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Green Building Retrofit for the Library of Indian Institute Technology,

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DOI: 10.1007/s40030-013-0035-x

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Green Building Retrofit for the Library of
Indian Institute Technology, Roorkee

A. Naphade, A. Sharma, P. S. Chani &

P. Garg

Journal of The Institution of

Engineers (India): Series A
Civil, Architectural, Environmental and
Agricultural Engineering

ISSN 2250-2149
Volume 94
Number 1

J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. A (2013) 94:35-42

DOI 10.1007/s40030-013-0035-x

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J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. A (February–April 2013) 94(1):35–42
DOI 10.1007/s40030-013-0035-x
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION
Green Building Retrofit for the Library of Indian Institute
Technology, Roorkee
A. Naphade • A. Sharma • P. S. Chani •
P. Garg
Received: 26 April 2012 / Accepted: 19 August 2013 / Published online: 31 August 2013
Ó The Institution of Engineers (India) 2013
Abstract The major focus world over is on constructing
environment friendly buildings. Buildings symbolize
uncontrolled consumption of energy and natural resources
and also have negative environmental impact. In India, the
residential and commercial sector consumes 30 % of the
total electricity usage of the country and a major portion of
this is used in buildings. Designing and developing new
buildings based on the energy efficiency concept and
applying retrofit options to the existing buildings could
improve the energy use in the building sector. This paper
studies an existing building, Central Library of Indian
Institute of Technology Roorkee, and recommends retrofit
options for sustainable aspects such as site planning,
energy and water use, materials and resources and indoor
environment quality. The results of this study can be uti-
lized for green retrofits of the other buildings in the
campus.
Keywords Green buildings
Retrofitting
LEED-EB
Introduction
Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency
with which buildings use resources (energy, water and
materials), while reducing impacts on human health and the
A. Naphade
A. Sharma (&)
P. S. Chani
P. Garg
Department of Architecture and Planning, Indian Institute of
Technology, Roorkee 247667, Uttarakhand, India
e-mail: s.aanchal@gmail.com
environment during the building’s lifecycle, through better
sitting, design, construction, operation, maintenance and
removal [1]. Externally a green building and a conventional
building may look alike, but the difference is in the envi-
ronmental benefits a green building can provide for, e.g.,
30–40 % lower water consumption, 40–50 % lower energy
consumption, enhanced productivity of occupants, enhanced
occupants comfort, etc. [2].
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) helps building owners and operators to measure
operations, improvements and maintenance on a constant
scale, with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency
while minimizing environmental impacts [3]. Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing
Buildings Rating System (LEED-EB) is specifically
designed for retrofit and upgrade projects [4]. It
recognizes building performance in five key areas, viz.
sustainable site development, water savings, energy
savings, materials selection and indoor environmental
quality.
The main objective of this paper is to examine a cen-
trally air-conditioned library building (CL) (Fig. 1) as a
case study for Green Retrofit Modeling as per the guide-
lines of LEED-EB. The reason to choose this particular
building is because it is a recent addition (build in 2007) to
the building footprint of the Indian Institute of Technology
Roorkee (IIT R). IIT R is more than 150 years old campus
and has observed numerous changes to its building foot-
print since its inception. This may have resulted in adverse
environmental impacts like temperature change, decrease
in rainfall, increase in rainwater runoff and decrease in
ground water table levels at the micro level.
Inferences drawn from this study can be applied for
other existing buildings or similar upcoming projects on
the IIT R campus.
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36
The Case Study
Roorkee has a composite climate; hot during summer, cold
during winter and humid during the monsoons. The tem-
perature ranges from 5 to 20 oC in winters and 25–40 oC in
summers. The average rainfall is about 833 mm.
Centrally air-conditioned library is a three storied
building with a basement and has a rectangular form of
48 m 9 45 m. The total floor area is approximately 6,735
sqm, of which 70 % is reading and stacking space and 30 %
is office and circulation space. It has roof area of approxi-
mately 2,000 sqm. It has a collection of about
350,000 documents and digital information support through
five servers and over 75 user terminals [5]. CL is aligned in
the E-W direction with the main entrance from east in an
atrium. Service areas like toilets, staircases, lift and AHU’s
are placed at the rear of the building, i.e., west and thus it
buffers the internal spaces from the western sun (Fig. 2).
Fig. 1 Front facade of central library
Fig. 2 Schematic plan showing activity zoning and naturally lit areas
of CL
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J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. A (February–April 2013) 94(1):35–42
Some of the key design features of CL as per the five
key areas of LEED-EB viz. Sustainable Sites, Water Effi-
ciency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources
and Indoor Environment Quality, are discussed below.
1. Most of the site around the library is paved with small
plantations and a water body. The building is sur-
rounded by tarred road on all sides. Hard surfaces
outside the building increase rainwater runoff and also
cause heat island effect [6]. Because of theses imper-
vious paved site area rain water runoff is carried away
in underground drains which results in low ground
water levels. IIT R is already a pedestrian campus and
encourages the usage of bicycles.
2. The water use in the CL is primarily for toilets,
drinking, landscaping, and chillers. Specifically, toilets
water use is 151,632 l/year approximately.
3. The average annual energy consumption by CL is about
585,315 kWh which is mainly accounted for by the
HVAC system, lighting system and other equipments
like computers, printers, and Xerox machines (Fig. 3).
Since, the site experiences extreme climatic conditions
in summers and winters, it results in the increase of the
number of discomfort hours in that period and hence the
need for an HVAC system. The present energy
consumption pattern of CL (Fig. 4) clearly shows that
energy consumed in these seasons is higher as compared
to spring or monsoon. Artificial lighting in the library is
done using compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). CFL use
in CL have better lighting quality, are energy efficient
and less expensive in the long run as compared to regular
incandescent lamps or fluorescent tube lights [7]. The
library is divided into zones and is provided with single
on/off control system for a zone. The reading sections,
being the most integral activity of a library (apart from
books stacking), are designed in the naturally lit zones.
However, lights in the reading areas and book stacking
areas remain ‘ON’ even if unoccupied, thus causing
considerable loss of energy. The naturally lit area also
uses artificial light very often, even when not required
causing a considerable increase in the lighting loads.
4. The external walls have sandstone cladding and tinted
double glazing in the openings. Sandstone cladding on
Fig. 3 Energy use breakup
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J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. A (February–April 2013) 94(1):35–42
Fig. 4 Present energy
consumption pattern
external walls reduces the U value and thus helps in
reducing heat gain [8]. The glazed external surface
area although allows natural light inside but also
accounts for the heat gain and loss in summers and
winters respectively [9].
5. Enhancing indoor air quality contributes to the health
and the well being of the occupants. Tobacco smoke is
already prohibited in the CL and uses CFL for lighting
which emits relatively less mercury as compared to an
incandescent light bulb [10]. The huge double glazing
in the CL connects indoor to the outdoor environment
through ample daylight and outside views into the
reading areas. Though the HVAC system used here is a
centralized arrangement but it is operated manually
and uses R-22 refrigerant. The manually operated
HVAC system is deficient in providing proper human
comfort conditions to the users. R-22 refrigerant used
has the Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) of 0.05 and
Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1,700 [11]. Both
these values are high if compared to other prevalent
refrigerants like HCFH which has an ODP of 0.012
and GWP of 120.
It is evident that the CL has a few green design features
for energy efficiency and indoor environment but needs
action to improve some of the existing operational equip-
ments, fixtures and practices. ‘‘Discussion and Analysis’’
section presents the retrofit options for CL which are
divided into two sections, viz. energy efficient retrofit using
design builder simulation software [12] and prescriptive
recommendations using the LEED-EB [4] guidelines.
Discussion and Analysis
Energy Efficient Retrofit
The input data required for performing energy efficient
retrofit by design builder software are building location
37
(climate data), building drawings (plans, sections and ele-
vations), envelope design characteristics (walls, windows,
roofs etc.), materials and construction elements, internal
system loads (lighting, cooling, heating and ventilation)
and thermal performance control systems [13]. The build-
ing is then divided into various zones as per usage and
occupancy and simulated to find the energy consumption.
The simulated results obtained form Design Builder Model
(Fig. 5) for energy consumption by the library building
shows that the total energy consumption should be
approximately 411,236 kWh per year, whereas, the actual
consumption is 585,315 kWh per year (Fig. 6). The main
reason for the difference in energy utilization is that the
simulation model considers the HVAC system to be con-
trolled by an automation system, but the existing HVAC
system is operated and controlled manually. It is worth
noting here, that in the moderate months of March and
April, simulated and actual energy consumptions overlaps
because of minimum HVAC requirements. Therefore,
providing the HVAC control system using thermostats,
temperature sensors and occupancy sensors, the energy use
by the building can be reduced by 174,079 kWh, which is
an overall reduction by 29.74 %.
Heat gain through external glazing in the CL can be
reduced by applying low emissive coating (Low E) to the
outside and inside panes of glass to reduce the sun heat
gain in summers and heat loss in winters. The Low E
coating can reduce the U factor of the library window to
0.20–0.04 [14]. The CL model when simulated for the Low
E on both the sides of the double glazed window shows
reduction in heat gain of the building by 24 % (Fig. 7) and
further reduction in the energy consumption by 769 kWh
(or 29.87 %)(Fig. 8).
Providing lighting controls for the CL using light sen-
sors, dimmers and occupancy sensors reduces the energy
consumption further by 36,492 kWh per year, which is
36.11 % reduction in the overall energy consumption of the
building (Fig. 9).
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38 J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. A (February–April 2013) 94(1):35–42

Fig. 5 Snapshot from design

builder model of CL

Fig. 6 Actual and simulated

energy consumption

Fig. 7 Heat gain

The approximate 2,000 sqm of roof area if converted to
green roof has the potential of saving about 25 % of the
total energy consumption [15]. Thus providing the green
roof will further reduce the energy consumption by
93,490 kWh and the final energy consumption will become
280,481 kWh (Fig. 10) which is approximately 52 %
reduction from the actual energy consumption.
Table 1 shows that the total cost incurred for the pro-
posed energy efficient retrofits can be recovered in
2.5 years approximately. The energy production emits
carbon and any reduction in energy consumption reduces
carbon emissions and this reduction in carbon emission
gains carbon credits for the building. Any building gets 1
carbon credit for 1 Ton reduction of CO2 emission [16].

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J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. A (February–April 2013) 94(1):35–42 39

Fig. 8 Energy consumption

after HVAC controls and low E
coating

Fig. 9 Energy consumption

after HVAC control, and low E
coating and lighting controls

Fig. 10 Energy consumption

after HVAC and lighting
controls, low E coating and
green roof

Table 2 shows the reduction in carbon emission if the Prescriptive Recommendations

energy conservation project is carried out. Carbon
credits earned by the energy efficient retrofit of the
library building are 208. These credits can be sold in the
international market at the prevailing market price.
There are two exchanges for carbon credits: the Chicago
Climate Exchange and the European Climate Exchange
[18, 19].
Sustainable Site
Due to impervious paved site area rain water runoff is
carried away in underground drains. This can be reduced
by excavating a continuous trench of 0.5 m width and 1 m
depth in the front (sloping to the front) so that the runoff

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40 J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. A (February–April 2013) 94(1):35–42

Table 1 Costing analysis of energy efficient retrofit measures of CL has rainwater harvesting potential of 1,499,400 l/
S.No Description Energy Cost Investment Payback
year.1 If a green roof is provided about 75 % of this water
saved, benefit, cost, INR period, available is retained by the green roof. Rest of the 25 % of
kWh/Year INR/year years water i.e. 374,850 l can be harvested and used for toilets
and the irrigation purposes. Green Roof when installed on
1 HVAC 174,079 3,48,200/- 5,56,000/- 1.6
controls the library roof not only helps reducing the energy con-
2 Low E 769 13,700/- 66,150/- 4.8 sumption and rainwater harvesting but also provides the
Coatings associated environmental benefits by recovering a sub-
3 Lighting 36,492 60,822/- 1,86,500/- 3.1 stantial part of the building footprint. Native grass and
controls shrubs should be used to reduce the water need for irri-
4 Green roof 93,490 2,92,600/- 9,60,000/- 3.3 gation. All these water efficient measures put together will
5 Total 304,830 7,15,280/- 17,68,650/- 2.5 earn 5 possible points as per LEED-EB credits checklist.

Energy and Environment

Table 2 Carbon emissions saving
As already seen most of the energy used for the building is
S.No. Item Savings in energy Reduction in CO2
consumption, KWh emissions*, Kgs for the HVAC systems. Few alterations in the present
HVAC system management may achieve great energy
1 HVAC Controls 174,079 119,240 efficiency. CL observes working hours from 9:00 a.m. to
2 Low E coating 769 527 7:00 p.m. The maximum load of electricity is at the starting
3 Lighting controls 36,492 24,996 of the day i.e. from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. when all the
4 Green roof 93,490 64,038 equipments are turned ‘ON’ and in the evenings from
5 Total 304,830 208,801 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. when students visit the library after
* CO2 emissions (MT) = Energy Consumption (kWh) 9 Emission class hours. Because of the high occupancy during these
factor** hours, HVAC system’s demand is also maximum which
** Emission Factor = 0.79 tCO2/MWh [17] may be reduced by shifting the building system load to off
peak hours i.e. run the chillers in the night time to chill the
water that is stored in large tanks on the premises and
during the peak hours the following day chillers are turned
water percolates to the ground water table through this
off and the ready to use chilled water is circulated to
recharge trench. The present pavements may be replaced
condition the CL. Energy consumption can be reduced
with grid pavement to further allow the run off rainwater
further by use of renewable sources in a mixed mode
from the pavements to percolate to the ground water table.
system i.e. components like computers and printers run on
The grid pavement will keep the grass, ensure adequate
regular electric supply whereas lighting energy can be
drainage, and prevent mud puddles parking lots. Cool
made by available using solar photovoltaic system. CL
coating can be provided on the roads and pavements which
receives electricity from a separate substation, using a
lower the energy use by reducing surface temperature of
capacitor panel will supply electricity at a constant voltage
the pavement and hence the heat island effect. These
to the library, using less current and thus reducing the total
measures will earn 14 possible points as per LEED-EB
energy consumption of the building. The reason for any
credits checklist for sustainable sites category.
future change in energy consumption than the regular trend
cannot be established with the present single meter system.
Water Efficiency Thus, a separate metering system for HVAC system,
lighting system and other miscellaneous systems should be
Water efficiency in CL can be achieved by using water installed. Also, a computerized building automation system
efficient fixtures, rain water harvesting, and grey water re- to continuously monitor all building controls and sensors
use as discussed in this section. Aerators for the washba- for occupancy, heating, cooling and lighting systems can
sins, duel flush system and water less urinals in toilets can be established to indicate when conditions are beyond their
reduce the water use by 48 %. Thus, the water consump- normal operating limits. 23 possible points can be earned
tion will reduce from 151,632 l/year to 78,830 l (approxi-
mately). Grey water from hand basins and water cooler can
be used for toilet flushing and garden irrigation by simple 1
Rainwater harvesting potential = Roof area (sqm) 9 Annual Rain-
filtering using a sand pit before use. 2,000 sqm of roof area fall (mm) 9 0.9.

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J. Inst. Eng. India Ser. A (February–April 2013) 94(1):35–42
by performing these measures as per LEED-EB checklist
for Energy and Atmosphere category.
Materials and Resources
Purchasing policies to adopt the use of alternative materials,
salvaged material, recycled material, or material with recy-
cled content and local/regional material should be estab-
lished, e.g. recycled paper for photocopying facilities,
printings and bindings etc. A recycling policy with a list of
all recyclable and non-recyclable materials should be pro-
vided so that the reusable waste can be sent for recycling and
rest of the garbage can be sent to garbage disposal plants.
This will reduce load on the garbage disposal plants. CL will
earn 16 possible credit points under Materials & Resources
category as per LEED-EB checklist.
Indoor Environment Quality
R-22 refrigerant can be replaced by HCFC-123 which has
lower values of ODP and GWP. Changing the refrigerant
used has a positive effect on the environment. The high
volume printing/copying rooms, fax stations and computer
rooms that release toxic materials and heat should be
provided with an exhaust system to keep the indoor air
clean. Sensors and controls introduced to the lighting and
HVAC system will further promote the productivity,
comfort and well being of users. 22 possible points can be
earned as per LEED-EB credits checklist for these Indoor
Environment Quality measures.
Conclusion
With increasing energy prices, reducing reserves of con-
ventional forms of energy and increasing carbon emissions
‘Green buildings’ are the need of the hour. The building
sector is consuming 30 % of the total energy use and is
emitting large quantity of carbon and its share would rise in
the coming years. Green retrofit measures with paybacks in
5 years or less can reduce energy use and carbon emission
by 40 %. With increasing threats caused by depleting
resources, it is absolutely essential that all the existing
buildings and future buildings are retrofitted and designed
to function as a ‘Green Building’.
Effective energy load management is a two step process,
consisting of effective system alterations and system
response. Having achieved the first step, the next step is
operation and management of the systems. The manage-
ment and maintenance is the only way to optimize the life
performance of the systems in terms of energy use and
comfort. Energy monitoring and control systems should
provide energy consumption monitoring using hourly
41
graphs to note the effects of small operational changes and
monthly graphs to have a record of historical trends and
provide operating information over time. The building
should have on-site engineering staff and HVAC techni-
cians that are dedicated to the continuous commissioning
and maintenance for efficient and safe operation of the
facility. This will enable the incorporation of a system
which provides a scheduled preventive maintenance pro-
gram catalogs inspections of the equipments. Key findings
based on the above discussion for the proposed building are
as follows:
1. Energy consumption can be reduced by approximately
52 % if the HVAC and Lighting controls are provided
to the buildings operation, Low E coating is applied to
the outside and inside panes of glazing and Green Roof
is installed on the 2,000 sqm of roof area.
2. Payback period for such retrofit is of 2.5 years.
However in calculating the payback period, earnings
made through trading carbon credits is not yet
accounted. Carbon Credits earned by this building
would be 208 which can be traded internationally.
3. In addition to the above energy efficient retrofits the
prescriptive recommendations as per LEED- EB [4],
viz. Reduced site disturbance, Storm water manage-
ment, Heat island reduction, Water efficiency, Opti-
mized energy performance, Renewable energy,
Building systems operation and maintenance, Ozone
protection, Enhanced metering, Carbon emission
reduction reporting, Optimized use of alternative
materials, Toxic material reduction, Enhanced indoor
air quality, Enhanced thermal and visual comfort,
Daylight and outside views: the building can earn a
total of 46 possible points, which will earn it a LEED
Silver certification level.
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