DISSERTATION

STUDY OF SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND GREEN ARCHITECTURE,

INCORPORATING WORKS OF ARCHITECT KARAN GROVER

By

RAJ NAVEEN R

A DISSERTATION REPORT

Submitted to

KALASALINGAM SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

In partial fulfillment of the requirements

For the award of the degree

Of

BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE

KALASALINGAM ACADEMY OF RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this dissertation report titled STUDY OF SUSTAINABLE

MATERIALS AND GREEN ARCHITECTURE INCORPORATING
WORKS OF ARCHITECT KARAN GROVER is the bonafide work of MR.
RAJNAVEEN .R .who carried out the research under my supervision.

SUPERVISOR

HOD

INTERNAL EXAMINAR

EXTERNAL EXAMINAR
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

I would also like to thank the experts who were involved in the validation survey
for this research project: [List professional Titles, Name and Surnames of the
experts who participated/contributed]. Without their passionate participation and
input, the validation survey could not have been successfully conducted.

I would also like to acknowledge Director Dr. N. Lakshmi Thilagam of the

Kalasalingam School of Architecture at Kalasalingam Academy of Research and
Education as the second reader of this dissertation, and I am gratefully indebted to
her for her very valuable comments on this dissertation.

Finally, I must express my very profound gratitude to my parents for providing me

with unfailing support and continuous encouragement throughout my years of
study and through the process of researching and writing this dissertation. This
accomplishment would not have been possible without them. Thank you.

Author

R. RAJ NAVEEN
 ABSTRACT

This dissertation is focusing on the Study about the Sustainable Materials and Green
Architecture, Incorporating Works of Architect Karan Grover. Architect Karan Grover is the
founder of Karan Grover and associates. He is a winner of all the indian awards for Excellence in
architecture and interior design ,and almost single handedly won india‘s nominations for
UNESCO‘s world heritage site status for champaner after a 22 year old campaign. In 2004,
Grover becomes the first architect in the world to win the U.S. GBE ―platinum‖ Award for the
greenest building in the world. Today he is working towards the need for practicing ―Green
architecture‖ inspiring students and fellow architects-a need based on ecological and
environmental concerns; a need which involves us all as inhabitants of this planet.

The built environment has a profound impact on the natural environment, the economy, and
human health and productivity. Homes account for over 20% of the nation‘s energy use and as a
result, for over 20% of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. Home builders and home
buyers throughout the country are demonstrating an increased interest in green building – for
environmental, health, and financial reasons. Counties can play an important role in providing
services, incentives, programs and policies that support the green building movement.

Green homes are healthier, more comfortable, more durable, more energy efficient,
and have a much smaller environmental footprint than conventional homes. Green homes rely
upon established and proven design elements.

The concept of sustainable building incorporates and integrates a variety of strategies during the
design, construction and operation of building projects. The use of green building materials and
products represents one important strategy in the design of a building. Green building materials
are composed of renewable, rather than nonrenewable resources. Green materials are
environmentally responsible because impacts are considered over the life of the product.

The concept of green architectural design is briefly described in this article. The elaboration of
how to apply technological methods of green design to traditional architecture to make the
buildings alive can further illustrate the point that the green architectural design is a combination
of traditional architectural design and the concept of the green design. The paper also explores
what factors should be taken care of in the green design plan. The article briefly analyzes some
technological methods that can be applied to modification of existing buildings for energy
saving.

5
 CONTENTS

CHAPTER NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

1 INTRODUCTION 1
Introduction
Project Brief
Aim
Objectives
Scope

2 Ar. KARAN GROVER 3

Principals Karan Grover (born 1951)

Philosophy

Key Project

Style and Design thoughts

Thoughts

We Can Change The World

3 case study-

CII SOHRABJI GODREJ GREEN BUSINESS

CENTRE 11

Location

Name

Developer

Architectural Design

6
 Type

Ratings

About CII Godrej GBC

The Concept
Location
Sensitivity to context

the traditional central courtyard with

Colonnaded corriddors
About Courtyard

Energy Efficiency
Ground Floor Plan
Light And Ventilation
Jali Walls
Use of Traditional Jalli

Landscape

Canopy Trees

Ground Cover

Water Has Sensual Value

Sustainable Materials

Section

Entrance

Parking And Accessibility

Fly Ash Bricks

Energy Efficiency

Wind Scoop

Daytime And Night Time Operation Of A

Wind Tower
Natural Lighting

4 SYNTHESIS BUSINESS PARK 34

Location
7
 Architectural Design
Developer
Site Sustainability Features
Floor Plans
Water Efficiency
Energizing The Building
Resource Management
Indoor Environmental Quality

Novelties
5 Goa State Legislative Assembly Complex 44
Expenditure
SITE PLAN
Floor Details
6 SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS 49
About Green Buildings
Sustainable Building Materials

What is a green building product or material?

Green building material/product selection criteria
Overall material/product selection criteria

The Cost Of Building Green

LEED for Homes

Materials selection

Resource base

Waste

Recycling
Conclusion

8
CHAPTER - 1: INTRODUCTION

Introduction
The concept of sustainable building incorporates and integrates a variety of strategies during
the design, construction and operation of building projects. The use of green building materials
and products represents one important strategy in the design of a building. Green building
materials are composed of renewable, rather than nonrenewable resources. Green materials are
environmentally responsible because impacts are considered over the life of the product.

The built environment has a profound impact on the natural environment, the economy,
and human health and productivity. Homes account for over 20% of the nation‘s energy use and
as a result, for over 20% of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. Home builders and
home buyers throughout the country are demonstrating an increased interest in green building –
for environmental, health, and financial reasons. Counties can play an important role in
providing services, incentives, programs and policies that support the green building movement.

Green homes are healthier, more comfortable, more durable, more energy efficient,
and have a much smaller environmental footprint than conventional homes. Green homes rely
upon established and proven design elements.

Project Brief

The project on To study about the Sustainable Materials and Green Architecture,
incorporating works of architect Karan Grover deals with the various techniques employed
presently in the construction of sustainable structures, with previous experiences as well as
taking into account its energy saving and cost effective nature. It deals with a comparative study
of the various adopted techniques bringing in awareness among the people of such energy saving
materials which is readily obtained from the earth without any processing. Green building-rating
systems are used to evaluate new or existing buildings based on their environmental
performance. Reviewers issue credits in each performance category and assign an overall
environmental performance rating to the structure. With public acceptance, rating systems can
change the way designers, building owners, and tenants evaluate buildings. The project deals
with the details about sustainable materials and green architecture and case study about green
building.

9
 Aim

To study about the Sustainable Materials and Green Architecture,

incorporating works of architect Karan Grover

Objectives
• Materials
• Construction
• Eco architecture
• Planning
• Style

Scope

Sustainable architecture, also known as green architecture, minimizes the negative environmental
impact of buildings by efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and
development space. Sustainable architecture uses a conscious approach to energy and ecological
conservation in the design of the built environment. This is to ensure that our actions and
decisions today do not inhibit the opportunities of future generations. Scope of Sustainable
Architecture: The candidate with the Sustainable Architecture degree has more opportunities in
than traditional architects. Public and private sectors are searching for the candidates with
Sustainable Architecture degree. Most of private industries are looking for the Sustainable
Architects to build their apartment s / industry with natural sources. The US, Department of
Energy has forth to encourage the development of buildings that can cause less effect on
environment. Career Opportunities: The candidates with this degree can get job opportunities in
both public and private sectors. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed the
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program that certifies qualified
individuals as LEED Green Associates. Sustainable Architecture candidates can get jobs at
architecture firms, architectural services, consulting services, educational services, engineering
services, building, developing, & general contracting and many more.

10
 CHAPTER - 2: Ar. Karan Grover

Architect Karan Grover is the founder of KaranGrover and associates.He is a winner of all the
indian awards for Excellence in architecture and interior design ,and almost single handedly won
india‘s nominations for UNESCO‘s world heritage site status for champaner after a 22 year old
campaign. In 2004, Grover becomes the first architect in the world to win the U.S. GBE
―platinum‖ Award for the greenest building in the world. Today he is working towards the need
for practicing ―Green architecture‖ inspiring students and fellow architects-a need based on
ecological and environmental concerns; a need which involves us all as inhabitants of this planet.

Principals Karan Grover (born 1951)

• AA Graduate Diploma, Architectural Association, London

• Bachelor of Architecture, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
• Awarded the M.B. Dave Gold Medal for thesis - 'Pedestrian Precincts'
• Selected as the only student from Asia to participate in a special graduate programme under the
tutorship of John Turner from the USA, who conducted the Housing Programme at the Graduate
School
• Presented a secondary thesis on "Housing the Urban Poor in India" within the same time frame
of the Graduate Programme
• Selected by Husan Fathy, the legendary Egyptian architect, to apprentice in the Development
Alternative Workshop, which ran concurrently with the Graduate Programme
• Invited by the United Nations to present a keynote paper for the Habitat Summit in 1976
• Attended Green-Build Expo, 2005 & 2007

11
• Served as a panelist at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, in September, 2007

Philosophy

Karan Grover and Associates though a young architectural practice, has emerged into a multi-
disciplinary organization with an in-house engineering team which is seen as an integral part of
architectural design activity.

Some of the fundamental values that the architectural practice beliefs stem from the standpoint of
creating a 'Contemporary' Indian architectural idioms and language drawing essences from
Tradition and Culture in very fundamental planes.

The project of 'Traditionalism' is then explored as an attempt at re-instating and reinterpreting

some of the fundamental forms that have shaped our architectures over centuries - yet
dramatically opposing the ideas of cosmetic duplication of historical forms and elements. The
work instead focuses on grasping or attempting to grasp some of the fundamental essentials.

With these values as a springboard, the practice attempts to conceive buildings and design
projects that are very Contemporary, at times Futuristic in their physical and architectural
expressions, technological and material innovations and use.

In the sense architectural and design activity is pursued as a 'Contextual' project - with the idea of
creating 'Places of Identity' be it, Public or Commercial buildings, Cultural or Institutional
projects, Housing, Corporate or Interior designing. It's in this direction that the firm firmly
believes in.

The design work and projects are seen as opportunities to explore and orientate in this particular
direction in architecture.

Grover's architecture reflects his concerns with the heritage and built landscape of India. He
decided quite early in his professional life that India demanded something more than merely
adopting the western norms of architecture. The long architectural history of this country and the
development of its style to cater to climatic needs provided the framework for this search.

In the Institute of Plasma Research, Ahmedabad Grover has used the contained landscape, the
courtyard, axis screens, jails and water, all elements which have had significance in the
traditional Indian architectural context. This building was an accepted nomination for the Aga
Khan Award. In the Institute of Quality for CII and ABB, Bangalore, traditional wind towers
were used in place of air-conditioning. This was a first for non-air-conditioned projects of this
scale. It won the IIA (Indian Institute of Architects) Snowcem Award for Excellence in
Corporate Architecture. In 1997, Grover won all the five major awards in the country. These
were for Excellence in Urban, Corporate, Industrial, Residential and Retail architecture. He was
also identified as one of the 14 important Asian architects for the next millennium. His work was
displayed at the 'ROOTS' exhibition in Tokyo.

12
 'Green' architecture was the next logical direction for Grover. He became the first architect in the
world to win the Platinum Award for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
from the US Building Council in 2002. The award was for the CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green
Business Centre at Hyderabad, a collaborative project between US AID, Government of Andhra
Pradesh and CII.

Karan Grover, the architect, is today working towards the need for practicing 'Green' architecture
inspiring students and fellow architects. A need based on ecological and environmental concerns;
a need which involves us all as inhabitants of this planet.

Key Project

• Goa Assembly Building at Porvorim, Goa, 1993-2002.

• CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, Hyderabad, LEED Platinum rated building by US-
GBC, 2002-2003
• District Office Complex at Bagalkot for Government of Karnataka, 2003-2006
• Synthesis Business Park, Rajarhat, Kolkata for Bengal Shrachi Housing Development, sought
for LEED Platinum rating of US-GBC, execution stage, 2005-2008
• Minestone Diamond Processing Unit at Navsari, sought for LEED Gold Rating, execution stage,
2005-2008
• Garden of Peace at Dhauli, Bhubaneswar for Orissa Tourism Development Corporation, under
execution
• Institution for Mathematics and Application at Bhubaneswar, execution stage. 2006-2008
• Fort Jadhavgadhi conservation cum hotel project at Pune for Orchid Hotels, execution stage
• Interior of Ahmedabad Branch of ABN AMRO Bank, sought for LEED Platinum rating, 2006-
2007
• Institute of Quality for Confederation of Indian Industry, Bangalore using Passive Down-Draft
Evaporative Cooling (PDEC) system, 2000-2001
Key publications
• Indian Architect & Builder, June 1995. "Architect Karan Grover", his office and home
• Design Digest, March 1996 - 'Place and space in Karan Grover's architecture
• Inside Outside, July 1997- Project : A traditional Kerala home at Mumbai
• Inside Outside, September 1997 - Five award winning projects of Karan Grover & Associates
• The Fountainhead for Architects & Designers, March 1999. IIID National Convention at
Baroda, organized by Mr. Karan Grover
• Inside Outside, October 1998. Karan Grover's office and house
• Indian Architect & Builder, April 1999. Competition entries of Karan Grover & Associates
• Mans' World, July 2004 "The Best Young Architects"
• Man's World, November 2004 "India's 50 most stylish men"
• India Today, August 2004 "Rediscovering A Lost City" - Champaner Pavagadh
• Gateway, September 2004 "Karan Grover Champ of Champaner"
• India Today, October, 2004 - Project : CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, Hyderabad
• Society Interiors, October, 2004 _ Project : : CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre,
Hyderabad

13
• Construction World, September, 2005 and 2007
• Verve, August 2007 " Buzz Makers"

HNG Corporate Office, Kolkata

The Park Hotel, Pune

Jadavgarh Fort Orchid Boutique Hotel, Pune

14
 National Institute of Design, Banglore

Style and Design thoughts

He want to share the basic green design strategies, which every architect can easily incorporate
in the design to create a green building. It is a misconception that we need a green architect, a
green consultant and the best green rating system to create a sustainable building.
• Look at the orientation of the building. Make sure that smaller surfaces
are facing east and west.
• Design buffer zones on east and west facades like verandas, equipment
rooms and staircases.
• Integrate screens to allow natural ventilation and cross ventilation to
cool the building.
• Design inclined windows on the south façade to avoid direct sun radiation on the windows.
• Try to avoid any openings like windows on the east and west.
• Use ceilings which reflect the natural light and bring it deep into the room.
• Use green roofs and green walls.
• Design rainwater harvesting pits to collect all rainwater from the site.
• I believe the success of developing a Green Building Community lies in sharing information
without making yourself to the key-person. Teach people what they need to know to make a
green building.

Thoughts
Everyone Is Green:
I can see that every second developer promotes his project with the help of the word ―green‖.
Most of the times it is only a word, and there is actually no element which is eco-friendly,
energy-efficient or sustainable in this project. We should employ ―green watchdogs‖ who will
ask developers, builders and product manufacturers to prove their green statements. Consumers
have the right of information and under no circumstances they should be mislead with the word
―green‖. Stand up and ask for the green features and if you don‘t feel it is green, speak up!

15
 We Can Change The World:
There is no community which has a greater impact on the world‘s energy consumption than
architects. 50% of the world‘s energy is consumed by buildings. Architects can save at least ½ of
the buildings energy consumption by passive design elements and with the help of energy-
efficient technologies. That means by designing our buildings in a sustainable and energy saving
way we have an impact of 25% on the words energy consumption!
If we work together we can make an extraordinary difference. Our
community is responsible for the survival of this planet. Let’s go
out and change the world!
―In twenty years, a green building in India will reflect the Indian culture much better than
these days where we are striving towards modern buildings copied from the West. Design
elements like ―jalis‖ and other passive strategies which keep the building cool will be followed.
We will rediscover the roots of the past what will influence the aesthetics of the new buildings.
For every place and every climatic region buildings will show different design features which
support natural ventilation,natural lighting and cooling. Looking at developments around
the world it is fascinating to see that modern buildings in the West are taking advantage of Asian
design elements like screens and numerous passive strategies.

interior design

16
17
CASE STUDY

▪ CII Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre,

Hyderabad

▪ Synthesis Business Park, Kolkata

▪ Goa State Legislative Assembly Complex

18
 CHAPTER – 3 : CII SOHRABJI GODREJ GREEN BUSINESS CENTRE

Location
Hyderabad, India
Name
CII Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre
Developer
The project is a unique and successful model of public-private partnership between the
Government of Andhra Pradesh, Pirojsha Godrej Foundation, and the Confederation of Indian
Industry(CII), with the technical support of USAID
Architectural Design
Karan Grover and Associates, India size 4.5 acres (total site area) 1,858 m2 (total built up
area)1,115 m2 (total air-conditioned area)
Type
Office building, Building details, Office building, Seminar hall, Green Technology Centre
displaying the latest and emerging green building materials and technologies in India. Large
numbers of visitors are escorted on green building tour
Ratings
Awarded the LEED Platinum Rating for New Construction (NC) v 2.0 by the
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)in November 2003

About CII Godrej GBC

It offers advisory services to the Industry in the areas of :
• Green buildings
• Energy Efficiency
• Water Management

19
• Environmental management
• Renewable energy
• Green business incubation
• Climate change activities

20
 Wind Towers

Water Body
Solar PV
Roof garden

Water Efficiency
Sustainable Site
Energy Efficiency
Materials & Resources
Indoor Environmental Quality

Formation of positive and negative pressure zones when wind flows around
rectangular and circular bodies.
The pressure coefficient cp can be used with the wind velocity to calculate
positive and negative pressure loads.
21
Pancha Bhutas ancient belief states that life exists because of the presence and balance of the five
classical elements
• They are associated with the five senses
• They act as the gross medium for the experience of sensations

The Concept :

What derives itself from nature returns to it.

This is applied in the practice of Architecture:
• a building gives back to nature even as it takes from it
• thus reducing the ecological footprint
An attempt to make a positive change in design by
Reducing the negative impact on the environment in terms of:
• Use of materials
• Water Management
• Energy Efficiency
• Sustainability
• Natural Ventilation
• Reuse and Recycle
• Renewable Energy
• Effective Land Use
• Ecological footprint
• Carbon Footprint
• Socio Cultural Response etc

LOCATION

Hyderabad, the city of architecture & pearls, now boasts of one of the greenest buildings in the
world. CII - Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre (CII Godrej GBC),cozily nestled close to
Shilparamam, is the first LEED Platinum rated green building in India.The building is a perfect
blend of India‘s rich architectural splendor and technological innovations, incorporating
traditional concepts into modern and contemporary architecture.Extensive energy simulation

22
 exercises were undertaken to orient the building in such a way that minimizes the heat ingress
while allowing natural daylight to penetrate abundantly.The building incorporates several world-
class energy and environmentfriendly features, including solar PV systems, indoor air quality
monitoring, a high efficiency HVAC system, a passive cooling system using wind towers, high
performance glass, aesthetic roof gardens,rain water harvesting, root zone treatment system, etc.
The extensive landscape is also home to varieties of trees, most of which are native and adaptive
to local climatic conditions.The green building boasts a 50% saving in overall energy
consumption, 35 % reduction in potable water consumption and usage of 80% of recycled /
recyclable material.Most importantly, the building has
enabled the widespread green building movement in India.

SENSITIVITY TO CONTEXT
• Minimal damage during construction and occupancy,
to the natural elements of water flow, air quality,
vegetation, and topography
• The built form responds to the rocky site.
• Small footprint, design retains site contours and
existing boulders.
• Contour trenching" adopted to avoid erosion and
sedimentation.
• During construction, barricades were installed to
prevent contaminants from spreading to surrounding
areas.
• Care has been taken not to disturb the activities of a
temple nearby

THE TRADITIONAL CENTRAL COURTYARD WITH COLONNADED

CORRIDDORS
• The spatial and formal elements around a courtyard create introverted blueprint.
• Courtyard space was not rigidly fixed but could be adaptable
depending on the time of day, season
• Its mood changed with varying degrees of light and shade, and
with them the ambience
• Centrally located, serves as visual anchor. It was the spatial,

23
 social, and environment control center of the home.
• By building them around a central open space ensured
close relationships between separate units
• Brought in an additional usable space within the living space.

Court yard acts as the energy centre, also the communication

Centre Centre creates a centrifugal effect,Parts of the design spring apart, try to escape from the
centre, but are caught and held together again by a bracket, a round canopy over the connecting
route.

ABOUT COURTYARD

24
Courtyard functions as a convective thermostat and gives protection from extremes of weather.
The total number of courtyards in one residence could sometimes be five to six.

Energy Efficiency

State-of-the- art Building Management Systems (BMS) were installed for realtime monitoring of
energy consumption.The use of aerated concrete blocks for facades reduces the load on air-
conditioning by 15-20%.Double-glazed units with argon gas filling between the glass panes
enhance the thermal properties.

The courtyards act as "light wells," illuminating adjacent work areas. When this light is not
sufficient, sensors trigger the deployment of efficient electric lights. Dimmers automatically
control the illumination levels, turning the lights off when they're unnecessary. Also, occupancy
sensors prevent a light from being switched on at an unoccupied workstation.

25
GROUND FLOOR PLAN

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

26
 ROOF GARDEN

SUPPORTIVE STRUCTURE FOR PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED

LIGHT AND VENTILATION

• Building layout ensures that 90 % of spaces have daylight
access and views to the outside.
• North facades are glazed for efficient diffused light

27
 • Low heat transmitting glass used
• Double glass to further reduce heat gain
• Natural lighting - no lights are used until late in the evening
• Minimum lux levels for all work stations have been ensured
Light captured from as many sides possible - the use of courtyards

28
JALI WALLS
• Allow controlled passage of air and light into the interior space.
• throw patterns of light and shadow on the floor enhancing aesthetics
• Ensure constant flow of breeze into the interior
• occupant comfort cools the interiors
• An alternative to costly window construction
• Diffuse the glare

29
 3.16.1 Use of Traditional Jalli

• Jallis or Lattice walls are used to prevent glare and heat gain while ensuring adequate day
lighting and views. The jalli, used in many historic buildings such as the Taj Mahal, gives
definition and an aesthetic appeal to a space.

30
 • The office block on the first floor receives sufficient natural light within even on dull
days by the presence of internal courtyard and glass windows along all exterior walls
• Since the seminar hall is generally air conditioned and lit mechanically, only optimum
level of natural light has been ensured
• Where natural light un available- washroomssensor lights have been used to save power

LANDSCAPE

• Landscaping by sequential arrangement of different sizes of plants for various effects

31
CANOPY TREES
• Create mass from the outside,for a canopied space from the inside
• Trunks imply but do not enclose space
• Spaces formed have ceiling, no walls,only columns
• Fairly open at eye level
• Tree trunks act as landscape columns and give architectural character to the site
• Modify the natural light quality Penetrating sunlight adds to the dynamism of the space
• Extend lines or rhythm of architecture into exterior space

32
 GROUND COVER
• Unify groups of plants into a composition
• Creates edges
• Lead the eye to focal points, building entries
• Can create lines of visual character overlapping with paving
• Beneficial in stabilizing

• Defined pathways in landscape to reduce disturbance to plant species

• Bio degradable plastic grass crates used to hold grass easy removal and maintenance
• Large expanse of ground cover used to create focus on Local craftwork as landscape
elements
• Tree trunks and columns lined with gravel stone attention to detail aesthetics

33
 Water Has Sensual Value:
• It triggers the mind
• It augments meaning
• It reinforces communication
• It calms the mind and relieves stress

• Water is also used to modify site climate by evaporative cooling

• Existing rocks used as sculptural features

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
• Bagasse Board – by product of sugarcane industry-a good substitute for plywood or
Particle Board

34
 • It has wide usage for making partitions, furniture etc.
• Eco-friendly method - does not involve any harm to the timbers, unlike plywood.
• Used for furniture in interiors of the
Building

• An impressive 77 % of the building materials use recycled content in the form of fly ash,
broke
glass, broken tiles, recycled paper, recycled aluminum, cinder from industrial furnaces,
bagasse, mineral fibers, cellulose fibers, and quarry dust.
• Low VOC paints have also been applied

66% (by cost) of the material was sourced within a radius of 800 km

35
Reuse of construction waste stone in paving the gardens

• A large amount of energy — and pollution — was also reduced through choices in the
production and transportation of building materials.
• An impressive 77 percent of the building materials use recycled content in the form of fly
ash, broken glass, broken tiles, recycled paper, recycled aluminum, cinder from industrial
furnaces, bagasse (an agricultural waste from sugar cane), mineral fibers, cellulose fibers,
and quarry dust.
• The building reuses a significant amount of material salvaged from other construction
sites like toilet doors, interlocking pavement blocks, stone slabs, scrap steel, scrap glazed
tiles, shuttering material and, interestingly, the furniture in the cafeteria. A waste
management plan ensured that 96 percent of construction waste was recycled.

36
 SECTION

ENTRANCE

• The main gate opens to a long driveway with lush greenery on both sides creating
EMPHASIS to the entrance.The main building has direct access from the main road,
• But the entrance to it is from the inside to ensure privacy and security
PARKING AND ACCESSIBILITY
• Bicycle riders are treated preferentially - convenient parking,lockers, shower cleaning
• 30 % of employee transportation: carpools, bicycles, and LPG
cars
• Use of battery operated vehicles encouraged - Charging
stations available
• The documented reduction of harmful emissions achieved is
62 %

37
 • Encourage building occupants to minimize their reliance on
fossil fuel-based transportation.

FLY ASH BRICKS

• Manufacturing method saves energy, reduces mercury pollution,
• costs 20% less than traditional clay brick manufacturing.
• Low embodied energy, High recycled content, low CO2 emission
• Lighter than clay bricks.
• High strength, practically no breakage during transport
• Uniform size of bricks reduces mortar required for joints and plaster by 50%.
• Lower water penetration, considerably reducing seepage of water through
bricks
• Gypsum plaster (plaster of Paris) can be directly applied on these bricks
without a backing coat of lime plaster.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
• Use of Solar photovoltaic cells on the rooftop grid provides about
24 kilowatts, or 16 % of the building's electricity needs.
• Placed appropriately on the roof facing South and West to capture
maximum heat gain

38
 WIND SCOOP
AWindcatcher, Windscoop or Badgir is a traditional Persian architectural element to create
natural ventilation in buildings.
• Energy savings are achieved by the GBCs two
wind towers
• Air, cooled by upto 8 ^C, is supplied to the AHUs,
substantially reducing the load on the air
conditioning system.
• A heavily insulated roof further reduces the cooling load.

39
 A combination of sensible cooling in the ground and evaporative cooling with the flow of air
induced by the wind tower can be achieved by a configuration as shown. The heat loss from
air results in a decreased air temperature, but no change in the water vapour content of the
air.
Daytime and night time operation of a Wind Tower

The hot ambient air enters the tower
through the openings in the tower and is
cooled, when it comes in contact with the
cool tower and thus becomes heavier and
sinks down. When an inlet is provided to
the rooms with an outlet on the other
side, there is a draft of cool air. After a
whole of heat exchange, the wind towers
become warm in the evening.
During night the reverse happens; due to warm
surface of wind tower and drop in temperature
of ambient air due to buoyancy effect, warm air
rises upwards. As a result, cooler ambient air is
sucked into the room through the window. As a
bye-product of this process, wind tower loses the
heat that was collected during the day time and
it becomes ready for use in cold condition up to
the morning.

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Natural Lighting
Natural light deflection systems
can direct light deep into the room and ensure better natural lighting provisions.

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 CHAPTER – 4 : SYNTHESIS BUSINESS PARK

Location
Kolkata , India

Architectural design
Karan Grover and Associates, Built up area 648000 Sq Ft
Occupancy Type - Technology Park
Completed - October 2012
Location - Kolkata
Green consultant - En3 Sustainability Solutions
Rating System - LEED India CS version 1.0
Rating Achieved - GOLD
Developer
Bengal Sharchi Housing Development Ltd
• B+G+11, 3 wings at each floors. Wing C being the Centre wing, with 4 lifts.and separate
AHUs for each wing. 3 Service lifts

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Synthesis Business Park, Kolkata, an environment friendly green Tech Park, which not only
saves energy and cooling costs but
also gives more lung space and natural light for employees working there. En3 has done
innovative work to help Technology
Park get greener and achieve its LEED GOLD certification from the Indian Green Building
Council

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 SITE SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES

• The project is in an ideal location with close proximity to public transportation thereby
minimizing transportation pollution and strain on local infrastructure.
• 24 electric charging stations have been provided accounting to 3.15% of the parking
capacity.
• Alternate Refueling stations with parking facilities promotes the usage of alternate fuel
vehicles thus reducing pollution due to transportation as well as strain on local
infrastructure 68% of the car parks are covered which will create more open spaces on
the ground and also reduce the local heat island effect.
• Provision of high reflective albedo roofing for 100% of the roof surface thus reducing
urban heat island effects.
• The project has published Tenant Design and Construction Guidelines.
• The provided guidelines include a description of the sustainable design and construction
features incorporated in the core & shell project, information that enables a tenant to
coordinate their space design and construction with the core & shell building systems

44
Floor Plans

45
46
47
Service stairs,
Toilet, Entrance Lobby
Pantry, AHU, with 4 Lifts
Service Lifts

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 WATER EFFICIENCY

• The project is treating grey water onsite and this treated water caters to 100% of the
irrigation requirements for plants.
• Native and Adaptive species have been planted that minimize the irrigation water
requirements. The project will use only treated water from common STP of 250 KLD
capacity.
• 62% of cooling tower make-up water requirement will be met by treated water from STP
Special efforts have been taken to minimize water use by installing water efficient
fixtures.
• 100% of wastewater will be treated to tertiary standards on site Low flow dual-flush
toilets, sensor based urinals and other low flow fixtures have been selected to reduce
water consumption by over 42.32%.

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ENERGISING THE BUILDING
• In line with international standards, the refrigerants used in the air conditioning system
and fire suppression systems are environmentally friendly and have very low ozone
depleting and global warming potential
• The project has achieved 17.51% energy cost reduction in proposed design by
incorporating Energy Conservation Measures including exterior and interior lighting
power density and high efficiency chillers
• A detailed metering system ensures adequate measurement and monitoring of all building
systems to continuously monitor the building post-occupancy as well.
• The project has included a centrally monitored metering network in the base building
design that is capable of expanded to accommodate the future tenant sub metering.
• A detailed energy analysis and modeling has been done to ascertain various options for
energy savings with cost benefit/payback analysis including Energy efficient Air
Conditioning System (HVAC) using high efficiency Water Cooled Chillers, Air Handling
Units (AHUs), in-built Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) and Heat Recovery wheels

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

• The project has ensured up to 92.94% of total construction waste of debris has been
recycled or reused thereby diverting them from landfills.
• The project has achieved a combined recyclable content value of 10.53% of total material
by cost thereby reducing virgin material exploitation.
• About 45.3% of the total material cost was manufactured within 800 km thereby reducing
the pollution due to transportation 31.24% of the total project‘s materials by cost were
extracted, harvested or recovered within 800 km of the project site

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 INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

• Ventilation System is designed to provide 30% more fresh air than ASHRAE 62.1 2004
requirements.
• A permanent CO2 monitoring system providing feedback on ventilation system
performance to ensure that ventilation systems maintain design minimum ventilation
requirements has been installed In order to support enhanced IAQ and long-term well-
being of all occupants, adequate fresh air has been planned in line with international
ASHRAE standards Low emitting adhesives, paints have been used to enhance the indoor
environment and provide superior workplace for all employees.
• MERV 13 filtration media has been installed in all HVAC systems prior to occupancy.
• Provision of a thermally comfortable environment that supports productivity and well-
being of all building occupants.
• 99.56% of the regularly occupied spaces have access to views

NOVELTIES
• 45.3% of the total project‘s materials, based on cost, were extracted, harvested or
recovered regionally.
• Green housekeeping program includes details such as purpose & requirement of green
housekeeping, selection of eco-friendly chemicals, Procedural requirement for
operational staff, training & implementation, cleaning procedure, thereby, promoting the
green concept.
• Water use has been reduced by 42.32% through no grey water reuse and the use of
efficient plumbing fixtures such as low flow water closet, low flow urinals and faucets

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 CHAPTER – 5 : Goa State Legislative Assembly Complex

Architect Karan Grover & Associates, Baroda.

Alto Porvorim, Bardez, North Goa facing Panjim, on the opposite bank of the
Location river Mandovi.
Rooms 250
Total cost 34.32 crore rupees
Facilities Video conferencing, visitors gallery, press gallery, electronic voting machine,
billboard, library with internet facility, printing press, post office, bank, health
center, computer-cum-e-mail center , travel bureau

5.1 Expenditure

Civil Works 16.19 crore rupees

Internal
2.11 crores rupees
electrification
External Lighting 79 lakh rupees
Specially designed
41 lakh rupees
lifts
Air conditioning 1.22 crore rupees
Landscaping 13 lakh rupees
Furnishing 3.13 crore rupees
Chandeliers ( 24
24 lakh rupees
Nos)
Digital 87 lakh rupees ( All the departmental files would be produced on CD-

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 Networking ROMS and handed to the Archives )
SITE PLAN

• The extravagant Goa State Legislative Assembly Complex, the new seat of the
Government of Goa was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari
Vajpayee on 5th March, 2000.
• The foundation stone for this 250 room project was laid by the late President of India, Dr
Shanker Dayal Sharma on 22nd January, 1994.
• Besides the main Assembly block, the Assembly complex has a secretariat block, a VIP
block and a central courtyard .
• The entire complex is spread over 54,250 sq mts atop the Porvorim hillock overlooking
the River Mandovi and the capital city Panjim, on the opposite bank of the Mandovi .
• The built up area of the main assembly complex is about 1,750 sq mts with most of the
construction and allied works being done by Delhi based companies,The assembly is
centrally air-conditioned and has a visitors gallery, press gallery, electronic voting
machine, billboard, library with internet facility, printing press, post office, bank, health
center, computer-cum-e-mail center and a travel bureau.
• Describing the new assembly complex as a very luxurious one for Goa and as the project
of the millennium, the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Shri Pratapsingh Raoji
Rane said that unlike in the past where squabbles between minister reigned high for
cabins at the Secretariat ( the old venue of the Legislative Assembly ) in Panjim, this new
complex would leave no room for that as every cabin was designed and furnished
uniformly and were all approximately 40 sq mts in size.

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A distant view of the complex atop the Porvorim hillock with the river Mandovi seen in the
foreground

• The project was executed under the supervision of PWD Officers. The efforts of several
technicians and workers materialized and the complex was completed on beginning of
2000

• This project is divided into three blocks.

a) Assembly block with 1,750 sq.mt. area
b) Secretariat block with 4,868 sq.mt. area
c) VIP block with 5,268 sq.mts. area.

• The central courtyard occupies 655 Sq. mt area.

• It is an open to sky circular arcaded colonnade which is used for ceremonial entrances
and leads directly to assembly building.

• Ashoka Stambha, standing on one piece Jodhpuri stone is located at the center. Governor
of Goa is received here followed by ceremonial procession leading towards assembly
block to address the assembly session.

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 • The assembly block itself locates almost at two third distance from the entrance with a
huge plaza with various levels at the back.

• Assembly block can be viewed from across the river Mandovi as well as when one is
coming up the road towards Porvorim from the Mandovi Bridges.

• The assembly block is basically a two storeyed building with basement. Its main floor is
the podium level which is directly accessible to the main floor of the assembly hall.

• The speaker and MLAs arrive on the first floor and the speaker has his lounge for the
VIP‘s on the first level. He then descends the steps to take his place in the hall.

Floor Details

• Basement - Basement is used as reception room.

• First floor - This floor is accommodated with ruling lobby, opposition lobby, speaker‘s
foyer, and officer‘s chamber.

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 • Second floor - Second floor provides six galleries to witness the assembly session.

• One press gallery – Amongst these galleries ‗D‘ block has been earmarked for
press/Journalists. Only Press/journalists are permitted in this gallery. It is equipped with
CCTV network and ear phones in order to record accurate proceedings of assembly
session.

• One speaker’s Gallery - Here only distinguished guests VVIP‘s are permitted to witness
the assembly session.

• Four Visitors Galleries - Four visitors galleries are allotted for general public.

This block is well lit with 12 designer chandeliers, halogens and other sources of lights. It is also
equipped with central A.C. system, and provided with VIDEO ARCHIVAL SYSTEM to telecast
the live proceedings of assembly sessions with two pan-till-zoom camera and four simple
cameras. Sound system is maintained by Digital network congress. Voting Status Display, help
during voting session, so as to vote and display the results is also provided in this block.

• Library with collection of various books, Banking facility with extension counter of State
bank of India, Cafeteria for MLAs ,Ministers to arrange buffets during important
functions, Press room, well furnished and equipped with computers and CCTV network,
Photo copying machine room and Health center are located on ground floor.

• The first floor is in level with the arrival plaza. Most of the offices of Legislative
Secretariat department are situated on this floor. Also Indoor Gymnasium for VIP‘s and
employees is placed on this floor. Gymnasium is equipped with table tennis, chess, carom
and other games.

• Second floor locates chamber of Legislature Secretary, special conference room and
offices of Legislature Secretariat. This block connects to the assembly by bridge and is
also connected to the VIP chambers by a bridge which runs on the first level along the
circular colonnade around the periphery of the arrival court.
• The VIP Block is on the west side of the building and is a three storeyed building. It has
an access to the assembly block through a bridge.

• PAC/PUC committee room is located on ground floor. It is used for meetings and
conferences/seminars and can hold the capacity of about 150 people.

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 CHAPTER – 6 : SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

• A large amount of energy — and pollution — was also reduced through choices in the
production and transportation of building materials.
• An impressive 77 percent of the building materials use recycled content in the form of fly
ash, broken glass, broken tiles, recycled paper, recycled aluminum, cinder from industrial
furnaces, bagasse (an agricultural waste from sugar cane), mineral fibers, cellulose fibers,
and quarry dust.
• The building reuses a significant amount of material salvaged from other construction
sites like toilet doors, interlocking pavement blocks, stone slabs, scrap steel, scrap glazed
tiles, shuttering material and, interestingly, the furniture in the cafeteria. A waste
management plan ensured that 96 percent of construction waste was recycled.

ABOUT GREEN BUILDINGS

Green homes are healthier, more comfortable, more durable, more energy efficient,
and have a much smaller environmental footprint than conventional homes. Green homes rely
upon established and proven design elements
and technologies through best practice environmental features.
Components of a green home can include:
• strategic site selection to minimize environmental impacts

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 • landscaping and development designed to minimize water and energy usage and pre-
serve or enhance the natural environment
• building design that reduces waste, material usage, and maintenance needs, and increases
durability through careful selection of building materials
• incorporation of salvaged, recycled and/or sustainable building materials
• emphasis on energy efficiency, particularly in the building envelope and the heating and
cooling design
• use of renewable energy sources (such as solar)
• use of ENERGY STAR-labeled appliances, light fixtures, and bulbs
• installation of water-efficient appliances and fixtures such as low-flow toilets, water
conserving dishwashers, low-volume irrigation systems, and strategically situated water
heaters
• protection of indoor environmental quality through selection of non-toxic materials and
management of potential sources of pollution such as fireplaces, garages, kitchen
appliances, and mold; and
• a homeowner or tenant education manual detailing optimal green home usage and upkeep
practices.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS

The concept of sustainable building incorporates and integrates a variety of strategies during the
design, construction and operation of building projects. The use of green building materials and
products represents one important strategy in the design of a building.

Green building materials offer specific benefits to the building owner and building occupants:

• Reduced maintenance/replacement costs over the life of the building.

• Energy conservation.

• Improved occupant health and productivity.

• Lower costs associated with changing space configurations.

• Greater design flexibility.

Building and construction activities worldwide consume 3 billion tons of raw materials each year
or 40 percent of total global use (Roodman and Lenssen, 1995). Using green building materials
and products promotes conservation of dwindling nonrenewable resources internationally. In

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addition, integrating green building materials into building projects can help reduce the
environmental impacts associated with the extraction, transport, processing, fabrication,
installation, reuse, recycling, and disposal of these building industry source materials.

What is a green building product or material?

Green building materials are composed of renewable, rather than nonrenewable resources. Green
materials are environmentally responsible because impacts are considered over the life of the
product . Depending upon project-specific goals, an assessment of green materials may involve
an evaluation of one or more of the criteria listed below.

Green building material/product selection criteria

This information was based on Lynn Froeschle's article, "Environmental Assessment and
Specification of Green Building Materials" (PDF, 1.4 MB), in the October 1999 issue of The
Construction Specifier, a publication for members of the Construction Specifications Institute
(CSI). Selection criteria similar to what is presented below was also used for the East End
Project as identified in the Review of Construction Projects Using Sustainable Materials.

Overall material/product selection criteria:

• Resource efficiency

• Indoor air quality

• Energy efficiency

• Water conservation

• Affordability

Resource Efficiency can be accomplished by utilizing materials that meet the following criteria:

• Recycled Content: Products with identifiable recycled content, including postindustrial

content with a preference for postconsumer content.
• Natural, plentiful or renewable: Materials harvested from sustainably managed sources and
preferably have an independent certification (e.g., certified wood) and are certified by an
independent third party.
• Resource efficient manufacturing process: Products manufactured with resource-efficient
processes including reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste (recycled, recyclable
and or source reduced product packaging), and reducing greenhouse gases.

• Locally available: Building materials, components, and systems found locally or regionally
saving energy and resources in transportation to the project site.

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• Salvaged, refurbished, or remanufactured: Includes saving a material from disposal and
renovating, repairing, restoring, or generally improving the appearance, performance, quality,
functionality, or value of a product.
• Reusable or recyclable: Select materials that can be easily dismantled and reused or recycled
at the end of their useful life.
• Recycled or recyclable product packaging: Products enclosed in recycled content or
recyclable packaging.

• Durable: Materials that are longer lasting or are comparable to conventional products with
long life expectancies.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is enhanced by utilizing materials that meet the following criteria:

• Low or non-toxic: Materials that emit few or no carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, or

irritants as demonstrated by the manufacturer through appropriate testing.
• Minimal chemical emissions: Products that have minimal emissions of Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs). Products that also maximize resource and energy efficiency while
reducing chemical emissions.
• Low-VOC assembly: Materials installed with minimal VOC-producing compounds, or no-
VOC mechanical attachment methods and minimal hazards.
• Moisture resistant: Products and systems that resist moisture or inhibit the growth of
biological contaminants in buildings.

• Healthfully maintained: Materials, components, and systems that require only simple, non-
toxic, or low-VOC methods of cleaning.
• Systems or equipment: Products that promote healthy IAQ by identifying indoor air
pollutants or enhancing the air quality.
Energy Efficiency can be maximized by utilizing materials and systems that meet the following
criteria:

• Materials, components, and systems that help reduce energy consumption in buildings and
facilities.

Water Conservation can be obtained by utilizing materials and systems that meet the following
criteria:

• Products and systems that help reduce water consumption in buildings and conserve water in
landscaped areas.

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 THE COST OF BUILDING GREEN

While reduced energy and water use and other measures can create substantial operating savings,
there is often an upfront cost to green building that is not found in traditional construction. These
costs range from project to project but tend to decrease as a project team gains experience with
green building, and can often pay for themselves through operating savings.8 In fact, some
project teams have found green buildings to cost less than traditional construction due to a more
efficient design and construction plan using fewer materials and creating little waste Green
building may impact both a project‘s hard and soft costs. Soft costs may increase due to a larger
number of consultants needed for a green project.

For example, if a project team is set on achieving a 20% reduction in energy use, they may hire a
consultant to evaluate a number of energy saving strategies and determine which one is the most
cost-effective. If there is an increase in hard costs, it is often due to the materials chosen. With
time, the price of special consulting services, materials and mechanical systems used in high
performance buildings will decrease as the market matures, producing more services and
products to meet growing demand. Currently though, some, but certainly not all, green features
may cost more. There is also a cost to obtaining LEED certification. The USGBC charges a fee,
based on project size and rating system, to review a project application. In addition, the required
documentation can take significant time to prepare and some project teams assign a person
whose sole responsibility is to ensure that all the LEED documentation is in order and submitted
in a timely fashion. One key method to control costs is to integrate green design from project
inception, limiting costs associated with design changes.

LEED for Homes

The USGBC, whose mission is to advance the market transformation of the built environment,
developed and administers the LEED for Homes Rating System. LEED for Homes, which went
into pilot in August 2005, provides a tool for certifying homes that are designed to be energy,
water and resource efficient, and built with the health of future occupants in mind. The program,
which recognizes and rewards top-performing new homes, ensures that homes are third-party
inspected, performance-tested, and certified to be more efficient than conventionally-built
homes. LEED can be applied to single- and multi-family homes and is intended for both market
rate and affordable housing projects.
Owners of homes certified through LEED‘s Homes Rating System enjoy lower water and energy
bills, reduced home maintenance costs, decreased exposure to indoor environmental toxins, and
the knowledge that they are conserving natural resources and decreasing greenhouse gas
emissions. LEED for Homes will complete its pilot and be launched on a national scale in the fall
of 2007. The pilot included more than 350 builders and 6,000 homes pursuing certification. As of
July 2007, 90 home projects totaling more than 200 units have been certified.

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 Materials selection
Introduction Ecological building design is characterized by the use of natural materials with a
minimum of processing and transportation; and an emphasis on healthy, non-toxic specification
to minimize pollution. Ideally materials should also contribute to passive forms of environmental
control. Many attempts have been made to create a coordinated and comprehensive analysis tool
for materials in the construction industry that can enable those specifiers, who are minded to do
so, to make objective decisions about material selection. Many of these take a life cycle
approach. A number of the techniques are helpful, and there is ongoing improvement as
information evolves, but none are comprehensive. Nor are they ever likely to be so. In part this is
because of the complexity of the issues but also because the ‗sustainability‘ of most materials
owes much to the sourcing and handling, the way in which they are used, and the care that goes
into their detailing and maintenance. This cannot as yet be completely covered by any analytical
process that is reliant on being uniformly applicable.

A contributory factor is doubtless to do with the relationship between products and design, and
the opportunities for added value. There is still widespread ignorance about how to use materials
in their natural state and many manufacturers prefer to avoid scrutiny. The most valuable
approach in most circumstances is to be cogniscent of the issues and have access to up-to-date
guidance.
It will generally be necessary to compare options and relative impacts in a particular
circumstance. These issues therefore remain within the realm of compromise and judgement, a
realm familiar to designers. However it extends the territory such that distance, manufacture,
human rights, biodiversity and pollution might all be part of a balanced judgment. Importantly
this should not be restrictive on design, if thought about intelligently, but should open up new
creative opportunities. For example thinking about the future of a rare or energy intensive
material is as important as looking at its past.

Resource base

Certain resources are becoming extremely rare and the use of remaining stocks should be treated
cautiously, especially where they are known to support threatened habitats or where there are
known to be uses that should take precedence. Most rare materials used in construction can be
substituted by other, less rare or renewable materials. However, there are few absolutes. These
guidelines have to be taken within the context of what is appropriate and possible.
• Renewable materials should take precedence over nonrenewable ones.
• Reused or recycled materials or components should take precedence over equivalent ‗virgin‘
elements.
• Sourcing of materials from areas that are particularly fragile – in respect of their aesthetic,
community or ecology should be avoided.
• Materials with significant reserves remaining should be used in preference to those with
smaller reserves.
• Materials should be used as efficiently as possible and allow for their eventual reuse or
recovery – especially where using a material with minimal reserves. Many metals commonly
used in the construction industry have extremely limited estimated reserves.

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All materials contain embodied energy, which is a form of embodied pollution, but many
conventional building materials also contain additional elements, as a consequence of chemical

processing, which are known to be toxic to humans and or wildlife. This includes concrete, PVC,
MDF, most glues, paints and finishes. This ―embodied pollution‖ can impact throughout the
product life; on employees in the manufacturing process, to building occupants through off
gassing or leaching in use and eventual pollution through recycling or disposal.

Waste

Certain manufacturing processes, such as paint production, are hugely inefficient in resource use
and produce considerable amounts of waste, which is both toxic and has little or no further use.
In contrast, processes such as the production of earth blocks has almost no associated waste and
any that there is can be readily returned to the site without damage to natural habitats. Sometimes
by-products can be used as input to other processes and reduce the overall waste associated with
a process.

Recycling

A number of production processes incorporate the use of either recyclate (e.g. glass) or the waste
from other processes (e.g. the use of gypsum from coal-fired power stations in plasterboard).
Whilst there may be a number of concerns regarding reprocessing some of these materials, an
overall reduction in resource use results.

Conclusion

Green homes are less energy and resource intensive than their conventional counterparts, and
result in less waste and an enhanced indoor living environment for occupants. Using
environmentally sound building materials provides better air filtration, reduces storm water run-
off, increases resale value, and saves both homeowners and homebuilders valuable time and
money. By facilitating residential green building projects, counties can experience a number of
co-benefits, including a reduced impact on county infrastructure (such as water systems and
landfills), higher property values, market growth for localgreen builders and supply companies,
and a healthier populace.

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