated PV‘ (BIPV) systems may be
installed for the generation of electricity, and surplus electricity generated during non-
working hours could be fed to the grid. Inclined roofs, if oriented in the right direction, are an
ideal support structure for PV modules. In moderate to high wind speed locations, roof top
aero generators may be installed for the generation of electricity. A sunspace or solarium,
which comprises of a combination of direct and indirect gain systems, may be used to heat up
the living space by convection and conduction through the mass wall. Technologies have
been commercialized to convert the solid and liquid waste generated in a building to
productive use in the form of bio-fertilizer, gas for power generation, cooking etc. The long-
term objective is thus to reduce building energy loads in a cost-effective manner such that
renewable sources of energy can meet and exceed energy demand in the building.

Low energy materials and methods for building construction

The choice of building materials also substantially contributes towards
reducing the energy load of buildings. The use of conventional energy can be minimized by
use of low energy materials, efficient structural design and reduction in transportation energy.
Thus when building an energy efficient structure, it is necessary to closely examine the issues
of building materials and to make appropriate decisions according to local conditions.
Bamboo which is called the poor man‘s timber in India is also getting recognized globally as
a suitable building material because it is eco-friendly and highly suitable for energy efficient
buildings.

Waste water management

Our "blue" planet is abundant in water resources. But 97% of it is salt water
and 3% is fresh water. Two-thirds of this fresh water is locked in the polar ice caps. After
rainfall, only 9% of precipitation is captured for beneficial use and 91% is lost by
evaporation, transportation and run-off. Increased demand for water and its limited
availability make it essential to have an efficient water management system as well as
strategies for efficient water re-use. While water use can be minimized by reducing losses

44
and adopting water efficiency techniques, there is great potential for reducing the overall
water requirement by recycling and reuse of water.

Architectural Techniques
Architects can achieve energy efficiency in the buildings they design by
studying the macro-and micro-climate of the site, applying bioclimatic architectural
principles to combat the adverse conditions, and taking advantage of the desirable conditions.
Some common design elements that directly or indirectly affect thermal comfort conditions
and thereby the energy consumptions in a building are:

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 Why “Green Buildings”?
A study conducted by Energy Information Administration, (EIA) U.S.
Department of Energy indicates that there is a visible trend across the globe wherein the
growth rate in total energy consumption has been greater than the population growth rate. In
the developed countries the energy consumption growth rate is only marginally higher
compared to the population growth rate. For example, in USA, energy consumption is
projected to grow at 1.3% while the population growth rate is projected to grow at 0.8%. In
contrast, in developing countries like India population growth rate is expected to grow at
1.3% while the energy consumption rate is expected to grow at 4.3%.

This trend would strain the energy sector to a large extent.

The construction industry in the country is growing at a rapid pace and the rate
of growth is 10 % as compared to the world average of 5.2%. Hence energy efficiency in the
building sector assumes tremendous importance.

Commercial buildings are one of the major consumers of energy and are the
third largest consumers of energy, after industry and agriculture. Buildings annually consume
more than 20% of electricity used in India.

Health and buildings are closely linked. We all spend an average of over 90%
of our lives in buildings, which can affect our health in many different ways. For instance,
mental health can be badly affected in noisy buildings. Buildings can fall on people injuring
or killing them. Toxic emissions from finishing materials or mold growth can seriously
damage health. Sick building syndrome (SBS) is an example of how important buildings are
to the well-being of the ordinary citizen and how widespread health impacts of buildings are.
SBS is a recognized condition in which occupants of a building experience mild-to-acute
health effects that seem to be linked to the time spent in a building, but no specific illness or
cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized, that is associated with a particular
room or zone, or may be widespread. The incidence of SBS is particularly high in air-
conditioned buildings and can result in a wide range of symptoms from headaches to severe
physiological reactions. There is no single source of SBS although it is often linked to
unclean air-conditioning duct systems, lack of good ventilation and mould. The worst kind of
outbreak is associated with the fatal Legionnaires disease, which is on the increase in the UK
and many other regions of Europe. Perhaps the best way to reduce SBS is to design good

46
robust passive, shallow plan, day lit, naturally-ventilated and finished offices for SBS seldom
occurs in such buildings.

Business Opportunities

There is a tremendous potential for construction of Green Buildings in India.

This could open up a plethora of opportunities for several stakeholders like construction
industry, architects, material, equipment manufacturers etc in India and abroad. While
constructing Green Buildings in India, the availability of materials and equipment is one of
the major issues to be addressed. Towards this objective, the Green Business Centre is
networking with several manufacturers in India to create new markets.

A few green materials and equipment are available in the country. To name a
few - Fly-ash cement, Fly-ash block, Recycled Aluminum, Recycled steel, Recycled tiles,
Low VOC paints, Bamboo based products, HFC based high efficiency chillers, Building
Controls, Green Roof, Recycled wood, etc.

However there is a huge market for green materials, which is still untapped.
Typical examples are - Composting toilets, waterless urinals, Low VOC adhesives &
sealants, CRI certified carpets, FSC Certified wood, High albedo roof paints, BIPV, CTI
certified cooling towers, Living machines, etc.

The total estimated potential for Green Building materials and equipment is
about 4000 Million US$ by the year 2012. This potential is only for those buildings, which
would go for the LEED rated buildings. However there would be other buildings also which
would opt for green materials & equipment. Considering these buildings also, the overall
potential for Green Building materials & equipment would be nothing less than huge!

The estimated Green Building Materials & Equipment (Product-wise)

Business Potential in India by 2010 (from those aspiring for LEED rating buildings) is shown
below:

Sr No Materials & Equipment Potential Potential Total

for Green for Non potential

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 Buildings Green Million
Million Buildings US $ per
US$ per per year year
Year in million
USD
Materials
1 Fly ash based blocks 90 810 900

2 Recycled flooring tiles 10 90 100

3 CRI Certified Carpet 10 90 100

4 Recycled materials for false 10 90 100

5 Low VOC Paints 10 90 100

6 Recycled Particle & Gypsum 10 90 100

Boards
7 Recycled Aluminum works 10 90 100

8 FSC Certified Wood 15 135 150

9 Energy efficient Windows 10 90 100

10 High performance Glazing & Glass 15 135 150

11 High Albedo roofing paints 10 90 100

12 Eco Friendly Modular 25 225 250

13 Bamboo Products 15 135 150

Equipments

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1 HFC Based High Efficiency 50 450 500
Chillers
2 Variable Frequency Drives 10 90 100

3 Building Automation System 30 270 300

4 Solar PV 10 90 100

5 High efficiency light sources 10 90 100

6 Waterless Urinals 5 45 50

7 Composting toilets 5 45 50

8 Living machines 5 45 50

Total 365 3285 3650

Considering the tremendous potential available for green materials &

equipment, India would be the destination for several green materials and product
manufacturers.

Why people are attracting towards a green building?

This question has been posed to several occupants of a green building. Of all
the many reasons, three top reasons often cited by those occupying these buildings are the
following:

 Operational Savings: Green buildings consume at least 40-50 % less energy

and 20-30 % less water vis-à-vis a conventional building. This comes at an
incremental cost of about 5-8 %. The incremental cost gets paid back in 3-5
years time.

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 Daylights & Views: Working in environment with access to daylight and views
provides connection to the exterior environment. This has a soothing effect on
the mind. Various studies prove that the productivity of people who have access
to day lighting and views is at least 12-15 % higher.
 Air Quality: Green buildings are always fresh and healthy. Every green
building will have to purge continuous fresh air to meet the ASHRAE 62
requirements. The green buildings use interior materials with low volatile
organic compound (VOC) emissions. A typical office building would require
purging of fresh air of about 15 cfm/person which provides a fresh ambience
inside the building.

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 Conclusion:
With the tremendous growth the country is witnessing, energy efficiency in
buildings assumes paramount importance. The energy saving potential can be as high as 40-
50%, if addressed right at the design stage. There exist tremendous opportunities to introduce
new materials, equipment and technologies which can help enhance energy efficiency of
buildings.

The launch of ‗LEED India‘ Green Building rating system will facilitate to
advance the growth of green buildings in India. The Indian Green Building Council would
provide the right impetus for advancing the Green Building movement in India and enable
India to be recognized as one of the leaders in Green buildings.

It is high time that an Indian green building council is formed based on Indian
Conditions. India being a vast country, provisions also need to be made for utilization of
regional methods and materials. Concrete using fly ash or slag is known internationally as
green concrete. Such green concrete is being used in many projects in

India and due credit should be given to such projects. Local municipal corporations and
housing finance institutions should also be involved in rewarding the green achievements of
the builder by giving some sort of incentives by way of reduced property taxes, loans at
concessional rates, etc. Manufacturers and suppliers of energy efficient building materials
and alternative products, solid waste management and waste water recirculation system
suppliers, etc. can also be offered easy and low interest finance as well as tax concessions or
exemptions. In short, the concept of green buildings and its implementation should be made
optional so that the concept can develop on its own. Government should encourage it by
framing proactive provisions. If such guidelines are implemented in the right manner, then
the concept of green buildings would spread across the nation just like the IT revolution.

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 References

1. SP16

2. Roof Material(Magazani)

3. Green Building.pdf

4. Indian Green Building counsil (www.igbc.com)

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