How To Make A Building Green

What is a Green Building?

The concept of a green building was developed in the 1970s in response to the energy crisis and people’s growing concerns about the environment.

A Green Building, also known as a sustainable building, is a structure that is designed, built, renovated, operated, or re-used in an ecological and resource efficient manner.

Sustainable development is maintaining a delicate balance between the human need to improve lifestyles and feeling of well-being on one hand, and preserving natural resources and ecosystems, on which we & future generations depend.

Objectives of a green building:

. Protecting occupant health
. Improving employee productivity
. Using energy, water and other resources more efficiently
. Reducing overall impact to the environment
. Optimal environmental and economic performance
. Satisfying and quality indoor spaces

Considerations of a green building:

. Control erosion to reduce negative impacts on water and air quality
. Reduce pollution and land development impacts from automobile use
. Limit disruption of natural water hydrology by reducing impervious cover, increasing on-site infiltration and managing storm water run-off
. Encourage and recognize increasing levels of self supply through renewable technologies to reduce environmental impacts associated with fossil fuel energy use
. Provide a high level of individual occupant control of ventilation and lighting systems to support good health, better productivity and a comfortable atmosphere
. Provide a connection between indoor spaces and outdoor environment through the introduction of sunlight and views into the occupied areas of the building.

How to make a building green:

. Building design
. Orientation
. Building insulation (walls of AEC block and roof with over deck insulation and roof lawn)?
. Window sizing
. Window shading (fixed overhangs)?
. Glass selection
. Envelope efficiency measures contributed to 12% savings over base case
. System design
. Energy efficient lighting (CFLs , efficient tube lights and electronic ballasts)?
. Daylight sensing (90% lighting energy savings)?
. Efficient chillers, Variable air volume systems.
. Wind towers for pre cooling of fresh air.
. Lighting efficiency measures contributed to 15% savings over base case and HVAC efficiency measures contributed 20% savings over base case.

Constitutes a green building

A) Sustainable Site:

. Appropriate site selection.
. Effective use of nature.
. Soil erosion control.

B) Water use efficiency:

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

C) Energy efficient and eco-friendly equipment:

. Design orientation of the building to get maximum day-lighting.
. Use green wall and green roof to avoid heat gain into the building.
. Adopt spectrally natural glass materials such that it reduces heat gain, minimize lighting of landscape features.
. Use of energy efficient goods
. Use zero CFC base refrigerants in refrigeration and air-conditioning system.
. Use of renewable energy to reduce environmental impacts associated with fossil fuel energy use.
. Establish Baseline data for energy consumption

D) Eco-friendly building materials and resources:

. Recyclable and Salvage materials.
. Material from local sources mitigating / reducing environmental impact.
. Impact of manufacturing and transportation.
. Salvage controls.
. Material pollutant management
. Health Hazard management of workers on site.
. Material storage methodologies.
. Waste management.

E) Indoor air quality:

. Distribution channels for air intake movement and exhaust
. Climate and pollution monitoring systems.
. Elimination of chemically toxic materials and devices.
. Maintenance of optimum temperature and humidity.

F) Energy system management:

. 30% to 40% saving in operation costs.
. Alternative energy system design
. Optimization of Conventional Energy.
. Building management, control and monitoring systems.