HOW TO MAKE A BUILDING GREEN

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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.