Unit -1 (Introduction)

Introduction to Sustainability

Sustainable architecture is architecture that seeks to minimize the negative

environmental impact of buildings by efficiency and moderation in the use
of materials, energy, and development space and the ecosystem at large.
Sustainable architecture uses a conscious approach to energy and
ecological conservation in the design of the built environment.

The idea of sustainability, or ecological design, is to ensure that our use of

presently available resources does not end up having detrimental effects to
our collective well-being or making it impossible to obtain resources for
other applications in the long run.

Sustainable Energy Use

Energy efficiency over the entire life cycle of a building is the most
important goal of sustainable architecture. Architects use many different
passive and active techniques to reduce the energy needs of buildings and
increase their ability to capture or generate their own energy.[3] One of the
keys to exploit local environmental resources and influence energy-related
factors such as daylight, solar heat gains and ventilation is the use of site
analysis.

While the definition of sustainable building design evolves over time,

six fundamental principles persist:

Optimize Site Potential

Creating sustainable buildings starts with proper site selection, including

consideration of the reuse or rehabilitation of existing buildings. The
location, orientation, and landscaping of a building affect local ecosystems,
transportation methods, and energy use. Incorporating smart growth
principles into the project development process is important whether a
project is a single building, a campus, or a large complex such as a military
base. Siting for physical security is a critical issue in optimizing site design,
including locations of access roads, parking, vehicle barriers, and perimeter
lighting. Whether designing a new building or retrofitting an existing
building, site design must integrate with sustainable design to achieve a
successful project. The site of a sustainable building should reduce,
control, and/or treat storm-water runoff. If possible, strive to support native
flora and fauna of the region in the landscape design.

Optimize Energy Use

With ever-increasing demand on fossil fuel resources and growing

concerns about energy independence and security, and impacts of global
climate change becoming more evident, it is essential to find ways to
reduce energy load, increase efficiency, and maximize the use of
renewable energy sources in federal facilities. Improving the energy
performance of existing buildings is important to increasing our energy
independence. Government and private sector organizations are
increasingly committing to building and operating net zero energy buildings
to significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Protect and Conserve Water

In many parts of the United States, fresh water is an increasingly scarce

resource. Since building fundamentally changes the ecological and
hydrological function of non-built land, a sustainable building should seek to
minimize the impervious cover created through practices that can reduce
those impacts while using water efficiently, and reusing or recycling water
for on-site use, when feasible. The effort to bring drinkable water to our
household faucets consumes enormous energy resources in pumping,
transport, and treatment. Often potentially toxic chemicals are used to
make water potable. The environmental and financial costs of sewage
treatment are significant.

Optimize Building Space and Material Use

While the world population continues to grow (to more than 9 billion by
2050), consumption of natural resources will continue to increase and the
demand for additional goods and services will continue to stress available
resources. It is critical to achieve an integrated and intelligent use of
materials that maximizes their value, prevents 'upstream' pollution, and
conserves resources. A sustainable building is designed and operated to
use and reuse materials in the most productive and sustainable way across
its entire life cycle, and is adaptable for reuse during its life cycle. The
materials used in a sustainable building minimize life-cycle environmental
impacts such as global warming, resource depletion, and toxicity.
Environmentally preferable materials reduce impacts on human health and
the environment, and contribute to improved worker safety and health,
reduced liabilities, and reduced disposal costs.

Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)

The indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of a building has a significant

impact on occupant health, comfort, and productivity. Among other
attributes, a sustainable building maximizes daylighting, has appropriate
ventilation and moisture control, optimizes acoustic performance, and
avoids the use of materials with high-Volatile Oorganic Compounds (VOC)
emissions. Principles of IEQ also emphasize occupant control over
systems such as lighting and temperature.

Optimize Operational and Maintenance Practices

Consideration of a building's operating and maintenance issues during the

preliminary design phase of a facility will contribute to improved working
environments, higher productivity, reduced energy and resource costs, and
prevention of system failures. Encourage building operators and
maintenance personnel to participate in the design and development
phases, to ensure optimal operations and maintenance of the building and
the features such as stormwater facilities designed to reduce the impact of
the building on the land. Recruit, develop, and train highly skilled
maintenance personnel to operate increasingly sophisticated high-
performance buildings. Designers can specify materials and systems that
simplify and reduce maintenance requirements; require less water, energy,
and toxic chemicals / cleaners to maintain; and are cost-effective and
reduce life-cycle costs. Also design facilities to include metering, to track
the progress of sustainability initiatives, including reductions in energy and
water use and waste generation, in the facility and on-site.

The Three Dimensions of Sustainable Development

Due to the fact that a synergy is sought of these different implications, it

has been commonly accepted that sustainable development consists of
three dimensions:

1. social solidarity,

2. environmental responsibility and

3. economic efficiency.

Sustainable development calls for a long-term structural strategy for the

world's economic and social systems, which aims to reduce the burden on
the environment and on natural resources to a permanently viable level,
while still maintaining economic growth and social cohesion. Only
development that manages to balance these three dimensions can be
sustained in the long term. Conversely, ignoring one of the three aspects
could potentially endanger the success of the entire development process.

The three dimensions of sustainable development:

Social solidarity: equality of opportunities for people, involving welfare,

quality of life and sustainable human development –development should
liberate individual capacities and fulfil human needs, thus ending poverty
and improving individuals' quality of life offering a secure life with full rights
and liberties in the long term - and social cohesion.

Environmental responsibility: the ability to use natural resources without

undermining the equilibrium and integrity of ecosystems, reduce burden on
the environment.

Economic efficiency: efficiency of economic and technological activities,

foster investment and productivity, economic growth, economic output
potential.
Green Building

Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building)

refers to both a structure and the application of processes that are
environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's
life-cycle: from planning to design, construction, operation, maintenance,
renovation, and demolition.This requires close cooperation of the
contractor, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages.
The Green Building practice expands and complements the classical
building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.

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.
Another certificate 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 (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies)
Market Transformation Program and certification. There are also other tools
such as Green Star in Australia and the Green Building Index (GBI)
predominantly used in Malaysia.

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:

1. Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources

2. Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity (see

healthy building)

3. Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation

A green building has four main elements or components on which it is

designed: materials, energy, water and health to make green building more
sustainable.

Difference between Green Building and Sustainable Building

A green building has four main elements or components on which it is

designed: materials, energy, water and health to make green building more
sustainable.
Elements of Green Building Design

Following are the components of a Green Building to make it sustainable:

1. Materials for Green Building

Materials for a green building are obtained from natural, renewable sources
that have been managed and harvested in a sustainable way; or they are
obtained locally to reduce the embedded energy costs of transportation; or
salvaged from reclaimed materials at nearby sites.

Materials are assessed using green

specifications that look at their Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) in terms of their
embodied energy, durability, recycled content, waste minimisation, and their
ability to be reused or recycled.

2. Energy Systems in Green Buildings

Passive solar design will dramatically reduce the heating and cooling costs
of a building, as will high levels of insulation and energy-efficient windows.
Natural daylight design reduces a building’s electricity needs, and improves
people’s health and productivity.

Green buildings also incorporate energy-efficient lighting, low energy

appliances, and renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines and
solar panels.

2.1 Passive Solar Design

Passive solar design uses sunshine to heat, cool and light homes and other
buildings without mechanical or electrical devices.  It is usually part of the
design of the building itself, using certain materials and placement of
windows or skylights.
 2.1a) Rules Of Passive Solar Systems
· The building should be elongated on an east-west axis.

· The building’s south face should receive sunlight between the hours of 9:00
A.M. and 3:00 P.M. (sun time) during the heating season.
· Interior spaces requiring the most light and heating and cooling should be
along the south face of the building. Less used spaces should be located
on the north.
2.1b) The Advantages Of Passive Solar Design
· High energy performance: lower energy bills all year round.
· Investment: independent from future rises in fuel costs, continues to save
money long after initial cost recovery.
· Value: high owner satisfaction, high resale value.
· Attractive living environment: large windows and views, sunny interiors,
open floor plans.
· Low Maintenance: durable, reduced operation and repair.
· Unwavering comfort: quiet (no operating noise), warmer in winter, cooler in
summer (even during a power failure).
· Environmentally friendly:  clean, renewable energy doesn’t contribute to
global warming, acid rain or air pollution.

2.2 Passive Solar Heating

The goal of all passive solar heating systems is to capture the sun’s heat
within the building’s elements and release that heat during periods when
the sun is not shining. At the same time that the building’s elements (or
materials) is absorbing heat for later use, solar heat is available for keeping
the space comfortable (not overheated).

2.2a) Two primary elements of passive solar heating are required:

· South facing glass

· Thermal mass to absorb, store, and distribute heat.

2.2b) There are three approaches to passive systems
1. Direct Gain: Sunlight shines into and warms the living space.

2. Indirect Gain: Sunlight warms thermal storage, which then warms the living
space.
3. Isolated Gain: Sunlight warms another room (sunroom) and convection
brings the warmed air into the living space.
4.
3. Water Management in Green Building
Minimising water use is achieved by installing greywater and rainwater
catchment systems that recycle water for irrigation or toilet flushing; water-
efficient appliances, such as low flow showerheads, self-closing or spray
taps; low-flush toilets, or waterless composting toilets. Installing point of
use hot water systems and lagging pipes saves on water heating.

3.1) Rainwater Harvesting in Green Building

Rainwater harvesting is the principle of collecting and using precipitation
from a catchments surface.

An old technology is gaining popularity in a new way. Rain water harvesting

is enjoying a renaissance of sorts in the world, but it traces its history to
biblical times.
Extensive rainwater harvesting apparatus existed 4000 years ago in the
Palestine and Greece. In ancient Rome, residences were built with
individual cisterns and paved courtyards to capture rain water to augment
water from city’s aqueducts.
 3.2) Rainwater harvesting is essential
Surface water is inadequate to meet our demand and we have to depend
on groundwater. Due to rapid urbanization, infiltration of rainwater into the
subsoil has decreased drastically and recharging of groundwater has
diminished.

As you read this guide, seriously consider conserving water by harvesting

and managing this natural resource by artificially recharging the system.

3.3) Rainwater Harvesting Techniques for Green Buildings

There are two main techniques of rainwater harvestings.

5. Storage of rainwater on surface for future use.

6. Recharge to groundwater
3.3.a) Storage of rainwater on surface for future use.
The storage of rainwater on surface is a traditional techniques and
structures used were underground tanks, ponds, check dams, weirs etc.

3.3.b) Recharge to groundwater
Recharge to groundwater is a new concept of rainwater harvesting and the
structures generally used are Pits, Trenches, dug wells, Hand pumps,
etc.
4. Health Components of Green Building

Using non-toxic materials and products will improve indoor air quality, and
reduce the rate of asthma, allergy and sick building syndrome. These
materials are emission-free, have low or no VOC content, and are moisture
resistant to deter moulds, spores and other microbes.

Indoor air quality is also addressed through ventilation systems and

materials that control humidity and allow a building to breathe.

In addition to addressing the above areas, a green building should provide

cost savings to the builder and occupants, and meet the broader needs of
the community, by using local labour, providing affordable housing, and
ensuring the building is sited appropriately for community needs.

Difference between passive system and active system

Passive Sytems

Passive Solar Space Heating: Passive solar heating systems are a simple
and cost effective way to take advantage of the sun’s free, renewable
energy and displace the need for electricity, natural gas, or other active
energy systems. Strategic planning of building location, orientation, and
materials provide great control over the inside temperature. Installing large
south facing windows, planting shade trees, and using Trombe walls, which
are made of absorptive materials that store heat during the day and slowly
release it at night, are measures that can be adopted for new and old
buildings alike. Sunspaces or glass rooms built on the south side of a
building can provide up to 60 percent of a home’s winter heating.
Regardless of climate, solar energy can be harnessed as long as the
building has adequate insulation and ventilation.

Active Systems

Active Solar Space Heating: In an active solar space heating system, a

collector holding a heat-transfer medium such as air or liquid captures the
sun’s thermal energy, which is then distributed through the building via
electric fans or pumps.

Solar water heaters (active) produce thermal energy to heat water for
households, commercial entities, and swimming pools. These heaters are
one of the most commonly implemented renewable energy technologies
because of their cost effectiveness and relatively simple installation. With
the proper model installed, they heat efficiently regardless of outside
temperature. Solar water heaters typically need a backup conventional gas
or electric water heater to account for cloudy days or unusually high water
demand.

Solar water heaters consist of two parts: a solar collector and a storage
tank. In warm climates, collectors heat water directly, but in cold climates, a
denser fluid is heated and then transported to a water tank where it heats
the water indirectly. The heater can be built to use an active or passive
system for circulating warmed fluid depending on climate and the time of
day when water demand is highest. The maximum heating temperature
varies with collector model, but water temperature can exceed 200 degrees
Fahrenheit, suitable for commercial purposes.

Photovoltaic (PV) cells, or solar cells, are an active system in which small
panels faced with semiconducting material turn sunlight into electricity. This
material, usually made of silicon but potentially other polycrystalline thin
films, generates a direct current when sunlight hits the panel. PV cells are
effective in all regions of the country, from Alaska to Alabama.
Commercially available PV panels are up to 22.5 percent efficient at
converting sunlight into electricity in optimal conditions, but even in partly
cloudy weather, they can operate at 80 percent of their maximum output.
The United States is the leader in thin-film technology, which enables PV
cells to be installed on windows and roof tiles. PV systems can be tailored
to meet a building’s energy needs by adding concentrating or sun-tracking
devices, DC-AC converters, and/or battery storage.

PV systems may or may not be connected to the electric transmission grid.

PV systems linked to the transmission grid can supplement utilities’ energy
supply during daylight hours, which normally include the peak energy
demand periods. Independent PV cells can power a variety of individual
items, from personal calculators and streetlights to water pumps on
ranches and remote settlements far from power lines. A few utility-scale PV
installations have been constructed although energy production is limited to
daylight hours and they generally have higher upfront costs than fossil fuel
plants.

Passive Solar Design

Passive solar design refers to the use of the sun’s energy for the heating
and cooling of living spaces by exposure to the sun. When sunlight strikes
a building, the building materials can reflect, transmit, or absorb the solar
radiation. In addition, the heat produced by the sun causes air movement
that can be predictable in designed spaces. These basic responses to solar
heat lead to design elements, material choices and placements that can
provide heating and cooling effects in a home.

Unlike active solar heating systems, passive systems are simple and do not
involve substantial use of mechanical and electrical devices, such as
pumps, fans, or electrical controls to move the solar energy.
Passive Solar Design Basics

A complete passive solar design has five elements:

Graphic courtesy of EERE

Aperture/Collector: The large glass area through which sunlight enters the
building. The aperture(s) should face within 30 degrees of true south and
should not be shaded by other buildings or trees from 9a.m. to 3p.m. daily
during the heating season.

Absorber:The hard, darkened surface of the storage element. The surface,

which could be a masonry wall, floor, or water container, sits in the direct
path of sunlight. Sunlight hitting the surface is absorbed as heat.

Thermal mass: Materials that retain or store the heat produced by sunlight.
While the absorber is an exposed surface, the thermal mass is the material
below and behind this surface.

Distribution: Method by which solar heat circulates from the collection and
storage points to different areas of the house. A strictly passive design will
use the three natural heat transfer modes- conduction, convection and
radiation- exclusively. In some applications, fans, ducts and blowers may
be used to distribute the heat through the house.

Control: Roof overhangs can be used to shade the aperture area during
summer months. Other elements that control under and/or overheating
include electronic sensing devices, such as a differential thermostat that
signals a fan to turn on; operable vents and dampers that allow or restrict
heat flow; low-emissivity blinds; and awnings.

Passive Solar Heating

The goal of passive solar heating systems is to capture the sun’s heat
within the building’s elements and to release that heat during periods when
the sun is absent, while also maintaining a comfortable room temperature.
The two primary elements of passive solar heating are south facing glass
and thermal mass to absorb, store, and distribute heat. There are several
different approaches to implementing those elements.

Direct Gain

The actual living space is a solar collector, heat absorber and distribution
system. South facing glass admits solar energy into the house where it
strikes masonry floors and walls, which absorb and store the solar heat,
which is radiated back out into the room at night. These thermal mass
materials are typically dark in color in order to absorb as much heat as
possible. The thermal mass also tempers the intensity of the heat during
the day by absorbing energy. Water containers inside the living space can
be used to store heat. However, unlike masonry water requires carefully
designed structural support, and thus it is more difficult to integrate into the
design of the house. The direct gain system utilizes 60-75% of the sun’s
energy striking the windows. For a direct gain system to work well, thermal
mass must be insulated from the outside temperature to prevent collected
solar heat from dissipating. Heat loss is especially likely when the thermal
mass is in direct contact with the ground or with outside air that is at a
lower temperature than the desired temperature of the mass.

Indirect Gain

Thermal mass is located between the sun and the living space. The
thermal mass absorbs the sunlight that strikes it and transfers it to the living
space by conduction. The indirect gain system will utilize 30-45% of the
sun’s energy striking the glass adjoining the thermal mass.

Trombe Wall at Zion Visitor Center at Zion National Park in Utah. The
trombe wall is the lower two panes of the lowest level of glass. Image
courtesy of NREL

The most common indirect gain systems is a Trombe wall. The thermal
mass, a 6-18 inch thick masonry wall, is located immediately behind south
facing glass of single or double layer, which is mounted about 1 inch or less
in front of the wall’s surface. Solar heat is absorbed by the wall’s dark-
colored outside surface and stored in the wall’s mass, where it radiates into
the living space. Solar heat migrates through the wall, reaching its rear
surface in the late afternoon or early evening. When the indoor temperature
falls below that of the wall’s surface, heat is radiated into the room.

Operable vents at the top and bottom of a thermal storage wall permit heat
to convect between the wall and the glass into the living space. When the
vents are closed at night, radiant heat from the wall heats the living space.

Passive Solar Cooling

Passive solar cooling systems work by reducing unwanted heat gain during
the day, producing non-mechanical ventilation, exchanging warm interior air
for cooler exterior air when possible, and storing the coolness of the night
to moderate warm daytime temperatures. At their simpliest, passive solar
cooling systems include overhangs or shades on south facing windows,
shade trees, thermal mass and cross ventilation.

Shading

Overhang design for shading. Diagram courtesy of the Arizona Solar

Center. The steeper arrow shows the angle of the sun's rays during the
summer, while the shallower arrow indicates the angle during the winter.

To reduce unwanted heat gain in the summer, all windows should be

shaded by an overhang or other devices such as awnings, shutters and
trellises. If an awning on a south facing window protrudes to half of a
window’s height, the sun’s rays will be blocked during the summer, yet will
still penetrate into the house during the winter. The sun is low on the
horizon during sunrise and sunset, so overhangs on east and west facing
windows are not as effective. Try to minimize the number of east and west
facing windows if cooling is a major concern. Vegetation can be used to
shade such windows. Landscaping in general can be used to reduce
unwanted heat gain during the summer.

Thermal Mass

Thermal mass is used in a passive cooling design to absorbs heat and

moderate internal temperature increases on hot days. During the night,
thermal mass can be cooled using ventilation, allowing it to be ready the
next day to absorb heat again. It is possible to use the same thermal mass
for cooling during the hot season and heating during the cold season.

Ventilation

Natural ventilation maintains an indoor temperature that is close to the

outdoor temperature, so it’s only an effective cooling technique when the
indoor temperature is equal to or higher than the outdoor one. The climate
determines the best natural ventilation strategy.

In areas where there are daytime breezes and a desire for ventilation
during the day, open windows on the side of the building facing the breeze
and the opposite one to create cross ventilation. When designing, place
windows in the walls facing the prevailing breeze and opposite walls. Wing
walls can also be used to create ventilation through windows in walls
perpendicular to prevailing breezes. A solid vertical panel is placed
perpendicular to the wall, between two windows. It accelarates natural wind
speed due to pressure differences created by the wing wall.

In a climate like New England where night time temperatures are generally
lower than daytime ones, focus on bringing in cool nighttime air and then
closing the house to hot outside air during the day. Mechanical ventilation is
one way of bringing in cool air at night, but convective cooling is another
option.

Convective Cooling

The oldest and simplest form of convective cooling is designed to bring in

cool night air from the outside and push out hot interior air. If there are
prevailing nightime breezes, then high vent or open on the leeward side
(the side away from the wind) will let the hot air near the ceiling escape.
Low vents on the opposite side (the side towards the wind) will let cool
night air sweep in to replace the hot air.

At sites where there aren’t prevailing breezes, it’s still possible to use
convective cooling by creating thermal chimneys. Thermal chimneys are
designed around the fact that warm air rises; they create a warm or hot
zone of air (often through solar gain) and have a high exterior exhaust
outlet. The hot air exits the building at the high vent, and cooler air is drawn
in through a low vent.

There are many different approaches to creating the thermal chimney

effect. One is an attached south facing sunroom that is vented at the top.
Air is drawn from the living space through connecting lower vents to be
exhausted through the sunroom upper vents (the upper vents from the
sunroom to the living space and any operable windows must be closed and
the thermal mass wall of the sunroom must be shaded).