Nepal College of Information Technology
(Affiliated to (Pokhara University)
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
A REPORT ON
GREEN AND ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING
SUBMITTED BY:
Dinesh Shakya
Bisham Sangroula
Anil Baral
Shishir Ojha
Arun Bista
Rohan Bista
Prayush Bhandari
SUBMITTED TO:
CESS Nepal
January, 2024
Figure 1-1 LIFE CYCLE OF A GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ........................................ ................................................. . .............................................. 2
Figure 1-2 GREEN BUILDING DESIGN 1 .......................................... .................................................. ............................................... .... ......................
3
Figure 1-3 GREEN BUILDING DESIGN 2 .......................................... ................................................. . ............................................... ... ........................
4
Figure 3-1 Adobe made structure ............................................... .... ............................................. .......................................... ........ .................... 15
Figure 3-2 Bamboo Structure ............................................. ... .......................................... ........ ........................................ .......... ................ 15
Figure 3-3 AAC Blocks ............................................ .................................................. ............................................... .... ...................... 15
Figure 3-4 Slate Roofing ............................................ .................................................. ............................................... .... ...................... 16
Figure 3-7 Rain Water Harvesting ............................................... ................................................. . ............................................... ... ....................... 18
Figure 3-8 Rain Solar PV Module ........................................ .. ............................................... .... ............................................. ... ....................... 19
Table 4-1 Comparison of materials used in conventional and green building ..................................... .................................................. ............................................... .... ................................ 19
ABSTRACT:
Buildings are one of the largest energy consumers worldwide, accounting for 75% of all energy use and 80% of carbon emissions. This has a negative influence on the environment and the ecosystem, reinforcing the need for action on climate change, a topic of intense discussion among scientists, researchers, policymakers, and governments. Because of the potential for numerous changes brought about by climate change, both human and environmental well-being may be significantly impacted. This paper provides an outline of the significance of sustainable development and green building in addressing the issue of the negative effects of buildings on the environment and people. The ultimate goal is to establish sustainable building practices and develop green technology or techniques that buildings can use to lessen their environmental impact. It provides information on a variety of research articles' critical reviews, analyzes of green elements, research and material selection for green buildings, cost-benefit comparisons of conventional and green construction, and more. Around the world, there are numerous green building rating systems. The global market leader in rating systems is LEED, which is governed by the United States Green Building Council and stands for Leadership in Energy and Environment Design. By making the built environment more environmentally friendly, LEED makes significant strides in the direction of sustainable development. Thus, an illustration of the verified points required for the rating is provided. Additionally, this study has covered the working schedule, limitations, and expected results.
Buildings account for 73% of power consumption, 40% of raw material consumption, and 30% of carbon emissions among all sectors of the energy consumption market. There is little doubt that the building industry's recent boom will have a negative effect on the ecology and ecosystem. Based on studies, the building industry is responsible for 23% of air pollution, 50% of climate change, 40% of drinking water contamination, and 50% of land-filled garbage. Furthermore, the Earth's temperature is rising due to greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, which is a contributing factor to climate change-related calamities. Climate change is a major concern that is currently generating a lot of discussion among scientists, academics, policy makers, and governments. Considering how many changes the climate change can bring about that have a major impact on both human life and the environment, many engineering designs need to be reevaluated. As a result, the necessity of preserving the basic ecological balance between the natural and artificial environments as well as sustainable building practices is growing.
In an effort to reevaluate our natural resources over the past three decades, researchers have shown that the concept of sustainability can result in energy and water savings. More recently, it has been noted that buildings that incorporate the green building, also known as sustainable or high performance building, can frequently achieve reductions of 30-40%. The idea of designing and constructing buildings and procedures that are resource- and environmentally- conscious at every stage of a building's life cycle—from siting to design and construction to operation and maintenance to renovation and deconstruction—is known as green building, also known as sustainable building or green construction. It considers the entire spectrum of environmental effects, such as the potential for global warming, the embodied energy of a material, solid wastes produced by it, and contamination of the air and water.
BACKGROUND:
The issue about sustainable (green) building is increasingly relevant globally especially in the real estate sector. Urban areas today hold more than half of the human population. They consume three quarters of global energy and are responsible for 80% of carbon emissions. The building sector has a major impact on the built and natural environment in that building activities ie design, construction and demolition phase directly or indirectly affect environmental performance of the sector. Sustainable buildings are designed to reduce
energy, materials, and resources on a life-cycle basis. Green buildings reduce consumption of materials, non-renewable resources, and water and improve indoor environmental health.
Construction, maintenance and use of Green Building
have significant impact on environment. People's concern about environment and energy has necessitated the development of the concept
of green building. Its main goals
are to preserve resources like raw materials, energy and water, fight against global warming (greenhouse gas emission), minimize waste and other pollutions, and maximize the whole life-cycle performance. Sustainable building
also aims to bring comfort
and health to occupants by the use of materials of high sanitary and environmental quality, both for the actual construction and for the insulation.
Figure 1-1 LIFE CYCLE OF A GREEN
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
Green building designs are a structure that, in its design, construction or operation, reduces or eliminates negative impacts, and can create positive impacts, on our climate and natural environment. Green building
plans preserve precious
natural resources and improve our quality of life. Any building can be a green building, whether it's a home, an office, a school, a hospital, a community center,
or any other type of structure. However,
it is worth noting that not all green building designs
are and need to be the same. Different countries
and regions have a variety of characteristics such as distinctive climatic conditions, unique cultures and traditions, diverse building types and ages, or wide-ranging environmental, economic, and social priorities all of which shape their approach to the green building.
Figure 1-2 GREEN BUILDING DESIGN 1
Green buildings
use reclaimed materials
i.e., use of materials which have been used in previous buildings. Materials such as bricks, doors, windows, frames etc. can be used for another purpose depending on the size and strength,
in the new building. This reduces the embodied energy and reduces environmental impacts. Solar panels can meet the hot water requirements and efficient lighting. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) can reduce the electricity requirements. Natural day light reduces
electricity requirement during day time.
Heating and cooling costs of such buildings can be reduced by passive solar designs. Use of insulating materials
and glass windows
play a major role in such designs.
Figure 1-3 GREEN BUILDING
DESIGN 2
Water requirement in the green building is minimized. Water is used efficiently by employing water efficient appliances like low flush toilets, waterless
urinals etc. The waste water is treated and used for gardening and flushing by the use of double plumbing system. Permeable pavements and rainwater harvesting technology help in recharging ground water.
The environmental impacts of building are enormous. Conventional buildings use large amounts
of energy, land,
water and raw materials for their construction and operation. They are responsible for large greenhouse gas emissions of other harmful air pollutants. They also generate large amounts of construction and demolition waste and have serious impacts on plants and wildlife. An analysis of these issues demonstrates the scope of the problem. According to research the building energy use is projected to be doubled by 2050 and the greenhouse gas emission is to increase by 2030 due to population growth, increase in building stock and
lifestyle changes.
The rate of construction of buildings in our world is high to accommodate the rising number of people looking for settlements. The major concern is that almost none of the building
adopts the green sustainable design or technologies available in the market during their construction or occupational phases. Thus there will be an increase in the consumption and demand of building materials, energy, water, and improve indoor environmental health which in the long run will not be sustainable. Modern buildings use large amounts of energy for their construction and operation. They are responsible for production of Green House Gases, air pollutants and large amount of wastes which may have serious impacts on wildlife and plants. Thus, this research seeks to assess the level of sustainable building designs and explores technologies that can be incorporated into building design to make them sustainable and create healthy living.
1.2 OBJECTIVES:
i.
The overall objective of this study is to establish the level of sustainable buildings and come up with strategies or green technologies that can be incorporated into building designs to reduce their ecological footprints.
ii.
To develop buildings which use natural resources to the minimum at the time of construction as well as operation.
iii.
Reducing waste, pollution, environmental degradation and overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment.
Green building helps in the environmental aspect as the priority is given to local renewable, bio-sourced and recyclable materials and the design is based on the use of renewable energy (geothermal, solar) and the preservation of resources (energy and water efficiency, better insulation). Green building also help improve
the quality of life by enhancing occupant's health well-being and comfort (thermal insulation, better energy and lighting management). Moreover it minimizes strain on local infrastructures. The overall objective of this study is to establish the level of sustainable buildings and come up with strategies or green technologies that can be incorporated into building designs to reduce their ecological footprints. This study will
assess how sustainable building design has been used. This study will help to create nature friendly environment.
1.4 LIMITATIONS:
i.
Design and construction team may lack experience and unwillingness to take risk.
ii.
Hard and challenging to meet green building certification standards.
iii.
Lack of evaluation to demonstrate green building benefits
to owner and occupants.
This section presents the discussion of the existing literature in the area of sustainable construction and it starts by defining and explaining the existing body of knowledge of researches related to green building.
2.1 General:
Earlier research
has addressed the incorporation of green building
technologies into residential and commercial constructions from multiple points of view. Several authors have examined the financial, social and environmental benefits, in terms of the effects of green design and energy efficiency of "green concept".
Some authors have addressed the cost factors including the decision to adopt energy efficient design as well as the overall cost of building green. Most research has been done by independent institutions and organizations specialized in the field of construction and real estate sector. Many definitions of what a green building is or does exist. The ideal "green"
project preserves and restores habitat that is vital for sustaining life and becomes
a net producer and exporter
of resources, materials, energy and water rather than being a net consumer. A green building is one whose construction and lifetime of operation ensures the healthiest possible environment while representing the most efficient and least disruptive use of land, water, energy and resources (Governors Green Government Council,
2013). Advances in techniques and materials have made it possible to do what was unthinkable only a few years ago; Design buildings
that enhance the environment instead of exploiting it (Water Furnace International, 2011). An integrated design approach that addresses the potential of the site, water conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy as well as selection of building materials and indoor environmental quality is used to define a green building. In 2008, McGraw-Hill Construction (MHC) surveyed firms around the world to gain an insight into global green building trends. The study, “The Global Green Building Trends Smart Market 11 Report was one of the first ever studies focusing on green building and aiming to discern differences driving the green building marketplace (McGraw-Hill Construction, 2013). Only 17 countries had official or emerging green building councils (GBCs). The World Green Building Council (World GBC) was growing to help the emerging GBC movement and the emerging GBCs to share their experiences with other organizations. By 2012, global construction and economic situation was drastically different. After four years of construction activity declines and a global recession, construction activity had shifted to developing countries while developed countries battled with economic challenges. Development of GBCs grew gradually with GBCs in over 90 countries by 2012.
1. mr. JiaoZuo
and Mr. Zhen Yu Zhao (2013) carried out their research work on the green
building technology and also stated the current
status and also the future agendas for the same. They presented a report on a critical review of the existing body of knowledge of researches related to green building. They identified the common research themes and methodologies and then further carried out their research works. They focused on the common research themes such as the definition and the scope of green building, quantification of benefits of green buildings compared to conventional buildings, various approaches to achieve green building. In their research work they also found that the existing studies played predominantly flows on the environmental aspects of the green building. The author reported a critical review of existing studies related to green buildings worldwide in their research that showed these studies can generally be classified into three categories namely the definition and scope of green buildings; benefits and costs of green buildings and the ways to achieve green buildings. Also the authors concluded that special population such as aged people, students and teachers
could be made more attention
with respect to indoor environmental quality, also teachers. Shape the attitude and behaviors of the future practitioners and students will soon become the practitioners of green construction concept.
2. Ignacio Zabalza Bribian; Antonio Velvo Capilla; Alfonso Aranda Uson (2010) had published the paper on building
and environment in which they presented the results of an assumed lifecycle study comparing the most commonly used building materials with the same eco materials by using three different impact categories. The basic aim of authors by publishing this paper is to deepen the knowledge of energy and environmental specifications of the building
materials. Also they encouraged the study and analyzing their possibilities for improvement and providing guidelines for materials selection in the eco design of new building and also in rehabilitation of existing buildings. The researchers concluded that in order to avoid the production of materials affecting the natural resources, it is necessary
to promote the best use of these techniques available and innovation in production. Plants and replace as far as possible the use of finite natural resources with the waste generated in different production processes, closing the cycle of the products. Also this involves the commitment to reuse and recycle
and always minimizing the transportation of the starting
materials and products which would promote the use of resources easily available in local areas.
3. Omer Tatari, Murat Kucukvar published a paper on cost premium prediction of certified buildings stated
in it that the built
environment has a substantial impact on the economy, society and the environment. Along with the increasing environmental consideration of the building impacts, the environmental assessment of buildings has gained substantial importance in the construction industry. In their study, an artificial technique model is built to predict cost premium of LEED based certified green buildings based on LEED categories. The researchers concluded
that the planned future work included utilization of the expanded data sets and the closer study of the interdependence of LEED points and its effect in prediction.
4. Meron N and Meir IA 2017 Building Green Schools in Israel. Costs, Economic Benefits and Teacher Satisfaction. Energy and Buildings 154 analyzed the costs, economic advantages and teacher satisfaction regarding building green schools. The study was the first attempt at analyzing some of the first green sustainable schools in Israel. The study relied on secondary data from the findings of previous research and also a well-developed questionnaire. The research revealed that schools built with conventional construction methods have an average cost of 14.5% lower than comparing
green sustainable schools.
The authors discovered a wide scope of expenses of green schools, some of them built with a particularly high budget. Also, it was revealed that economic benefits are direct benefits, associating with energy and water consumption of the school buildings analyzed. Finally, of all the four schools examined, 92 staff members showed outstanding satisfaction with the green school classrooms.
5. Yingling Shi and Xinping Liu on 7th July, 2019 published a paper a research on the Literature of Green Building Based on the
Web of Science: A Scientometric Analysis in CiteSpace in China. Since the 21st century, the concept of green building has been gradually popularized and implemented in more countries, which has become a popular direction in the area of sustainability in the building industry. The purpose of this paper is to systematically analyze and visualize the status quo of green building. Therefore, based on Web of Science
(WoS), this paper analyzed the existing knowledge system of green building using CiteSpace, identified keywords related to green building and their frequency of occurrence using the function of keyword co-occurrence analysis, recognized five clusters using the function
of cluster analysis,
and explored the knowledge evolution pattern of green building using citation bursts analysis in order
to reveal how research related to green building has evolved over time. On the basis of aforementioned keywords, clusters, and citation bursts analysis, this paper has built a knowledge graph for green building.
6. On December, 2012 Authors Usman Aminu Umar, MF Khamidi, and Hassan Tukur Presented a Paper titled “SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIAL FOR GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, CONSERVATION AND REFURBISHING”. The
Paper states Materials are the essential components of buildings construction. Chemical, physical and mechanical properties of materials as well as an appropriate design are responsible for the building mechanical strength. The design of green buildings should thus begin with the selection and use of eco-friendly materials with related or better features than traditional building materials. Building materials are usually selected through functional, technical and financial requirements. However, with sustainability as a crucial issue in the last decades, the building sector, directly or indirectly causing
a considerable portion
of the annual environmental deterioration, can take up the obligation to contribute to sustainable development by finding more environmentally benign methods
of construction and building. . Selection
of construction materials that have minimum environmental burdens is useful in the sustainable development of a nation. The purpose of this paper is to highlight how sustainable building material can contribute to lessen the impact of environmental degradation, and generate
healthy buildings which can be sustainable to the occupant as well as our environment.
7. Pragyan Bhattarai, AVA Bharat Kumar, Rajendra Chaudhary, Dr. Shashi Kumar Gupta had published a paper on "Guidelines for Embracing Green Building Technology for Sustainable Development in Developing Countries" which talks Of late construction industry is undergoing a lot of change and eco-friendly materials are slowly replacing
the conventional construction materials in an attempt to protecting the environment and human health. This change in attitude has mainly come through because of overuse and abuse of different components of environment which has resulted in global warming, heat island effect and other hazardous effect causing negative impact on the current trend is also widely understood as Green Building concept. It is important that the government defines rules and protocols for certification/registration of buildings at a basic level. Some of these basic levels could be as simple as Sustainable site development, Water saving, Energy efficiency, use of
locally available material, indoor environmental quality and eco-friendly designs, etc. This paper forwards the concept of green buildings and basic categories which can be promoted by governments of developing countries to start the Green building concept in a bid to save the environment.
8. Zuo and Zhao (2014) reviewed the current research status and future development direction of Green Buildings, focusing on connotation and research scope, the benefit-difference between Green Buildings and traditional buildings, and various ways to achieve green building
development. Zhao et al. (2019) presented a bibliometric report of studies on Green Buildings between 2000 and 2016, identifying hot research topics and knowledge gaps. The verification of the true performance of sustainable buildings, health and safety hazards in the development of green projects, and the corporate social responsibility were detected as future agenda.
9. Ries; Robert Bilec; Melissa M Gochen; Nurvi Mehmet Needy and Kim Lascola had published a paper on the economic benefits of green buildings which was a comprehensive study which was supported with a case study. They stated that in building design and constructions both the green building and standard construction techniques are considered for many building project. Their research investigated the relationship between the composite conventional and green building features which would contribute to the development of the green building metrics. Their results comprised of following sections:-
i.
Productivity,
health and safety including energy.
ii.
They also concluded
the increase in productivity with the help of green building in their published paper.
10. Kasai and Jabbour identified and analyzed the primary obstacles to green building at two engineering schools
in Brazil. Several
isolated cases were examined to analyze the fundamental obstacles to introducing green buildings in these schools. Interviews were also carried out involving 7 individuals, 5 from school A and 2 from school B. The research revealed that the goal of the schools in embracing greener building standards was observed. However, the obstacles to its adoption are obvious, particularly those of a specialized and cultural origin.
These hindrances include
lack of money for minimizing building repair costs, absence of pin-pointers for assessing building feasible, high start-up capital outlay, the technological level and novelty among architects, planners and engineers.
3.2
DESCRIPTION:
1)
Literature review:
This study is aimed at research, study and development of the green building construction techniques in order to save our planet from pollution and global temperature rise. Also, it aims at spreading awareness among the
people all over the world, about the advantages and also the long term cost savings from green buildings.
2)
Inspection and Analysis
of Green Building Components:
For inspection and analysis of our project we will need sources of our data. For that the preliminary information is collected through literature survey. And then the following components of green building are studied:
·
Energy efficiency and renewable energy;
When people think of "green" buildings, they often think of energy first. Creating an energy-efficient building begins during design and can be interpreted in many ways. Of course, once the building is completed and occupied, it can draw on sustainable energy, such as solar panels
built into the building's structure. But even the construction process can be planned to use less energy and more renewable fuels for tools such as large machinery. Whether
it's installing specialty
glass for solar and heat management, or choosing a whole building
system run on renewable energy, building with energy-efficiency in mind can add a host of benefits—most importantly, lower utility bills.
·
Water efficiency:
In the hierarchy of green building components, water efficiency is just as important as energy efficiency. And just like energy efficiency, conserving water can happen anywhere from the construction process to the way the completed structure uses water (especially in landscaping). Even just choosing low-flush toilets
and other high-efficiency fixtures and materials can make a difference to the building's total water efficiency.
·
Environmentally
Preferable Building Materials
& Specifications:
Of course, a green building wouldn't be anything without the green building materials used. Luckily, there are dozens of choices for sustainable materials. Building with recycled steel or even an existing item like a shipping container can reduce the need for reprocessing of the steel, saving energy and reducing emissions. Options such as modular homes or structures made from SIPs will result
in a building that blends in with any neighborhood while still standing out for its sustainability. Even a log cabin, when sourced and built correctly, can be a green building project.
·
Waste Reduction:
Reducing waste to make a building
greener doesn't necessarily have to do with any “waste” produced within the building during occupancy. Rather, it has to do with the waste generated during the construction process or even future demolition. This aspect of sustainability can also include reducing waste and pollution from landscaping and even emissions from heavy machines needed for building. Good green options include earth bag homes and SIPs. Earth bag homes are literally drawn up
from the earth. Because you are using sustainable material,
any unused earth goes right back to where it came from or is used in another project. SIPs are designed to fit together with minimal offcuts and all extraneous pieces are recycled, drastically reducing construction waste.
·
Toxic/Toxins Reduction:
Reducing toxins within a structure can happen in a variety of ways. From the chemicals
used to make indoor furnishings flame retardant to the glues and finishes used on building materials, many traditionally-toxic items can be replaced with greener options. For example, ICF buildings are made from foam pieces, rebar, and concrete, eliminating the need for chemically treated wood framing. Rammed earth or straw bale homes provide a natural source of insulation as opposed to chemical-filled commercial insulation.
·
Indoor Air Quality:
The chemicals used in older,
traditional building methods
can leach out of the finished structure and affect air quality. If bad enough, this can lead occupants to develop "sick building syndrome." Sustainable materials such as bamboo are great for air quality because they absorb ⅔ more CO2 and produce 30% more O2 than regular wood. But making IAQ (indoor air quality) a green aspect goes way beyond materials. A sustainable building
will have designs
or systems in place to circulate and filter the air in the structure. These systems will likely be energy efficient or even built directly
into the design
with smart elements
such as the room or ceiling shape.
·
Smart Growth & Sustainable Development:
It is not enough to just be a green building. Sustainable buildings will continue to develop their sustainability and environmental impact over time. This could include
dealing with storm water runoff or even occupant waste in a new, sustainable way. Green buildings will need to adapt over time to changing and ever-tightening regulations.
3)
Research (source material)
and selection:
Green building materials are composed of renewable, rather than non-renewable resources. After properly collecting data and information we have selection criteria for material collection. We select materials with resource efficiency, indoor air quality (IAQ) which are non-toxic, minimal chemical emissions, moisture resistant. We select material with high efficiency so that it helps to reduce energy consumption in building. The following are some of the green building materials which can be used in construction:
·
Bamboo
·
AAC Blocks
·
Slate roofing
·
Non-VOC paints
·
Stone
a)
Bamboo:
Ø Bamboo is one of the most used multipurpose and durable materials used in construction.
Ø These trees grow faster regardless of climatic conditions. So, it makes it economical as well.
Ø
They can be used to construct frames or supports,
walls, floors etc.
Ø
They provide a good appearance
to the structures.
Figure 3-2 Bamboo Structure
b)
AAC Blocks
Ø AAC blocks are known for their low density, making them significantly lighter than traditional concrete blocks, facilitating easier handling and transportation.
Ø The unique composition of AAC blocks, with tiny air pockets, provides excellent thermal insulation, helping to regulate indoor temperatures and reduce energy consumption.
Ø AAC blocks exhibit a high level of fire resistance due to their inorganic nature and manufacturing process, ensuring enhanced safety in building structures.
Figure 3-3 AAC Blocks
c)
Slate Roofing:
Ø
Slate is naturally
formed rock which is used to make tiles.
Ø
Slate tiles have high durability
and they are used as roofing materials.
Ø
Slate roofing is preferred when it is locally or cheaply available.
Figure 3-4 Slate Roofing
d)
Non-VOC paints:
Ø Non-VOC paint or green paint is recommended over VOC containing paints.
Ø Presence of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in paint reacts with sunlight and nitrogen oxide resulting in the formation of ozone which can cause severe health problems for the occupants.
Ø If non-VOC paint is not available then try the paint with very low-VOC content in it.
e)
Stone:
Ø Stone is a naturally
occurring and a long-lasting building
material. Some stone structures built hundreds of years ago are still in existence without much abrasion.
Ø Stones are good against weathering hence they can be used to construct exterior walls, steps, exterior flooring etc.
Figure 3-6 Stone wall
4)
Rain Water Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting in a green building is a sustainable practice that leverages the natural abundance of rainfall to meet water needs while minimizing environmental impact. This eco-friendly approach involves a comprehensive system that efficiently collects, filters, stores, and distributes rainwater for various purposes within the building.
Figure 3-7 Rainwater Harvesting
5)
Solar PV modules
Solar PV modules harness sunlight to produce electricity through the photovoltaic effect. These modules typically consist of solar cells, usually made of crystalline silicon or thin-film materials, connected within a protective enclosure of tempered glass. Monocrystalline cells, formed from a single crystal structure, provide high efficiency and a refined appearance. In contrast, polycrystalline cells, comprised of multiple crystals, offer a slightly lower efficiency. These modules play a pivotal role in renewable energy systems, converting solar energy into a clean and sustainable power source for various applications, from residential solar panels to large-scale solar farms.
Figure 3-8 Rain Solar PV Module
6)
Comparison:
Green buildings are buildings that are developed to reduce the wide effect of the built environment on human well-being and the natural environment. It is designed such that its construction gets rid of all damaging effects and creates a positive impact on the climate and surroundings. Green buildings use water, energy and other resources quite efficiently, reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation. They create positive impacts not only on the environment but also inside
the building. Green buildings increase
the interior air quality.
Conventional buildings are buildings that are built using the standard methods of construction. It involves traditional construction materials and stays within a particular set of parameters. They are based on simple plans and measurements including regular flooring plans. They are called conventional buildings because the materials
used are what people tend to use most of the time and have been this way for many years.
Conventional building construction does not have any non-energy saving techniques, can be energy efficient only if improvements are made to it, whereas, green building constructions are built with energy saving techniques, increases the energy efficiency of the buildings using star appliances and also helps improve the design of the building.
In conventional buildings, lighting, air conditioning and heating systems,
if made effective, can turn that building into a green building.
Green buildings have effective lighting, air conditioning and heating. Conventional buildings do not have a water management system,
whereas green
buildings have water conservation and a competent water management system. Conventional buildings have windows and doors placed according to the likes of the people, whereas in green buildings, windows and doors are re-oriented such that the house receives abundant natural light.
Another difference between a conventional building and a green building is that, a green building uses an efficient insulating building material to reduce heat convention as well as radiation.
According to a study, it has come to notice that green buildings
reduce the energy used, carbon emissions, water usage and solid waste produced, that the conventional buildings are responsible for. This shows that switching to green buildings is very essential
for the environment and for the health and safety
of the people.
The table below shows the materials used in conventional and green building respectively for different items:
Table 4-1 Comparison of materials used in conventional and green building
7)
Cost benefit:
The most criticized issue
about constructing environmentally friendly buildings is the price. Photo-voltaic, new appliances and modern technologies tend to cost more money. Most green buildings cost a premium
of <2%, but yield 10 times as much over the entire life of the building. In regards to the financial benefits of green building, over 20 years, the financial payback typically exceeds the additional cost of greening by a factor
of 4-6 times. And broader
benefits, such as reductions in greenhouse gases and other pollutants have large positive impacts on surrounding communities and on the planet. The savings in money come from more efficient use of utilities which result in decreased energy bills.
8)
LEED:
The adopted methodology employs the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) which is a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings developed by the US Green Building Council. It is one of the most known environmental assessors in the market nowadays
and is the most widely
used green building
rating system in the world available for virtually all building types. LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership. Its aim is to help building owners and operators be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently.
Qualifying for the LEED certification can be a complex process. The simple checklist for certification of buildings, which scores green building design and construction using a point system that is categorized in five areas:
v
Sustainable sites
v
Water efficiency
v
Energy and atmosphere
v
Materials and resources
v
Indoor environmental quality
Buildings and homes are awarded up to 110 points, based on the level of sustainable policies that are achieved from basic sustainable design to a framework that consumes the least amount of energy possible. The more points achieved, the higher the level of LEED certification, which is comprised of four levels:
v
LEED certified (40-49 points)
v
Silver certification (50-59 points)
v
Gold certification (60-70 points)
v
Platinum certification (80+ points)
As this study is focused to create environment friendly buildings and to maintain the sustainable development following are the expected outcomes of this projects:
§ Awareness about green technologies for upcoming projects.
§ Maximum optimization of renewable resources.
§ Sustainability and Durability in construction of green project.
§ Eco-friendly environment.
|
Load
|
Rating (Watt)
|
Numbers
|
Power
|
Hours/per day
|
Capacity
|
|
LED
|
10
|
32
|
32
|
6
|
192
|
|
TV
|
100
|
1
|
100
|
2
|
200
|
|
Refrigerator
|
150
|
1
|
150
|
18
|
2700
|
|
Induction Stove
|
1000
|
1
|
1000
|
5
|
5000
|
|
Washing machine
|
700
|
1
|
700
|
0.3
|
210
|
|
Mobile
|
30
|
4
|
120
|
1
|
120
|
|
Laptop
|
65
|
1
|
65
|
1
|
65
|
|
Water pump
|
746
|
1
|
746
|
1
|
746
|
|
Total
|
|
|
2167
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9233
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CHAPTER 5 LOAD CALCULATION
Sunshine hours = 6hrs
W p = 150 W
V m =12V
I m = 7A
Operating factor = 0.92
Battery Efficiency = 95%
Inverter Efficiency = 95%
Change Controller = 95%
Energy Requirement = 8487 W/hr
Input to inverter = 8487/0.95 = 8933.68 Whr
System voltage=24V
Output of battery=8933.68Whr
Battery input=8933.68/0.95=9403.87 Whr
Capacity=9403.87/24=391.82 Ahr
Taking battery capacity available in market of capacity=150 Ah(12V)
=391.82/150
3
Output=9403.87
Input=9403.87/0.95=9898.1105
PV Module,
Output of PV=9898.1105/0.9=10998.67 whr
Ahr generated=458.278Ahr
Production rate=458.278/6=76.379
In worst condition.
One module=8.3A
no. of modulus=76.379/8.310
cost estimate,
Solar PV=Rs.63,200*10=Rs.632000
Battery=28000*3=Rs.84000
Charge controller=Rs.700
Inverter=Rs.15000
Overall=Rs.10000
Total installation cost=Rs.741700
Rainwater Harvesting
Annual Rainfall(P)=1397mm
Catchment area(A)=74.42 m 2
Runoff coefficient(C)=0.8
Total rainwater collection=P*A*C
=1397/1000*74.42*0.8=83.1717m 2
Demand for water,
Let, 7 members in a house,
Each of them consumes=50ltr/day
Daily demand of water=7*50=350ltr
no. of days served by rain water=83171.7/350=237.63
238 days
When dry period demand is less than rainwater collection,
Let, the longest dry period =90 days (consider absolute dry month=3)
Water demand=50lpcd (liters per capita per day)
no. of family members=7
Dry period demand = 90*7*40=25,200ltrs
Total rainwater collection=P*A*C
=1397/1000*74.42*0.8
=83.1717m 3 =83171.7ltrs
Thus, dry period demand <total rainwater collection
Volume of storage tank=31,500ltrs
=25,200/1000
=25.2 =2.9317m 3
When dry period demand is more than rainwater collection,
Annual rainfall(P)=1397mm
OR
Annual average rainfall in Kathmandu valley (P)=1397mm
Area(A)=74.42m 2
Runoff coefficient(C)=0.8
Total rainwater collection=P*A*C
=1397*74.42*0.8
=83171.7ltrs
let
The longest dry period=120 days
(Consider absolute dry month=4)
Water demand=50lpd
no. of family members=7
Dry period demand=120*7*40=33,600ltrs
Thus,
Dry period demand<total rainwater collection
Volume of storage tank=42,000ltrs
=33600/1000
=33.6m 3
=3.2268m
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·
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