BIM in Green Building

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 GREEN BUILDING

1.1.1 DEFINITION:
Green buildings are also known as sustainable or high performance building. A green
building is a structure that is environmentally responsible and resource effect through-out
its life-cycle.
1.1.2 WHY GREEN BUILDINGS?
Sustainable development and better living for the future generations will be the main
objective for the upcoming years. With industrialisation and urbanisation the natural
resources are being rapidly utilised without any planning which may lead to depletion of
resources and releasing of by products like greenhouse gases can harm the environment.
If these living conditions continue the disparity in living conditions will create social
upheaval and revolt and also future generations will have to perish without any resources
to survive.
Hence the adoption of nature’s basic rule ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’ is needed. Eco-
friendly particles should include:
 Adequate land use and better site planning so as not to overuse the natural resources
 Renewable or non-conventional energy generation or alternative fuels.
 Conservation of electricity and efficient practices
 Proper water management including drainage, rainwater harvesting, recycling of grey
water, waste water disposal etc.
 Maintaining good air quality.
 Human safety and comfort.

1.1.3 BENEFITS OF GREEN BUILDING

The world over, evidence is growing that green buildings bring multiple benefits. They
provide some of the most effective means to achieving a range of global goals, such as
addressing climate change, creating sustainable and thriving communities, and driving

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economic growth. The benefits of green buildings can be grouped within three categories:
environmental, economic and social. Here, we provide a range of facts and statistics from
various third-party sources that present these benefits.

1.1.3.1 Environmental Benefits

 One of the most important types of benefit green buildings offer is to our climate and
the natural environment. Green buildings can not only reduce or eliminate negative
impacts on the environment, by using less water, energy or natural resources, but they
can in many cases have a positive impact on the environment by generating their own
energy or increasing biodiversity.
 According to UNEP 2009, the building sector has the largest potential for
significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to other major emitting
sectors.
 In 2016 UNEP said these emissions saving potential is said to be as much as 84 giga
tonnes of CO2 by 2050, through direct measures in buildings such as energy
efficiency, fuel switching and the use of renewable energy.
 The building sector has the potential to make energy savings of 50% or more in 2050,
in support of limiting global temperature rises to 2°C (above pre-industrial levels) –
UNEP 2016.
 Green buildings achieving the Green Star certification in Australia have been showing
the results of, produce 62% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than average Australian
buildings, and 51% less potable water than if they had been built to meet minimum
industry requirements.
 Green buildings certified by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) results
in energy savings of 40 - 50% and water savings of 20 - 30% compared to
conventional buildings in India.

 Green buildings achieving the Green Star certification in South Africa have been
shown to save on average between 30 - 40% energy and carbon emissions every year,
and between 20 - 30% potable water every year, when compared to the industry norm.

 Green buildings achieving the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design) certification in the US and other countries have been observed to consume 25
per cent less energy and 11 per cent less water, than non-green buildings.

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1.1.3.2 Economic Benefits
Green buildings offer a number of economic or financial benefits, which are relevant to a
range of different people or groups of people. These include cost savings on utility bills
for tenants or households (through energy and water efficiency); lower construction costs
and higher property value for building developers; increased occupancy rates or operating
costs for building owners; and job creation.
 According to European commission, 2015, global energy efficiency measures could
save an estimated €280 to €410 billion (Rs 25000 to Rs 37000) in savings on energy
spending which is equivalent to almost double the annual electricity consumption of
the United States.
 Canada’s green building industry generated $23.45(Rs 1600) billion in GDP and
represented nearly 300,000 full-time jobs in 2014.
 Green building is projected to account for more than 3.3 million U.S. jobs by 2018.
 Building owners report that green buildings - whether new or renovated - command a
7 per cent increase in asset value over traditional buildings – Dodge Data &
Analytics, 2016.
1.1.3.3 Social Benefits
Green building benefits go beyond economics and the environment, and have been shown
to bring positive social impacts too. Many of these benefits are around the health and
wellbeing of people who work in green offices or live in green homes.
 Workers in green, well-ventilated offices record a 101 per cent increase in cognitive
scores (brain function).
 Employees in offices with windows slept an average of 46 minutes more per night.
 Research suggests that better indoor air quality (low concentrations of CO2 and
pollutants, and high ventilation rates) can lead to improvements in performance of up
to 8 per cent–Park and Yoon, 2011.

1.2 BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING

1.2.1 Definition
BIM (Building Information Modelling) is an intelligent 3D model-based process that
gives architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals the insight and
tools to more efficiently plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure.
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1.2.2 Uses of BIM
 Existing condition modelling  Code validation
 Cost estimation  3D coordination
 Phase planning  Site utilization planning
 Programming  Construction system design
 Site analysis  Digital fabrication
 Design authoring  3D control and planning
 Design review  Record modelling
 Structural analysis  Maintenance scheduling
 Lighting analysis  Building system analysis
 Energy analysis  Asset management
 Mechanical analysis  Space management
 Other engineering analysis  Disaster planning and management
 Sustainable evaluation

Fig1.1 flowchart of BIM usage in each stage of construction

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1.3 BIM IN DESIGN OF GREEN BUILDING

1.3.1 Site Analysis
BIM and/or Geographic Information System (GIS) are used to evaluate sites within a
given area to determine the optimal site location for a future project. The site data
collected is used to first select the site and then position the building and infrastructure
based on other criteria. The potential values of site analysis are,
 Decrease costs of utility demand and demolition
 Increase energy efficiency
 Minimize risk of hazardous material
 Maximize return on investment
1.3.2 Day lighting Analysis
It is a process wherein analytical modelling software utilizes the BIM design authoring
model to determine the behaviour of a given lighting system. This can also include
artificial (indoor and outdoor) and natural (day lighting and solar shading) lighting. Based
on this analysis further development and refinement of the lighting design takes place to
create effective, efficient, and constructible lighting systems. The application of this
analysis tool allows for performance simulations that can significantly improve the design
and performance of the facility's lighting over its lifecycle. The potential values are,

 Increase in day light in the building

 Decreases the electricity consumption

 Natural light benefits human health

 Increase in energy efficiency

1.3.3 Energy Analysis

A process in the design phase which one or more building energy simulation programs
use a properly adjusted BIM model to conduct energy assessments for the current
building design. The core goal of this BIM use is to inspect building energy standard

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compatibility and seek opportunities to optimize proposed design to reduce structure's

life-cycle costs. The potential values are,

 Save time and costs by obtaining building and system information automatically from
BIM model instead of inputting data manually.

 Improve building energy prediction accuracy by auto-determining building

information such as geometries, volumes precisely from BIM model

 Help with building energy code verification

 Optimize building design for better building performance efficiency and reduce
building life-cycle cost,

1.3.4 Sustainability Analysis

It is a process to evaluate and track the sustainability performance of a facility by using a

sustainability metric system, e.g., LEED, Green Globes, etc. This process should occur
during all stages of a facilities life including planning, design, construction, and
operation. Applying sustainable features to a project in the planning and early design
phases is more effective (ability to impact design) and efficient (cost and schedule of
decisions). This comprehensive process requires more disciplines to interact earlier by
providing valuable insights. In addition to achieving sustainable goals, having LEED
approval process adds certain calculations, documentations, and verifications. Energy
simulations, calculations, and documentations can be performed within an integrative
environment when responsibilities are well defined and clearly shared. Potential values
are,

 Facilitates interaction, collaboration and coordination of team members early in the

project process are considered to be favourable to sustainable projects.
 Enables early and reliable evaluation of design alternatives.
 Availability of critical information early helps problem resolution efficiently in terms
of cost premium and schedule conflicts.
 Shortens the actual design process by the help of early facilitated design decisions.
Shorter design process is cost effective and provides more time for other projects.
 Leads to delivery better project quality.

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 Reduces documentation load after design and accelerates certification because
concurrently prepared calculations can be used for verification.
 Reduces operational costs of the facility due to the energy performance of the project.
It optimized building performance via improved energy management.
 Increases the emphasis on environmentally friendly and sustainable design.

 Assists project team with potential future revisions throughout the life cycle.
1.3.5 Building System Analysis:

A process that measures how a building's performance compares to the specified design.
This includes how the mechanical system operates and how much energy a building uses.
Other aspects of this analysis include, but are not limited to, ventilated facade studies,
lighting analysis, internal and external CFD airflow, and solar analysis.

 Ensure building is operating to specified design and sustainable standards

 Identify opportunities to modify system operations to improve performance
 Create a "what if" scenario and change different materials throughout the building to
show better or worse performance conditions.

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CHAPTER 2

CASE STUDY

2.1 CASE STUDY 1 - SHANGHAI TOWER

2.1.1 INTRODUCTION
The Shanghai Tower is a 632m, 128-storey mega tall skyscraper. It is located in 501
Yincheng Middle Road, Lujiazui Pudong, Shanghai. The Shanghai Tower is owned by
Yeti Construction and Development, and the tower had an estimated construction cost of
US$2.4 billion. The Shanghai Tower was designed by the American architectural
firm Gensler, with Shanghainese architect Jun Xia leading the design team. It shares the
record (along with the Ping An Finance Center) of having the world's highest observation
deck within a building or structure at 562 m, and the world's second-fastest elevators at a
top speed of 20.5 metres per second (74 km/h; 46 mph). It is the world's second-tallest
building by height to architectural top.

Fig 2.1: The Shanghai Tower

2.1.2 HOW IS IT A GREEN BUILDING

The tower is the only tallest building to receive the LEED Platinum for a super tall
building. The tower has,

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 200 wind turbines spinning at the top of the tower – the world’s tallest turbines,
naturally – which generate around 10% of the building’s electricity. These are one of
the most obvious green technology
 The building collects rainwater and re-uses waste water.
 Has a combined cooling and heating power system.
 Uses 40 other energy-saving measures that developers claim cut 34,000 metric tonnes
from its annual carbon footprint.
 The building is wrapped in two layers of glass for natural cooling and ventilation.
 In total a third of the site is green space
 Including 24 sky gardens sitting between the two layers of glasses.

Fig 2.2: 2-layer glassing Fig 2.3: Sky garden between glasses

Fig 2.4: Wind turbines on the Tower Fig 2.5: Cooling due to ventilation

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2.1.3 BIM usage
 Site analysis
 Daylighing analysis
 Sustainability analysis
 Building system analysis

2.2 CASE STUDY 2 - PEDA OFFICE COMPLEX

2.2.1 INTRODUCTION
Punjab Energy Development Agency complex is located in Chandigarh, India. It is a total
state nodal agency responsible for development of renewable energy and conventional
energy in the state of Punjab. It is a unique and successful model of energy efficient solar
building, designed on solar passive architecture with the partial financial support of
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, GOI and Dept. of science, technology,
Environment and non-conventional Energy, Govt of Punjab.

Fig 2.6: PEDA Office, Chandigarh

2.2.2 SITE ANALYSIS

The location of this building has an elevation of 350m and climatic conditions are to be
composite with max temperature 44oC and minimum temperature of 5oC and annual
average rainfall of 1110.7mm. the architectural building design needs to respond to the
composite climatic condition of the site and needs to satisfy the diverse and often
conflicting conditions of hot-dry, hoy-humid, temperate and cold period of Chandigarh.
Therefore the strategies considered for design are,
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 Cooling in hot dry period
 Natural ventilation in hot humid period
 Heating in cold period
2.2.3 ARCHITECTURAL ANALYSIS
2.2.3.1 Orientation
 This building has a 3D responding to solar geometry i.e., minimizing solar heat gain
in hot dry period and maximizing solar heat gain in cold period.
 Overlapping floors at different levels in space floating in a large volume of air, with
interpenetrating large vertical cut-outs enclosed within an envelope. These are
integrated with light wells and solar activated naturally ventilating, domical
structures.
2.2.3.2 Daylight
 On the south western facade, dome shaped concrete structures have horizontal and
vertical intersecting fins with glass fixed in the voids to allow natural light with
reduced glare.
 These allow indirect light to enter the building in summers and direct sunshine in
winters.
 The atrium is covered by a lightweight shell roofing of 10 cm of high-density EPS
(extruded polystyrene) sandwiched between high-grade FRP (fibre reinforced plastic)
sheets and reinforced with steel; specifically angled to allow sun in winters and block
in summers.

Fig 2.7: Daylight saving

2.2.3.3 Maintaining thermal comfort

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 The envelope attenuates the outside ambient conditions and the large volume of air is
naturally conditioned by controlling solar access in response to the climatic swings
during summer and winters.
 The large volume of air is cooled during the hot period by a wind tower, integrated
into the building design, and in cold period this volume of air is heated by solar
penetration through the roof glazing generating a convective loop.
 The thermal mass of the floor slabs helps attenuate the diurnals swings.

Fig 2.8: Space frame structure

2.2.3.4 Orientation of solar passive complex

 Solar Passive Complex has been developed in response to solar geometry i.e.
minimizing solar heat gain in cold period.
 The building envelope attenuates the outside ambient conditions and the large volume
of air is naturally conditioned by controlling solar access in response to the climatic
swings.

Fig 2.9: Sun path diagram

2.2.3.5 Unique Shell Roofing on Central Atrium

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 The Central atrium of the complex having main entrance, reception, water bodies,
cafeteria and sitting place for visitors constructed with hyperbolic shell roof to admit
daylight without glare and heat coupled with defused lighting through glass to glass
 solar panels.
 The roof is supported with very light weight space frame structure.

Fig 2.10: Sectionnal view of PEDA building

2.2.3.6 Solar Power Plant and water bodies

 25Kwp building integrated solar photovoltaic power plant has been set up to meet the
basic requirement of electricity in the complex
 The water bodies with waterfalls and fountains have been placed in the central atrium
of the complex for cooling of whole the complex in the hot and dry period.

Fig 2.11:Solar panels and water body around wind tower

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2.2.3.7 Wind Tower coupled with Solar Chimneys and insulated roofs
 The wind tower centrally placed coupled with solar chimneys on the domical
structures for scientific direct & indirect cooling and scientific drafting of used air.
 All the roofs have been insulated with double insulation system to avoid penetration
of heat from the roof. Auditorium: A unique auditorium scientifically designed to
control heat penetration, light & sound distribution is placed in the north under the
shade of main building.

Fig 2.12: Solar Chimney and wind tower

2.2.4 BIM USAGE

 Site analysis
 Daylighing analysis
 Sustainability analysis
 Building system analysis

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CHAPTER 3

SUMMARY
BIM has the potential to become the leading technology of the building industry, and
it is in the interest of most firms to begin their transformation towards its processes.
The more BIM is used, and the more data that are collected and stored during the life
of a project, and more benefits can be leveraged. When BIM is used, it is easy to see
the significances of the decisions. BIM could facilitate data exchange and integration,
which provide visualized building performance analyses, and enhance the
communication & collaboration of various stakeholders during the lifecycle of green
buildings. And also that using green buildings the energy consumption through
traditional methods be decreased. The use of BIM for designing and maintaining
green building are expected to rapidly grow in the construction.

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REFERENCES

JOURNALS

[1] Green building based on Building Information Modelling Neelam Sharma, Er. Bhupinder
kaur, Er. Sandeep Salhotra.

[2]Smart Market Report, (prepared by: Harvey M. Bernstein F. ASCE, LEED AP, Stephen A.
Jones, Michele A Russo, LEED AP.

[3]Sustainable Construction: Green Building Concept – A Case Study, issue 2 volume 2 2014
Ishan G.Kevadiya , Ankush A.Patil & Shruti-Mrudula N.Waghmode

[4]Autodesk, Autodesk Ecotect Analysis. Sustainable Building Design Software, (2012).

WEBSITES

[5]http://peda.gov.in/main/case_study_15.12.2016.pdf

[6]https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/aug/23/inside-shanghai-tower-china-tallest-building-
green-skyscrapers#img-2

[7]https://www.bim.psu.edu/bim_uses/#bim_uses_by_phase

[8]https://www.worldgbc.org/benefits-green-buildings

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