International Journal of Biotech Trends and Technology (IJBTT) Volume2 Issue 2 Number1Mar 2012

GREEN TECHNIQUES IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

(CONCEPT)

Hema. C, Assistant professor, Department of Civil engineering,

Bharath University

ABSTRACT

Green buildings refer to a structure and using the process that is environmentally responsible and
resource efficient throughout the buildings life-cycle.

Constructing and operating building requires enormous amounts of energy, water and materials and
creates large amounts of waste. Where and how they are built affects the ecosystem around us in countless
ways. To avoid these problems green buildings are constructed.

"A green building uses less energy, water and natural resources, creates less waste and is
healthier for the people living inside compared to a standard building."

There is a rapidly expanding market for green building materials. Green building provide suitable
environment by controlling solar radiation temperature, energy efficiency, water conservation using domestic
treatment plant and indoor air quality. The main aim of green buildings is to reduce the environmental impact
of new buildings. The sustainability in the environment can be well achieved by reducing the energy emission
and consumption by the buildings. Sustainability means using the energy efficiently. Green Building refers
to a structure that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle. Solar
panels and Photo voltaic cells are used to produce efficient energy.

Green buildings are also known as Green construction or Sustainable buildings.

The best technique that is adapted to this type of buildings is Rat-Trap Bond Wall technique. Green
buildings are highly efficient buildings when compared to conventional buildings. The different types of
waste produced in the conventional buildings are much reduced in these types of buildings. Green building

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 International Journal of Biotech Trends and Technology (IJBTT) Volume2 Issue 2 Number1Mar 2012

provides several benefits over other buildings. Economic, ecological and environmental benefits are most
important in these buildings.

INTRODUCTION: green building concept helps to conserve energy.

Today the world requires high performance, low
Green building standards focus on
energy buildings offering long-term sustainability.
making residential and commercial buildings more
environmentally friendly, sustainable and healthier GREEN FEATURES:
for their occupants. Many builders and designers are
It includes natural lighting in the
implementing green building standards into their
building, which results in substantial savings in
designs to create buildings that use environmentally
energy consumption.
friendly materials where are highly energy efficient
and have excellent air quality. The basic principles
Insulated walls and double-glazed glass
of sustainable design or green design as it is
windows for lower energy consumption.
popularly known, are to aim for maximum resource
A green lawn around the building improves
conservation, to enhance efficient utilization of non-
the quality of air inside the building premises.
renewable resources by adopting efficient systems,
Use of non-toxic house-keeping materials -
and to maximize use of renewable forms of energy
green seal approved products. Natural manure for
as well as to recycle and reuse resources. These
plants such as neem-based pesticides.
principles need to be applied throughout the
Water recycling.
building life-cycle e.g. during the site planning and
development stage, building planning and
construction, and building operation and
maintenance. SUSTAINABLE FEATURES:

GREEN BUILDING is one that Buildings achieve a 50% reduction in

incorporates the use of clean and renewable energy, energy use and purchase their electrical power from
efficient use of water and use of recycled or a renewable energy supplier. The building
recyclable materials, and provides for healthy incorporates many energy-conserving features:
indoor air quality. Buildings are responsible for 40
a well insulated building shell
per cent of the world's energy consumption. The
energy efficient window systems

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 International Journal of Biotech Trends and Technology (IJBTT) Volume2 Issue 2 Number1Mar 2012
supplemental passive solar heating
extensive use of natural ventilation and day
lighting .
ECO-FRIENDLY BUILDING:
Phenomenal growth in the
construction industry depends upon exhaustible
resources. Production of building materials leads to
irreversible environmental impacts. Using eco-
friendly materials is the best way to build an eco-
friendly building. Rat-Trap bond wall technique is
provided in these types of buildings.
RAT TRAP BOND WALL:
It is a cavity wall construction is a modern
technique that offers unique combination of strength
lightweight thermal and sound insulation fix
resistance and resistance to water penetration and
reduction in the quantity of bricks required for
masonry work.
ISSN: 2249-0183 http://www.ijbttjournal.org
The main features of Rat-trap bond wall are:
Strength is equal to standard 10" (250mm)
brick wall, but consumes 20% less bricks.
The air medium or cavity created in between
the bricklayers helps in maintaining a good thermal
comfort inside the building. This phenomenon is
particularly helpful for tropical climate of South
Asian and other countries.
As the construction is done by aligning the
bricks from both sides with the plain surfaces facing
outwards, plastering is not necessary except in a
few places. The finished surface is appealing to the
eye from both internally & externally,
Buildings up to two stories can easily be
constructed with this technique. Mr. Laurie Baker
has pioneered this type of construction and had built
such houses more than 40 years ago without having
any signs of distress till now.
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In R.C.C. framed structures, the filler walls

can be made of rat-trap bond.
Due to lesser load on the base of the walls,
the width of foundation is also decreased, resulting
in a saving of about 8% on use of bricks, cement
and sand in foundation and plinth.
There is reduction in cost of the wall by
25%, as with conventional English bond (9thk
wall) 350 bricks are required per cu. m whereas in
Rat-trap bond only 280 bricks are required and also
the reduced number of joints reduces the mortar
consumption.

SITE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF GREEN A) Preserve and protect vegetation and soil from
BUILDINGS: degradation during construction:

Development of a site for building Preservation and protection of existing

purposes requires disruption and disturbance of
existing natural systems. The most sustainable and
environment sensitive development is one that
requires very minimal site disturbance. Resource
conservation measures pertaining to site planning
should entail minimum disturbance and depletion.
Some recommended measures to achieve efficient
site planning are given below.
Preserve and protect vegetation and soil
from degradation during construction.
Reduce hard paving.
Enhance site lighting efficiency and avoid
light trespass / light pollution.
vegetation, particularly mature trees, is highly
recommended. This is done by avoiding cut and
fills in the root zones, delineating and fencing the
drip line of all trees or a group of trees. Trees
should also protect against damages from carving,
nailing, fires or heat emitting construction activity.
The top soil, in most cases, is the most nutrient rich
layer that supports vegetative growth. Topsoil
removal and preservation should be mandatory for
projects with site area greater than 10000sq.m. The
preserved topsoil should to be re-laid for vegetative
growth through a suitable process, after ensuring its
nutrient contents as per laid out codes and
standards. Suitable measures such as contour

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 International Journal of Biotech Trends and Technology (IJBTT) Volume2 Issue 2 Number1Mar 2012

trenching, mulching to prevent soil erosion and run-
off should also be taken.
B) Reduce hard paving:
Hard paved parking lots, pathways, plazas
and courts should be minimized. Hard paved areas
enhance imperviousness of the sit and generate a
heat island effect, which causes a sharp
microclimate temperature rise. By reducing
penetrability of the site, hard paving also lowers the
localized aquifer recharge potential. Dark colored
and constructed surfaces absorb solar energy and
radiate it back when the ambience is cooler. So,
typically one find a sharp temperature rise in built
urban areas than in green areas. Thus, design
strategies should look at a combination of soft and
hard landscape, use of pervious paving, use of light
colored surfaces with higher solar reflective index,
shaded hard paved surfaces. Planting trees and
bushes adequately also help to minimize the heat
island effect.
such as sidewalks, parking lots, roads, community
gathering spaces, landscaped areas and for security
purposes. It must be carefully designed to avoid
waste and nuisance. It must address a few basic
standards such as- it should avoid over luminance; it
should be properly shielded to avoid light pollution;
the optical control of light is also critical. Light
pollution can be defined as waste light emanating
from building sites that produces glare and
adversely affects the environment. Waste light does
not contribute to increased night time safety, utility
or security and needlessly consumes energy. Light
pollution can also potentially disrupt biological c
cycles in plants, animals, including humans.

C) Enhance site lighting efficiency and avoid

light trespass / light pollution:

ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
Site lighting is mainly used to illuminate
connections between buildings and support facilities

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 International Journal of Biotech Trends and Technology (IJBTT) Volume2 Issue 2 Number1Mar 2012

One of the primary requirements of a MATERIAL EFFICIENCY:

green building is that it should have optimum
Efficient use of building materials &
energy performance and yet should provide the
land apart from the reduction in initial costs will
desirable thermal and visual
also result in lowering the overall life cycle cost.
comfort.Energyefficiencycan be maximized by
Building materials, components and systems found
utilizing materials components, and systems that
locally or regionally which saves energy and
help reduce energy consumption in buildings and
resources in transportation to the project site. Select
facilities. To increase the efficiency of the building
materials that can be easily dismantled and reused
envelope, they may use high-efficiency windows
or recycled at the end of their useful life. Building
and insulation in walls, ceilings, and floors. Another
materials typically considered to be 'green' rapidly
strategy, passive solar building design, is often
renewable plant materials like bamboo and straw,
implemented in low-energy homes. In addition,
lumber from forests certified to be sustainably
effective window placement can provide more
managed ecology blocks, dimension stone, recycled
natural light and lessen the need for electric lighting
stone, recycled metal, and other products that are
during the day. Solar water heating further reduces
non-toxic, reusable, and renewable.
energy loads. Onsite generation of renewable
energy through solar power, wind power, hydro
The EPA (Environmental Protection
power, or biomass can significantly reduce the
Agency) also suggests using recycled industrial
environmental impact of the building.
goods, such as coal combustion products, foundry
sand, and demolition debris in construction projects.
Building materials should be extracted and
manufactured locally to the building site to
minimize the energy embedded in their
transportation. Brick Waste &waste cement mortar
are re used. Steel & empty cement bags were sold to
local vendors for recycling.

WATER EFFICIENCY:

Reducing water consumption and

protecting water quality are key objectives in

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 International Journal of Biotech Trends and Technology (IJBTT) Volume2 Issue 2 Number1Mar 2012

sustainable building. -water may be minimized by It can be accomplished by utilizing

utilizing water conserving fixtures such as ultra-low materials that meet the following criteria:
flush toilets and low-flow shower heads. Point of
Natural, plentiful or renewable:Materials
use water treatment and heating improves both
harvested from sustainably managed sources and
water quality and energy efficiency while reducing
preferably have an independent certification (e.g.,
the amount of water in circulation.
certified wood) and are certified by an independent
INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ): third party.
Resource efficient manufacturing
IAQ can be affected by microbial
process: Products manufactured with resource-
contaminants (bacteria), gases (including carbon
efficient processes including reducing energy
monoxide, radon and volatile organic compounds),
consumption, minimizing waste (recycled,
particulates, or any mass or energy stressor that can
recyclable and or source reduced product
induce adverse health conditions. Indoor air is
packaging), and reducing greenhouse gases.
becoming an increasingly more concerning health
Recycled Content: Products with
hazard than outdoor air.
identifiable recycled content, including post
industrial content with a preference for post
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is enhanced by utilizing
consumer content.
materials that meet the following criteria:
Resource availability: Building materials,
Low or non-toxic: Materials that emit few components, and systems found locally or regionally
or no carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, or saving energy and resources in transportation to the
irritants as demonstrated by the manufacturer project site.
through appropriate testing.
WASTE REDUCTION:
Moisture resistant: Products and systems
that resist moisture or inhibit the growth of Green architecture also seeks to
biological contaminants in buildings. reduce waste of energy, water and materials used
Systems or equipment: Products that during construction. During the construction phase,
promote healthy IAQ by identifying indoor air one goal should be to reduce the amount of material
pollutants or enhancing the air quality. going to landfills. Well-designed buildings also help

RESOURCE EFFICIENCY:

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 International Journal of Biotech Trends and Technology (IJBTT) Volume2 Issue 2 Number1Mar 2012

reduce the amount of waste generated by the economic and environmental performance of
occupants as well, by providing on-site solutions buildings.

To reduce the impact on wells or water Cost Savings: Energy and water efficient
treatment plants, several options exist. "Grey designs reduce monthly utility bills.
water", wastewater from sources such as Health & Safety: Proper ventilation and
dishwashing or washing machines, can be used for low or non-toxic materials and finishes contribute to
subsurface irrigation, or if treated, for non-potable a safer, healthier home.
purposes, e.g., to flush toilets such as compost bins Added Value: Use of durable green
to reduce matter going to landfills and wash cars. materials, lower operating costs, and healthier
Rainwater collectors are used for similar purposes. indoor air quality can increase a building's market
Centralized wastewater treatment systems can be value.
costly and use a lot of energy. An alternative to this Ecological Benefit: Making
process is converting waste and wastewater into environmentally responsible choices when building
fertilizer, which avoids these costs and shows other helps reduce pollution while protecting forests and
benefits. By collecting human waste at the source wildlife.
and running it to a semi-centralized biogas plant Environmental Benefit: Reduce impact on
with other biological waste, liquid fertilizer can be the environment.
produced. Practices like these provide soil with Economic Benefit: When compared to
organic nutrients and create carbon sinks that conventional buildings green buildings are more
remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, economic and cheap in cost.
offsetting greenhouse gas emission.
OCCUPANT HEALTH AND SAFETY:
BENEFITS OVER OTHER BUILDINGS:
Recent studies reveal that buildings
Green buildings provide several with good overall environmental quality can reduce
benefits over other buildings. Buildings have an the rate of respiratory disease, allergy, asthma, sick
enormous impact on the environment, human building symptoms, and enhance worker
health, and the economy. The successful adoption performance. Choose construction materials and
of green building strategies can maximize both the interior finish products with zero low emissions to
improve indoor air quality. Many building

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 International Journal of Biotech Trends and Technology (IJBTT) Volume2 Issue 2 Number1Mar 2012
materials and cleaning/maintenance products emit
toxic gases, such as volatile organic compounds
(VOC) and formaldehyde. These gases can have a
detrimental impact on occupants' health and
productivity. Provide adequate ventilation and a
high-efficiency, in-duct filtration system. Heating
and cooling systems that ensure adequate
ventilation and proper filtration can have a dramatic
and positive impact on indoor air quality. Prevent
indoor microbial contamination through selection of
materials resistant to microbial growth, provide
effective drainage from the roof and surrounding
landscape, install adequate ventilation in bathrooms,
allow proper drainage of air-conditioning coils, and
design other building systems to control humidity.
GOALS OF GREEN BUILDINGS:
Operational Savings: Green buildings
consume at least 40-50 % less energy and 20-30 %
less water than a conventional building. This
comes at an incremental cost of about 5-8 %. The
incremental cost gets paid back in 3-5 years time.
Daylights & Views: Working in
environment with access to daylight and views
provides connection to the exterior environment.
This has a soothing effect on the mind. Various
studies prove that the productivity of people who
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have access to day lighting and views is at least 12-
15 % higher.
Air Quality: Green buildings are always
fresh and healthy. The green buildings use interior
materials with low volatile organic compound
(VOC) emissions. A typical office building would
require purging of fresh air which provides a fresh
ambience inside the building.
ADVANTAGES:
Provide a healthier and more comfortable
environment
Improve long-term economic performance
Incorporate energy and water efficient
technologies
Use recycled content materials in their
construction
Reduce construction and demolition waste
Include renewable energy technologies
Improve indoor air quality
Reduce environmental impact
DISADVANTAGES:
While homeowners who live close to larger
cities may have no difficulty finding green building
materials, the selection may be scarce in other areas.
Many materials may require special ordering, which
could increase the cost. In addition, some materials
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 International Journal of Biotech Trends and Technology (IJBTT) Volume2 Issue 2 Number1Mar 2012

may only be available through orders, which will http://www.google.com/images

include a cost for shipping and handling.
Since some green building projects encourage
the use of recycled and found materials, time may
become a disadvantage. Finding the needed materials
may take extra time that the builder and/or
homeowner doesn't have for the project.

CONCLUSION:
Although new technologies are constantly
being developed to complement current practices in
creating greener structures, the common objective is
that green buildings are designed to reduce the
overall impact of the built environment on human
health and the natural environment. Sustainability in
building construction is very important now-days,
since the earth is becoming non-green. Now-a-days
everyone is looking for the concept Go
Green.This can be achieved by lowering the
energy demand and consumption of materials,
utilizing the reusable or recyclable products in a
holistic way which will eventually offer an
economic and cost effective sustainable living
environment.

REFERENNCES:

http://www.buildinggreen.com/

http://www.google.com/

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