Green buildings – concept, efficiency
Green impact: The growing trend world-wide is to go for green buildings
The actual and potential impact of building projects pose concern for the environment. Sustainable practices balance between environmental conservation, which aims to protect natural resources and economic progress and develop human infrastructure.
Though the concept of sustainable development was in existence the main catalyst to its worldwide application is the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), popularly known as Earth Summit, which was held in June 1992 at Rio de Janeiro, which requires the industrialised countries as a whole to reduce their average annual emissions of six green house gasses like carbon dioxide, methane and CFC etc. by 5.2 per cent from 1990 levels between the year 2008 and 2012.
The World Summit on Sustainable Development, from August, 26 to September 4, 2002, focussed on the world’s attention and direct action towards improving people’s lives and conserving our natural resources.
Development and construction process are often destructive to local ecology. These activities also encroach on productive land areas and open space.
It is of great importance to incorporate these concepts of sustainable development in the construction industry, which is one of the major consumer of natural resources and a source of pollution.
Environmental impacts occur at every stage of the construction cycle production and supply of building materials and equipment, on site construction, operation and demolition.
For the purpose of sustainability in construction, this implies the need to view buildings in their efficiency, including health and environmental effects and the built environment.
The voluntary pursuit of any activity, which encompasses concern for energy efficiency, environment, water conservation, use of recycled products and renewable energy is defined as green.
There are many different conceptions of green or sustainable building design due to the large scope of sustainable issues and the novelty of sustainable principles.
Definitions of sustainability range from broad concept that incorporate all aspects of sustainability to narrow definitions focused on one specific sustainable design feature such as recycled content materials or energy efficiency.
Green buildings embody a design intent on balancing environmental responsiveness, resource efficiency, and cultural and community sensitivity.
Resource-efficient
Green buildings are really resource efficient buildings and are very energy efficient, use construction materials wisely – including recycled, renewable, and reused resources to the maximum extent practical – are designed, constructed and commissioned to ensure they are healthy for their occupants, are typically more comfortable and easier to live with due to lower operating and owning costs, and is good for the planet. The overall environmental impact of new building and community development and the choices made when we either reuse or demolish existing structures is very important.
The goal of this process is to create buildings that meet the needs of current building occupants while being mindful of the needs of future generations Green building design includes all players in the development process, from the design team (building owners, architects, engineers, and consultants), the construction team (materials manufacturers, contractors, and waste haulers), maintenance staff and building occupants.
The growing trend world-wide is to go for green buildings, which offer a plethora of benefits like lower operating costs, better indoor air quality, enhanced human productivity and reduced environmental impacts.
The typical energy cost in a building varies from 60 per cent to 80 per cent. The saving potential in going for a green building could vary between 40 per cent to 50 per cent of the typical energy cost depending on the architectural design, selection of building materials, adopting best practices during construction and occupancy.
Multi-dimensional
The concept of green building is multi-dimensional – expanding beyond just the building itself and including energy, water, air, ecological systems, the economy, people and communities.
Green Building Rating System is a new system of the environmental performance of buildings from a ‘whole building’ perspective over a buildings life cycle.
Building Rating System defines specific, verifiable criteria for assessing multiple performance areas. These performance areas define a framework for green building design.
Most of the countries have developed a system of rating buildings, which incorporate green practices in their design, construction and operation of buildings, called the Green Building Rating System.
Some of the rating systems in practice are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in the Unites States; Built Green - for homes, the United States; Building Research Establishment Environment Assessment Method (BREEAM) in United Kingdoms.
The Built Green checklist serves as a menu that homeowners, homebuyers, and builder’s can use as a guide in making the hundreds of decisions that are part of the home building process.
• Green building codes
• Site and water protection
• Energy efficiency
• Health and air quality
• Materials efficiency
• Environmentally responsible home ownership
Green Codes: A builder is required to meet energy, air quality, water efficiency, and storm water management standards.
Site and water protection: A variety of common-sense site and water protection and development techniques which could be used to earn points.
Energy efficiency: Enables the builder to push the project beyond the energy code.
The project will earn points and the customer will enjoy increased comfort and reduced energy bills.
Health and air quality: Promote good air quality, before, during, and after construction. The clients and crews will be both healthier and safer.
Materials efficiency: Numerous options help reduce job-site waste, saving both builder and the customer money.
By using resource-efficient materials, it will not only reduce the impact of construction on the environment, but get credit for doing it.
M. BHUVANASUNDAR
(The author is chairman, Indian Institute of Architects, Coimbatore Chapter, Coimbatore)
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