Introduction A green home is one that's healthy, comfortable, efficient, durable and low maintenance all the things

that most people expect from quality building. A green home provides you with all these benefits in a way that's also easier on the environment. When you think of the environment, you probably think about the natural environment-mountains, rivers, and forests. But our buildings are part of the environment too. The fact is, a huge portion of our natural resources are used for building, and a large part of our pollution and health-related problems result from building. Fortunately, it's possible to reduce the negative effects of building by doing it a different way. more energy efficient and environmentally friendly construction practices. Green building brings together a vast array of practices and techniques to reduce and ultimately eliminate the impacts of new buildings on the environment and human health. It often emphasizes taking advantage of renewable resources, e.g., using sunlight through passive solar, active solar, and photovoltaic techniques and using plants and trees through green roofs, rain gardens, and for reduction of rainwater run-off and many other techniques. While the practices, or technologies, employed in green building are constantly evolving and may differ from region to region, there are fundamental principles that persist from which the method is derived: Siting and Structure Design Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Materials Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality Enhancement, Operations and Maintenance Optimization, and Waste and Toxics Reduction. The essence of green building is an optimization of one or more of these principles. Also, with the proper synergistic design, individual green building technologies may work together to produce a greater cumulative effect. Rationale behind the study Over a few decades, green buildings have been perceived to possess good potential for energy conservation. In this perspective, there have been significant advances in research methodologies and technologies for optimizing energy consumption. In light of this, a thorough understanding of the application of available technology is very important for building energy management. The objective of this paper is to examine the status of published research Sustainable or green building practices promote the construction of buildings that are healthier for the occupants and healthier for the environment. They reduce the tremendous impact that building construction, operation, maintenance, and disposal have on both people and nature. According to the U.S. Department of Energy's Center for Sustainable Development, buildings consume 40-50% of the world's total energy, 25% of its wood harvest and 16% of its water. The building industry is the nation's largest manufacturing activity, representing more than 50% of the nation's wealth (J. O. Jaber, O. O. Badran-2004). A recent report by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) promotes Green Building for the Biggest, Easiest Cuts in CO2 Emissions. Energy-saving technologies applied in buildings can result in enormous reductions in demand for fossil fuels and emissions of greenhouse gases.

Green building materials offer specific benefits to the building owner and building occupants such as 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.

Green building material/product selection criteria 1.Resource Efficiency can be accomplished by utilizing materials that meet the following criteria such as Recycled Products with identifiable recycled content, including post industrial 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; 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 materials that can be easily dismantled and reused or recycled at the end of their useful life; Durable Materials that are longer lasting or are comparable to conventional products with long life expectancies. 2.Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is enhanced by utilizing materials that meet the following criteria such as 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 emission 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 equipments that promote healthy IAQ by identifying indoor air pollutants or enhancing the air quality. 3.Energy Efficiency can be maximized by utilizing Materials, components, and systems that help reduce energy consumption in buildings and facilities. 4.Water Conservation can be obtained by utilizing Products and systems that help reduce water consumption in buildings and conserve water in landscaped areas. 5.Affordability can be considered when building product life-cycle costs are comparable to conventional materials or as a whole, are within a project-defined percentage of the overall budget.

Evaluation tools Life-cycle assessment Life-cycle assessment or "cradle-to-grave" analysis is a rigorous examination of the environmental impacts of a product or system at every stage of its life-cycle. This means considering the impact during the extraction of the raw materials, manufacture, transport, handling, installation, the lifetime of its use, recycling and disposal. Lifecycle assessment can be very detailed and scientific or it can simply mean thinking the impacts through. There are two different methods, the qualitative method and the quantitative method. The qualitative method judges how severe the impacts are at every stage without attaching an actual dollar value to the impact. It is a valuable method to compare products or systems, but is always subjective. The quantitative method assigns actual values to the impacts. The total values can then be compared for different materials. A weighting factor can account for more important stages in the life-cycle or more important environmental concerns. (DUAN Guang-hon 2005)

The quantitative method can be used to measure the greenhouse gas emissions impact of a product during its life cycle. Embodied energy The embodied energy of a product or system is the total amount of energy that is needed to produce, transport it to site and install it. For building products, it is commonly measured in MegaJoules (MJ) per unit of product. As always with assessing the environmental impact of building materials, its function must be defined carefully, so that differing materials can be suitably compared. Embodied energy is only one important factor to consider when choosing materials. Environmental labelling As long as it is assessed by an independent body is another way of easing the selection of product. The Environmental Choice label, for instance, is awarded to specific products, rather than to companies.Paint, carpet, insulation, and laminated panel products are some of the building materials covered by it. The environmental effects throughout the life-cycle of a product are taken into account (Li-Wei Lin &

Chui-Hui Chen-2007). The aim is to award the label to those products that have a lower environmental impact than comparable products with the same function. The scheme therefore uses the term environmentally preferable rather than environmentally friendly. Renewable resources These are resources that will be replenished with time, such as timber-based products. Provided the forests are managed sustainably, the trees will eventually grow back and more timber-based products can be produced. Renewable resources include plant and animal products such as timber, paper, cork, wool and leather. Sustainable resources These are resources that regenerate at the rate they are used or faster. Sustainable resources are the products of cyclic closed systems that do not require outside inputs, and do not generate waste. When the product is finished with, it breaks down and reenters the cycle. There are few truly sustainable resources used in the building industry and it might be more appropriate to talk about more sustainable resources. Plantation-grown timbers, for example, are more sustainable than timber from rainforest clear-felling. Local resources Locally sourced products need less energy for transport and they support your local economy. It is usually easier to find out environmental information about local products. Using local labour and skills means that trades people travel shorter distances and less energy is wasted. Toxicity Materials such as asbestos or lead paint cause serious damage to peoples health. Risk should be considered throughout a products life-cycle, including whether the material produces toxic smoke in a fire. People react differently to toxic substances and some, such as infants and sick people, are more sensitive than others.. Products which might cause problems include solvent-based products such as paints, glues and stains. Some materials are relatively harmless for humans, but their production might cause habitat destruction or release toxins into the environment. Toxic materials can also be a problem for installers or when they are disposed of at the end of their life cycle. Materials that are biodegradable (break down naturally) are generally preferable. Quality High quality and durable materials dont need to be replaced as often, reducing resource use. However, if the expected lifetime of the building is short, it makes little sense to use very durable materials. Products that are easy to replace or repair are preferable to those which arent. Those that dont require finishes also reduce resource use. Re-use and recycling Materials that can be re-used or recycled when the building is demolished save resources. Using second-hand or recycled materials is another option for reducing resource use.

Green building Materials and Techniques Green building materials are composed of renewable, rather than non-renewable resources. Green materials are environmentally responsible because impacts are considered over the life of the product Materials include Fly-ash cement, Fly-ash block, Recycled Aluminum, Recycled steel, Recycled tiles, Low VOC paints, Bamboo based products, HFC based high efficiency chillers, Building Controls, Green Roof, Recycled wood, etc., Products include Composting toilets, waterless urinals, Low VOC adhesives & sealants, CRI certified carpets, FSC Certified wood, High albedo roof paints, BIPV, CTI certified cooling towers, Living machines, etc.,. Ceiling tiles are made of 66 to 78 percent recycled mineral-fiber; The colored concrete flooring in the restrooms contains fly ash, a by-product of coal burning. It is widely available. Interior and exterior wood doors should not contain any formaldehyde. For Exterior and Interior Siding Hardiplank, a durable wood substitute made of cement and sawdust. Hardiplank does not shrink or expand; therefore, it can hold paint three times longer than wood, significantly reducing maintenance, replacement costs, and material resource consumption. For Flooring Plyboo can be used, which is laminated bamboo. The bamboo is harvested from managed forests in China, where it grows 40 feet tall in four years. Bamboo, a grass that is harder and more stable than red oak wood, is processed using nontoxic materials (Jiaping LIU, Runshan WANG 2009). Glass Tiles in the showers and bathrooms can be made from recycled glass (60%). Insulation used throughout the building can also be made from recycled glass, with an acrylic binder that eliminates binder-related formaldehyde emissions during manufacturing. After installation, it does not emits formaldehyde. Recycled Gypsum Drywall are a type of drywall made of 95 percent recycled materials, such as newspaper and gypsum from titanium dioxide production, and such post-industrial sources as power plant desulfurization equipment. The panels are moisture-, mold-, and fire-resistant and designed for high traffic areas. Restroom Partitions, Bathroom stall partitions and doors can be made from 100 percent postconsumer recycled polyethylene materials. Over 60 percent of the wood and lumber products used in the building are FSC certified. FSC is a nonprofit organization that encourages responsible management of the worlds forests. It accredits independent organizations to assess the forest management practices of landowners and companies to determine if its environmental, social, and economic standards have been met. FSC-certified wood is derived from forests that are conscientiously thinned, not permanently depleted. NonFSC-certified woods in the building were either reclaimed from deconstructed buildings or are fast-growing, abundant hardwood and softwood species, such as maple and poplar. Different types of glazing are Insulated (Double glazed, triple glazed) which maintains a gap between two layers to control the heat transfer (Michael S. Klassen*,

Jason A. Sutula-2009); Gas filled glazing Maintains a gap filled the inert gases; Heat absorbing tints are tinted colored glass; Spectrally sensitive glass is glass coated with many layers of thin invisible metallic coating which separates radiation of different wave lengths (P.J.M. Bartos and AW. Zhu -2004); Low emissivity (Low-E) coating similar to spectrally sensitive glass but only contains one layer of metallic coating; Reflective coating glass is made of metallic coating which is of reflective nature (Sheryl G. Colaco 2008) Fly ash is another material, which is a byproduct from combustion of coal, it can be used as a substitute for cement, which increases the life of concrete by improving the durability of concrete and net reduction in energy use, and greenhouse gas and other adverse air emissions when fly ash is used to replace or displace manufactured cement. Various types of Insulation materials are Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) blocks are produced using materials including silica sand, lime, cement, gypsum, water, fly ash and aluminum powder. The special combination of these substances yields a material with excellent construction properties such as thermal insulation, structural strength, density and fire resistance; Extruded polystyrene (XPS) is a type of insulation material with a high R-value, good moisture resistance, high structural strength and low weight. Extruded polystyrene is used extensively as thermal insulation in industrial, commercial and residential construction. It is commonly used in wall and roof applications; Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a type of insulation that provides thermal and acoustical insulation with characteristics such as low weight, high moisture resistance and high structural strength. Expanded polystyrene can be used to insulate the walls and roofs. Commercially this is often referred to as thermocol; Glass wool is an insulation material, which gives efficient thermal insulation. It is light in weight and provides good acoustic insulation also. It is commonly used for duct and wall thermal insulation. Rainwater harvesting is another technique used in green buildings to harvest the rainwater by collecting from the roof top surface. The collected water is stored in sump tanks, which are kept below ground level. The water is used for circulation in wind towers by pumping through solar pumps. The water in the sump automatically gets cooled due to the cooling effect of the ground Use of waterless urinals eliminates consumption of portable water. It can save over 10000 gallons of water per year. Most of the waterless urinals use an oil filled cartridge as a set of P-trap to keep out odors. Urinals are made of stainless steel as well as black, white, or fuchsia powder coat. Day lighting controlling is done using window blinds, roller shades; these are kept along the windows to control the excess daylight entering the building. At the same time it is helping in reducing the loading on cooling system (Sheryl G. Colaco-2008) Use of vegetation for shading from sun radiation and to reduce the heat transferred into the building. It is accomplished by using deciduous vine, It gives shading during summer and lets the light penetrate during the winter. Underground ducts can be used to release the hot air from the interior (Yingxin ZHU-2009) Composite masonry is composite stone and brick masonry sandwiched with rat traps

insulate the building against heat from solar radiation. Terrace green grass, china mosaic over covered vaults too help reduce the effects of heat radiation. To measure the thermal comfort levels in the building, sensors are to be placed to measure temprature, humidity etc. These values are used by automatic controllers to control the HVAC system effectively (Prasad Vaidya & Lara Greden-2007) Solar PV (photo-voltaic) panels can be installed for domestic and street lighting and water pumping. This can effectively use the renewable energy at the same time cut down on electrical expenses. Radiant heating systems can be applied in cold regions to maintain the heat in interiors using underfloor heating systems either elctrical or hydronic. In electrical, the transfer of electricity through high resistant cabling laid underneath the floor produces heat. In hydronic system heated water at a temprature around 40oC is circulated through tubes laid underneath the floor. Even wall system and over head ceiling system can also be implemented (Kai CUI, Yungang PAN-2009). Raw earth or polystyrene boards can be added into the wall to improve the insulation properties of the traditional wall and to reduce heat loss in winter (Jiaping LIU, Runshan WANG 2009) Retrofitting Existing Buildings Its not impossible to transform an existing building to a green one, but it can be difficult. There are some easy items that can be retrofitted into an existing building at relatively low cost and, in time, often pay for the retrofit. Existing buildings require an upfront investment to replace something that already exists and is, presumably, in working order. However, not all of the necessary alterations need to be done at once. Start with what needs to be fixed or repaired such as leaking faucets or toilets, it is preferable to replace them with ultra-low-flow fixtures. If the building is being remodeled, keep the green concept in mind and use recycled material and paints that are environment friendly. Paints which do not contain VOC (Volatile organic compounds) should be used. Recycled aluminium frames can be used for panelling, doors and windows can be made from wood which is a renewable matrial or recycled aluminium panel doors with powdered coating also can be used (Kai CUI, Yungang PAN-2009). The existing glass can be replaced with glazed window to reduce the amount of heat transfer due to heat radiation. Whether the building is old or new, installing low-flow fixtures is one of the easiest ways to save money and conserve water. Some of the easiest green retrofits to an existing building are methods for decreasing power usage and water consumption. For example replace lights with ultra-lowenergy use bulb Fluoresant lamp/HID(High intensity discharge) lighting. When landscaping, use native plants and garden designs that require less (or no) irrigation. Lights that were put inside a building 10 years ago are 50 % percent more inefficient than lights that you can put in today. Just by doing a lighting replacement in a building there will be a significant decrease in electricity consumption. The benefit of new lights is addition to using less electricity, newer lighting generates far less heat and allows the building to remain cool when necessary. Typically, office buildings because of all the internal heat that is generated through

people, computers, and the lighting are contributing much of the HVAC load when trying to cool the building. Getting rid of those heat sources such as old, inefficient lighting is going to make huge strides on electricity savings. Installation of new HVAC system can decrease the heat produced withen the interiors. Installion of passive architecture, this is an evaporative cooling technique, in which hot air is cooled bycold water. The latent heat of air is used to evaporate water, thus colling the air, which in turn cools the living space of the building. Installation of Root Zone Treatment system (RZTS), where planting of filter beds consisting of sand/gravel/soil. It uses a natural way to effectively treat domestic and industrial effluents. The waste water flows thrugh the root zone horizontally, where the organic pollutants are decomposed by the bacteria preant in the rhiszosphere of root plants as well as protecting the environment. Installation of roof top garden to reduce heat ingress into the building, application of high albedo paint on roofs to reflect the solar heat. Installation of Energy Generation Equipment such as solar panels to utilize the solar radiation in lighting the interiors during the night and for water pumping. Five Steps to a Successful Zero Energy Building 1.Design and Orientation: Roof overhangs, window size and placement, and overall home shape have a major impact. Consider the direction of prevailing winds and how to manage solar gain. If you will be using solar collectors, ensure that a portion of the roof faces true south. The placement of porches, garages, trees, and nearby buildings also have an effect.The orientation of the slope of the roofs should be fully considered to create advantages for stack and cross-ventilation The opening areas and directions of all the windows are to be decided by simulation using multi-zone model for natural ventilation analysis (Yingxin ZHU-2009) 2Insulate and Seal the Building Envelope: Most of a home's energy is spent heating and cooling the interior. Minimizing heating and cooling requirements is the most important step in building a ZEH a. High R-Value Insulation: For a zero energy home, use high R-value insulation that provides a continuous, unbroken layer around the building envelope. Remember to insulate under the slab as well. Use a high-insulation, tightly-sealed roof system, such as Quad-Deck or closed cell spray foam. Seal all holes, cracks, and penetrations through the floor, walls, and ceiling to unconditioned spaces. b. Concrete Thermal Mass: Build exterior walls and floors with concrete. Concrete will moderate temperature swings, and can even dampen seasonal fluctuations by "spreading" the constant ground temperature from the footings throughout the home. c. Airtight Construction: ICFs will ensure airtight walls. Ensure that all windows and doors are tight and meet the required air-leakage

standards. The roof and/or ceiling needs special attention, as do the kitchen and bathrooms, to make sure they have adequate ventilation but still maintain energy efficiency. d. Windows and Doors: Use triple glazed windows and well insulated or double external doors. The passive gain of incoming solar heat through the windows will cover close to 40% of the heat losses, if all guidelines are followed. Skylights can decrease artificial lighting requirements, but use a high-quality, double glazed product. 3.Increase Heating and Cooling Efficiency: The heating and cooling systems need to be carefully matched to the high-efficiency building envelope. Standard-sized equipment will "short-cycle," turning on and off so frequently that it will negate any energy savings. Buying properly sized equipment will ensure maximum efficiency. Another benefit: smaller equipment will cost less. e. Buy as high-efficiency equipment as affordable. f. Take Advantage of Earth Temperature: Install a geothermal pump or/and a ground-air heat exchanger where space and cost conditions permit. g. Radiant Floor Heating: Radiant floor heating (e.g. with Quad-Deck) provides warmth in a pattern that mimics the body, improving comfort. It heats evenly without drafts and uses far less energy than conventional systems. It also reduces noise and allows room by room zoning. h. Optimize Ducting: Design the supply and return ducts appropriately and seal tightly using approved tapes or mastic. Run ducting in conditioned space only. i. Alternate Cooling Methods: Where appropriate, consider alternative cooling systems such as ventilation only or evaporative coolers. 4.Decrease Other Energy Requirements: Decrease energy needs as much as possible throughout the home.

j. Install efficient lighting: Use compact fluorescent bulbs where possible, and consider installing permanent fluorescent fixtures throughout the home. k. Install efficient appliances: Use the most energy efficient models available. Focus especially on the refrigerator, dishwasher, and laundry appliances, as they use the most energy. Look for the Energy Star label

to help make decisions. l. Tankless Water Heaters: Use tankless water heaters, especially if the home will not be constantly occupied. Low-flow fixtures in showers and faucets will also decrease hot water demands. m. Turn off lights, computers, and appliances when not in use: The homeowner has the most significant impact on the actual performance of the ZEH. Programmable thermostats and photo-sensitive outdoor light fixtures will do some of this automatically. Simple things such as turning off lights when leaving a room or closing doors when performing even quick tasks outdoors can eliminate "wasted" energy. 5.Install Energy Generation Equipment such as solar panels