GREEN BUILDING

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
Shelter is one of the most important things which are essential for human beings. As the
civilization developed construction evolved from caves to huge multi-storeyed buildings. In this
realm of social and economic development environmental change has become inevitable and it
compelled for new effective means of achieving new levels of efficiency and sustainability. This
report presents one of the most important Sustainable constructions, “Green Building” from its
site to design, construction, operation, maintenance and also its economic aspects. To give more
protected environment to the future generation, adopting methods of protective technologies is
very important and here green building is one of such technology which is very economical and
useful.

Shelter is one of the fundamental needs of human beings. The need to own a place for
living is also seen in animals and birds. In the beginning of human civilization man used to live
in caves and on trees, gradually he has identified materials suitable for construction like clay,
stone and timber. Basic purpose of these dwellings is to protect man from weather and predators.
These houses made way for larger inhabitations like castles, forts and palaces which had built in
mechanism for providing sunlight and fresh air. As the time went on, man with his knowledge
invented latest technologies and materials which helped him in construction of different types of
buildings. These buildings and the materials used for construction brought rapid changes in the
environment. Limitation of space, growth of population and rapid urbanization lead to
community dwelling culture which increased problems like CFC emissions, insufficient
ventilation, an increase of waste materials during construction and maintenance of house arouse.

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1.1 DEFINITION OF GREEN BUILDING

Green buildings are sited, designed, constructed, and operated to enhance the well-being
of their occupants and support a healthy community and natural environment. Green building is a
loosely defined collection of land-use, building design, and construction strategies that reduce
the environmental impacts that buildings have on their surroundings. Traditional building
practices often overlook the interrelationships among a building, its components, its
surroundings, and its occupants. “Typical” buildings consume more of our resources than
necessary and generate large amounts of waste.

It is found that the building industry will consume 40% of total global energy and release
about 3800megatons of CO2 into atmosphere. They have harmful impact on the nature.
According to a report the building industry has following impacts:

Consumption of 40% of world’s total energy.

Consumption of 30% of raw materials.
About 25% of timber harvest is going down.
35% of CO2 emission.
16% of fresh water is being depleted.
40% of municipal solid waste is being generated.
50% of ozone depleting CFC’s is still in use.
30% of the residents have sick building syndrome.

The above issues have forced man to think along the terms of sustainable development
which gave solution for his problem through “green building” concept.

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Fig 1: CONCEPTUAL DRAWING OF GREEN BUILDING

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Most of the people think that Fig 1 shows the latest technology which has been invented in recent
times. But a very few people know that this concept is being used since time immemorial. The Hawa
Mahal in Jaipur Rajasthan in India is constructed in such a way that it has natural ventilation which is also
one of the principles of green construction. Similarly many buildings were constructed using different
principles of green construction unknowingly the concept.

Fig 2: HAWA MAHAL IN JAIPUR

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CHAPTER 2

IMPORTANCE OF GREEN BUILDINGS

 The environmental impact of building design and construction industry is significant.
Buildings consume more than 20% of electricity used in India.
 Normal construction deprives land usage from natural biologically diverse habitats.
 Green Building practices can substantially reduce or eliminate negative environmental
impacts and improve existing unsustainable design, construction and operational practices.
 As an advantage green design measures help in reducing running costs and mitigate indoor
air quality problems.
 Studies conducted on green buildings reported productivity gains up to 16%.
 As a matter of fact green building enhances environmental and economic benefit for
occupants.
 Energy efficient equipment for air conditioning and Lighting systems.
 Use of onsite renewable energy.
 Measurement and verification plan to ensure energy &Water savings.
 Reduction of building footprints to minimize the impact on environment.
 Installation of high efficiency irrigation methods and selection of vegetation which have low
water consumption.
 Controls and building management systems.
 Recycling of construction debris to other sites.
 Use of building materials having a high recycled content.
 Use of rapidly renewable materials.
 Declaration of site as “Non-smoking” area or have designated area of smoking.
 Providing daylight and views for the occupied areas

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CHAPTER 3

GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS

Green construction is a dynamic field that is always evolving with the advent of new
technology, the economy and social change. The popularity of sustainable building has increased
in recent years in response to growing concerns about climate change, as well as the declining
supply of renewable resources. Certain building materials and methods are considered "greener"
than others because they have qualities that minimize their impact on the planet. Nontoxic,
renewable, sturdy, or recycled products may be considered green.

The Indian materials and equipment manufacturers are now faced with a challenge to
seriously look at green features to meet the growing demand for Green Buildings. A few green
materials and equipment are available in the country. To name a few - Fly-ash cement, Fly-ash
block, Recycled Aluminum, Recycled steel, Recycled tiles, Low VOC paints, Bamboo based
products, HFC based high efficiency chillers, Building Controls, Green Roof, Recycled wood,
etc.,

Building materials typically considered to be 'green' include rapidly renewable plant

materials like bamboo and straw, lumber from forests certified to be sustainably managed,
dimension stone, recycled stone, recycled metal, and other products that are non-toxic, reusable,
renewable, and/or recyclable. Eg: Grass, linoleum, sheep wool, and panels made from paper
flakes, baked earth, rammed earth, clay, vermiculite, flax linen, sisal, sea grass, cork, expanded
clay grains, coconut, wood fiber plates, calcium sand stone...

3.1 Flooring
 Flooring is good place to start when trying to make greener building choices. Some
woods are less renewable than others, and carpet often contains VOCs (volatile
organic compounds) that have a negative effect on indoor air quality. Bamboo has
become a popular choice for flooring, since it replenishes very quickly. Cork, which
is removed from the outside of a living tree at intervals, is attractive, natural, very
renewable and gentle on the human body. Other green flooring options include sisal,

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eucalyptus, recycled carpet tiles, recycled rubber, wool carpeting, linoleum and
reclaimed wood.

3.2 Cement

 On driveways and walkways, specially engineered cement that is porous and allows
water to sink in rather than run off and pollute waterways is environmentally friendly.
Also, using light-colored concrete, especially in urban areas, helps reduce
temperature. For buildings, a relatively new technology called TX Active has
emerged, which actually "eats" pollution.

3.3 Insulation

 Insulation is very important in green construction because it helps conserve energy. In

the past, asbestos was used for insulation, but it has since been banned or restricted in
many countries because of health hazards. Good sustainable choices for insulation are
those made from recycled newspaper and wood pulp, soy, cotton, recycled plastic or
cork.

3.4 Roofing
 An important feature of green roofing is its durability; sustainability can often be as
simple as avoiding or limiting waste. Composite cedar shingles resist moisture,
mildew and insects, which extends their life. Metal roofing materials that have solar
reflective qualities also have advantages, especially in hot climates. Living roofs,
which are covered in hearty plant life, reduce the "heat island effect" that is caused by
a lack of evapotranspiration in areas that have a lot of concrete and asphalt surfaces.

3.5 Glass
 Breakthroughs in technology have made glass a popular green building material.
Windows constructed of layered panes separated by sealed, gas-filled compartments
provide insulation that conserves energy. Additionally, windows and doors can also
be covered in special low-emissivity coatings that use or block natural solar rays to
help regulate indoor temperatures.

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CHAPTER 4
PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION OF GREEN BUILDING

4.1 Site Efficiency

It is very important for careful planning before a Green Building project is started.
Though building green house does need to be expensive or time consuming, final choice of type
of green building will depend on the space desired, home architecture, available site and costs.
Green building should be located in such a place where there is maximum sunlight. The first
choice of location is either south or south eastern side. Sunlight all the day is best for proper
lighting of the house and growing trees like maple, oak, neem and tamarind can efficiently shade
the Green building from intense late summer afternoon. Good drainage system is another
important requirement for the site. The Green building should be built above the ground level so
that rain water and irrigation water will drain in to the soil. Evolve strategies to stockpile top soil for
landscaping purpose. Consider adopting measures such as temporary and permanent seeding, mulching,
dykes, silt fencing, sediment traps and sediment basins where ever required. Open areas can be
landscaped and paved areas can be developed with permeable paving. For impermeable surfaces like
concrete surfaces direct entire runoff towards storm water collection pits.

It is necessary to select a site which is nearer to all basic amenities like grocery store,
pharmacy, post office, police station, hospital, railway station, bus station. Site should have
provision for parking and open space for growing plants.

Heat Island effect: Precautions are to be taken to reduce heat island effect i.e., thermal gradient
differences formed between heat developed and undeveloped areas to minimize impact on micro climate.
Typical materials with high reflective properties like china mosaic, white cement tiles and paints should
be used for reducing heat island effect.

4.2 WATER EFFICIENCY

Reduction of water consumption and protection of water quality is other important factor
for Green building. The conservation and protection of water throughout the life of a Green
building can be accomplished by designing for dual plumbing that recycles water in toilet
flushing.

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Waste water may be minimized by using water conserving fixtures like ultra low flush
toilets and low flow shower heads. Bidets may be used to reduce the usage of toilet papers,
reduce load on sewers and increasing possibilities of reusing water on-site.

Water treatment is a must for maintaining water quality. Usage of grey water for growing
plants will also helpful for water conservation. There should be provision for rain water
harvesting systems. Water efficient fixtures are to be used to minimize indoor water usage.

 Rain Water Harvesting System

Reuse of harvested rain water in plumbing systems in commercial or residential setting proves to be
environmentally and economically effective. It can reduce usage of drinking water for other purposes. In
this system runoff water can be harvested from roofs via down pipes that are connected to water
reservoirs and underground tanks. It will be easy to install this system for new dwellings with down pipes
at one end and a cellar with a place for a low cost tank at other end. The harvested water can be used for
washing clothes and toilet flushing.

 Water Efficient fixtures

These are used to reduce indoor water usage. The water fixtures which are being used should be
efficient. Fixtures are available with ultra high efficiency which can reduce substantial quantity of water
consumption.

SI No Items Base line Units

1 Flushing 6.3 LPF

2 Faucets 7.6 LPM

3 Shower 7.6 LPM

TABLE 1.1

Grey water Use: At least 50% of grey water generated can be used for landscaping,flushing and
make-up water for air-conditioning. Treated grey water for reuse must conform to the quality
standards as highlighted in the table1.2.

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Parameter Quality Standards for treated water

BOD 5 days @200C 100mg/l
Suspended solids 200mg/l
Oil and grease(after grease trap for canteen/kitchen) 10mg/l
pH 5.5-9.0
TABLE 1.2

4.3 ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Green buildings are also useful to reduce energy consumption. Higher performance
buildings use less operating energy. Studies such as U.S. LCI Database Project show buildings
built primarily with wood will have a lower energy than those built with brick, concrete or steel.
Usage of high efficiency windows and insulation in walls, ceiling and floors increase the
efficiency of the energy envelope. Passive solar building design can also be used in low energy
homes. Designers orient windows and walls, porches and trees to shade windows and roofs
during the summer while maximizing solar gain in the winter. Apart from this proper window
placement can provide more natural light and lessen the need for electric lighting during the day.
Providing proper metering also saves energy. Solar water heating also reduces energy costs.
Onsite generation of renewable energy through solar, wind, hydro or biomass energies can
significantly reduce the environmental impact on the building.

To conserve energy we can use following equipment

1) Level controllers in overhead water tanks.

2) Energy efficient lifts.
3) Minimize 60% efficiency in water pumps
4) Minimize 75% efficiency in motors.

4.4 MATERIALS EFFICIENCY

Building material is another criterion that should be selected carefully for Green building.
Materials like bamboo, straw, dimension stone, recycled stone, recycled metal and other products
that are non toxic, reusable, renewable or recyclable can be used. Environmental Protection
Agency EPA (ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY) recommends using recycled

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industrial goods like coal combustion products, foundry sand and demolition debris of
construction projects. Building materials are to be extracted and manufactured locally nearer to
the building site to reduce the energy required for their transportation. Usage of green
refrigerants (chlorofluoro carbon free) is recommended. For concrete a high performance or
Roman self-healing concrete is available.

Materials with recycled content: Use of recycled and renewable material can reduce total cost
by at least 5-10%. Some of materials with recycled content are fly ash block, tiles, steel, glass, cement,
false ceiling, aluminum and composite wood.

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CHAPTER 5

IN DOOR AIR QUALITY

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) category in LEED standards (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design) is the one which provides comfort, well being and productivity of
occupants of the Green buildings. The LEED IEQ addresses for the thermal quality, lighting
quality and indoor air quality. Indoor air quality reduces volatile organic compounds and other
air impurities like microbial contaminants. Properly designed ventilation is required for proper
recirculation of clean air. Another important thing is the control of moisture accumulation
leading to mould growth and presence of bacteria viruses by proper insulation. Exhaust systems
are to be provided in kitchens and bathroom for clean air. Green architecture reduces waste of
energy, water and materials used during construction. Recycling is the other important process
by which there can be reduction of wastage.

 Cross Ventilation
Cross ventilation is another criterion which should be given lot of importance. While designing
the building certain distance norms are to be followed:

* A minimum of 3m distance should be maintained between walls of two dwelling units

* A minimum of 2.4m corridor width separating dwelling units

 Wind Towers
These are traditional architectural elements mainly part of buildings. They were used
since ancient time but after the advent of air conditioners and other mechanical ventilators the
use of wind towers reduced. However in green buildings use of wind towers is very essential
since they substantiate the use of artificial ventilation systems to a very great extent. The main
function of this tower is to collect cool breeze that prevails at higher level above ground and
direct it to the interior of the building. Now -a -days this feature has again gained a great
prominence in many countries due to its advantages.

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CHAPTER 6

GOALS OF GREEN BUILDING

 REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Globally buildings are responsible for a huge share of energy, electricity, and water and
materials consumption. The building sector has the greatest potential to deliver significant cuts in
emissions at little or no cost. Buildings account for 18% of global emissions today, or the
equivalent of 9 billion tones of CO2 annually. If new technologies in construction are not
adopted during this time of rapid growth, emissions could double by 2050, according to the
United Nations Environment Program. Green building practices aim to reduce the environmental
impact of building. Since construction almost always degrades a building site, not building at all
is preferable to green building, in terms of reducing environmental impact. The second rule is
that every building should be as small as possible. The third rule is not to contribute to sprawl,
even if the most energy-efficient, environmentally sound methods are used in design and
construction.

Buildings account for a large amount of land. According to the National Resources
Inventory, approximately 107 million acres (430,000 km2) of land in the United States are
developed. The International Energy Agency released a publication that estimated that existing
buildings are responsible for more than 40% of the world’s total primary energy consumption
and for 24% of global carbon dioxide emission.

 Green building brings together a vast array of practices, techniques, and skills to
reduce and ultimately eliminate the impacts of buildings on the environment and
human health.

 It often emphasizes taking advantage of renewable resources, e.g., using sunlight

through passive solar, active solar, and photovoltaic equipment, and using plants and
trees through green roofs, rain gardens, and reduction of rainwater run-off. Many
other techniques are used, such as using low-impact building materials or using

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packed gravel or permeable concrete instead of conventional concrete or asphalt to

enhance replenishment of ground water.

 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OPTIMIZATION

No matter how sustainable a building may have been in its design and
construction, it can only remain so if it is operated responsibly and maintained properly.
Ensuring operations and maintenance (O&M) personnel are part of the project's planning
and development process will help retain the green criteria designed at the onset of the
project

 COST AND PAYOFF

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 (GHGs)
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.
 REGULATION AND OPERATION
As a result of the increased interest in green building concepts and practices, a
number of organizations have developed standards, codes and rating systems that let
government regulators, building professionals and consumers embrace green building
with confidence. In some cases, codes are written so local governments can adopt them as
bylaws to reduce the local environmental impact of buildings.
Green building rating systems such as BREEAM (United Kingdom), LEED (United
States and Canada), DGNB (Germany), CASBEE (Japan), and VERDE GBCe (Spain) help
consumers determine a structure’s level of environmental performance. They award
credits for optional building features that support green design in categories such as

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location and maintenance of building site, conservation of water, energy, and building
materials, and occupant comfort and health. The number of credits generally determines
the level of achievement.

CHAPTER 7

MERITS AND DEMERITS OF GREEN BUIDING

7.1 MERITS OF GREEN BUILDING

 Efficient Technologies

 Easier Maintenance

 Return On Investment

 Improved Indoor Air Quality

 Energy Efficiency

 Water Efficiency And conservation

 Waste Reduction

 Healthier Lifestyle

 Improved Health

7.2 DEMERITS OF GREEN BUILDING:

 Initial cost is high

 Availability of materials

 Need more time to construct

 Need skilled worker

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CHAPTER 8

LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (LEED)

Is a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of
green buildings which was Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Other certificates
system that confirms the sustainability of buildings is the British BREEAM (Building Research
Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) for buildings and large scale developments.
Currently, World Green Building Council is conducting research on the effects of green
buildings on the health and productivity of their users and is working with World Bank to
promote Green Buildings in Emerging Markets through EDGE Market Transformation Program
and certification.

Although new technologies are constantly being developed to complement current

practices in creating greener structures, the common objective of green buildings is to reduce the
overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:

 Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources

 Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity
 Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation

The concept of sustainable development can be traced to the energy crisis and
environmental pollution concern in the 1970s . In the US Green Building movement started from
the need and desire for the more energy efficient and environment friendly construction
practices. There are number of benefits from building green like environmental, economical and
social. Environmental benefits protect biodiversity, ecosystems and also improve air and water
quality, reduce wastes, conserve and restore natural resources. Economic benefits are reduction
of costs and improvement in occupant productivity and optimize life-cycle economic

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performance. Social benefits enhance comfort and health of occupants by giving aesthetic
quality.
A Green Building is the one whose construction and life time operation provides
healthiest possible environment having the most efficient and least disruptive use of the land,
water, energy and resources. Green Building is the one that preserves and restores the habitat
which is vital for sustaining life by reducing negative environmental impact.

Construction of Green Building minimizes on-site grading, saves natural resources by

using alternative building material and recycles construction waste rather than dumping in
landfill. Green Building’s interior spaces have natural lighting, outdoor views while highly
efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and low volatile organic
compounds like paints, flooring and furniture create a superior indoor air quality. Most of the
Green Buildings are designed according to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design). Green Buildings are more comfortable and easier to live with due to Row operating and
owning costs. It is estimated by the year 2050, residential, commercial and institutional buildings
consume about 38-40%global energy and release3800-4000 mega tones of carbon in to the
atmosphere. Climate change by itself can also precipitate lager energy demand as people seek
greater comfort levels in more extreme conditions.

A report by US General Services Administration found that sustainably designed

buildings cost less and have excellent energy performance and occupants are more satisfied than
those living in normal commercial buildings. The market for green building materials and
products was estimated to reach Rs.15000crores in India by 2012. Though 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 overall impact of the built
environment on human health and the natural environment. To build Green it is very important to
select proper site, maintain energy efficiency, water conservation, storage of rain and storm
water, material and resource management and construction waste management.

Large commercial buildings with water and energy efficiency can qualify for an LEED
Certification. Philadelphia's Comcast Center is the tallest building in Philadelphia. It's also one of
the tallest buildings in the USA that is LEED Certified. Their environmental engineering consists
of a hybrid central chilled water system which cools floor-by-floor with steam instead of water.

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Burn's Mechanical set-up the entire renovation of the 58 story, 1.4 million square foot sky
scraper. It's the pride of Philadelphia's eco-movement. Taipei The building was officially
classified as the worlds tallest in 2004, and remained such until the completion of Burj Khalifa in
Dubai in 2009. In 2011, the building was awarded the LEED platinum certification, the highest
award according to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system,
and became the tallest and largest green building in the world.

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Fig 3: TAPEI

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CHAPTER 9

IPD ENVIRONMENT CODE

The IPD Environment Code was launched in February 2008. The Code is intended as a
good practice global standard for measuring the environmental performance of corporate
buildings. Its aim is to accurately measure and manage the environmental impacts of corporate
buildings and enable property executives to generate high quality, comparable performance
information about their buildings anywhere in the world. The Code covers a wide range of
building types (from offices to airports) and aims to inform and support the following;

 Creating an environmental strategy

 Inputting to real estate strategy
 Communicating a commitment to environmental improvement
 Creating performance targets
 Environmental improvement plans
 Performance assessment and measurement
 Life cycle assessments
 Acquisition and disposal of buildings
 Supplier management
 Information systems and data population
 Compliance with regulations
 Team and personal objectives

IPD estimate that it will take approximately three years to gather significant data to
develop a robust set of baseline data that could be used across a typical corporate estate.

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CHAPTER 10

LITERATURE REVIEW
The environmental, social and to some extent economic benefits of sustainable.
Buildings have been extensively researched, documented and illustrated in the Literature. A large
proportion of the research focuses on the normative effects of Sustainability, i.e. how
sustainability “should” affect market value or studies which look.At the reduction in operating
costs and occupant productivity, to provide some financial Justification to investors and other
stakeholders in the real estate industry, (Warren-Myers, 2012). Some have also looked the
impact of sustainability on rental andProperty values and identified positive relationships, Miller
et al., (2008), Eichholtz etal., (2009), though to different degrees. However, few have been able
to demonstrate Or shown evidence to support the conversion of features or benefits of green
buildings.To property value.
Buildings account for more than 40% of all global carbon dioxide emission, one of the
main culprits implicated in the phenomenon of global warming in which India comes on 144th
position (1.4 metric ton) in carbon emission rating in the world. Green building is the practice of
constructing or modifying structures to be environmentally responsible, sustainable and
resource-efficient throughout their life cycle. This includes efficiently using energy, water and
other natural resources, protecting occupant health, improving employee productivity and
reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation . Green buildings accounts for
improving environmental footprint by reducing energy use by 30-5-%, CO2 emissions by 35%,
waste output by 70% and water usage by 40%.Buildings are vital facilities that provide many
amenities and assets to a thriving community. However, buildings, especially commercial
buildings, are the largest consumers of energy and greenhouse gas emitters in the world.

Integrating green buildings and sustainability programs into communities can be initiated
through shifting the current overall attitudes and behaviors towards thinking more
environmentally friendly. Green building design is a newly emerging movement that is working
mutually with communities to not only benefit the building itself, but also the community that
uses it.

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CHAPTER 11

GREEN BUILDING CONCEPT IN INDIA

The Green Building movement has gained tremendous momentum during the past 5
years, ever since the Green Business Centre embarked on achieving the prestigious LEED rating
for their own center at Hyderabad.

The ‘Platinum Rating’ for the Green Business Centre building has sensitized the
stakeholders of the construction industry. Today, several corporate and Government
organizations are considering Green Buildings in a major way. This has resulted in a spurt in the
demand for green materials & equipment. From a humble beginning of 20,000 sq.ft of green
footprint in the country in the year 2003, to a staggering 70 million sq.ft till date, green buildings
are well poised to reach scalar heights.

Today a variety of green building projects are coming up in the country - residential
complexes, exhibition centers, hospitals, educational institutions, laboratories, IT parks, airports,
government buildings and corporate offices.

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CASE STUDY :

OLYMPIA TECH PARK CHENNAI, INDIA

• Building Type: Office
• Approximate gross area: .13,00,000 Sq. Ft
• Number of floors above ground: 8
• Year of completion: 2006

Main Green Features of the project

 The client (Olympia) and the architects developed a strategic green option to
recycle/reuse the entire building.
 Allows opportunities for natural ventilation in summer and acts as a warm buffer zone in
winter.
 Energy efficient HVAC and electrical equipment and systems design providing
considerable energy savings of over 25%.
 High efficiency water system design resulting in water use reduction by over 40%.
 Effective use of recycled materials for over 15% of the project cost.
 Utilization of regionally manufactured materials for over 60% of the project cost thereby
reducing the impact of environmental pollution.
 Exemplary performance on construction waste management diverting close to 98% of the
construction waste generated at site.

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CHAPTER 12

ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF GREEN BUILDINGS

Generally the ecological properties of a building are considered as additional costs. In
this view construction of green building is inevitably more expensive as it implies use of high
quality materials, high efficiency materials and a more complex work flow. It also involves high
cost of construction due to provision various additional facilities. All these increase the cost of
green construction to a great extent. According to a report it was known that price premium of
energy star buildings and LEED certified buildings is higher than that of a normal building. And
report also showed that rents of ecological buildings are higher than rent of other buildings by
about 3.5%(13). From the above studies we can say that economically green buildings may be
more expensive than ordinary buildings but due to advantages like energy efficiency, good
ventilation, reduction in maintenance cost over its life period and healthy atmosphere to the
occupants people now a days are finding them more attractive and occupancy rate increased by
about 6%. Since building owners are succeeding in assessing the benefits of green buildings
more effectively and increasing number of projects will follow the path in near future.

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GREEN BUILDING

CONCLUSION
Man can live on the Earth with minimal pollution by changing over to Green buildings.
They are Economical cost wise and environmentally sustainable design wise. A Green
renovation includes everything from a green roof to more efficient HVAC and lighting systems,
enlarged existing windows and low VOC paints and flooring. Hence future is GREEN. It
becomes inevitable to steadily switch over to the use of energy efficient building materials and
technologies and devise methods and mechanisms to utilize industrial/mine wastes and recycling and
reuse of building wastes for the manufacture of building materials and products for the sustainable
construction practices.

"Sustainable development is development which meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

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GREEN BUILDING

REFERENCES
1. Mao, X., Lu, H., & Li, Q., (2009) International Conference on Management and Service
Science.
2. Environmental Building News (2002). www.buildinggreen.com.
3. Cole, R.J., Building Environmental Assessment Methods: Clarifying Intentions, Building
Research and Information, Vol. 27 (4/5), pp.230-246, (1999)
4. Portland Energy Office, Portland Oregon(2000) Green Building Applying the LEED
Rating System.
5. Sanjeeva Rayudu, E., &Murali, S.M., Building for Healthy Community,(2011) Proceedings
of Green Technologies and Environmental Conservation (GTEC) Chennai 15-17 December
2011
6. U.S. Life Cycle Inventory Database. http://www.nrel.gov/lci.
7. Naturally Wood Building Green with Wood Module. 3&6 Energy Conservation & Health
& Wellbeing.
8. Simpson, J.R., Energy and Buildings, Improved Estimates of Tree-shade Effects on
Residential Energy Use, Science Direct, February (2002)
9. Time: Cementing the Future, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article.
10. http://www.epa.gov/greenbuildings/pubs/components.
11. Lee, Y.S., & Guerin, D.A., Indoor Environmental Quality Differences between Office
Types in LEED Certified Buildings in the U S, Building and Environment. (2009)
12. Praveen K., Planning, Analysis and Design of Green Building, Project Report Submitted to
S.K.University for the award of B.Tech.,in Civil Engineering.2009.
13. Commercial and Institutional Green Building: Green Trends Driving Market Change,
McGraw-Hill Construction and USGBC 2008.

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