ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

CARBON CREDITS

THEORY

Concept of Green Buildings

The concept of Green Buildings envision a new approach to save water, energy and material resources in
the construction and maintenance of the buildings and can reduce or eliminate the adverse impact of
buildings on the environment and occupants.
Definition: A green building is an environmentally sustainable building, designed, constructed and
operated to minimise the total environmental impacts.

Green Building Strategies

The main strategies to achieve a green building include:

reduced energy consumption

water conservation
recycling waste

Well designed green buildings will save money, increase comfort and create healthier environments for
people to live and work, using improved indoor air quality, natural daylight, and thermal comfort.
Energy use by depleting natural resources as well as CO2 emissions is one of our most important
environmental impacts. Volatile energy markets, rising energy costs and increasing environmental
awareness about issues such as global warming make energy efficiency and conservation a high priority.
Build Green's focus is on reducing building energy usage and increasing occupant comfort.

Green Buildings Retain the Environment at the location of the Building

Suppose we propose a multi-storied office complex to accommodate thousands of officers and staff, it
requires a vast area. Therefore selection of a site for such a building complex should consider retention
of local vegetation, wild life, natural water courses etc. Either a site with bio diversity should be avoided
or the building should be planned to reduce site disturbance.

ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

CARBON CREDITS

THEORY

Monitoring Energy Use

Monitoring, analysing and reporting energy consumption are three essential elements of an effective
energy management strategy in a green building.

Monitoring is the process of measuring and recording data.

Data analysis involves comparison of data with targets or benchmarks to assess performance.
A report can provide valuable information such as whether the building is performing poorly
compared with other similar buildings, identifying areas where energy efficiency could be
implemented and how much money could be saved.

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

Indoor Air Pollution

Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality

Proper ventilation helps improve indoor air quality. Ventilation can control indoor humidity and airborne
contaminants, both of which either contribute to or act as health hazards.
High indoor humidity can spur mold growth. High humidity may result from poor
construction/rehabilitation, site design that does not properly manage water, and/or inadequate air
exchange. A reasonable target for relative humidity is 30-60 percent.

ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

CARBON CREDITS

THEORY

In cool climates, inadequate ventilation in the winter can contribute to excessive moisture and humidity
because normal activities create moisture (cooking, bathing, breathing), and there is insufficient natural
ventilation (opening windows) or mechanical ventilation (fans, exhaust systems) to remove the
moisture. In warmer climates, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can pull
warmer, humid air inside. In this case, the ventilation system may help create indoor humidity problems
unless the system also dehumidifies the air.
Pollutants in your home's air can cause poor indoor air quality, which in turn may cause dizziness and
headaches, plus aggravate allergies and asthma.
Items inside the home that release gas are the primary cause of indoor air problems. The list includes
carpeting, upholstered furniture, gas appliances, paints and solvents, cleaning products, air fresheners,
dry-cleaned clothing and pesticides. If you have an attached garage, fumes from the gasoline, oil and
antifreeze in your car can find their way into your home's air. Harsh chemicals can also come from
cigarette smoke and woodstoves.
Insufficient ventilation can worsen the problem because pollutants get trapped inside. Tightly sealed
and well-insulated homes keep out fresher outdoor air, which can dilute the pollutants. High
temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants.

Two types of ventilation can help control harmful air contaminants and humidity: spot ventilation and
dilution ventilation.
Spot ventilation draws air from a particular location (e.g., bathroom, kitchen) and exhausts it to the
outside. Dilution ventilation address low-level contamination throughout the home.
Spot Ventilation. Exterior exhaust fans should be installed in all bathrooms and kitchens. These fans
remove humidity and carbon monoxide.
Dilution Ventilation. Dilution ventilation addresses the entire living space. Air changes (exchanging
indoor air with outdoor air) and air cleaning help determine the effectiveness of dilution. Air changes
result from a combination of natural ventilation (infiltration; leakage; windows) and mechanical
(controlled) ventilation. Air cleaning occurs when particulates are filtered and when air is dehumidified
to remove moisture. The goal is to provide sufficient changes to ensure a healthy environment. There
are several types of heating and cooling systems with filtration that can be installed to accomplish this. A
common element necessary in all systems is duct sealing, particularly on the return side (side drawing in
the air).