DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY – DASMARIÑAS

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

B.S. ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM

2nd SEMESTER SY 2023-2024

GREEN BUILDING DESIGN

T-ARCH428/T-ARCH428LA

Research Paper (Midterms): A Comprehensive

Analysis of Green Building Considerations

SUBMITTED BY:
REMOLACIO, MIKAELA KYELL
201621541
ARC41

SUBMITTED TO:
ARCH. GIDEON BAUTISTA

DATE OF SUBMISSION:
March 08, 2024

1
 DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY – DASMARIÑAS

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

B.S. ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM

2nd SEMESTER SY 2023-2024

Part 2: Comparative Analysis with a LEED or BERDE-Certified

Green Building
The Landmark Place Karen in Nairobi, Kenya (Fig. 10.1 - 10.2), has been
certified with an EDGE Advanced Preliminary Certificate from Green Business
Certification Inc. (GBCI) for its sustainable design and construction. This retail
center which has a total floor area of 6,900 sqm, located within the old Karen
shopping area, has implemented several energy-efficient and water-saving
features to reduce utility costs and improve occupant health and well-being.
These include energy-reduced window-to-wall ratios, external shading devices,
high-performance thermal glass, occupancy sensors, solar photovoltaics, low-
energy lighting, and water-efficient showers, toilets, and faucets. The building
also utilizes materials such as a floor concrete filler slab, steel sheeting on steel
rafters, external and internal timber rafters, and aluminum window frames.
The EDGE certification recognizes the building's commitment to sustainability
and its potential for long-term cost savings.
The Landmark has now a predicted savings of EDGE certification of 40%
in Energy Savings, 49% in Water Savings, and 47% in Less Embodied Energy in
Materials.

Fig. 10.1 – Landmark Place Karen, Nairobi, Kenya

2
 DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY – DASMARIÑAS

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

B.S. ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM

2nd SEMESTER SY 2023-2024

Fig. 10.2 – Landmark Place Karen, Nairobi, Kenya

Green Building Features
1. Energy Efficiency - Reduced Window to Wall Ratio, External
Shading Devices, high-performance thermal glass, occupancy sensors,
solar photovoltaics, Low Energy Lighting.
These features contribute to reducing energy consumption
by controlling heat gain, minimizing the need for artificial
lighting, and optimizing the use of natural light. This also leads to
reduced utility bills and long-term cost savings for the owners and
occupants. In addition, external shading devices and high-
performance glass helps maintain a consistent indoor
temperature, improving the comfort of the occupants. The use of
renewable energy sources like solar photovoltaics and energy-
efficient lighting contributes to the building’s overall
sustainability and reduces its carbon footprint.
2. Water Conservation – Water Efficient Showers, Toilets, and
Faucets
Low-flow fixtures like faucets, showers, and toilets
significantly reduce water consumption without compromising
performance, ensuring water is used sparingly and only when
necessary. This leads to reduced water and energy bills resulting
in long-term cost savings. Lowering water consumption and

3
 DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY – DASMARIÑAS

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

B.S. ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM

2nd SEMESTER SY 2023-2024

reducing dependency on conventional energy sources, results to

lower carbon emissions and conserve precious water resources.
3. Eco-friendly Materials – Floor concrete filler slab, steel
sheeting on steel rafters, external and internal on timber rafters, and
aluminum window frames
Utilizing floor concrete filler slabs, steel sheeting on steel
rafters, external and internal timber rafters, and aluminum
window frames in green building design offers a multitude of
benefits. These include enhanced thermal insulation for
maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures and reducing
energy consumption, cost-effectiveness due to reduced material
usage and lightweight design, improved seismic resistance, eco-
friendliness through reduced carbon footprint and raw material
consumption, versatility in construction applications, moisture
resistance, and the potential for fire resistance with appropriate
measures. These sustainable building practices not only
contribute to energy savings and environmental conservation but
also promote cost savings, structural resilience, and overall eco-
friendly construction practices.

4
 DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY – DASMARIÑAS

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

B.S. ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM

2nd SEMESTER SY 2023-2024

References:
Anne Balogh, ConcreteNetwork.com Columnist

Updated August 31, 2020. (2020, August 31). Is Concrete Sustainable? Green

Building with Concrete. Concrete Network.

https://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/greenbuildinginformation/

Brown, A. (2022, December 30). Top Trends in Water-Efficient Plumbing | Green

Building Canada. Green Building Canada.

https://greenbuildingcanada.ca/water-efficient-plumbing/

Doyle, M. (2017, January 17). An Advanced Frame of Mind: The window-to-wall ratio

dilemma. Construction Specifier. https://www.constructionspecifier.com/an-

advanced-frame-of-mind-the-window-to-wall-ratio-dilemma/

Energy, E. C. (2023, December 1). Integrating Water Efficiency in Energy-Efficient

Buildings. Utilities One. https://utilitiesone.com/integrating-water-efficiency-

in-energy-efficient-buildings

Khan, E. M. (2024, March 5). Filler Slabs: Material, Advantages and disadvantages |

Civil Downtown. Civil Downtown. https://civildowntown.com/filler-slabs-

advantages-and-disadvantages/