Reducing Carbon Footprint of

Office Building

Presented by – Megha Deshwal

00906142015
 INTRODUCTION OF THE PROJECT

Global warming is said to increase in the next century which

will unfortunately have a significant negative impact on both
natural and socioeconomic system. Hence, reducing carbon
emissions is the need of the hour and has become the focus
of international political, economic and environmental
research.
The concept of a carbon footprint is taken from that of the
ecological footprint. The calculations of the carbon footprint
involve analyzing products’ life cycle, taking into account both
NEED OF THE STUDY
direct and indirect carbon emissions of the related activities,
and comparing the results with other carbon emission
studies. However, the exact extent scope of carbon footprint
is still debatable.

If even only half of new commercial buildings were built to use

50% less energy, it would save over 6 million metric tons of
CO2 annually for the life of the buildings—which is the
equivalent of taking more than 1 million cars off the road every
year.
 SYNOPSIS

AIM- The aim of the study is to learn about different architectural ways by which carbon footprint of office
building can be reduced.

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is:
-To understand various techniques and strategies to reduce carbon footprint.
-To understand various factors while designing a less carbon footprint office.

HYPOTHESIS- Building sector has the largest potential for significantly reducing carbon footprints.

SCOPE- To study various approaches by south Asian countries to reduce carbon footprint of office buildings.

LIMITATION- limitation of the dissertation is to study office buildings only in India due to time constraints.

METHODOLOGY- The aim and objective of this research will be achieved by performing
-Research work, which will include the study of topic via different sources.
-Case studies on reducing carbon footprint
-learning about Initiatives taken by different countries
 LITERATURE STUDY
HISTORY CARBON EMISSION AND BUILDING RELATION

Some common materials

1.Concrete: CO2e 150kg per tone (100 days):
“Carbon dioxide emissions from a cement plant are
divided into two source categories: combustion and
calcination. Combustion accounts for approximately
40% and calcination 60% of the total CO2 emissions
from a cement manufacturing facility. ”
2.Cement: responsible for 7% of global CO2
emissions' contribution. The IEA estimates cement
production will rise 12 per cent to 23 per cent by
2050, though it could cut emissions with a series of
actions.
3.Stainless steel: production of stainless at the
steel plant varies between 0.28 CO2e to 0.49 CO2e
tons / ton of stainless.
4.Bricks: CFP is 169 gCO2/kg of fired brick excluding
emissions due to biofuel combustion.
Other materials
HVAC: The Importance of HVAC Systems
The acronym HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. HVAC systems are responsible for the continuous
regulation of the environment surrounding your telecom equipment. As the outside weather changes, the environment in
which your equipment is housed will change as well. It is important to protect the equipment from over-heating, freezing,
moisture, etc. In addition to telecom shelters, HVAC units are also commonly used in data centers and server rooms.
During the summertime, when temperatures are high and heat waves are common, the air conditioning component of the
HVAC system kicks on to keep your telecom equipment cool and prevent over-heating. During the winter, your telecom
equipment cannot operate if frozen, so the HVAC’s heating unit regulates the temperature surrounding your equipment. The
ventilation system protects against extreme humidity by replacing the air surrounding your equipment. Smoke, heat, moisture,
dust, and more can all be replaced through ventilation to ensure a continuously safe environment.

HVAC Then and Now: How the Industry Has Changed

•The HVAC industry is a rapidly developing field.

•Since HVAC can be the biggest energy hog in a building, many developments within the industry are focused on enhancing
energy efficiency.

•The field of HVAC is also impacted by changes in the workforce and the consumer market. Market Growth

•the HVAC industry has been expanding every year since 2011.

•Rising temperatures have been driving the demand for HVAC systems across the globe. The U.S.—one of the world’s largest
consumer markets for HVAC—has been experiencing very hot summers, which is fueling the need for HVAC systems.

•The nation’s construction industry has been thriving, too. People keep building new homes, and older buildings need to have
their HVAC systems repaired or replaced.

Smart HVAC

•Smart HVAC technology is without a doubt a huge trend. It can help boost energy efficiency via automated controls, Nest
thermostats, virtual assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and more.

•Smart HVAC technology now allows for systems to gather information about a building’s environment and adjust settings
automatically.

Radiant Heating

•The HVAC industry these days seeks to improve comfort and safety outside of homes and businesses. Radiant heating systems
for outdoors were another type of HVAC technology that made news at the AHR Expo.
CASE STUDY 1 CASE STUDY 2
Suzlon One Earth, Pune World Financial Center, Beijing, China
Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India Address - No. 2 South Dong Guan Dian Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Site area: 4,53,930 square feet (10.4 acre) Site Ares - Approx. 21,483 sq.m.

Architect: Prof. Christopher Benninger Building Height - 100 m

Number of Storeys - 24

Typical Floor Area - Approx. 4,400 sq.m. gross

Parking spaces - 1,278 lot

Architect - Cesar Pelli

• Ratings- 10.4-acre urban setting achieved a LEED

Platinum TERI GRIHA 5 Star certification
Points which helps in reducing carbon footprint-
•1.8 percent of its annual energy generated on-site through photovoltaic panels and windmills with a
total incremental cost of about 11%.
•2.154 KW of electricity is produced on site (80% wind and 20% photovoltaic).
• All other energy (4MW) is produced in the client's wind mill farms.
• Beijing World Financial Centre Leads the Development of China's High-end Commercial Property
Market.
• The magnificent skyscraper is built in postmodernist style.
• It is the heart of China’s Commercial Property Market and not only houses financial firms, banks,
multinational companies, but also meets all their requirements concerning security, property
management, convenient and eco-friendly working environment.
• Moreover, due to flexible floor area, the tenants can modify the interior according to their
specific needs.
• LEED CS v2.0 rating

• sustainable and efficient design provides 75% of the work stations with daylight and external views,
Points which helps in reducing carbon footprint-
allowing inhabitants to enjoy seasons, weather conditions and to connect with the time of the
day. • Comprehensive Building Management System
•The building employs a complex building management system. Lighting of individual offices is
• Dual power supply from two separate sources
controlled by combined daylight and occupancy sensors.
• Perennial indoor Winter Garden for relaxation

• Largest outdoor park of any office building in Beijing city area

Green building rating system and certifications
What is green building rating system?
A 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 quantifiable. A project is awarded points once it fulfils the rating criteria. The points are added up and the
final rating of a project is decided. Rating systems call for independent third-party evaluation of a project and different
processes are put in place to ensure a fair evaluation. Globally, green building rating systems are largely voluntary in
nature and have been instrumental in raising awareness and popularizing green building designs.
Some of the successful rating programmes
• GRIHA Council is an independent platform (registered as a society) for the interaction on scientific and administrative
issues related to sustainable habitats in the Indian context.
• LEED is the leading certification program for green buildings and communities worldwide. More than 92,000 projects
across
over 165 countries and territories are participating in LEED. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) was
developed and piloted in the US in 1998 as a consensus-based building rating system based on the use of existing
building technology .
• BREEAM Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) was developed in the United
Kingdom in 1990 and is one of the earliest building environmental assessment methods. BREEAM covers a range of
building types including—offices, homes, industrial units, retail units, and schools.
• CASBEE Comprehensive Assessment System for Building Environmental Efficiency (CASBEE) was developed in Japan, in
2001. The family of assessment tools is based on the building’s life cycle: pre-design, new construction, existing
buildings, and renovation.
• EDGE is a green building certification system focused on making buildings in emerging markets more resource-efficient.
• PEER is the nation’s first rating system that measures and improves power system
performance and electricity delivery systems.
• SITES is the most comprehensive program for designing, developing and maintaining
sustainable landscapes.
• TRUE strives to change the way materials flow through society so that all products are
eventually reused and diverted from landfill, incineration (waste-to-energy) and the
environment.
Government strategies to decrease carbon emissions
Governments around the world are busy coming up with different ways to reduce the
carbon footprint in their local or wider communities. Here are a few recent initiatives
and suggestions
•Kyoto Protocol-The protocol commits countries to adopt an urgent approach to
reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
-The aim of the Kyoto Protocol was to provide countries upholding the UNFCCC (United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) the option to execute methods of
setting targets to control and measure the production of greenhouse gases within the
country.
-The United States, while supporting the notion, have not ratified the protocol,
believing that implementing it would lead to a loss in their Gross Domestic Product
(GDP).
•EU Emissions Trading Scheme- The EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) is a
cornerstone of the EU's policy to combat climate change and its key tool for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively. It is the world's first major carbon market
and remains the biggest.
FINDINGS
POST OCCUPANCY STAGE
How to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of office building • Manage office space
in 3 stages of construction:- • Maximize heating and cooling
• Recycle everything
1. Pre-construction stage • Reduce travel footprint
2. Building planning and construction stages • Educate employees
3. Post occupancy stage

PRE-CONSTRUCTION STAGE CONCLUSION

• Site planning As we now know building sector account for a large proportion of
- Preserve and protect the landscape during total energy use, and commercial buildings are a growing share of
construction/compensatory depository forestation. this use. Commercial buildings are a primary driver contributing
- Soil conservation (till post-construction). to the growth in greenhouse gas emissions. . Carbon emissions
related to buildings are expected to double by 2050 if action at
BUILDING PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION STAGE scale doesn’t occur. Decarbonization, or trying to eliminate
• Water carbon dioxide emissions, in the building industry can take many
• Energy forms. “Although all buildings must be net zero carbon by 2050 to
• Sustainable material meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Which makes the
• Waste management hypothesis of this report right but only if the right actions at the
• transportation right time are taken.