Table of Contents

LIST OF PLATES ........................................................................................................................... 3 LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................................... 4 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 5 1.1. Context and Background................................................................................................. 5 1.2. Executive Summary ......................................................................................................... 8 1.3. Aim ................................................................................................................................ 11 1.4. Objectives and Scope .................................................................................................... 11 1.5. Need for Study .............................................................................................................. 12 1.6. Methodology ................................................................................................................. 13 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................ 14 2.1. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) .............................................. 15 2.2 GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) ............................................ 16 3. ANALYSIS .............................................................................................................................. 16 3.1. ASPECTS ........................................................................................................................ 16 Energy Efficiency .............................................................................................................. 16 Water Efficiency ............................................................................................................... 20 Material Efficiency ........................................................................................................... 22 Indoor Air Quality............................................................................................................. 23 3.2. BENEFITS ....................................................................................................................... 23 Other than the aspects, there are other intangible benefits of building green, which is associated with it ............................................................................................................. 23 Financial Benefits ............................................................................................................. 23 4. CASE STUDY .......................................................................................................................... 25 4.1. WATER EFFICIENCY ....................................................................................................... 25

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
1

Page | 1

4.2 ENERGY EFFICIENCY ....................................................................................................... 29 4.3. MATERIAL EFFICIENCY .................................................................................................. 31 4.4 INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ............................................................................. 33 5. CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................ 33 5.1. SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................... 33 5.2. CONSTRAINTS................................................................................................................ 34 5.3. FUTURE NEEDS .............................................................................................................. 37

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
2

Page | 2

LIST OF PLATES
1. Brochure: for the dual flush, being installed at EDS. Source- Environmental Design Solutions Ltd. 2. Mechanism of reusing water for flushing Source- Environmental Design Solutions Ltd. 3. Photo of toilet at EDS Source- Environmental Design Solutions Ltd. 4. Task lighting at each work station Source- Environmental Design Solutions Ltd. 5. LED, ambient lighting for corridor Source- Environmental Design Solutions Ltd. 6. Conduits dismantled from site were reused for electrical works of new interior Source- Environmental Design Solutions Ltd. 7. Interior of EDS Source- Environmental Design Solutions Ltd. 31 30 28 28 27 27 25

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
3

Page | 3

LIST OF FIGURES
1. Water Consumption of Conventional fixtures( table) Source- Environmental Design Solutions Ltd. 26

2. Water Efficiency of Conventional fixtures( bar graph ) Source- Environmental Design Solutions Ltd.

27

3. Water Consumption of EDS (table) Source- Environmental Design Solutions Ltd

28

4. Water Consumption of EDS (bar graph) Source- Environmental Design Solutions Ltd

28

5. Electricity cost of EDS Source- Environment Design Solutions Ltd

31

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
4

Page | 4

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Context and Background
Before we start with our research there are two most important terms which need to be defined- Green Buildings and Conventional Buildings. Green Buildings- A green building uses less energy, water and other natural resources, creates less waste & Green House Gases and is healthy for people during living or working inside as compared to a standard building. Building Green is not about a little more efficiency. It is about creating buildings that optimize on the local ecology, use of local materials and most importantly they are built to cut power, water and material requirements. Conventional Buildings- A conventional building is the building which is constructed using ordinary or stereotype techniques and materials. It has no provisions for preserving the local ecology, power, or water and material requirements. One of the predominant reasons green building confuses some people is because it can apply to so many different construction techniques and materials. One objective of green building is to provide occupants with clean air to breathe, while minimizing resources consumed by the building during its construction and lifetime. This means a green building may be as simple as building a conventional house using best practices and positioning it to take advantage of the sun. Or it could be a structure built from alternative or recycled materials. It could have all of its energy needs met by

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
5

Page | 5

alternative sources, such as wind turbines and solar panels, or it could use an oil-fired heating system but have a living roof. There is no single characteristic or material that definitively categorizes a building as green.

Green building is an outcome of a design philosophy which focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use - energy, water, and materials - while reducing building Impacts on human health and the environment during the building's lifecycle, through better citing, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal. A green building requires everlasting focus of the architect, is much difficult to design, and requires high capital, materials, which may be very expensive. But eventually reduces its maintenance cost by 30% to 40%.1 A green design for a building results in # Better health and productivity for building inhabitants #increased occupancy rates #higher property values #low environmental impact #sustainable development

Our planet faces challenges particularly climate change and sustainable economic development. The growth and development of our communities has a large impact on our natural environment, human health and the economy. The manufacturing, design, construction, and operation of the buildings in which we live and work are responsible for the consumption of many of our natural resources. 40% of global energy consumption is building related; 50% of global green house gas emissions are due to buildings; 50% of material resources taken from nature are building related; and Over 50% of national waste production comes from the building sector.2

http://www.grihaindia.org/ http://www.grihaindia.org/

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
6

Page | 6

To overcome these issues, India has been participating actively in the World race for sustainable development. Though the bylaws of any State in India do not have green building as mandatory, but there are a number of programmes launched in India which certify the buildings and declare them as energy efficient buildings.

Background in India
The Indian green building movement can be associated to the Government initiatives to encourage sustainability in the society and the acceptance of the green building guidelines by the corporate sector. The green building movement in India has been divided into three phases1974-1996 Establishment of Institutions by the Government to encourage sustainability in India. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) was established; Establishment of National Hydro Electric Power Corporation; Establishment of National Institute of Ecology; Environmental Act was passed in the Parliament. 2001-2003 This phase marks the formation of the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), TERI Business Council for Sustainable Development (BCSD), and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). 2004-2007. In this phase green buildings rating systems were launched- LEED-India and TERI-GRIHA, Eco-housing, Pune.

Certification Programs in India

LEED- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design GRIHA- Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
7

Page | 7

1.2. Executive Summary

Green Buildings- A green building uses less energy, water and other natural resources, creates less waste & Green House Gases and is healthy for people during living or working inside as compared to a standard building. Building Green is not about a little more efficiency. It is about creating buildings that optimize on the local ecology, use of local materials and most importantly they are built to cut power, water and material requirements.

In today's date the need and importance of a green concept for buildings is being over shadowed by its glamour and the hyped status. Builders and architects are designing green buildings for gaining the fame and status and not realising the actual need of it. The following paragraph discusses about the actual need to build green.

There are some non-digestive facts which are still unknown to more than 80% of the India's population. These facts are not only important for architects or real estate builders but also for common people of India. People need to know that the existing buildings in India consume enough resources to cause major problems in the future.

Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earths surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns. Global warming refers to a slight but noticeable increase in temperature at the planetary scale. The results are not just merely warmer weather, but an erratic climate that if left unchecked could cause pervasive natural disasters and species extinction.

The main aim of the dissertation is to know why should green buildings be preferred over conventional buildings?

To find the answer to our aim, there are basic objectives that need to be answered.

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
8

Page | 8

These would be- What is green Building What makes a building green? What do we gain building green?

There is always a methodology involved in any research and so, to solve the problem in our dissertation, a very basic methodology has been adopted.

History of Green Buildings in India: The Indian green building movement can be mainly associated with the government initiatives to encourage sustainability in the society and the acceptance of the green building guidelines by the corporate sector. The Government policies on sustainable development in India were not under the pressure of realisation, or under the pressure of public demand, unlike any other country. The main reason why the policies started to build, was in response to the international events and growth taking place in the other countries.

In today's date, there are mainly two certification programs running quite successfullyTERI-GRIHA and LEED India. GRIHA GRIHA, an acronym for Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment, is the National Rating System of India. GRIHA has been conceived by TERI and developed jointly with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. It is a green building 'design evaluation system', and is suitable for all kinds of buildings in different climatic zones of the country. LEED India The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED-INDIA) Green Building Rating System is a nationally and internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED-INDIA provides building owners, architects, consultants, developers, facility managers and project managers the tools they need to design, construct and operate green buildings.

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
9

Page | 9

There are various aspects of green buildingEnergy Efficiency; Water Efficiency; Material Efficiency; Indoor Air Quality.

These aspects mentioned above have been discussed in detail in the dissertation which help us a lot to understand about green buildings.

The aspects mentioned above benefit us and our environment in many ways. Benefits in brief have been mentioned below: Energy Efficiency Green buildings are around 2530% more energy efficient, with gold-rated buildings as much as 37% efficient. On an average, green buildings obtain 2% of their energy from renewable or green sources.3

Water Efficiency Green buildings use 2030% less water compared with similar conventional buildings. This reduces the operational water expenses and the pressure on civic amenities.4

Waste Reduction Green buildings reduce construction waste by approximately 50% compared with that of similar conventional buildings, hence accruing all the above-mentioned benefits.5

http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/national-rating-system-green-buildings-GRIHA.pdf

http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/national-rating-system-green-buildings-GRIHA.pdf http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/national-rating-system-green-buildings-GRIHA.pdf

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
10

Page | 10

To prove all the above points and to make sure that these benefits are real, we took a case example of Environmental Design Solution Ltd., Vasant Vihar, New Delhi (Commercial Interior, LEED) which is an international Sustainable Building Design and Analysis Consulting Firm. The office has been awarded as Gold rating CI, USGBC LEED. After observing and analysing the data provided by the office, it has been proved that the use of green techniques is beneficial in m any ways.

Even after observing the benefits of green techniques, it is still not being practised in India at the pace that it should be. There are some constraints to it namelyHigh Cost- The general sentiment among the developer community is that green buildings cost higher than similar conventional buildings, and it is difficult to get positive returns on this extra investment.

Technological Barrier- green technologies and products are not readily available in the market or due to lack of economy of scale; their costs remain out of bound for most buyers.

Informational Barrier- Lack of information influences end users in decision making. Neither do they have the knowledge about how their daily behaviour influences their energy consumption, nor is the link between energy and the environment well understood so that they can take actions.

Political Barrier- as far as the building sector is concerned, the market is highly fragmented. Coordination between all the stakeholders is a major challenge and there is inefficient enforcement of policies due to inadequate enforcement structures and institutions and lack of qualified personnel.

1.3. Aim
To know why should green buildings be preferred over conventional buildings?

1.4. Objectives and Scope

What is green Building

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
11

Page | 11

What makes a building green? What do we gain building green?

1.5. Need for Study

In today's date the need and importance of a green concept for buildings is being over shadowed by its glamour and the hyped status. Builders and architects are designing green buildings for gaining the fame and status and not realising the actual need of it. The following paragraph discusses about the actual need to build green. Power Consumption There are some non-digestive facts which are still unknown to more than 80% of the India's population. These facts are not only important for architects or real estate builders but also for common people of India. People need to know that the existing buildings in India consume enough resources to cause major problems in the future. Buildings in India consume about 20% of the countrys total electricity and have a significant impact on the environment and resources indicating the need to develop green buildings in India. The construction industry in India is growing rapidly at a rate of 10% compared with the world average of 5.2%. It is observed that buildings in India consume about 20% of the total electricity in the country. Hence, real estate activity in India has a significant impact on the environment and resources. This indicates that there is a real opportunity to develop green buildings in the country.6 Global Warming Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earths surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns. Global warming refers to a slight but noticeable increase in temperature at the planetary scale. The results are not just merely warmer weather, but an erratic climate that if left unchecked could cause pervasive natural disasters and species extinction. The energy used by the buildings emits GHG's (Green House Gases) which is a major cause of global

http://www.permatrak.com/the-green-solution/leed-benefits/

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
12

Page | 12

warming. Global warming is further causing irreversible damage to the global environment, which will have an adverse impact on the future generations. Real estate development uses about 40% of the energy and it is one of the prime contributors to global warming due to the emission of Green House Gas (GHG) caused by the energy used.

1.6. Methodology
As discussed above the serious issues coming up because of not taking care of the environment and not seeking a sustainable future, there is an immediate need to look forward to think sustainably and follow the practise of building green and improvise in the field. For this, in this dissertation the methodology followed is such that we do literature review, understanding how green buildings are classified. Further the aspects of green building have been analysed. Studying how we benefit by making green buildings. Further a LEED rated office as a case example is studied in detail for its green features. In the end it has been summarised that in spite of all the benefits, what are the constraints of building green and how it can be taken further.

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
13

Page | 13

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
Green building rating system is an evaluation tool that measures environmental performance of a building through its life cycle. It usually comprises of a set of criteria covering various parameters related to design, construction and operation of a green building. Each criterion has pre-assigned points and sets performance benchmarks and goals that are largely quantify able. A project is awarded points once it fulfils the rating criteria. Globally, green building rating systems are largely voluntary in nature and have been instrumental in raising awareness and popularizing green building designs.

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
14

Page | 14

Largely green building in India follow two rating systems LEED and GRIHA. There are many other rating systems being developed in other countries, like Green Mark, BREAM, GB Tool, LEED, etc with respect to their local conditions.

2.1. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an ecology-oriented building certification program run under the auspices of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED concentrates its efforts on improving performance across five key areas of environmental and human health: Energy efficiency; Indoor environmental quality; Materials selection; Sustainable site development; and Water savings. LEED has special rating systems that apply to all kinds of building uses, including schools, retail and healthcare facilities. Rating systems are available for new construction and major renovations as well as existing buildings. To make it easy and sorted out checklist, LEED has generated a list of points holding different credit points. This list is referred by the designers while designing the building and points are achieved accordingly. The number of points achieved decides the value of the rating certified to the building. For most projects, there are four levels of LEED certification, depending on how many points the project has earned: certified, silver, gold or platinum. These points are:

Sustainable sites credits encourage strategies that minimize the impact on ecosystems and water resources.

Water efficiency credits promote smarter use of water, inside and out, to reduce potable water consumption.

Energy & atmosphere credits promote better building energy performance through innovative strategies.

Materials & resources credits encourage using sustainable building materials and reducing waste.

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
15

Page | 15

Indoor environmental quality credits promote better indoor air quality and access to daylight and views.7

2.2 GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment)

GRIHA is a National Rating System first conceived by TERI then modified to an independent system. It takes into account the provisions of the National Building Code 2005, the Energy Conservation Building Code 2007 announced by BEE and other IS codes, local bye-laws, other local standards and laws. The checklist of GRIHA is as listed below: - Energy efficiency - Site planning - Water, waste water and solid waste management - Sustainable construction materials - Health and well-being The more points achieved fulfilling the above criteria, the better star rating is certified to the building. Maximum one building can achieve are 100 points and can achieve a 5 star rating.

3. ANALYSIS
3.1. ASPECTS
As the definition of green building is vast, it is essential to study the aspects which make the building green.

Energy Efficiency
Minimize the electric loads from lighting In the case of developing countries, the energy sector assumes critical importance in view of the ever-increasing energy needs, widening of supplydemand gaps, and also huge

http://www.permatrak.com/the-green-solution/leed-benefits/

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
16

Page | 16

investments required to meet them. In the Indian context, the current peak demand shortage is 14% and the energy deficit is 8.4%. In certain areas, this could be as high as 25%. In such scenarios, efficient use of electricity necessitates persistent energy conservation efforts. Energy efficiency is achieved when energy usage in a specific product is reduced without affecting output or user comfort levels.8

Energy efficient lighting is a very crucial aspect in reducing the consumption of energy in a building. The lighting fixtures these days are so efficient that they save a notable amount of energy. Some of the measures listed below which can further reduce energy consumption: Use of LED lamps for indicating lamps will reduce the energy consumption. Use of compact fluorescent lamps in place of incandescent lamps, reduce the lighting energy by 70%. Use of mirror optic fluorescent lamps increases the lighting level considerably. Use of HPSV lamps in place of MPSV lamps reduce the energy consumption by 60% As the lighting level is inversely proportional to square of the distance, optimizing the height of lamp will aid in reduction of lighting energy. Use of electronic ballasts for discharge lamps, reduce energy consumption by 20% Installation of intelligent lighting controller will help in controlling the lighting energy. Use of photo sensor switch for street light controlling helps in conserving the lighting energy. Installation of auto cut-off switch to put off lights during lunch hours at the office buildings will reduce the lighting energy. At street lights, in many places, the reflectors inside the HPSV fitting are damaged, it is suggested to replace the fittings with anodized aluminum reflectors. This will improve the lighting level by 20-25%.

http://www.permatrak.com/the-green-solution/leed-benefits/

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
17

Page | 17

Lighting operations and maintenance practices can have a significant effect on a buildings energy use and the productivity of its occupants. A buildings lighting Systems illuminating offices, retail areas, laboratories, hallways, reception areas, etc.constitute the largest use of energy in most commercial buildings. Initial purchasing costs for energy efficient lighting products are often higher than Conventional non-energy efficient products, but the energy savings over time return a pay back.

Envelope system to maximize insulation A building envelope is the physical separator between the interior and exterior of the building serving as the shell to help maintain the indoor environment and facilitate its climate. Now, Building Envelope System is the method of providing that physical separator of known standard using insulating material in the facades of the building. Various kinds of materials are available in the market which should gain attention so that their use is maximised. The overall insulation of a building is done by covering the three aspects- walls, roof and windows. Wall Insulation The large surface areas of exterior walls of buildings are responsible for annual transmission heat losses of up to 75 percent. Sunlight striking exterior walls accounts for virtually negligible energy savings. A reduction in the energy losses through exterior walls can only be achieved by optimum thermal insulation. A number of wall insulating techniques are practised these days in the society. Namely(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Timber-framed wall insulation. Steel-framed wall insulation. Insulating concrete masonry. Insulating pre-cast concrete walls.

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
18

Page | 18

(v)

Insulating polystyrene block walls.9

Roof Insulation Roof insulation in a building is as important as any other process of construction. The heat loss in a building accounts to addition of uncomfortable indoor temperature. And also leads to increase in electricity bills. Various techniques of roof insulation practised are(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Using fibreglass Using cellulose fibre Foam insulation Denim and cotton insulation

Window Insulation The windows in a building to an extent allow the heat from outside to penetrate inside. So insulating them is fairly important. Types of window insulation(i) (ii) (iii) Plastic insulating film. Insulating drapes. Insulating at window sashes.

Energy Efficient Mechanical System Thermostat A thermostat is a component of a control system which senses the temperature of a system so that the system's temperature is maintained near a desired set point. The thermostat does this by switching heating or cooling devices on or off, or regulating the flow of a heat transfer fluid as needed, to maintain the correct temperature. Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) A variable-frequency drive (VFD) (also termed adjustable-frequency drive, variable-speed drive, AC drive, micro drive or inverter drive) is a type of adjustable-speed drive used

http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/national-rating-system-green-buildings-GRIHA.pdf

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
19

Page | 19

in electro-mechanical drive systems to control AC motor speed and torque by varying motor input frequency and voltage. Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) VRF uses refrigerant as the cooling / heating medium, and allows one outdoor condensing unit to be connected to multiple indoor fan-coil units (FCUs), each individually controllable by its user, while modulating the amount of refrigerant being sent to each evaporator. By operating at varying speeds, VRF units work only at the needed rate allowing for substantial energy savings at part-load conditions. Heat recovery VRF technology allows individual indoor units to heat or cool as required, while the compressor load benefits from the internal heat recovery. Energy savings of up to 55% are predicted over comparable unitary equipment.

Water Efficiency
There are three main methods to save water or to decrease water consumption in a building. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. All these three methods have different amount of savings and different installation methods. Reduce: By Reducing we imply that there is reduction in water consumption. This is possible by installing fixtures or following various techniques which have been discussed below. Installing low-flow fixtures- Low-flow fixtures and aerators use high pressure and aeration to produce a comfortable, pleasing flow without using nearly as much water. Commonly used fixtures include- Low-flow faucets, low-flow sink aerators, waterless or low-flow urinals, low-flow showerheads. Low water consuming irrigation techniques- drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, reduces the water demand for irrigation. Drip irrigation- In drip irrigation, water is applied near the plant root through emitters or drippers, on or below the soil surface, at a low rate varying from 2 - 20 lit res per hour. The soil moisture is kept at an optimum level with frequent irrigations. Drip irrigation results in a very high water application efficiency of about 90-95 per cent. Sprinkler irrigation- Sprinkler irrigation is a method of applying irrigation water which is similar to natural rainfall. Water is distributed through a system of pipes usually by

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
20

Page | 20

pumping. It is then sprayed into the air through sprinklers so that it breaks up into small water drops which fall to the ground. Reuse: Reusing is a very wise method of decreasing water consumption. The water being reused is either used directly without any treatment or after being treated and recycled. Now there are a number of ways by which water can be reused. One of them is rain water harvesting. Rain water harvesting is a simple way of collecting the rain water in a tank and using it for domestic purposes without polluting the water. The rain water collected is also recharged into the ground to raise the underground water level. The water can be collected from runoffs from rooftops or from local catchments, from local streams where there is a flood. Following are the benefits of rain water harvesting:

Provide drinking water Provide irrigation water Increase groundwater recharge Reduce storm water discharges, urban floods and overloading of sewage treatment plants

Reduce seawater ingress in coastal areas.

There are also some domestic ways to reuse water. Many commercial buildings, private and Government offices, residences practice such methods and save water at a small scale.

Recycle: The most technical way of reducing water consumption is to recycle the water using treatment plants. This method is usually followed in industries and large scale office buildings or notable housing societies. The amount of water recycled is most in this method. Depending on the nature of the wastewater to be treated, wastewater treatment plants can be classified as:
o o o o o

Sewage wastewater treatment plants Sludge wastewater treatment plants Industrial wastewater treatment plants Agricultural wastewater treatment plants Radioactive wastewater treatment plants

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
21

Page | 21

Material Efficiency
Material efficiency is a description which expresses the degree in which usage of raw materials, construction projects or physical processes are used or carried out in a manner which consumes, incorporates, or wastes less of a given material compared to previous measures. Material efficiency has many methods and techniques through which the resources are less used. Many such methods are discussed below. Reuse of material: While re-construction or renovation of a building, the material obtained from the previously existing building can be reused. Also, furniture or decoration for aesthetics can be of already used material or waste material. Recycle material: Recycled material can be classified into two categoriesPre-consumer; and Post-consumer. Pre-consumer-used goods include industrial waste or waste from factories. For example fly ash produced by some factories can be used as it is for making bricks. Waste material from industries can be used for aesthetic decoration in houses. Post-consumer-used goods include the goods made from all the waste produced by us in everyday life. Proper disposal and sending to recycling industries will ensure this.

Regional material: Regional materials are those that are extracted, harvested and manufactured within a decent distance of the project. The distance is specified in different rating system, for LEED it is 800km. The use of indigenous materials reduces transportation distances and the associated environmental impacts. Transportation methods such as barging further reduce environmental impacts. Rapidly Renewable Material: Rapidly renewable material, unlike wood, grows to full extent in a very less time. Using such material will not harm the environment. Growing of such material should be encouraged.

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
22

Page | 22

The perfect example of rapidly renewable material would be bamboo. It grows fully within 10 years whereas a tree takes much more years. So use of bamboo should be encouraged instead of wood wherever possible.

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality is the most important aspect of a green building. Energy saving is an all together different aspect as compared to indoor air quality. The building is made green for two reasons- to save resources for a sustainable future, and for the comfort of the occupants of the building. No mechanical system is installed or no such techniques are practised while making a green building which hinders the comfort of the occupants. The building creates such as a space to increase the occupant comfort, their productivity and conditions to stay healthy. By adopting some of the features listed below: # using less toxic interiors, low-emitting adhesives, paints, carpets and composite wood. # illuminating 7590% of the space with natural light. 10 # Thermal comfort due to local control over air conditioning and better ventilation.

These factors are most important in improving the quality of work life and the efficiency of occupiers. It directly translates into improved productivity and decreased ailments for occupants.

3.2. BENEFITS
Other than the aspects, there are other intangible benefits of building green, which is associated with it

Financial Benefits

10

http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/national-rating-system-green-buildings-GRIHA.pdf

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
23

Page | 23

1. Capital cost savings: Green building design necessitates the adoption of a systems approach that helps in substantial cost saving. For example, architectural project that is well oriented and designed to the local climate can cut down the need for heating/cooling substantially, thus helping to downsize the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, including the bulky mechanical equipment and ductwork; the space saved can be sold or leased to earn additional revenue.

2. Reduced construction time schedule: Green buildings require an integrated and teamwork approach to designing, resulting in minimized conflicts during the construction phase, allowing the project to be commissioned ahead of schedule. Time saved on the project allows the builder to lower the cost and gain higher benefit.

3. Improved marketability and enhanced value: Green buildings can be considered as distinct products that can be used for marketing purposes, attracting and retaining employees, and building corporate image. As such buildings are conceived to provide an improved indoor environment and increased productivity of employees, thus the scope for selling or renting them is enhanced.

4. Reduced liability and risk: As insurance companies get better aware of the positive contribution of green buildings in terms of lower operating costs and better indoor environment, they are likely to link lower insurance premium to green buildings.

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
24

Page | 24

4. CASE STUDY
Environmental Design Solution (EDS), Vasant Vihar, New Delhi (Commercial Interior, LEED). EDS is an international Sustainable Building Design and Analysis Consulting Firm. The Office space 240sqm, built in basement of Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, office has been awarded as Gold rating CI, USGBC LEED. Various methods and techniques have been adopted by EDS to reduce the energy consumption, water consumption, to maintain material efficiency while keeping in mind the indoor air quality and the comfort for the employees. For water efficiency, fixtures in the washroom have been installed which reduce the water consumption to a very notable percentage. Reduce and Reuse both have been kept in mind and best possible outcome is achieved. For energy efficiency, measures like installation of thermostats in appliances, low energy consuming lights, smart lighting, and energy recovery ventilator have been installed. For material efficiency, already used furniture has been used, waste product have been used for aesthetic decoration. Reuse of material has been done very nicely.For maintaining the indoor air quality, paints and adhesives have been thought over and are non allergic. Thermostat is attached to the AHU's to regulate the comfort temperature in the building.

4.1. WATER EFFICIENCY

Water efficiency in EDS office has been done by reducing and reusing of water. Reduce: The water use reduction in the office space has been done by using low flow fixtures and fittings. The flow fixture for the conventional office building and the ones used by EDS office is compared. The flow of a fixture is measured in units Gallons/ flush and flow rate of the fitting is measured in units gallons/minute at a specific pressure of 8psi. The list of fixtures and fittings used are:

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
25

Page | 25

Fixture Type

Flow rate (conventional building)GPF/GPM 1.6 1.6 1 0.5 2.2 2.5

Flow rate (EDS Office) GPF/GPM 1.2 1.2 0.2 0.36 1 1

Water Closet (Female) Water Closet (Male) Urinal (Male) Public Lavatory Faucet Kitchen Sink Faucet Shower
3 2.5 2

Flow rate 1.5 1 0.5 0 Water Closet (Female) (Male) Water ClosetPublic Lavatory Faucet Urinal (Male) Kitchen Sink Faucet Shower Flow rate (EDS Office) Column1

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
26

Page | 26

Brochure: for the dual flush, being installed at EDS. The volume of water reduced in a day by office occupants by using the low flow fixtures used in the office:
EDS Office Fixture Type No Of No of Usage/d Duration Flow Volume Occupan fixture ay (sec) rate(gpm of ts /gpf) water(ga llons) Water Closet (male) 14 1 1 1.2 16.8 Water Clost(female) 14 1 3 1.2 50.4 Urinal 14 1 2 0.2 5.6 Lavatory faucet 28 2 3 15 0.36 907.2 Kitchen Faucet 28 2 1 30 1 1680 Shower 2 1 1 300 1 600 TOTAL (gallons/day) 3260 Conventional Office Fixture Type No Of No of Usage/d Duration Flow Volume Occupan fixture ay (sec) rate(gpf/ of ts gpm) water(ga llons) Water Closet (male) 14 1 1 1.6 22.4 Water Clost(female) 14 1 3 1.6 67.2 Urinal 14 1 2 1 28 Lavatory faucet 28 2 3 15 2.2 5544 Kitchen Faucet 28 2 1 30 2.5 4200 Shower 2 1 1 300 2.5 1500 TOTAL (gallons/day) 11361.6

Water used /day (gallons)

12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0

Water used /day (gallons)

EDS Office

Conventional Flow rate

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
27

Page | 27

Considering same assumptions for the EDS office and conventional office, the percentage reduction in water used daily is 28.6 %. Reuse It is observed that in spite of an interior project and no scope of rain water harvesting, EDS office reuses the water efficiently at a very small scale.It is observed that the grey water from the lavatory faucet is connected to the water tank of the water closet, which is used again, i.e. reused for flushing. In a conventional case, grey water from a lavatory faucet is considered for no use, while in this office it is observed to be used for flushing purpose of Water closet. The office sets an example of reusing water with the constraints of not able to harvest rain water.

Mechanism of reusing water for flushing.

Photo of toilet at EDS

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
28

Page | 28

4.2 ENERGY EFFICIENCY

EDS office has maximised the effort to reduce the energy usage, but being an interior project they could not change in building envelope. The Lighting load in the office has been reduced by using following measures: The office uses the separate lighting for the task and ambient lighting system. Thus the task lighting is only used by office occupant when needed. Otherwise only dim ambient lighting used to support the regular working of the office.

Task lighting at each work station

LED, ambient lighting for corridor

The office is all lighted by LEDs instead of tube lights or any other fittings thus saving energy. It has often observed in public places, that toilet lights are always put on, in spite of the space being used or not. EDS office has put motion sensor for lighting in toilets, too avoid the unnecessary use of lighting, thereby saving on it.

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
29

Page | 29

The following systems for HVAC are installed in EDS office : 1. Thermostat as mentioned earlier is installed to maintain the temperature. 2.Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system in AHU control will maintain the flow of refrigerant according to the requirement of cooling in the space, by maintaining the refrigerant in the coils of the AHUs the thermal comfort condition is maintained. These control valves are connected with the thermostats. The modulating valves through the actuators will modulate the flow of chilled water after getting the signal from the thermostats. 3. Energy Recovery Ventilator: All the fresh air taken from outside is coming through the Energy Recovery Ventilator installed for the Workstation. The temperature of the ambient fresh air decreases is it passes by the heat exchanger in the ERV. Thus the load on the Refrigerant Coils also decreases and maintains the desired comfort level easily. 4. Fan coil Unit with Variable speed Drive is installed, thus saving energy.

Energy Savings: As per the data provided by EDS, they claim to have saved total 27% of energy against the base example as defined by ASHRAE.

Data from EDS:

Alternative Lights Heating Cooling Fans Equipment Total Annual Energy Use Total Electricity Cost ( )

ASHRAE Base Case Average Proposed Case % Savings

2,530

115

8,838

1,938

12,751

26,172

5,234

1,204

102

4,394

652

12,751

19,103

3,821

52%

12%

50%

66%

0%

27%

27%

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
30

Page | 30

4.3. MATERIAL EFFICIENCY

At EDS their intent was to recycle 95% of the waste generated during construction. A waste management plan was implemented and the list & quantity of each of the waste generated was documented in the site on regular basis. Waste was collected and sorted at the site and then taken out for recycling or disposal to required locations.

Conduits dismantled from site were reused for electrical works of new interior. While doing the interior of the building, implementing of reused material has been specially kept in mind. Majority of materials used are reclaimed i.e. purchased at subsidized rates from various junk dealers and other construction sites. Reclaimed items involve broken tiles, old glass bottles, old parts of car, and old doors and windows.Tiles on the floor, and washroom flooring are made from reused broken tiles. All the interior walls are mud walls, with half broken bottles mounted on them. Doors and windows are made from reused material. The furniture used inside like tables and chairs are brought from the previous office. An attempt has been made to use rapidly renewable materials like bamboo ,which is a rapidly renewable material. Recycled material: Recycled steel from Rathi has been used, with
Product Name % of Post Consumer recycled content Structural steel 30 % of Post Industrial recycled content 70

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
31

Page | 31

Reused broken tile for flooring is used to create patterns at entrance too

Bamboo false ceiling and car from junk being used for aesthetics

Reused glass bottle being used for interior walls Reused glass bottle being used for interior walls Reused glass bottle being used for interior walls

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
32

Page | 32

4.4 INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Thermostat installed in the EDS office, are pre programmed device which signals the regulation of heat in the space. It has a very important role in maintaining the thermal comfort conditions in space. It is connected with AHU controls. Thermostat is used to maintain the thermal comfort of the occupants.

Small table fans are installed individually at each work station. Installation of this system increases the velocity of air by around 0.4 to 0.6 m/s. By this the cooling sensation on the occupant increases, thereby decreasing 2-4 deg F.

Following paints and adhesives with the setoff low volatile organic component were used in the office: The low VOC paint and adhesive, used prevents the occupants from getting irritation and allergies usually caused by paints with high VOC.
Paint/adhesive VOC g/ltr Permissible VOC as /LEED (g/l) Burger Luxol Silk emulsion Fevicol SH 505 Dow corning sealant 30-65 1 81 100 50 100

5. CONCLUSION
5.1. SUMMARY
To conclude why and how green buildings do good to us, we can list out all the benefits in short. Though all the benefits are not tangible but they also contribute to the sustainable future. If it was made a rule to imply even some percentage of points of a green building to the normal conventional building, major changes in the environment can be noted in the future. To summarize the benefits, below are listed the advantages: Energy efficiency, which will ensure a safe and less problematic future; Water efficiency, which will be better for the future generations to use water;

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
33

Page | 33

Material efficiency, which will preserve our resources in the future; Financial benefits, which will take care of the developers as well as the occupants to spend less and affordability for all.

5.2. CONSTRAINTS
When the thought of constructing a green building comes to mind of an architect or a developer, it doesn't seem quite easy for him to proceed with the idea and build green. There are a number of barriers which cause hinder to the easy construction of the sustainable building. These barriers have been accounted below: FINANCIAL BARRIERS Financial barriers put another hurdle in the realization of energy efficiency and do not favour green buildings. Many companies face huge financial barriers when improving energy efficiency of buildings, despite the increasing recognition that such projects can deliver significantly long-term benefits. Purchasing energy efficiency equipment that are specified according to standards increases the investment cost and that is why consumers are reluctant to spend on such equipment. Furthermore, low income consumers cannot afford higher investments due to limited availability of capital and limited access to capital markets, especially in developing countries. In developing countries like India which face acute housing shortages, actual or perceived upfront costs are often a key barrier. Companies tend to avoid investments on green buildings unless the net benefit stream starts flowing in within a couple of years. Longerterm commercial lending is rare or nonexistent in many developing nations and poses one of the biggest hurdles to overcome. For large scale green building programmes, governments usually need to raise significant funds. In green buildings, energy efficient architecture is a complex design problem and thus it requires extensive assessment and expertise of related disciplines allowing for alternatives and extended fees which can rarely be justified in conventional projects. Investors are discouraged as they do not have access to financing, because financing companies misjudge them as high-risk investments. Moreover, there are no incentives from the government to boost such investments, increasing the challenges for investors and the market to develop.

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
34

Page | 34

The general sentiment among the developer community is that green buildings cost higher than similar conventional buildings, and it is difficult to get positive returns on this extra investment. This issue is mainly due to: #The still-evolving nature of green buildings; #The lack of technical information; #The incomplete/inefficient execution of green projects; #The short-term view on returns, instead of focusing on lifetime return on investment (ROI) of these buildings. In mature markets the cost premium range from 1-6%. Cost11 premium in India is in the range of 618% (Table 2) depending on the level of rating. This can be attributed to lack of technical know-how, immaturity of the market and lack of resources. We foresee the cost premium in India to realign to the mature markets with the increase in awareness and availability of resources

TECHNOLOGICAL BARRIER Neither new developers nor existing building owners are ready to pay for the perceived high-cost of building components and technologies. Interestingly, many manufacturers of building-related technologies and products have regional or international outlook and may already be manufacturing products that are suitable for green buildings. However, when the energy efficiency market is not mature, equipment manufacturers and suppliers tend to market less efficient products that are affordable to their clients. As a result, green technologies and products are not readily available in the market or due to lack of economy of scale; their costs remain out of bound for most buyers. Government intervention may therefore be required to trigger the market transformation towards energy efficiency and make energy efficiency more affordable. It is essential for the appropriate institution to favour public and private cooperation so that the private sector participates actively in programme implementation and the limited public funding is leveraged by private sector

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
35

Page | 35

investment to accelerate the process of market transformation. It is a relatively inexpensive mechanism for stimulating innovation and competition among potential manufacturers of energy-efficient products by guaranteeing higher market share for their products.

INFORMATION BARRIER The building sector is subjected to various information barriers within the industry and also among the end-users. Information regarding energy efficiency options is often incomplete, unavailable, expensive and difficult to obtain and verify. For example, there are misperceptions regarding the cost of building and the cost of operating sustainable buildings, which impede progress towards sustainability. Lack of information also influences end users in decision making. Neither do they have the knowledge about how their daily behaviour influences their energy consumption, nor is the link between energy and the environment well understood so that they can take actions. And even if they are aware of it, they possess limited rights or abilities to change their energy consumption features. There is no feedback received from the utilities, appliance manufacturers or building owners about their behaviour affecting energy consumption and costs. Another problem of lack of information of the client or consumer pertains to codes and regulations. With increasing complexity of codes and standards, developers and consumers have difficulty assessing the cost and requirements to comply with the regulations; so when regulations require site plan or design changes, they believe green specifications cause these costly delays. Thus improved communication of local building codes and their implications for green process and product choices would allow developers and end-users to make better choices among efficiency, aesthetics, product choice, and cost that would satisfy regulators without any compromises made.

POLITICAL AND STRUCTURAL BARRIER Market alone may not be adequate to push for green decision-making and it needs to be accompanied by strong government policies. There is however a strong institutional bias towards supply-side investments in many countries around the world. Political decision

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
36

Page | 36

makers are less interested in energy efficiency because they are not convinced in the ability of demand-side efficiency measures that can offset the need for new capacity in a more cost-effective manner. In the case of buildings, energy costs constitute only a small share of the operating cost. As a result, there is a greater political focus on creating the supply infrastructure necessary for ensuring rapid economic growth. Moreover, as far as the building sector is concerned, the market is highly fragmented. Coordination between all the stakeholders is a major challenge and there is inefficient enforcement of policies due to inadequate enforcement structures and institutions and lack of qualified personnel. In India, projections of electricity demand show the need for adding 40,000 MW of power generation capacity per year up to 2030 whereas the current rate of addition is only of the order of 12,000 MW per year. There is a huge challenge to mobilize resources, both financial and fuel, needed for the purpose. About 70 percent of the infrastructure in 2030, including buildings, will be added in the next two decades. If these new buildings are constructed inefficiently, their inefficiencies will be locked in for several decades and a large low-cost opportunity to reduce the energy needs for operating these buildings will be lost.

5.3. FUTURE NEEDS

In India, any rule or law is not passed that easily unless the Government sees and feels the need of it. After discussing the constraints in building a sustainable building, we need to address this problem at national level and make people realise the importance of it and the detriments of not thinking about the future generations to come. The economic condition of India at present day is not so well, and so yes, affording a green building is a little problem. But, it is not only about the present, financial needs of the future should also be considered. The Government should make some schemes for the developers to show them immediate benefits of building green. Following any technique, the rule should be made mandatory at least in metro cities. For example, in Greater Noida, a bye-law has been passed claiming that if the builders build a green building they will get extra FAR. Schemes like this encourage the developers to follow the path of sustainability.

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
37

Page | 37

REFERENCES
Web pages
http://sustainablechoices.stanford.edu/actions/in_the_home/lowflowfixtures.html http://zerocarbonhouse.eu/types-of-wastewater-treatment-plants-j116_en.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Material_efficiency http://www.cadman.com/section.asp?pageid=3145 http://www.permatrak.com/the-green-solution/leed-benefits/ http://www.leeduser.com/credit/NC-2009/MRc5 http://moef.nic.in/modules/recent-initiatives/NRCD/stp.htm http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/whatiswh.htm http://www.fao.org/docrep/S8684E/s8684e06.htm http://greenliving.about.com/od/architecturedesign/g/What-Is-LEED-Green-BuildingCertification.htm http://www.grihaindia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13 http://www.grihaindia.org/ http://www.igbc.in/site/igbc/tests.jsp?event=22869 http://www.igbc.in/site/igbc/testigbc.jsp?desc=22905&event=22869

Pdf's PDF on spring irrigation http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/agricultural_engineering/spring_irrigation.pdf

PDF on GRIHA http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/national-rating-system-green-buildingsGRIHA.pdf

PDF on Nation Green Building Assessment Tool in India http://cesb.cz/cesb10/papers/5_assessment/040.pdf

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
38

Page | 38

PDF on Green Building Movement Timelines http://www.cedbik.org/images/kaynak/CITC-V-FinalPaper1.pdf

PDF on Low-flow fixtures http://greenmanual.rutgers.edu/newresidential/strategies/lowflowfixtures.pdf

C o n v e n t i o n a l

V s

G r e e n

dissertation
39

Page | 39