ENERGY AWARENESS

What exactly is energy awareness?

For a general definition, we think it would be
reasonable to say that energy awareness is about
understanding:
how much energy we use (both directly and
indirectly);
what we actually use it for;
where the energy comes from;
the knock-on effects of us using it (e.g.
environmental impact, depletion of resources); and
what we can do to reduce our energy consumption
and its undesirable knock-on effects.

However, although that might be appropriate for a
textbook definition of energy awareness,
it sounds a lot like we're talking about the energy
awareness of the human race as a whole.
Not that there's anything wrong with a definition
that talks about the human race as a whole,
but thinking of energy awareness in that way is not
ideal when you're trying to come up with an energy-
awareness campaign that will
reduce energy consumption at your organization...
Because, unless you happen to work for Energy Star
or the Carbon Trust, most people in your
organization will have other priorities, and getting
them to understand the big picture of energy
consumption will be something of a monumental
challenge...

So here's the secret:

You don't need your building's occupants to gain a
holistic awareness of energy consumption, you just
need them to understand enough to stop wasting so
much energy themselves!
A definition that's more appropriate for your campaign
Energy awareness is about understanding that:
all day we're using energy in our building;
some things we do use a lot more energy than others;
simple changes in our habits can lead to big reductions in
our building's energy consumption; and
reducing our building's energy consumption is important!

On the surface, this isn't so different from our first definition
of energy awareness.

But the critical point is that this definition is much more local
- it's all about people saving energy in your building. In other
words, it's much closer to home.
By bringing your definition of energy awareness closer to
the building that you want to save energy in,
you'll make it easier for people to understand that their
actions matter, and
that they really do have the power to make an
immediate difference to your building's energy
consumption...
When your concept of energy awareness is closer to
home, your campaign will naturally use messages, facts,
and figures that are closer to home too.
Such messages, facts, and figures will naturally resonate
better with the people they're intended for, and this should
have a significant impact on the savings that your campaign
will achieve
ENERGY CONSERVATION BUILDING
CODE AND NBC
The Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), was
launched by Ministry of Power, Government of India in May
2007, as a first step towards promoting energy efficiency in
the building sector.
The ECBC was developed by an Expert Committee, set up
by Indias Bureau of Energy Efficiency, with support and
guidance from United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) and significant inputs from various
other stakeholders such as practicing architects, consultants,
educational institutions and other government organizations.
The successful implementation of the code requires
development of compliance procedures (compliance forms
and development of field-test compliance forms and
procedures),
in addition to building capacity of
architects/designers/builders/contractors and
government official in States and Urban and Local Bodies
(ULBs).
It is also dependent on availability of materials and
equipment that meet or exceed performance
specifications specified in ECBC.
BEE(Bureau of Energy Efficiency) with the support of
USAID ECO- III Project is promoting ECBC awareness and
voluntary adoption through training and capacity building
programmes, pilot demonstration projects, and
identifying steps for compliance check and monitoring of
ECBC.
ECBC User Guide was developed to support ECBC
implementation by providing detailed guidance to the
users on how to comply with the Code.
Four ECBC tip sheets on
Energy Simulation,
Building Envelope,
Lighting Design and
HVAC are also available and provide useful
information on Code compliance at the system level
and through Whole Building Performance approach
that require knowledge of energy simulation to
model the proposed building.


The ECBC provides design norms for:
Building envelope, including thermal performance
requirements for walls, roofs, and windows;
Lighting system, including daylighting, and lamps and
luminaire performance requirements;
HVAC system, including energy performance of chillers and air
distribution systems;
Electrical system; and
Water heating and pumping systems, including requirements
for solar hot-water systems.
The code provides three options for compliance:
Compliance with the performance requirements for each
subsystem and system;
Compliance with the performance requirements of each
system, but with tradeoffs between subsystems; and
Building-level performance compliance.

During the development of ECBC, analysis conducted
through energy simulation indicated that ECBC-
compliant buildings may use 40 to 60% less energy than
similar buildings being designed and constructed at that
time.
Building design has not been a subject of study in India
for its electrical and thermal performance.
Building configuration, its aesthetics, first cost,
uniqueness and ultimate salability are some of the
factors, which have driven the building design.
With the result, the buildings operating energy cost
has increased tremendously as the energy efficiency
factors were either not considered or ignored at the
design stage.

Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) sets the
minimum energy performance standards for buildings.
ECBC for commercial buildings are widely considered
to be cost-effective as government-based regulatory
programs that can potentially help to capture substantial
energy savings.
It is essential that new buildings be designed and built
with energy efficiency considerations having been
incorporated right from the initial stages.
The development of energy conservation buildings
codes is necessary for this purpose.
The intention of the ECBC is to benchmark energy
consumption levels in large commercial buildings and
introduce a level of awareness for energy conservation.
Energy Conservation Building Code-Provisions in the EC Act
2001 As defined in the EC Act,
energy conservation building codes means the norms and
standards of energy consumption expressed in terms of per
square metre of the area where the energy is used and
includes the location of the building.
The EC Act empowers the Central Government under
section 14 (p) to prescribe the Energy Conservation Building
Code. Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has the responsibility
under section 13 (d) to take suitable steps to prescribe
guidelines for ECBC.
The ECBC will also be applicable to additions, alterations
and modifications to existing buildings.
Applicability to existing buildings is subject to several riders
and exclusions, which are set out in the ECBC.
ECBC provisions will enhance comfort and occupant
productivity.
ECBC encourage energy efficient design or retrofit of
commercial buildings so that they are designed in a
manner that reduces the use of energy without affecting
the building function, the comfort, health, or the
productivity of the occupants and with appropriate
regard for economic considerations.
These codes eliminate building design practices that
lead to unnecessarily high building energy use and
associated costs.
Energy cost savings resulting from energy code
compliance directly benefit building owners and
occupants over the life cycle of the building.
The benefits to society include the following:
Reduced capital investments in energy supply
infrastructure.
Reduced environmental impacts.
Improved electricity reliability.
More efficient use of resource (It is cheaper to save energy
than it is to build new power plants).
ECBC covers energy usage per unit of floor space and
other high energy consuming equipments like HVAC,
lighting.
ECBC details the parameters of various building material
to be used to achieve overall performance of building
envelope so as to minimize heat gain and thus the cooling
cost.
ECBC specifies use of energy efficient glass combinations
to maximize daylight and minimize cooling loads.

Building Envelope: insulation materials, fenestration, solar
heat gain coefficients (SHGC), visible light transmittance,
and air leakage; overhangs and side fins, building envelope
sealing details.
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning: system and
equipment types, sizes, efficiencies, and controls;
economizers; variable speed drives; piping insulation; duct
sealing, insulation and location.
Service Hot Water and Pumping: solar water heating
system. Lighting: lighting schedule showing type, number,
and wattage of lamps and ballasts; automatic lighting
shutoff, occupancy sensors, and other lighting controls;
lamp efficacy for exterior lamps.
Electrical Power: electric schedule showing transformer
losses, motor efficiencies, and power factor correction
devices; electric check metering and monitoring systems.

NATIONAL BUILDING CODE (NBC)

The National Building Code (NBC) 2005 is a response to
the series of natural disasters that have had a huge
impact on the built environment. These include the
Chamoli, Jabalpur, Latur and Bhuj earthquakes and the
supercyclones of Kandla and Orissa. As the base
document for the building construction industry, it seeks
to bring codes in line with market requirements.
What is the National Building Code 2005?
It is the third revision compiled under the aegis of the
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
It provides guidelines for regulating building
construction activities across the country.
It has the basic codes for construction materials,
services, systems and processes.
The NBC lays down the minimum provisions buildings
need in order to ensure public safety with regard to
structural sufficiency, fire hazard and health aspects.
It contains administrative provisions, development
control rules and general building
Whats new in NBC 2005?
It allows architects and engineers to sanction building
plans for smaller plots and less complicated structures.
It makes it mandatory for architects and structural
engineers to take responsibility for the safety of their
structure in case of a natural disaster.
It provides for a periodic renewal of certificate for
occupied buildings from a structural, fire and electrical
safety point of view.
The code has detailed town planning norms for
amenities such as educational and medical facilities, fire
services, etc.
It has revised parking requirements for metro and mega
cities.
Provisions for buildings and facilities for the physically
challenged have been revised.
Contents of NBC 2005


Part 0: Integrated Approach Prerequisite for Applying Provision of
the Code
This part covers guidelines to be followed for judicious implementation
of the provisions of various parts/sections of the Code.
Part 1: Definitions
It lists the terms appearing in all the parts/sections of the National
Building Code of India. However, some common definitions are
reproduced in this part also.
Part 2: Administration
It covers the administrative aspects of the Code, such as applicability of
the Code, organization of building department for enforcement of the
Code, procedure for obtaining development and building permits, and
responsibility of the owner and all professionals involved in the
planning, design and construction of the building.
Part 3: Development Control Rules and General Building
Requirements
It covers the development control rules and general building
requirements for proper planning and design at the layout
and building level to ensure health safety, public safety and
desired quality of life. It provides provisions for covered area,
plinth area, FAR, amenities, land use classification, height/
size of rooms, kitchens etc.
Part 4: Fire and Life Safety
It covers the requirements for fire prevention, life safety in
relation to fire, and fire protection of buildings. The code
specifies planning and construction features and fire
protection features for all occupancies that are necessary to
minimize danger to life and property.

The code cagorises the buildings as follows:
Group A - Residential
Group B - Educational
Group C - Institutional
Group D - Assembly
Group E - Business
Group F - Mercantile
Group G - Industrial
Group H - Storage
Group J Hazardous
Part -5: Building Material
It covers the requirements of building materials and
components, and criteria for accepting new or alternative
building materials and components.

29 Materials/ components which have been covered in this
part are:
Aluminum & other light materials & their alloys, Bitumen &
Tar products, Builders hardware, Building chemicals, Building
lime and products, Burnt clay products, Cement & concrete
(i/c reinforcement), Composite matrix products, Conductors &
cables, Doors / windows & ventilators, Electrical wiring &
accessories, Fillers, stoppers & putties, Floor coverings,
roofings & other finishes, Glass, Gypsum based materials,
Lignocellulosic building materials (timber bamboos etc.),
Paints & allied products, Polymers, plastics, Sanitary
appliances & water fittings, Soil based blocks, Steel & its
alloys, Stones, Structural sections, Thermal insulation
material, Threaded fasteners & rivets, Unit weight of building
materials, Water proofing & damp proofing materials,
Welding electrodes & wires, Wire ropes & wire products
Part 6: Structural Design
This part through its seven sections provides for
structural adequacy of buildings to deal with both
internal and external environment, and provide guidance
to engineers/ structural engineers for varied usage of
material / technology types for building design.
Section 7: Prefabrication and Systems Building
Part 8: Building Services-Lighting and Ventilation,
Electrical and Allied Installations , Air conditioning,
heating and Mechanical Ventilation, Acoustics, Sound
Insulation and Noise Control, Installation of Lifts and
Escalators
Part 9: Plumbing Services
Part 10: Landscaping, Signs and Outdoor Display
Structures







List of Standards along with National Building Code of India
1983
The following list records those standards, which are
acceptable as `good practice`, and `accepted standards` in the
fulfillment of the requirements of the Code. The latest version
of a standard shall be adopted at the time of enforcement of
the Code. The standards listed may be used by the Authority
as a guide in conformance with the requirements of the
referred clauses in the Code.
IS: 8888-1978 Guide for requirements of low income
housing
IS: 6313 Code of practice for anti-termite measures in
buildings:
IS: 6313 (Part I)-1971 Part I Constructional measures
IS: 1634-1973 Code of practice for design and
construction of wood stairs in houses (first version)
IS: 4838 Anthropometrics dimensions for school
children: IS: 4838 (Part I) - 1969 Part I Age group 5 to 11
years IS: 4838 (Part II) - 1969 Part II Age group 12 to 16
years
IS: 4963-1968 Recommendations for buildings and
facilities for the physically handicapped
IS: 6313 (Part II)-1971 Part II Pre-constructional
chemical treatment measures
IS: 6313 (Part III)-1971 Part III Treatment for existing
buildings
IS: 3792-1978 Guide for heat insulation of non-
industrial buildings (first revision)

PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL/
SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
Social progress which recognises the needs of
everyone;

Effective protection of the environment;

Prudent use of natural resources; and

Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic
growth and employment.

Sustainable development is development, which
meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generation to
meet their own needs.


Towards Sustainable Construction
There are three ways by which the civil engineering and
construction industry can act to
realise sustainable construction
Creating built environments;
Restoring damaged and/or polluted environments; and
Improving arid environments.
Green" is the word. It's not just pollution anymore -
specifically,
it's melting polar icecaps and the greenhouse effect.
These are the phrases of our generation and now,
more than ever, people are aware of our effect on the
environment.
Energy efficient appliances and reusable grocery bags
are commonplace.
Another trend picking up speed is sustainable
architecture.
This involves buildings designed to have as little effect
on the environment as possible.
If you are thinking of building a home that is
environmentally sound, here are some of the basic
principles of sustainable architecture design
1. Think Small
The combined problem of natural resource depletion and
population growth is so serious that its no longer reasonable
for anyone to use up more than their fair share of either.
Not only that, but theres something special about creating
a home or office that speaks to the specific needs of your
particular family.
Small homes are more affordable, use fewer resources,
have less of an environmental impact, and also require less
energy to heat and cool.
2. Heat With the Sun
Speaking of heating, fossil fuels are on the wane but the sun
is still going strong.
Consult your local green building expert for the best way to
orient your home in order to maximize solar gain when
appropriate (and reduce it when theres too much.)
Orientation combined with a green building material that
absorbs the suns energy during the day and then dispatches
it slowly at night can drastically reduce your energy
requirement.
3. Keep Your Cool
The same principle works for cooling a home, a particular challenge
in the Middle East where there is no shortage of long hot days.
Passive design, digging into the earth, and insulating a home well
will work wonders, as will Islamic design techniques such as the
Mashrabiya screen, which beats the heat at the same time as it
promotes natural ventilation.
4. Use Renewable Energy
We know this is hard in the Middle East, where solar panels are still
quite expensive, but an investment in the short term will pay off in
the long run.
Plus, who says its necessary to buy into the most expensive
renewable technology? In Cyprus, Egypt and Israel, lower income
people have been using the sun to heat their water for years.
Theirs may not be the sexiest roofs in each country, but their
energy bills are smaller, and their ability to withstand municipal price
and supply fluctuations far greater than grid-dependent folks.
5. Conserve Water
There are as many ways to conserve water in your home as
there are reasons to do so particularly in our dry region.
Firm up faucets, harvest rainwater, recycle gray water, take
shorter showers, and turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.
Also consider planting indigenous plants that dont require a lot
of irrigation, and if you must irrigate, trying using drip irrigation or
other modern developments.
6. Use Local Materials
When youre building a home out of materials harvested in
some distant land, they have to travel a long way to make it to
your little plot.
This creates an unnecessarily high carbon footprint and also
reduces the level of control you have over how those materials
are harvested.
But if you use local materials, as will be the case with new Eco-
Schools, your carbon footprint shrinks considerably and benefits
your local economy.
7. Use Natural Materials
Natural materials not only have more aesthetic appeal, at least in our
view, but it turns out that they are better for our health.
A home that is built with a porous natural material such as mud or
stone or lime breaths and promotes natural circulation in the home.
Anything else creates a terribly unhealthy internal environment.
Natural materials also promote daylighting and superior acoustics,
whereas all kinds of interventions are required in more artificial
surroundings.
8. Save the Forests
Our forests are beautiful and deserve to be protected in their own
right.
But they also serve important environmental services including
sucking the globes carbon.
With escalating levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere and a
bevy of attendant climatic changes, protecting our trees is more
important than ever. The average timber home uses 100 trees and
thats not sustainable at all..
9. Recycle Materials
We belong to a throwaway culture something the earths finite
resources simply cant support.
Recycling materials not only gives new life to something discarded
or disused, but also provides an opportunity to be creative and
resourceful.
See how old windows have been given new life is this wonderful
design project.
10. Build to Last
We have showcased several earth architecture buildings that have
lasted centuries, such as Yemens Manhattan and these awesome
cave homes in Iran.
Despite stringent new building codes, many materials used in
contemporary architecture are designed NOT to last so that the
supplier can prolong their business opportunities.
This makes absolutely no sense. Build to last as much as possible
and save the earth while youre at it.
11. Grow Your Food
Growing food at home improves quality control and increases
resilience both very necessary in our region where food security is
poor and where environmental regulations regarding food quality
are poorly enforced.
12. Store Your Own Food
This is something we havent considered in a long while, but it
used to be that most people built pantries into the earth in order to
keep their food cool and fresh.
As demonstrated in Palestines numerous geothermal projects,
the earths temperature remains constant even as our atmosphere
warms and cools.
If you use the right building material, you can build a wonderful
earthen pantry that will keep most of your food fresh year round.
Make sure to consult a professional until you get the hang of this.
13. Share Facilities
Finally, Kelly Hart promotes co-housing and eco-villages as
a good way to save space and share facilities.
He suggests that building common areas (like the Israeli
Kibbutzniks have done for years) in addition to private areas
in any housing project saves space and promotes social
activity.
Wed also like to add that a shared community is likely to
grow into a more evolved and tolerant community, which
promotes all kinds of goodness.
If you are considering building a new home, remember to
consult this list to determine whether you have achieved
the greatest amount of sustainability for your time and
budget constraints.
Preserve natural surroundings:
This encompasses two philosophies. One is to build small.
You don't need a Mc mansion to live comfortably.
Build only as big as you need and build up instead of out.
The other is to build into the natural landscape not over it.
Utilize the trees and bushes around your lot instead of
clearing them out.
Try to maintain as much as you can of the surrounding
landscape.
It will save you money because you won't have to pay
someone to come in and plant for you plus it saves the
environment.



Use renewable resources:
The sun, the earth, the wind- these are all at your
disposal and are things that will never run out.
You can harness the sun to heat and light your home
with solar panels.
Wind power is gaining popularity on a larger scale by
using windmills to supply electricity for entire towns.
The earth can also be used to heat your home with
geothermal heating elements placed underneath the
house.
For your lumber, make sure the wood is either reclaimed
or comes from a certified forest.
Bamboo is becoming popularly used for wood flooring
and it is a very renewable wood source and looks attractive
too
Buy locally:
If you are remodeling or building a sustainable
architecture design home, buy your supplies locally.
This puts money back into your community and is
good for everyone.
A healthy community is a big part of creating a
healthy environment.
If you can incorporate one or all of these principles
into the building or remodel of your home, you will be
doing a great service to the environment.
Good or bad, every little thing that we do has an
impact on the earth.
Sustainable architecture design is something you can
do to make a difference.
Recycle:
If you can't redo or build your home using these
principles, you can still do your part by recycling.
Use left-over building supplies for other projects
instead of dumping them in the landfill.
Capture rainwater for outdoor irrigation. On a smaller
scale, recycle your plastic, aluminum and paper.
Use energy efficient appliances:
Everything comes with that little star on it
designating it as an energy efficient appliance.
They do all the work for you by using less water, heat
and energy while efficiently running the dishwasher,
washing machine and all other appliances.
You may also get a tax credit for replacing your old
stuff with the energy-efficient models.



SITING AND LAND USE
* Renovate older buildings: Conscientiously renovating existing
buildings is the most sustainable construction.
* Create community: Development patterns can either inhibit or
contribute to the establishment of strong communities and
neighbourhoods. Creation of cohesive communities
should be a high priority.
* Encourage in-fill and mixed-use development: In-fill development
that increases density is inherently better than building on undeveloped
(greenfield) sites. Mixed-use development, in which residential and
commercial uses are intermingled, can reduce automobile use and
help to create healthy communities.
* Minimize automobile dependence: Locate buildings to provide access
to public transportation, bicycle paths, and walking access to basic
services. Commuting can also be reduced by working at home--consider
home office needs with layout and wiring.
* Value site resources: Early in the sitting process carry out a careful site
evaluation: solar access, soils, vegetation, water resources, important
natural areas, etc., and let this information guide the design

* Locate buildings to minimize environmental impact: Cluster buildings
or build attached units to preserve open space and wildlife habitats,
avoid especially sensitive areas including wetlands, and keep roads and
service lines short. Leave the most pristine areas untouched, and
look for areas that have been previously damaged to build on. Seek to
restore damaged ecosystems.
* Provide responsible on-site water management: Design landscapes to
absorb rainwater runoff (storm water) rather than having to carry it off-
site in storm sewers. In arid areas, rooftop water catchment systems
should be considered for collecting rainwater and using it for landscape
irrigation.
* Situate buildings to benefit from existing vegetation: Trees on the
east and west sides of a building can dramatically reduce cooling loads.
Hedge rows and shrubbery can block cold winter winds or help channel
cool summer breezes into buildings.
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
* Avoid ozone-depleting chemicals in mechanical equipment and
insulation: CFCs have been phased out, but their primary
replacements--HCFCs--also damage the ozone layer and should be
avoided where possible. Avoid foam insulation made with HCFCs.
Reclaim CFCs when servicing or disposing of equipment.
* Use durable products and materials: Because manufacturing is very
energy-intensive, a product that lasts longer or requires less
maintenance usually saves energy. Durable products also contribute
less to our solid waste problems.
Choose low-maintenance building materials: Where possible, select
building materials that will require little maintenance (painting,
retreatment, waterproofing, etc.), or whose maintenance will have
minimal environmental impact.
* Choose building materials with low embodied energy: Heavily
processed or manufactured products and materials are usually more
energy intensive. As long as durability and performance will not be
sacrificed, choose low-embodied-energy materials.

* Buy locally produced building materials: Transportation is costly in
both energy use and pollution generation. Look for locally produced
materials. Local hardwoods, for example, are preferable to tropical
woods.
* Use building products made from recycled materials: Building
products made from recycled materials reduce solid waste problems,
cut energy consumption in manufacturing, and save on natural resource
use. A few examples of materials with recycled content are cellulose
insulation, Homasote, Thermo-ply, floor tile made from ground glass,
and recycled plastic lumber.
* Use salvaged building materials when possible: Reduce landfill
pressure and save natural resources by using salvaged materials:
lumber, millwork, certain plumbing fixtures, and hardware, for example.
Make sure these materials are safe (test for lead paint and asbestos),
and don't sacrifice energy efficiency or water efficiency by reusing old
windows or toilets.
* Seek responsible wood supplies: Use lumber from independently
certified well-managed forests. Avoid lumber products produced from
old-growth timber unless they are certified. Engineered wood can be
substituted for old-growth Douglas fir, for example. Don't buy
tropical hardwoods unless the seller can document that the wood
comes from well-managed forests.
* Avoid materials that will off gas pollutants: Solvent-based finishes,
adhesives, carpeting, particleboard, and many other building products
release formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the
air. These chemicals can affect workers' and occupants' health as
well as contribute to smog and ground-level ozone pollution outside.
* Minimize use of pressure-treated lumber: Use detailing that will
prevent soil contact and rot. Where possible, use alternatives such as
recycled plastic lumber. Take measures to protect workers when
cutting and handling pressure-treated wood. Scraps should never be
incinerated.
EQUIPMENT
Install high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment: Well-designed
high-efficiency furnaces, boilers, and air conditioners (and distribution
systems) not only save the building occupants money, but also produce
less pollution during operation. Install equipment with minimal risk of
combustion gas spillage, such as sealed-combustion appliances.
* Install high-efficiency lights and appliances: Fluorescent lighting has
improved dramatically in recent years and is now suitable for homes.
High-efficiency appliances offer both economic and environmental
advantages over their conventional counterparts.
* Install water-efficient equipment: Water-conserving toilets,
showerheads, and faucet aerators not only reduce water use, they also
reduce demand on septic systems or sewage treatment plants. Reducing
hot water use also saves energy.
* Install mechanical ventilation equipment: Mechanical ventilation is
usually required to ensure safe, healthy indoor air. Heat recovery
ventilators should be considered in cold climates because of energy
savings, but simpler, less expensive exhaust-only ventilation systems
SUMMARY
how to achieve sustainable construction:
Re-use old buildings;
Recycle waste materials;
Use salvaged material;
If one must build new, check how much energy was used
to produce the materials;
Consider low energy design;
Design buildings that are cheap to run;
Design building that will be cherished to increase the
chance of re-use;
Design for flexible buildings;
Design and construct with health and safety in mind; and
Make a profit otherwise it is not sustainable.
BENEFITS OF A GREEN BUILDING
Green building is not a simple development
trend; it is an approach to building suited to
the demands of its time, whose relevance
and importance will only continue to
increase.

The benefits to green building are manifold,
and may be categorized along three fronts:
environmental,
economic, and
social.
Environmental Benefits

Emissions Reduction.
Pollutants released by fossil fuel fired electricity
contribute to global climate change, cause air quality
issues such as acid rain and smog, and pose risks to
human health.
Green building techniques like solar powering,
daylighting, and facilitation of public transport increase
energy efficiency and reduce harmful emissions.
Water Conservation. Recycling rainwater and
greywater for purposes like urinal flow and irrigation can
preserve potable water and yield significant water
savings.
Stormwater Management.
Stormwater runoff can cause waterway erosion,
flooding, and carry pollutants into water sources.
Harvesting and redirecting stormwater, building
surfaces with permeable materials, and using green
roofs can control and utilize overflow.
Temperature Moderation.
The heat retention properties of tall buildings and
urban materials such as concrete and asphalt are the
primary causes of urban heat island effect.
These conditions may be offset by conscientious
building design and site selection, as well as planting
trees to accompany new developments.

Waste Reduction.
Construction and demolition generates a huge
portion of solid waste in the United States. Building
deconstruction as an alternative to full-scale
demolition results in massive decreases of waste
production
Economic Benefits
A common impression about green building is that the green
premium is too expensive to be considered economically feasible.
However, studies have shown that the costs of green buildings are
not substantially higher than regular development projects. Higher
construction costs can generally be avoided by the inclusion of
green design from the outset of the project. Additionally, green
buildings provide an assortment of economic advantages.
Energy and Water Savings.
The resource efficiency provided by green design and technology
leads to drastic reductions in operation costs that quickly recoup
any additional project costs and continue to offer dramatic long-
term savings (see statistics). Money previously directed toward
utility costs may be used for other purposes.
Increased Property Values. With energy costs on the rise, the
low operating costs and easy maintenance of green buildings
make for lower vacancy rates and higher property values.6
Decreased Infrastructure Strain. Efficient buildings
exert less demand on the local power grid and water
supply, stretching the capacity of local infrastructure.
Improved Employee Attendance. Green design
emphasizes increased natural lighting and control of
ventilation and temperature-attributes that improve
employee health and prevent absences. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency reports major
reductions in health care costs and work losses resulting
from commonly recommended improvements to indoor
environments (see statistics).
Increased Employee Productivity. Employee
productivity has been positively correlated to indoor
environmental conditions, and shows improvements
where green principles have been applied (see statistics
Sales Improvements. Studies show better sales in
stores that utilize natural light. Retailers are increasingly
using daylighting in an effort to harvest the associated
sales benefits.
Development of Local Talent Pool. With increased
attention being paid to global climate change and the
need for renewable energy sources, the field of building
design and construction is moving toward sustainability
as a permanent objective. As of July 2007, 23 states and
more than 80 cities have legislated green standards for
municipal buildings. Building green in Bloomington is an
investment in the local economy, helping to foster a local
talent pool: designers and builders experienced with
green projects able to accommodate the growing market
demand for sustainable development
Social Benefits
Improved Health. Poor indoor environmental quality
(IEQ) resulting from insufficient air circulation, poor
lighting, mold build up, temperature variances, carpeting
and furniture materials, pesticides, toxic adhesives and
paints, and high concentration of pollutants (typically 10
to 100 times higher than outdoors contribute widely to
respiratory problems, allergies, nausea, headaches, and
skin rashes. Green building emphasizes ventilation and
non-toxic, low emitting materials that create healthier
and more comfortable living and working environments.
Improved Schools. An estimated 40% of schools in
the United States are subject to poor environmental
conditions that compromise the health and learning of
students. The healthier environment and atmosphere
in school buildings utilizing green design and
construction principles is shown to lead to significant
reductions in student absenteeism and improvements
in test scores.
Healthier Lifestyles and Recreation. A key element of
sustainable design is the preservation of natural
environments, which afford a variety of recreation and
exercise opportunities. Green buildings also seek to
facilitate alternatives to driving, such as bicycling and
public transport, which eases local traffic while
encouraging personal health and fitness.

ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. LEED
2. BREEAM

The U.S. Green Building Council
(http://www.usgbc.org), a nonprofit organization
composed of leaders from all sectors of the building
industry, works to promote "buildings that are
environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy
places to live and work.
The USGBC developed the Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) system in 1999 and is the
organization responsible for awarding LEED certification.
According to the USGBC website, the LEED Green
Building Rating System is "the nationally accepted
benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of
high performance green buildings.
LEED gives building owners and operators the tools
they need to have an immediate and measurable impact
on their buildings' performance.
LEED promotes a whole-building approach to
sustainability by recognizing performance in five
key areas of human and environmental health:
sustainable site development, water savings,
energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor
environmental quality."
Specific LEED rating programs exist for the following:
New Commercial Construction and Major Renovation
projects
Guidelines for Multiple Buildings and On-Campus
Building Projects
Existing Building Operations and Maintenance
Commercial Interiors projects
Core and Shell development projects
Homes
Neighborhood Development
Schools
Retail
LEED for Health Care is currently under development
In the LEED certification process, projects are awarded
points according to achievements within certain
sustainability categories. Depending on points achieved,
projects are rated one of four levels of LEED
Certification:
Certified (26-32 points)
Silver (33-38 points)
Gold (39-51 points)
Platinum (52-69 points)
These categories, and examples of points available
within them, follow:
1. Sustainable Sites (14 possible points)
Construction activity pollution prevention (required)
Development density and community connectivity
Brownfield redevelopment
Public transportation access
Bicycle storage and changing rooms
Protect or restore habitat
Stormwater design
2. Water Efficiency (5 possible points)
Reduce landscaping water use by 50%
Innovative wastewater technologies
20% or 30% water use reduction

3.Energy and Atmosphere (17 possible points)
Minimum energy performance (required)
Optimize energy performance (1-10 points available)
On-site renewable energy
Enhanced refrigerant management
Green power
4. Materials & Resources (13 possible points)
Storage and collection of recyclables (required)
Building reuse (maintain 75% or 95% of existing walls,
floors, & roof)
Construction waste management (divert 50% or 75%
from disposal)
Materials reuse (5% or 10%)
Regional materials (10% or 20% extracted, processed
and manufactured regionally)
Certified wood
.5. Indoor Environmental Quality (15 possible points)
Minimum Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) performance
(required)
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) control (required)
Increased ventilation
Low-emitting materials (e.g. adhesives & sealants;
paints & coatings; carpet systems)
Indoor chemical and pollutant source control
Controllability of systems (lighting and thermal comfort)
6. Innovation & Design Process (5 possible points)
Four points available for innovation in design
LEED Accredited Professional
BREEAM
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental
Assessment Method) is a tool that allows the owners, designers, and
users of buildings to review and improve environmental performance
throughout the life of a building
It is a widely accepted and respected scheme that sets a benchmark
for environmental performance and provides a wide range of benefits.
It is independent and authoritative, being based on many years of
construction and environmental research carried out at the Building
Research Establishment
(BRE) together with the input and experience of the construction and
property industries, Government and building regulators.
The aim is to ensure that BREEAM continues to represent current
best practice, going beyond what is required by regulations.
This latest version of BREEAM Offices (BREEAM 2002), launched in
August 2001, includes major changes in the way BREEAM operates,
and incorporates several major environmental
issues


ECOHOMES
EcoHomes is a straightforward, flexible and independently verified
environmental assessment method for homes, with environmental
performance expressed on a scale of Pass to Excellent
EcoHomes, sponsored by NHBC, is the homes version of BREEAM
(the BRE Environmental Assessment Method).
BREEAM leads the world in setting benchmarks for the
environmental performance of buildings.
It is independent, authoritative and based on many years of
construction and environmental research carried out by BRE, the
construction industry and Government.
EcoHomes is an easily understood, credible label for new and
renovated homes including houses, apartments and sheltered
accommodation.
It rewards developers who improve environmental performance
through good design, rather than high capital cost solutions.

Benefits include
Demonstrating sustainability credentials to planning
authorities to assist a smooth
passage through the planning process;
Demonstrating green credentials to investors helps to
minimise investment risk and
increase the appeal to ethical investors; Demonstrating
superior environmental design to customers, resulting in:
Reduced running costs through greater energy and water
efficiency, and reduced
maintenance;
Healthy, comfortable and flexible internal environments;
Access to local amenities;
Less dependence on the car;



EcoHomes considers the broad environmental concerns of climate
change, resource use and impact on wildlife, and balances these
against the need for a high quality of life, and a safe and healthy
internal environment.
All the issues in EcoHomes are optional, making it flexible
and enabling developers to adopt the most appropriate aspects of
sustainability for their particular development and market.
The issues assessed are grouped into the seven categories below:
1. Energy
2. Transport
3. Water
4. Ecology and land use
5. Pollution
6. Health and well being
7. Materials

URBAN DESIGN
Urban design is the collective term used to describe
the process of designing and shaping cities, towns and
villages.
Whereas architecture focuses on individual buildings,
urban design address the larger scale of groups of
buildings, of streets and public spaces, whole
neighbourhoods and districts, and entire cities, to make
urban areas functional, attractive and sustainable.
Urban design is an inter-disciplinery subject, that
unites all the built environment professions, including
urban planning, landscape architecture, architecture,
civil and municipal engineering.
It is common for professionals in all these disciplines
to practice in urban design.
In more recent times different strands of urban design
have emerged such as landscape urbanism.
Urban design demands a good understanding of a wide
range of subjects from physical geography, through to social
science, and an appreciation for disciplines, such as real
estate development, urban economics, political economy
and social theory.
Urban design is about making connections between
people and places, movement and urban form, nature and
the built fabric.
Urban design draws together the many strands of place-
making, environmental stewardship, social equity and
economic viability into the creation of places with distinct
beauty and identity.
Urban design is derived from but transcends planning and
transportation policy, architectural design, development
economics, engineering and landscape.
It draws these and other strands together creating a vision
for an area and then deploying the resources and skills
needed to bring the vision to life
Urban design theory deals primarily with the design and
management of public space (i.e. the 'public environment',
'public realm' or 'public domain'), and the way public places
are experienced and used.
Public space includes the totality of spaces used freely on a
day-to-day basis by the general public, such as streets,
plazas, parks and public infrastructure.
Some aspects of privately owned spaces, such as building
facades or domestic gardens, also contribute to public space
and are therefore also considered by urban design theory
Urban design considers:
Urban structure How a place is put together and how its
parts relate to each other
Urban typology, density and sustainability - spatial types
and morphologies related to intensity of use, consumption
of resources and production and maintenance of viable
communities
Accessibility Providing for ease, safety and choice when
moving to and through places
Legibility and
wayfinding Helping people to find their way around and
understand how a place works
Animation Designing places to stimulate public activity
Function and fit Shaping places to support their varied
intended uses
Complementary mixed uses Locating activities to allow
constructive interaction between them

Character and meaning Recognizing and valuing the
differences between one place and another

Order and incident Balancing consistency and variety in
the urban environment in the interests of appreciating both

Continuity and change Locating people in time and place,
including respect for heritage and support for contemporary
culture
Civil society Making places where people are free to
encounter each other as civic equals, an important
component in building social capital
SUMMARY

The art of creating and shaping cities and towns
Urban design involves the arrangement and design of
buildings, public spaces, transport systems, services, and
amenities.
Urban design is the process of giving form, shape, and
character to groups of buildings, to whole neighborhoods,
and the city.
It is a framework that orders the elements into a network
of streets, squares, and blocks.
Urban design blends architecture, landscape architecture,
and city planning together to make urban areas functional
and attractive.



Urban design is about making connections between
people and places, movement and urban form, nature
and the built fabric.
Urban design draws together the many strands of
place-making, environmental stewardship, social equity
and economic viability into the creation of places with
distinct beauty and identity.
Urban design is derived from but transcends planning
and transportation policy, architectural design,
development economics, engineering and landscape.
It draws these and other strands together creating a
vision for an area and then deploying the resources and
skills needed to bring the vision to life.

Urban design involves place-making - the creation of a
setting that imparts a sense of place to an area.
This process is achieved by establishing identifiable
neighborhoods, unique architecture, aesthetically
pleasing public places and vistas, identifiable landmarks
and focal points, and a human element established by
compatible scales of development and ongoing public
stewardship.
Other key elements of place making include: lively
commercial centers, mixed-use development with
ground-floor retail uses, human-scale and context-
sensitive design; safe and attractive public areas; image-
making; and decorative elements in the public realm.


Urban design practice areas range in scale from small
public spaces or streets to neighborhoods, city-wide
systems, or whole regions.

"Urban design and city building are surely among the
most auspicious endeavors of this or any age, giving rise
to a vision of life, art, artifact and culture that outlives its
authors. It is the gift of its designers and makers to the
future. Urban design is essentially an ethical endeavor,
inspired by the vision of public art and architecture and
reified by the science of construction." -Donald Watson

Urban design operates at 3 scales: the region

city and town





the neighborhood
district and corridor


STREETS
ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT
An environmental impact assessment is an assessment
of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed
project may have on the environment, together consisting
of the environmental, social and economic aspects.
The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision
makers consider the ensuing environmental impacts when
deciding whether to proceed with a project.
The International Association for Impact Assessment
(IAIA) defines an environmental impact assessment as "the
process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and
mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant
effects of development proposals prior to major decisions
being taken and commitments made.

EIAs are unique in that they do not require adherence to a
predetermined environmental outcome, but rather they
require decision makers to account for environmental values
in their decisions and to justify those decisions in light of
detailed environmental studies and public comments on the
potential environmental impacts of the proposal.
EIAs have often been criticized for having too narrow
spatial and temporal scope.
At present no procedure has been specified for
determining a system boundary for the assessment.
The system boundary refers to the spatial and temporal
boundary of the proposals effects.



This boundary is determined by the applicant and the lead
assessor, but in practice, almost all EIAs address the direct,
on-site effects alone.
However, as well as direct effects, developments cause a
multitude of indirect effects through consumption of goods
and services, production of building materials and machinery,
additional land use for activities of various manufacturing and
industrial services, mining of resources etc.
The indirect effects of developments are often an order of
magnitude higher than the direct effects assessed by EIA.
Large proposals such as airports or ship yards cause wide
ranging national as well as international environmental
effects, which should be taken into consideration during the
decision-making process.
Broadening the scope of EIA can also benefit threatened
species conservation.
Instead of concentrating on the direct effects of a
proposed project on its local environment some EIAs used a
landscape approach which focused on much broader
relationships between the entire population of a species in
question.
As a result, an alternative that would cause least amount
of negative effects to the population of that species as a
whole, rather than the local subpopulation, can be
identified and recommended by EIA
At the end of the project, an EIA should be followed by
an audit.
An EIA audit evaluates the performance of an EIA by
comparing actual impacts to those that were predicted.
The main objective of these audits is to make future
EIAs more valid and effective.


The two main considerations are:
scientific - to check the accuracy of predictions and
explain errors.
management- to assess the success of mitigation in
reducing impacts.