GREEN BUILDINGS

S
ubmitted by
THOMAS BRITTO,
Dept. of Civil Engineering
CONTACT NO:
8807423228
MAIL ID:thomasbritto3@gmail.com


ABSTRACT
As the environmental impact of buildings becomes more apparent, a concept called green building is gaining
momentum. GREEN or sustainable building is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient
models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition. Research and experience
increasingly demonstrate that when buildings are designed and operated with their lifecycle impacts in mind,
they can provide great environmental, economic, and social benefits.
It is estimated that 40 per cent of energy consumption in a building is on account of heating, ventilating, and
air conditioning. GREEN buildings have provision for solar protection to prevent heat gain in the premises
during the day. This helps in putting less of load on air-conditioning system to maintain ambient temperature
within the premises.
As per estimates, 76 per cent of the electricity generated by all power plants is consumed by buildings. And 35
percent of the energy consumed in a building is because of use of light in the day time. GREEN buildings
ensures the usage of natural light to the maximum and that results in the reduction in the consumption of
electricity used for lighting. It helps in curbing the recurring energy consumption costs like lightning by the
use of natural lights.
Here we come up with the concepts of GREEN buildings with their characters, practicing methods, materials
used for sustainable construction as building material (wood, structural insulated building panel, steel,
insulated concrete form) and materials using as frames(wood, vinyl, aluminum). Thus gives the idea of
reduced energy or zero energy houses, reduction in waste generation during construction.
And we finally give the Indian scenario of GREEN architecture and about The Indian green building Council
(IGBC), its vision, successful projects and benefits of green structures.
We have given some examples like (spring lake inn, Katrina kernel inn, Magney house, Leaf house) to express
our idea on GREEN buildings.


INTRODUCTION
The buildings in which we live, work, and play protect us from Nature's extremes. Yet they also affect our
health and environment in countless ways. The design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal of
buildings takes enormous amounts of energy, water, and materials, and generates large quantities of waste, air
and water pollution.
Worth noticing is that most of us talk about energy consumption and pollution because of industry and
transport when at least 40% of the total energy produced is consumed by buildings.
It is estimated that 40 per cent of energy consumption in a building is on account of heating, ventilating, and
air conditioning, or HVAC. Green buildings have provision for solar protection to prevent heat gain in the
premises during the day. This helps in putting less of load on air-conditioning system to maintain ambient
temperature within the premises.
Weather sensors help in optimizing the benefits offered by automated solar protection systems. In winters, the
natural heat can be allowed in the premises using the same solar shades and for controlling them, depending on
the sun effect and heat coming inside the building, thereby helping the heating system perform better. The
downsizing of active temperature management systems (air conditioning and heating) in the green buildings
reduces the overall building costs.
As per estimates, 76 per cent of the electricity generated by all power plants is consumed by buildings. And 35
percent of the energy consumed in a building is because of use of light in the day time. So the big question is
how to reduce the consumption of this energy?
The simple answer to this question is the solar protection mechanism in green building. It ensures the usage of
natural light to the maximum and that results in the reduction in the consumption of electricity used for
lighting. It helps in curbing the recurring energy consumption costs like lightning by the use of natural lights.


DEFINITION
Green Building Defined
"A green building is one which uses less water, optimises energy efficiency, conserves natural resources,
generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional
building."
Green building practices aim to reduce the environmental impact of buildings. Buildings account for a large
amount of land use, energy and water consumption, and air and atmosphere alteration
Considering these statistics, reducing the amount of natural resources buildings consume and the amount of
pollution given off is seen as crucial for future sustainability,
The environmental impact of buildings is often underestimated, while the perceived costs of green buildings
are overestimated. A recent survey by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development finds that
green costs are overestimated by 300 percent, as key players in real estate and construction estimate the
additional cost at 17 percent above conventional construction, more than triple the true average cost difference
of about 5 percent.
Green architecture, or green design, is an approach to building that minimizes harmful effects on human
health and the environment. The "green" architect or designer attempts to safeguard air, water, and earth by
choosing eco-friendly building materials and construction practices.
Green architecture may have many of these characteristics:
Ventilation systems designed for efficient heating and cooling
Energy-efficient lighting and appliances
Water-saving plumbing fixtures
Landscapes planned to maximize passive solar energy
Minimal harm to the natural habitat
Alternate power sources such as solar power or wind power
Non-synthetic, non-toxic materials
Locally-obtained woods and stone
Responsibly-harvested woods
Adaptive reuse of older buildings
Use of recycled architectural salvage
Efficient use of space
While most green buildings do not have all of these features, the highest goal of green architecture is to be
fully sustainable.
Also Known As:
Sustainable development, eco-design, eco-friendly architecture, earth-friendly architecture,
environmental architecture, natural architecture

PRACTISE
Green building brings together a vast array of practices and techniques to reduce and ultimately eliminate the
impacts of buildings on the environment and human health. It often emphasizes taking advantage of renewable
resources, e.g., using sunlight through passive solar, active solar, and photovoltaic techniques and using plants
and trees through green roofs, rain gardens, and for reduction of rainwater run-off. Many other techniques,
such as using packed gravel or permeable concrete instead of conventional concrete or asphalt to enhance
replenishment of ground water, are used as well. Effective green buildings are more than just a random
collection of environmental friendly technologies, however. They require careful, systemic attention to the full
life cycle impacts of the resources embodied in the building and to the resource consumption and pollution
emissions over the building's complete life cycle.
On the aesthetic side of green architecture or sustainable design is the philosophy of designing a building that
is in harmony with the natural features and resources surrounding the site. There are several key steps in
designing sustainable buildings: specify 'green' building materials from local sources, reduce loads, optimize
systems, and generate on-site renewable energy.
Materials
Building materials typically considered to be 'green' include rapidly renewable plant materials like bamboo
(because bamboo grows quickly) and straw, lumber from forests certified to be sustainably managed, ecology
blocks, dimension stone, recycled stone, recycled metal, and other products that are non-toxic, reusable,
renewable, and/or recyclable (e.g. Trass, Linoleum, sheep wool, panels made from paper flakes, compressed
earth block, adobe, baked earth, rammed earth, clay, vermiculite, flax linen, sisal, seagrass, cork, expanded
clay grains, coconut, wood fibre plates, calcium sand stone, concrete (high and ultra high performance, roman
self-healing concrete , etc. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) also suggests using recycled
industrial goods, such as coal combustion products, foundry sand, and demolition debris in construction
projects Polyurethane heavily reduces carbon emissions as well. Polyurethane blocks are being used instead of
CMTs by companies like American Insulock. Polyurethane blocks provide more speed, less cost, and they are
environmentally friendly Building materials should be extracted and manufactured locally to the building site
to minimize the energy embedded in their transportation.


Reduced energy use
Main articles: Low-energy house and Zero-energy building
Green buildings often include measures to reduce energy use. To increase the efficiency of thebuilding
envelope, (the barrier between conditioned and unconditioned space), they may use high-
efficiency windows and insulation in walls, ceilings, and floors. Another strategy, passive solar building
design, is often implemented in low-energy homes. Designers orient windows and walls and place awnings,
porches, and trees to shade windows and roofs during the summer while maximizing solar gain in the winter.
In addition, effective window placement (daylighting) can provide more natural light and lessen the need for
electric lighting during the day. Solar water heating further reduces energy loads.
Finally, onsite generation of renewable energy through solar power, wind power, hydro power, orbiomass can
significantly reduce the environmental impact of the building. Power generation is generally the most
expensive feature to add to a building.
Reduced waste
Green architecture also seeks to reduce waste of energy, water and materials used during construction. For
example, in California nearly 60% of the state's waste comes from commercial buildings During the
construction phase, one goal should be to reduce the amount of material going to landfills. Well-designed
buildings also help reduce the amount of waste generated by the occupants as well, by providing on-site
solutions such as compost bins to reduce matter going to landfills.
To reduce the impact on wells or water treatment plants, several options exist. "Greywater", wastewater from
sources such as dishwashing or washing machines, can be used for subsurface irrigation, or if treated, for non-
potable purposes, e.g., to flush toilets and wash cars. Rainwater collectors are used for similar purposes.
Centralized wastewater treatment systems can be costly and use a lot of energy. An alternative to this process
is converting waste and wastewater into fertilizer, which avoids these costs and shows other benefits. By
collecting human waste at the source and running it to a semi-centralized biogas plant with other biological
waste, liquid fertilizer can be produced. This concept was demonstrated by a settlement in Lubeck Germany in
the late 1990s. Practices like these provide soil with organic nutrients and create carbon sinks that remove
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, offsetting greenhouse gas emission. Producing artificial fertilizer is also
more costly in energy than this process.
[

COMMON MATERIALS
Several popular building materials are used to construct the home. Rammed earth, straw bale, auto tires, and
glass bottles are more esoteric materials which are gaining acceptance.
Wood
The ubiquitous 2 x 4 or more specifically dimensional lumber is the primary structural component in homes. A
material used for hundreds of years from log cabins to platform structures, this building technique is well
understood using a renewable resource. Caution is warranted if considering timber use outside the bounds of
sustainable harvesting. In extreme climates termites may be a problem or moisture failure to wood structures.
No special tools are needed other than a hammer and nails. Wood is tolerant to novices, and with the use of
structural connectors, wood is as attractive as ever.
Structural Insulated Building Panel
A marriage of engineered wood and foam, the building monolithic panel uses EPS (expandable polystyrene)
insulation, similar to the foam coffee cup, but 6 to 12 inches thick, sandwiched between two panels of oriented
strand board (OSB or engineered wood panel). Both products are environmentally friendly. The OSB uses fast
growing trees once considered "trash trees" or unusable to dimensional lumber specifications. With a uniform
thickness and construction, all walls are sound without the voids common in wood framing. Many times the
panels are finished away from the construction site allowing straighter walls. A superb building system.
Steel
Touted as a replacement for wood, steels is strong, termite resistant, and offers some fire protection. Generally
steel is North America's number one recycled material, allowing steel products to become new steel products
after their useful lifetime is over. Steel is a nonrenewable resource. The lifetime of a typical home is
somewhere between 250 and 500 years, and through mining for the steel components, a much greater
environmental impact occurs over wood. Steel is best used where strength is required like car bodies or
appliances, and then enter the recycle stream instead of the waste stream or "buried" in a long lived home.
Steel studs also require specialized tools and skills.
Insulated Concrete Form
While this may seem an odd wall material, just think of all the commercial property that have their walls made
from concrete. Using a lightweight form, usually of foam and reinforcing bars, t he concrete fills the hollow
cavity between the foam and honeycomb of bars. The wall is rock solid, sound proof, bug proof, and maybe
bullet proof. Concrete systems require specialized skills, and make sense where strength is needed. I would
think it is a negative system in earthquake regions where seismic impact is directly proportions to the mass of a
home.
FRAMING MATERILS
The general differentiation of windows beyond style (double-hung, casement, sliding, etc.) is the glass or
glazing and the framing material. There are three main types of frame materials, each addressing several
lifespan aspects of the windows.
Wood
A natural product, it is said that the industry grows thousands of windows a year. A moderate insulator (R1 per
inch), it requires some maintenance (stain or paint) to prevent rot from moisture build-up. It is warm to the
touch in the coldest winters and room temperature in the summer.
Vinyl
A product of the plastics industry, it uses a nonrenewable petroleum source for extrusion. The final product is
usually non-paintable, but does offer a lifetime free maintenance. Some radical climatic changes over time may
stress the material to failure at the joints allowing water penetration, though it is rare with quality
manufacturers.
Aluminum
A metal commonly used in cookware for its thermal conductivity and in airplanes for its strength to weight
properties, it features lifetime free maintenance, but usually cannot be painted. Over the course of many years
aluminum will oxidize leaving a dull pitted appearance. If not well insulated with a thermal break, it is very
cold to the touch in winter and hot in summer.
Beyond the framing material one has a wide selection of glazing or glass combinations to fill the sash or
window panels. Once the standard, single pane glass is usually available only as an option, whereas double
pain insulated glass is the norm.
Under very harsh environments triple glaze glass is available. What material or substance placed between the
panels differentiates dual glazed window systems. With the injection of a noble gas like argon, xenon, or
krypton between the panels, the conductive resistance of the window improves. Suspending a polyester film
covered with a highly reflective material like silver further improves window performance. Sometimes the
second glass panel (interior facing) is spayed with a special coating, called low-e*, which acts as a reflective
interface.
When ordering windows it is best to get the low-e coated windows or the suspended film type for greater
seasonal comfort and energy savings.
THE INDIAN SCENARIO
The development of Indian economy is creating demand for residential and non-residential construction, as
consumers demand more houses, commercial spaces, shopping malls, hotels, other facilities and modern
amenities. In property terms, this new demand translates into over 12 million homes, 600 shopping malls, 80
million square feet of offices and 200 townships, along with airports, hotels, hospitals and schools, all slated
for construction by 2010.
Green buildings are steadily increasing their footprint in India with an increase from 6,000 sq m of green space
in 2003 to 304,800 sq m expected by the end 2008. Today a variety of green building projects are coming up in
the countryresidential complexes, exhibition centers, hospitals, educational institutions, laboratories, IT
parks, airports, government buildings and corporate offices.
India, which has an estimated 19 years for the domestic oil reserve to last and 86% of its oil consumption
being imported, has taken a leading role in promoting green buildings coming close behind the US, Australia
and Canada. Green buildings utilize designs and materials that are environment friendly. They ensure
pollution-free environment and reduction in energy bills through application of smart energy management,
building management, application of solar photovoltaic system, high performance windows and heat resistant
paints among others.
Indian climate provides us natural light for quite a longer duration and if the luminosity coming in can be
controlled, then this will be a huge source for energy. This mechanism also protects the premises from the
glare and heat of harsh Sun in the summers and maintains the warmth of Sun during the winters. This helps in
the increase in the comfort level of users as it enables natural ventilation, natural light and also climate control
in a natural way. So, the overall experience in such buildings is quite soothing.
The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC)
VISION
To usher in a green building movement and facilitate in India emerging as one of the world leaders in green
buildings by 2010.
IGBC Green Homes Rating System
Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green Homes is the first rating programme developed in India,
exclusively for the residential sector. It is based on accepted energy and environmental principles and strikes a
balance between known established practices and emerging concepts. The system is designed to be
comprehensive in scope, yet simple in operation.
The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) estimates the demand for green building materials and equipment
will reach $4 billion per annum by 2010. Going green is the latest trend among corporate. Green building, as
the concept is called, ensures environment protection, water conservation, energy efficiency, use of recycled
products and renewable energy. In tune with global trend to protect the environment, the number of green
building projects in India is expected to go up from the current 164 to over 2,000 by 2012, industry experts
feel.
A two pronged strategy can be considered. One, to make sure that the trend doesnt become a marketing
buzz but a real step to be taken by construction equipments suppliers, developers/ builders, architects/interior
designers. Second, to educate end users in a way that they are responsible towards next generations.
Although the initial investment will be 4-5 per cent costlier than the traditional buildings, in the long run, the
return on investment will be very high. Indian developers are realizing this fast and the interest level is
increasing.
The main interest is that maybe with intelligent systems and controls, we can manage the environmental
constraints favourably to save and reduce energy consumption.
Benefits of Green Homes

A Green Home can have tremendous benefits, both tangible and intangible. The immediate and most tangible
benefit is in the reduction in water and operating energy costs right from day one, during the entire life cycle of
the building.

Tangible benefits

Energy savings : 20 30 %

Water savings : 30 - 50%



Intangible benefits

Enhanced air quality,

Excellent day lighting,

Health & wellbeing of the occupants,

Conservation of scarce national resources

Enhance marketability for the project.

Eligibility

IGBC Green Homes Rating System is a measurement system designed for rating new residential buildings
which include construction categories such as

Individual homes

High rise residential apartments,

Gated communities

Row houses





Existing residential buildings which retrofit and redesigned in accordance with the
IGBC Green Homes criteria.

The project team can evaluate all the possible points to apply under the rating system using a
suitable checklist. The project can apply for IGBC Green Homes certification if it can meet all
mandatory requirements and achieve the minimum required points.

IGBC Green Homes Rating System and other resources

The rating system describes in detail goal, compliance options, documentation required and
approach and methodologies for each credit under each module.
GREEN STRUCTURE IN INDIA

GREEN BUILDINGS
Submitted by
THOMAS BRITTO,SIVARAMKRISHAN
Dept. of Civil Engineering
CONTACT NO:
8807423228
MAIL ID:thomasbritto3@gmail.com


ABSTRACT
As the environmental impact of buildings becomes more apparent, a concept called green building is
gaining momentum. GREEN or sustainable building is the practice of creating healthier and more
resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition.
Research and experience increasingly demonstrate that when buildings are designed and operated
with their lifecycle impacts in mind, they can provide great environmental, economic, and social
benefits.
It is estimated that 40 per cent of energy consumption in a building is on account of heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning. GREEN buildings have provision for solar protection to prevent heat
gain in the premises during the day. This helps in putting less of load on air-conditioning system to
maintain ambient temperature within the premises.
As per estimates, 76 per cent of the electricity generated by all power plants is consumed by
buildings. And 35 percent of the energy consumed in a building is because of use of light in the day
time. GREEN buildings ensures the usage of natural light to the maximum and that results in the
reduction in the consumption of electricity used for lighting. It helps in curbing the recurring energy
consumption costs like lightning by the use of natural lights.
Here we come up with the concepts of GREEN buildings with their characters, practicing methods,
materials used for sustainable construction as building material (wood, structural insulated building
panel, steel, insulated concrete form) and materials using as frames(wood, vinyl, aluminum). Thus
gives the idea of reduced energy or zero energy houses, reduction in waste generation during
construction.
And we finally give the Indian scenario of GREEN architecture and about The Indian green building
Council (IGBC), its vision, successful projects and benefits of green structures.
We have given some examples like (spring lake inn, Katrina kernel inn, Magney house, Leaf house)
to express our idea on GREEN buildings.


INTRODUCTION
The buildings in which we live, work, and play protect us from Nature's extremes. Yet they also affect
our health and environment in countless ways. The design, construction, operation, maintenance,
and removal of buildings takes enormous amounts of energy, water, and materials, and generates
large quantities of waste, air and water pollution.
Worth noticing is that most of us talk about energy consumption and pollution because of industry
and transport when at least 40% of the total energy produced is consumed by buildings.
It is estimated that 40 per cent of energy consumption in a building is on account of heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning, or HVAC. Green buildings have provision for solar protection to
prevent heat gain in the premises during the day. This helps in putting less of load on air-
conditioning system to maintain ambient temperature within the premises.
Weather sensors help in optimizing the benefits offered by automated solar protection systems. In
winters, the natural heat can be allowed in the premises using the same solar shades and for
controlling them, depending on the sun effect and heat coming inside the building, thereby helping
the heating system perform better. The downsizing of active temperature management systems (air
conditioning and heating) in the green buildings reduces the overall building costs.
As per estimates, 76 per cent of the electricity generated by all power plants is consumed by
buildings. And 35 percent of the energy consumed in a building is because of use of light in the day
time. So the big question is how to reduce the consumption of this energy?
The simple answer to this question is the solar protection mechanism in green building. It ensures
the usage of natural light to the maximum and that results in the reduction in the consumption of
electricity used for lighting. It helps in curbing the recurring energy consumption costs like lightning
by the use of natural lights.


DEFINITION
Green Building Defined
"A green building is one which uses less water, optimises energy efficiency, conserves natural
resources, generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a
conventional building."
Green building practices aim to reduce the environmental impact of buildings. Buildings account for
a large amount of land use, energy and water consumption, and air and atmosphere alteration
Considering these statistics, reducing the amount of natural resources buildings consume and the
amount of pollution given off is seen as crucial for future sustainability,
The environmental impact of buildings is often underestimated, while the perceived costs of green
buildings are overestimated. A recent survey by the World Business Council for Sustainable
Development finds that green costs are overestimated by 300 percent, as key players in real estate
and construction estimate the additional cost at 17 percent above conventional construction, more
than triple the true average cost difference of about 5 percent.
Green architecture, or green design, is an approach to building that minimizes harmful effects on
human health and the environment. The "green" architect or designer attempts to safeguard air,
water, and earth by choosing eco-friendly building materials and construction practices.
Green architecture may have many of these characteristics:
Ventilation systems designed for efficient heating and cooling
Energy-efficient lighting and appliances
Water-saving plumbing fixtures
Landscapes planned to maximize passive solar energy
Minimal harm to the natural habitat
Alternate power sources such as solar power or wind power
Non-synthetic, non-toxic materials
Locally-obtained woods and stone
Responsibly-harvested woods
Adaptive reuse of older buildings
Use of recycled architectural salvage
Efficient use of space
While most green buildings do not have all of these features, the highest goal of green architecture
is to be fully sustainable.
Also Known As:
Sustainable development, eco-design, eco-friendly architecture, earth-friendly architecture,
environmental architecture, natural architecture

PRACTISE
Green building brings together a vast array of practices and techniques to reduce and ultimately
eliminate the impacts of buildings on the environment and human health. It often emphasizes taking
advantage of renewable resources, e.g., using sunlight through passive solar, active solar, and
photovoltaic techniques and using plants and trees through green roofs, rain gardens, and for
reduction of rainwater run-off. Many other techniques, such as using packed gravel or permeable
concrete instead of conventional concrete or asphalt to enhance replenishment of ground water, are
used as well. Effective green buildings are more than just a random collection of environmental
friendly technologies, however. They require careful, systemic attention to the full life cycle impacts
of the resources embodied in the building and to the resource consumption and pollution emissions
over the building's complete life cycle.
On the aesthetic side of green architecture or sustainable design is the philosophy of designing a
building that is in harmony with the natural features and resources surrounding the site. There are
several key steps in designing sustainable buildings: specify 'green' building materials from local
sources, reduce loads, optimize systems, and generate on-site renewable energy.
Materials
Building materials typically considered to be 'green' include rapidly renewable plant materials like
bamboo (because bamboo grows quickly) and straw, lumber from forests certified to be sustainably
managed, ecology blocks, dimension stone, recycled stone, recycled metal, and other products that
are non-toxic, reusable, renewable, and/or recyclable (e.g. Trass, Linoleum, sheep wool, panels
made from paper flakes, compressed earth block, adobe, baked earth, rammed earth, clay,
vermiculite, flax linen, sisal, seagrass, cork, expanded clay grains, coconut, wood fibre plates,
calcium sand stone, concrete (high and ultra high performance, roman self-healing concrete , etc.
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) also suggests using recycled industrial goods, such as
coal combustion products, foundry sand, and demolition debris in construction
projects Polyurethane heavily reduces carbon emissions as well. Polyurethane blocks are being
used instead of CMTs by companies like American Insulock. Polyurethane blocks provide more
speed, less cost, and they are environmentally friendly Building materials should be extracted and
manufactured locally to the building site to minimize the energy embedded in their transportation.


Reduced energy use
Main articles: Low-energy house and Zero-energy building
Green buildings often include measures to reduce energy use. To increase the efficiency of the
building envelope, (the barrier between conditioned and unconditioned space), they may use high-
efficiency windows and insulation in walls, ceilings, and floors. Another strategy, passive solar
building design, is often implemented in low-energy homes. Designers orient windows and walls and
place awnings, porches, and trees to shade windows and roofs during the summer while maximizing
solar gain in the winter. In addition, effective window placement (daylighting) can provide more
natural light and lessen the need for electric lighting during the day. Solar water heating further
reduces energy loads.
Finally, onsite generation of renewable energy through solar power, wind power, hydro power, or
biomass can significantly reduce the environmental impact of the building. Power generation is
generally the most expensive feature to add to a building.
Reduced waste
Green architecture also seeks to reduce waste of energy, water and materials used during
construction. For example, in California nearly 60% of the state's waste comes from commercial
buildings During the construction phase, one goal should be to reduce the amount of material going
to landfills. Well-designed buildings also help reduce the amount of waste generated by the
occupants as well, by providing on-site solutions such as compost bins to reduce matter going to
landfills.
To reduce the impact on wells or water treatment plants, several options exist. "Greywater",
wastewater from sources such as dishwashing or washing machines, can be used for subsurface
irrigation, or if treated, for non-potable purposes, e.g., to flush toilets and wash cars. Rainwater
collectors are used for similar purposes.
Centralized wastewater treatment systems can be costly and use a lot of energy. An alternative to
this process is converting waste and wastewater into fertilizer, which avoids these costs and shows
other benefits. By collecting human waste at the source and running it to a semi-centralized biogas
plant with other biological waste, liquid fertilizer can be produced. This concept was demonstrated by
a settlement in Lubeck Germany in the late 1990s. Practices like these provide soil with organic
nutrients and create carbon sinks that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, offsetting
greenhouse gas emission. Producing artificial fertilizer is also more costly in energy than this
process.[
COMMON MATERIALS
Several popular building materials are used to construct the home. Rammed earth, straw bale, auto
tires, and glass bottles are more esoteric materials which are gaining acceptance.
Wood
The ubiquitous 2 x 4 or more specifically dimensional lumber is the primary structural component in
homes. A material used for hundreds of years from log cabins to platform structures, this building
technique is well understood using a renewable resource. Caution is warranted if considering timber
use outside the bounds of sustainable harvesting. In extreme climates termites may be a problem or
moisture failure to wood structures. No special tools are needed other than a hammer and nails.
Wood is tolerant to novices, and with the use of structural connectors, wood is as attractive as ever.
Structural Insulated Building Panel
A marriage of engineered wood and foam, the building monolithic panel uses EPS (expandable
polystyrene) insulation, similar to the foam coffee cup, but 6 to 12 inches thick, sandwiched between
two panels of oriented strand board (OSB or engineered wood panel). Both products are
environmentally friendly. The OSB uses fast growing trees once considered "trash trees" or unusable
to dimensional lumber specifications. With a uniform thickness and construction, all walls are sound
without the voids common in wood framing. Many times the panels are finished away from the
construction site allowing straighter walls. A superb building system.
Steel
Touted as a replacement for wood, steels is strong, termite resistant, and offers some fire protection.
Generally steel is North America's number one recycled material, allowing steel products to become
new steel products after their useful lifetime is over. Steel is a nonrenewable resource. The lifetime
of a typical home is somewhere between 250 and 500 years, and through mining for the steel
components, a much greater environmental impact occurs over wood. Steel is best used where
strength is required like car bodies or appliances, and then enter the recycle stream instead of the
waste stream or "buried" in a long lived home. Steel studs also require specialized tools and skills.
Insulated Concrete Form
While this may seem an odd wall material, just think of all the commercial property that have their
walls made from concrete. Using a lightweight form, usually of foam and reinforcing bars, t he
concrete fills the hollow cavity between the foam and honeycomb of bars. The wall is rock solid,
sound proof, bug proof, and maybe bullet proof. Concrete systems require specialized skills, and
make sense where strength is needed. I would think it is a negative system in earthquake regions
where seismic impact is directly proportions to the mass of a home.
FRAMING MATERILS
The general differentiation of windows beyond style (double-hung, casement, sliding, etc.) is the
glass or glazing and the framing material. There are three main types of frame materials, each
addressing several lifespan aspects of the windows.
Wood
A natural product, it is said that the industry grows thousands of windows a year. A moderate
insulator (R1 per inch), it requires some maintenance (stain or paint) to prevent rot from moisture
build-up. It is warm to the touch in the coldest winters and room temperature in the summer.
Vinyl
A product of the plastics industry, it uses a nonrenewable petroleum source for extrusion. The final
product is usually non-paintable, but does offer a lifetime free maintenance. Some radical climatic
changes over time may stress the material to failure at the joints allowing water penetration, though
it is rare with quality manufacturers.
Aluminum
A metal commonly used in cookware for its thermal conductivity and in airplanes for its strength to
weight properties, it features lifetime free maintenance, but usually cannot be painted. Over the
course of many years aluminum will oxidize leaving a dull pitted appearance. If not well insulated
with a thermal break, it is very cold to the touch in winter and hot in summer.
Beyond the framing material one has a wide selection of glazing or glass combinations to fill the
sash or window panels. Once the standard, single pane glass is usually available only as an option,
whereas double pain insulated glass is the norm.
Under very harsh environments triple glaze glass is available. What material or substance placed
between the panels differentiates dual glazed window systems. With the injection of a noble gas like
argon, xenon, or krypton between the panels, the conductive resistance of the window improves.
Suspending a polyester film covered with a highly reflective material like silver further improves
window performance. Sometimes the second glass panel (interior facing) is spayed with a special
coating, called low-e*, which acts as a reflective interface.
When ordering windows it is best to get the low-e coated windows or the suspended film type for
greater seasonal comfort and energy savings.
THE INDIAN SCENARIO
The development of Indian economy is creating demand for residential and non-residential
construction, as consumers demand more houses, commercial spaces, shopping malls, hotels, other
facilities and modern amenities. In property terms, this new demand translates into over 12 million
homes, 600 shopping malls, 80 million square feet of offices and 200 townships, along with airports,
hotels, hospitals and schools, all slated for construction by 2010.
Green buildings are steadily increasing their footprint in India with an increase from 6,000 sq m of
green space in 2003 to 304,800 sq m expected by the end 2008. Today a variety of green building
projects are coming up in the countryresidential complexes, exhibition centers, hospitals,
educational institutions, laboratories, IT parks, airports, government buildings and corporate offices.
India, which has an estimated 19 years for the domestic oil reserve to last and 86% of its oil
consumption being imported, has taken a leading role in promoting green buildings coming close
behind the US, Australia and Canada. Green buildings utilize designs and materials that are
environment friendly. They ensure pollution-free environment and reduction in energy bills through
application of smart energy management, building management, application of solar photovoltaic
system, high performance windows and heat resistant paints among others.
Indian climate provides us natural light for quite a longer duration and if the luminosity coming in can
be controlled, then this will be a huge source for energy. This mechanism also protects the premises
from the glare and heat of harsh Sun in the summers and maintains the warmth of Sun during the
winters. This helps in the increase in the comfort level of users as it enables natural ventilation,
natural light and also climate control in a natural way. So, the overall experience in such buildings is
quite soothing.
The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC)
VISION
To usher in a green building movement and facilitate in India emerging as one of the world leaders in
green buildings by 2010.
IGBC Green Homes Rating System
Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green Homes is the first rating programme developed in
India, exclusively for the residential sector. It is based on accepted energy and environmental
principles and strikes a balance between known established practices and emerging concepts. The
system is designed to be comprehensive in scope, yet simple in operation.
The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) estimates the demand for green building materials and
equipment will reach $4 billion per annum by 2010. Going green is the latest trend among corporate.
Green building, as the concept is called, ensures environment protection, water conservation,
energy efficiency, use of recycled products and renewable energy. In tune with global trend to
protect the environment, the number of green building projects in India is expected to go up from the
current 164 to over 2,000 by 2012, industry experts feel.
A two pronged strategy can be considered. One, to make sure that the trend doesnt become a
marketing buzz but a real step to be taken by construction equipments suppliers, developers/
builders, architects/interior designers. Second, to educate end users in a way that they are
responsible towards next generations.
Although the initial investment will be 4-5 per cent costlier than the traditional buildings, in the long
run, the return on investment will be very high. Indian developers are realizing this fast and the
interest level is increasing.
The main interest is that maybe with intelligent systems and controls, we can manage the
environmental constraints favourably to save and reduce energy consumption.
Benefits of Green Homes

A Green Home can have tremendous benefits, both tangible and intangible. The immediate and
most tangible benefit is in the reduction in water and operating energy costs right from day one,
during the entire life cycle of the building.

Tangible benefits

Energy savings : 20 30 %

Water savings : 30 - 50%



Intangible benefits

Enhanced air quality,

Excellent day lighting,

Health & wellbeing of the occupants,

Conservation of scarce national resources

Enhance marketability for the project.

Eligibility

IGBC Green Homes Rating System is a measurement system designed for rating new residential
buildings which include construction categories such as

Individual homes

High rise residential apartments,

Gated communities

Row houses


Existing residential buildings which retrofit and redesigned in accordance with the
IGBC Green Homes criteria.

The project team can evaluate all the possible points to apply under the rating system using a
suitable checklist. The project can apply for IGBC Green Homes certification if it can meet all
mandatory requirements and achieve the minimum required points.

IGBC Green Homes Rating System and other resources

The rating system describes in detail goal, compliance options, documentation required and
approach and methodologies for each credit under each module.
GREEN STRUCTURE IN INDIA








EXAMPLES
SPRING LAKE INN

Spring Lake Inn is a rambling, shingle-sided Victorian with enormous energy needs. The inn has a
grand parlor and dining room with 12-foot ceilings. On the two upper floors are 16 spacious guest
rooms. Located steps from the beach in Spring Lake, New Jersey, the inn is a popular summer
getaway. However, the inn also maintains a thriving business during the winter months.
Because the inn operates year-round, both heating and cooling are essential. Rooms on the upper
level can be especially challenging to cool in July and August.
Seeking ways to conserve costs and also protect the environment, innkeepers Andy and Barbara
Seaman looked to the sun for low-cost, eco-friendly energy solutions.

KATRINA KERNAL COTTAGE

After Hurricane Katrina destroyed homes and communities along America's Gulf Coast, architects
and designers developed cheerful, inexpensive, energy-efficient emergency housing known as
"Katrina Cottages." These photos show a version of the Katrina Cottage designed by architect Steve
Mouzon. Like other versions of the Katrina Cottage, Steve Mouzon's "Katrina Kernal Cottage II" is
constructed with decay-resistant steel framing and steel-reinforced wall board. Click the pictures for
larger views and more information.
MAGNEY HOUSE


Date: 1982 - 1984
Architect: Glenn Murcutt
Location: Bingie Point, Moruya, on the New South Wales South Coast, Australia
Pritzker Prize-winning architect Glenn Murcutt designed the Magney House to capture the northern
light. The long low roof and large windows capitalize on natural sunlight.

LEAF HOUSE


Students from the University of Maryland drew inspiration form nature's ultimate solar collector when
they designed this "LEAFHouse." The house was a second place winner at the Solar Decathlon in
Washington DC.

HOUSES AT MEXICO
Here you see homes near completion in Founders' Neighborhood at Loreto Bay, Mexico. The
compressed earth block walls have been reinforced with wire and parged with plaster.
The houses appear to be attached, but there is actually a two-inch space between facing walls.
Recycled Styrofoam fills the gap.
Conclusion
As a result of the increased interest in green building concepts and practices, a number of
organizations have developed standards, codes and rating systems building professionals and
consumers embrace green building with confidence.
In some cases, codes are written so local governments can adopt them as bylaws to reduce the
local environmental impact of buildings.
Green building rating systems such as BREEAM (United Kingdom), LEED (United States and
Canada), and CASBEE (Japan) help consumers to determine a structures level of environmental
performance.
They 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
References
1. Environmental Science and Engineering by Anubha Kaushik, C.P.Kaushik.
2 .www.osun.org







EXAMPLES
SPRING LAKE INN

Spring Lake Inn is a rambling, shingle-sided Victorian with enormous energy needs. The inn has a
grand parlor and dining room with 12-foot ceilings. On the two upper floors are 16 spacious guest
rooms. Located steps from the beach in Spring Lake, New Jersey, the inn is a popular summer
getaway. However, the inn also maintains a thriving business during the winter months.
Because the inn operates year-round, both heating and cooling are essential. Rooms on the upper
level can be especially challenging to cool in July and August.
Seeking ways to conserve costs and also protect the environment, innkeepers Andy and Barbara
Seaman looked to the sun for low-cost, eco-friendly energy solutions.