ERODE SENGUNTHAR ENGINEERING COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

ERODE-57

PAPER ON

ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS

Presented by,

K.Gowthamranm
gowtham.r27@gmail.com

A.ArunKumar
arunkumarvaisu@gmail.com
ph no-9790149629,8870531231

ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS

ABSTRACT
Energy Efficient Building is a design and construction practice that promotes the
economic, health and well being of our family, the community and the environment. By adopting
energy efficient building strategies, we can maximize both economics and environmental performance.
Energy efficient construction methods can be integrated into buildings at any stage, from design and
construction, to renovation and deconstruction.
The benefits of providing energy efficient buildings and advanced technology for
residential buildings are discussed briefly in this paper along with its appropriate pictures. To
enhance the occupant comfort and health, to reduce the operating costs, and to improve overall
quality of life, some modern construction techniques are introduced and they are well explained.
In short, we can say, the techniques in this paper will satisfy the basic needs of a young civil
engineer for giving a healthy building.
After constructing the building, new equipments like wind turbines, solar panels are
installed. The construction techniques, coupled with other building materials are followed in
foundations, plumbing, roofing, flooring, wall coverings, and sidings. For easy under standing of the
techniques appropriate figures are shown. Because the energy efficient buildings are new one to the
rural & urban area.
INTRODUCTION
Energy efficient Building is a design and construction practice that promotes the economic,
health and well being of our family, the community and the environment. By adopting energy
efficient building strategies, we can maximize both economics and environmental performance.
Energy efficient construction methods can be integrated into buildings at any stage, from design
and construction, to renovation and deconstruction.
BENEFITS OF ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS
Environment Benefits

Enhance and product biodiversity and ecosystem.

Improve air and water quality.

Reduce waste streams.

Conserve and restore natural resources.

Economical Benefits

Reduce operating costs.

Create, expand and shape market for energy efficient product and services.

Improve occupant productivity.

Optimize life-cycle economic performance.

Social Benefits

Enhance occupant comfort and health.

Higher aesthetic qualities.

Minimize strain on local infrastructure.

Improve over all quality of life.

ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING TECHNIQUES & ECOFRIENDLY CONSTRUCTION

ATTIC

Reflect heat away from your home by installing a radiant barrier on the underside of your
roof.

A radiant barrier is simply a sheet of aluminum foil with paper backing that can reduce heat
gains through your ceiling by 95%.

SOLAR

Adding a solar heating system to your home is one way to combat increasing energy costs
and to raise the value of your home.

The two major types of active solar retrofits are solar hot water fluid collectors that heat air
to be distributed in the house with fans.

Additionally, you might consider photovoltaic panels that contain hundred of small silicon
cells that collect the suns energy and change it into electricity that can be used in the home.

EXTERIOR

A homes exterior wall surface is one of its most visible and defining features.

When you re-side your home, it is also a good time to consider wrapping the house with
rigid foam to increase the wall insulation.

ENERGY

Roof mounted wind turbines and solar panel reduces the need for outside energy resources.

WATER-EFFICIENT BUILDING TECHNIQUES

Systems collect rainwater to use for landscaping irrigation.

Low flow water or compositing toilets reduce water use.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUIES
The ECO-Block ICF is composed of three components

Side panels

Webs

Side panel connector element.

SIDE PANELS

The ECO-Block ICF(Integrated concrete foam) system consists of two types of plastic:
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and high-density plastic. Each block has two side panels.

Each measuring 48" (1219 mm) long by 16" (406

mm) high by 2.5"

(64 mm) thick. These side

panels are made of flame-retardant EPS.

Every 8 (203 mm) on the horizontal axis of the

side panel, there is a high-density plastic web.

WEBS

It is a high density plastic web that has been molded

into the EPS side panel.

These webs provide a surface on both exterior and interior to attach finishing materials.

SIDE PANEL CONNECTOR ELEMENTS

The connector element spans the cavity between the two side panels and connects the two
side panels together to make the blocks.

The connector elements and the EPS side panels are easily and quickly assembled on site.

The cavity made by the connector element can be varying sizes from 4", 6", 8" or 10" (101.6
mm to 254 mm) or more depending on the length of the connector element.

Then the concrete is placed in the cavity to make concrete wall of the building.

After the concrete cures, the ECO-Block side panels remain in place and provide the
insulation for the building.

STACK - AND - POUR FOR FAST WALLS

For the construction of exterior wall, wood-frame construction, such as sheathing and
insulations are used.

Extreme heat, frigid cold, rain or sun - it doesnt matter - EPS insulates concrete, allowing it
to wet-cure as it strengthens.

After the concrete cures, the plumbing and electrical installation can begin. The foam is easy
to cut and remove plus, exterior or interior finish can be applied.

Only basic hand tools are needed to position and secure our lightweight blocks.

High-density plastic webs are recessed by 1/4, providing a uniform exterior to which any
stucco or EIFS material can be applied.

Uniform surface provides superior adhesion and crack resistance.

Radius walls and angled walls can also be constructed with ease through simple mitering
techniques.

FOUNDATIONS

Some builders are finding plastic to be extremely helpful in laying a foundation.

Coupled with other building materials, such as concrete, plastics present an array of
innovative possibilities - such as Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) and Insulating Concrete
Forms (ICFs).

According to the Insulating Concrete Form Association (ICFA), homes built with SIPs
(made with an expanded polystyrene (EPS) or extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam core
laminated to sheets of high-strength oriented strand board), can help homeowners save
hundreds of dollars each year on energy bills.

The laminated sandwich construction of SIPs has provided buildings with great wind and
seismic resistance, snow loading, and soundproofing characteristics.

By eliminating a large portion of conventional wood framing, SIPs can use approximately
35 % less raw lumber in home construction, generating less manufacturing and construction
waste.

PLUMBING

Plastics also offer homeowners the ease of do-it-yourself repair. Easy to drill, saw and construct,
plastic piping is fast, efficient and economical for homeowners.

Competitive price vs. copper

Self-insulating to minimize thermal loss

Integral flame retardancy

Less subject to jobsite theft

Inert to acidic soils and corrosive water supplies

Non-conductive

Virtually no sweating or condensation

Can be pressure tested in ten minutes.

FLOORING

Plastic vinyl flooring is impermeable, holds up to

traffic and is easy to care for and clean - helping to
provide a hygienic and safe environment.

Plastic vinyl flooring is impermeable, holds up to

traffic and is easy to care for and clean - helping to
provide a hygienic and safe environment.

ROOFING

Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA), spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roofing systems
are noted for their long life, renewable and energy saving characteristics, as well as their
ability to help control moisture in buildings.

WALL COVERINGS

Durable and easy to clean, vinyl products offer the added benefit of longevity.

Vinyl wall coverings also offer favorable Indoor Air Quality attributes since this plastic has a
relatively low potential for odors or emissions.

Vinyl windows are impervious to rust, rot, blistering, corrosion,

flaking and infestation by termites or other insects.

Lifecycle analysis firm shows vinyl window frames require

three times less energy to manufacture than aluminum window
frames.

The design of vinyl window frames further enhances energy

efficiency by creating chambers in the frame that provide additional resistance to heat
transfer and insulating air pockets.

The energy efficiency of vinyl windows and glass doors can mean less electricity is used to
heat and cool a home or building which can help reduce the energy efficient house gas
emissions.

The low maintenance requirements of vinyl windows and glass doors eliminate the need for
paints, stains, strippers and thinners, which can negatively impact air quality.

SIDING

Vinyl siding is found on the exterior of homes, apartment buildings, assisted living facilities,
office parks and other buildings across the country.

Appreciated for its durability, ease of maintenance, and versatility, as well as its low
installation cost.

CONCRETE FORM WITH INSULATION (CFI)

The forms consist of concrete board on the inside and out held together by galvanized steel
studs every 7.25 inches with 4" of rigid insulating material held by 1" spacers in the center.

The forms have window and door openings pre-cut as well as electrical conduit and boxes
installed.

The walls are ready for conventional drywall finishing on the inside, and any conventional
finish such as stucco or siding.

The great
strength,
reasonable
insulation (R-

20),

low air
infiltration and

good

thermal mass.
SHOTCRETE SYSTEM

Shotcrete is sprayed concrete.

They actually have two different ways of doing this: one retains the fabric of the form as a
part of the exterior of the building, and the other allows the form to be reused several times
for other buildings.

Polyurethane foam insulation is spayed on the inside of the form and then allowed to set up.

Then rebar is assembled beneath this to conform with the shape established, and the
shotcrete to sprayed onto the steel reinforcing from the inside.

Domes of this sort have withstood hurricanes and earthquakes.

SHOTCRETE SANDWICH PANELS

For more conventional vertical wall buildings, there are several manufacturers of shotcrete
sandwich panel systems. These systems employ an EPS core for insulation, with wire mesh attached to
both sides of it. Once the panels are erected on site, the shotcrete is applied to both sides. Depending
on how thick the EPS insulation is, the potential R-values can be quite high.

FERROCEMENT
"A thin composite made with a cement-based mortar matrix reinforced with closely spaced
layers of small diameter wire mesh." Simply put, reinforced concrete, including shotcrete, contains
cement, sand and an aggregate of stone, along with reinforcing steel usually in the form of rebar and

sometimes heavy duty wire mesh, i.e. 6x6x6x6 or 6x6x10x10. The aggregate in concrete can be as
small as 1/4" and gets larger from there depending on mix design and application. Ferrocement never
uses aggregate but is composed of sand, Portland cement and wire mesh. There is a method called
laminated Ferro cement.
STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS (SIPs)
Instead of cement used as a skin over the insulation, other systems mostly use oriented strand
board (OSB) onto which the finished surfaces can be attached.
The insulating core is typically EPS or polyurethane foam, but SIP's manufactured with MEPS
is preferable because the process does not emit ozone-depleting gas. The advantages of these systems
are that they are air tight, well insulating (depending on the type and thickness of the insulation) and
easy to install.

LIGHT-GUAGE STEEL
Light-gauge steel is being used more often these days to replace wood studs for framing a
house. The cost is comparable to wood, and much of the steel is recycled. Steel is actually stronger and
lighter than wood, and is termite and fire proof. Also the use of steel conserves our forest resources.
This Carriage House was initially designed to create garage and shop space, as well as office
and storage space for the designer's personal use. Since the steel vault is completely covered with
insulating earth bags, the building is very well insulated, and comfortable year-round. This concept

could be converted to residential use, with the addition of kitchen and bathroom functions, and the
steel interior finish could be covered with scored sheetrock, tongue & grooved wood, or even cloth.
This is rather inexpensive way to create substantial shelter. This design is based on a fairly
small (16' X 34') steel building, but these structures are available in a wide range of widths ( up to sizes
fit for aircraft hangers), and the lengths can be indefinite, since it is just a matter of adding more arched
sections to lengthen the building.

ENERGY EFFICIENT
REDUCED ENERGY

BUILDING ADVANTAGE:
CONSUMPTION

By utilizing passive strategies such as day lighting, thermal mass, and shading, or by
utilizing high performance systems, we can significantly reduce the energy demand of our
mechanical systems.

This translates into a reduced need for extricating dwindling fossil fuels and power plant
operation.

REDUCED WATER CONSUMPTION

With water efficient design, our buildings can reduce the amount of potable water required
for non-consumptive uses.

Efficient landscape, hardscape, and roof designs can also mitigate storm water runoff
thereby lessening the burden on our storm and sewer systems.

This positively affects local, regional, and global waterways by reducing pollution and
supporting natural watersheds.

REDUCED AIR POLLUTION

There are also direct pollutant sources such as HVAC refrigerants and the toxic emissions from our
finishes.

All of these have impacts on global warming, ozone depletion, and air pollution.

INCREASED MATERIAL EFFICIENTLY

Using local and natural materials in our buildings has a direct benefit on all three of the
above strategies.

In addition, utilizing recycled, reclaimed, or salvaged materials can lessen the burden on our
landfills by reducing the need for dumping.

SHORT-TERM ADVANTAGES

Sustainable buildings can offer immediate savings in the area of utility costs.

Whether from reduced electrical energy and water usage, or from reduced cost of storm
water mitigation infrastructure, our buildings have the opportunity to lessen the cost of
running utility bills.

Buildings with efficient layouts can reduce the cost of building materials and construction
waste.

LONG-TERM ADVANTAGES

Utility cost savings over the long term could pay for possible upfront cost increases.

While the payback duration on items like photovoltaic panels is debatable, some other
measures may realize quick pay-offs.

Passive systems may need little to no ongoing maintenance; therefore a building owner
could save on the building operations budget.

CONCLUSION
By utilizing passive strategies such as day lighting, thermal mass, and shading, or
by utilizing high performance systems, we can significantly reduce the energy demand of our
mechanical systems. This translates into a reduced need for extricating dwindling fossil fuels
and power plant operation. Always keep on open mind to new ideas and choose whatever works
best for our building.

A STITCH IN A TIME SAVES NINE