CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Individuals and companies have only been building green homes for the past thirty years;

still, within that time, the green movement has been constantly growing. The history of

green building dates back much further than the 1970's, it was in the midst of the

industrial revolution that Henri Becquerel first witnessed the transformation of solar

energy into electrical energy, known as photovoltaic power. Around this time, the late

1800's to early 1900's, a number of solar power plants were built to utilize the sun's

energy for steam power. Then, in the 1950's, solar energy was used on an extremely

small-scale, making way for the solar panel solution twenty years later.

During the energy crisis of the 1970's, green building moved from research and

development to reality. Builders and designers were looking for a way to reduce the

reliance of buildings and homes on fossil fuels. Solar panels were used to make more

environmentally friendly homes, although only in small numbers due to high initial costs.

Since then, developers have been able to construct more efficient and less expensive solar

panels, making solar energy more of a reality. Also, during this transition period,

designers and consumers started wondering, if solar panels can make buildings more

efficient, lower energy bills, and reduce the negative impact on the environment, what

other steps can be taken to build even greener homes?

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The concept of Green Building has been around since the time homes were first being

built; this use of conserving material and resources has been a focus in home building for

many years. Also building homes to hold heat in and cold out or the reverse has been

always improving. But of course the different approaches used today are much different

than the approaches used a hundred years ago. Today’s society wants the modern

technology and modern amenities, opposed to what the homes of the past could provide.

So the blend of the older, more conservative methods and the use of modern technology,

advanced products and advanced building techniques is the focus of today’s Green

building.

The goal of creating a well-build green home is to end with a structurally sound, energy

efficient, best air quality, more sustainable, water wise, inhabitant- healthy and practical

home, with low impact to the environment.

Home construction inevitably impacts the environment and finding ways to reduce this

impact is very important.

Well-designed buildings are sustainable, practical and affordable; they help create places

where people want to live, work and enjoy life. Improving design and sustainability in

building helps to reduce the impact on the planet’s resources, reducing waste and carbon

emissions.

The essence of sustainable design is to preserve the environment with long-term cost

benefits. For example, extra expenditure on energy efficiency will in long term save the

running costs of electricity. People nowadays were concerned on how to protect the

environment.

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This study therefore aims to provide evidence of how green projects are moving into the

mainstream of the world’s construction industry. With this movement, sustainable

construction is developed to the comprehensive construction cycle, from the extraction

and processing of raw materials through the planning, design, and construction of

buildings and infrastructure to their final deconstruction and waste management.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study deals with the environmental impact and awareness of sustainable building

construction. More specifically, it tries to answer the following questions:

1. What are the environmental implications of the project?

2. What are the limitations in building green construction?

3. What are the strategies for achieving sustainable construction?

4. In what ways can green construction be a help to the environment?

5. How to consider material and maintenance cost?

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This research paper is concerned with two key aspects of sustainable construction: 1)

sustainability principles of design, building materials, and the lifecycle of the building;

and 2) construction management, with a focus on the principles and practices that seek to

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minimize, through environmental protection, the impact of the construction process on

people and communities.

Specific learning objectives for this research paper are as follows:

1. Describe the key principles of environmentally sustainable building design to protect

people and communities.

2. To study what is green construction.

3. To be able to identify the advantages of having a green building and its impact to the

nature.

HYPOTHESIS

The Green Construction has lot of environmental impacts. Green building brings

together a vast array of practices, techniques, and skills to reduce and ultimately

eliminate the impacts of buildings on the environment. It often emphasizes taking

advantage of renewable resources.

These discussions lead to related hypotheses for the green construction process:

1. In the long run sustainable buildings pay off. They are future oriented. This means

they are built to last.

2. Sustainable buildings are better for the environment and healthier to live in.

3. Sustainable buildings are money savers. The daylight in these buildings if often of

much better quality and offset winter blues.

4. Environmental architecture can be personalized to fit your own needs. They aren’t

mass produced. This can be a stepping stone in the journey we call life .

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5. Sustainable homes are more in tune with nature and human beings. They help to

centre us. They go with the flow of things. They don’t impose on their surroundings.

They try to blend in and work with them. They are comfortable to live in.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

As the basis for a conceptual framework, this study will employ a theory that

previously has shown promise in understanding aspects of the environmental impacts of

Green Construction. The basic model that will be tested in this study is presented (below)

in diagrammatic form. It essentially examines the following relationship among

variables: an independent variable which is the effect of Green Construction and the

dependent variable, the environment.

Independent Variable
EFFECT OF GREEN
CONSTRUCTION

Dependent Variable
ENVIRONMENT

Figure 1: Paradigm of the Study

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 SCOPE AND LIMITATION

The scope of our study is the impact of Green Construction specifically to the

environment. The study will include sustainability principles of design, building

materials, and the lifecycle of the building; and construction management, with a focus

on the principles and practices that seek to minimize, through environmental protection,

the impact of the construction process on people and communities.

The study does not cover the architectural aspects and cost analysis of the construction.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Construction: Construction in this study is broadly defined as the process or mechanism

for the realization of human settlements and the creation of infrastructure that supports

development. This includes the extraction and processing of raw materials, the

manufacturing of construction materials and components, the construction project cycle

from feasibility to deconstruction, and the management and operation of the built

environment.

Green Construction: Green construction is planning and managing a construction

project in accordance with the building design in order to minimize the impact of the

construction process on the environment. This includes 1) improving the efficiency of the

construction process; 2) conserving energy, water, and other resources during

construction; and 3) minimizing the amount of construction waste. A “green building” is

one that provides the specific building performance requirements while minimizing

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disturbance to and improving the functioning of local, regional, and global ecosystems

both during and after the structure’s construction and specified service life. Source:

Glavinich, Thomas E. 2008. Contractor’s Guide to Green Building Construction:

Management, Project Delivery, Documentation, and Risk Reduction. Hoboken, New

Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Sustainable development: Development that meets the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Source: World

Commission on Environment and Development. 1987. Report of the World Commission

on Environment and Development: Our Common Future. Document A/42/427. www.un-

documents.net (Accessed June 22, 2010)

Impact: Any effect caused by a proposed activity on the environment, including effects

on human health and safety, flora, fauna, soil, air, water, climate, landscape and historical

monuments, or other physical structures, or the interaction among those factors. It also

includes effects on cultural heritage or socioeconomic conditions resulting from

alterations to those factors. Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

1991. The Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Trans boundary

Context. www.unece.org (Accessed June 22, 2010)

Environment: The word "environment" is most commonly used describing "natural"

environment and means the sum of all living and non-living things that surround an

organism, or group of organisms. Environment includes all elements, factors, and

conditions that have some impact on growth and development of certain organism.

Environment includes both biotic and abiotic factors that have influence on observed

organism. Abiotic factors such as light, temperature, water, atmospheric gases combine

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with biotic factors (all surrounding living species). Environment often changes after some

time and therefore many organisms have ability to adapt to these changes. However

tolerance range is not the same with all species and exposure to environmental conditions

at the limit of an certain organism's tolerance range represents environmental stress.

http://ecological-problems.blogspot.com/2008/08/environment-definition-and-

meaning.html

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

This part of the study discusses about the importance of Green Construction not

just to the environment but also to the people and communities. This study will be helpful

to the technical persons specifically to the engineers who will be the ones to design and

lead the construction. Also, to the people of the next generation who in one way and

another are the ones to continue the change in having a healthy and productive

environment. More significantly, this study will greatly help preserve the environment

and maintain its biodiversity despite the fact that the technology is arising.

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 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Construction is the assembling of components or materials together in order to make a

structure for a particular purpose – such as providing shelter for inhabitants for residential

or commercial use. Buildings and infrastructure cover the majority of the land in densely

inhabited areas and construction can thus be seen as the process responsible for this ‘built

environment.’

The importance of design and construction in the greater movement towards

sustainability cannot be underestimated. A large proportion of a country’s energy use is

dedicated to the construction and operation of buildings, with it contributing in excess of

45 percent of total usage in most developed countries. In addition, an average of 26

percent of landfill waste is derived from waste generated from building production.

Land resources and the environment are affected by all forms of construction activities.

The environment is impacted directly, with regard to the actual tract of land affected and

the immediately surrounding area. Moreover, there are various indirect impacts which

result from construction activities with wide ranging ecological, social and economic

outcomes. These consequences have traditionally been negative, with land resources

destroyed in the aspiration of development of buildings and infrastructure. Therefore, it is

clear that issues relating to the environment and natural resources are irrefutably linked to

construction processes. http://www.greenfan.co.za/environmentalimpactconstruct.html

According to Charles Kibert (2005) the meaning of Green Construction is to manage

energy consumption and construction to have least impact on the environment. Ideally

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one could aim for the net gain, meaning that by the use of the conservation designs and

tactics one could actually contribute positively to the environment. Using the space

wisely is one of the keys, for instance roof planting and rainwater capture along with the

solar panels and natural ventilation and cooling designs like use of the local materials and

the implementation of the open living areas and white water strategies that can contribute

positively to the environment. Conservation can take place in the natural shade, planning

stages, prevailing winds, and the seasonal position of the sun that should be taken into

account. Using local materials and local labor that can easily replenish is also part of

conservation and contributes to the well-being of the community where you have chosen

to make your home and buildings.

Figure 2: Think globally but act locally

Globally, the construction is arguably one of the most environmentally damaging

industries in the whole world. The construction accounts for the 40% of the total flow of

raw materials into the global economy annually. The type of materials that are available

locally will of course vary depending upon the conditions in the area of the building site.

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In many areas the indigenous stone is available from the local region such as marble,

limestone, granite, and sandstone. It may be cut in quarries or removed from the surface

of the ground. Ideally the stone from the building site can be utilized depending on the

type of the stone that can be used for facing block, pavers, crushed stone and structural

block. The use of the locally and indigenous materials has several advantages on terms of

the sustainability of the country. One of its advantages is the support of the local

businesses and resource bases. Another advantage is the reduction of energy costs related

to transportation and reduction of the material costs because of the reduced transportation

costs. (www.marvistacr.com)

Maybe Kermit the Frog was wrong: It could be easy being green -- at least when it comes

to buildings.

"Green building" and "sustainable development" are the hottest terms in construction

right now, but what do they mean, exactly? According to the Environmental Protection

Agency Web site, green building is "the practice of creating healthier and more resource-

efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance and demolition".

Proponents say that green building is not only environmentally friendly, but also healthier

and more cost-efficient. So what is sustainable development? The United Nations

Environment Program defines it as development that ensures our use of resources and the

environment but doesn't restrict their use by future generations.

For corporations, schools and hospitals, "green building" can entail anything from using

waterless urinals to creating electricity. But homeowners who'd like to go green often

don't have the big bucks that businesses do. There's a lot to consider, and the costs can

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make quite a difference in a home's budget. Homeowners can save cash by installing new

energy-efficient light bulbs, but how "green" is it and how much "green" can it save? And

who says what's green and what isn't?

There are plenty of green innovations beyond the home. Schools, businesses and

hospitals are getting in on the green, which makes sense ecologically and economically.

By improving air quality and temperature control and designing offices to increase

natural light and open spaces, they get the bonus of happier, more productive workers.

Corporate headquarters are also likely to go green because of the "environmental halo

effect" -- when consumers choose a company because it's environmentally friendly.

Home construction materials and building techniques have changed in the past several

decades to become more energy efficient. Many new innovations are less harmful to our

environment as well.

By considering your building choices, you can easily increase the comfort, safety, and

efficiency of your home without putting undue stress on our natural resources. By making

your home "greener," you help to minimize pollution, protect the natural environment,

and create a healthy, comfortable, non-hazardous home for you and your family.

Think green before you begin any construction project. By considering these points, you

can choose the most appropriate building materials and construction techniques.

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Make sure your project is appropriate for where you live.

Face it - certain materials and methods are better suited for specific geographical

locations. Thick adobe walls with heavy thermal mass, for example, will help to modify

the drastic changes in temperature that take place in the arid Southwest. That style of

architecture suits desert climates well. The same massive style of construction would be

ill advised in the humid heat of southern Florida, however. There, lightweight

construction designs and screened-in porches that let in cooling breezes are more

appropriate.

Likewise, a wall of glass might seem like a wonderful design choice for your new house.

But before you have those new windows installed, make sure to consider the physical

orientation of your house. If those large windows face south and aren't properly shaded

by an overhang, you may discover your home becomes unbearably hot and difficult to air

condition in the summer.

A building plan - and the materials used in that building - needs to be appropriate to the

site.

Where possible, build with materials that contain recycled content.

As more people learn to recycle, more and more construction products are being made

from recycled materials. Reusing materials instead of dumping them in landfills saves

valuable resources; by actively looking for and buying products with recycled content,

you encourage the recycling industry.

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Manufacturers can find recycled material in three ways:

 Post-consumer material comes from households or facilities that no longer want it

for its intended purpose. Examples can range from the glass bottles you recycle at

home to old bricks and steel reclaimed from a building being demolished down

the street.

 Waste material from industrial processes can be recovered and used in other

ways. Fly ash, for example, is the material that remains after coal is burned in

coal-fired power plants. It usually is disposed of in landfills. Mixed in with other

ingredients like sand and gravel however, leftover fly ash can replace up to 35

percent of the Portland cement needed to make concrete. What qualifies as waste

in one industry might be put to valuable use in another.

 Internally recycled material comes from scraps leftover in a company's

manufacturing process. It includes substandard products that are scraped and

remade after being rejected by the company's quality control division.

Manufacturers today process small, leftover pieces of wood - material that at one

time would have been discarded or burned - to create particleboard and other

valuable manufactured wood products.

Many building materials are available in recycled form:

Metals - Steel and aluminum building elements are highly recyclable. Between 50 to 70

percent of the energy and pollution caused by steel production can be avoided by

recycling steel. Remelting aluminum avoids up to 85 percent of the energy and pollution

of aluminum manufacturing.

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Heavy timber - Salvaged and resawed, heavy timber can be recycled.

Plastics - Although most plastics are recyclable, the process is often difficult to

accomplish. Different types of plastic must be separated, an expensive and labor-

intensive task. Plastic recycling is not yet a viable option for building materials, since

they are usually combined with additives, coatings, and colorants. Companies are

working to solve the problem, however, and more plastic may be reused in the future.

Glass - Remelting glass offers few energy and pollution savings. As a result, little

recycling of glass building products occurs.

Masonry products and ceramics - Recycling concrete, clay, and other similar materials

is difficult, but it can be done. Masonry products are often crushed and then reused for

granular fill in roads and sidewalks.

As you consider the building materials to choose for any construction project, ask

yourself these questions:

Can I build with salvaged materials?

Products such as doors, cabinets, glass, and metal can be salvaged and reused. You can

cut your costs significantly by using salvaged materials, and their quality is high.

Are my construction materials available from local sources?

Where possible, try to use local materials. That way you avoid excess transportation and

environmental costs.

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Am I using materials from renewable sources?

Renewable materials include wood, wool, plant fibers, and other resources that can be

replaced within a few decades or less. Sustainable wood products are becoming more

readily available.

Have I considered the long-term costs of my materials? Will my maintenance costs

be high?

Even though a building product may initially cost more, it may be the least expensive

alternative in the long run. Some materials, for example, need to be replaced regularly

over time, while others are long lasting and maintenance-free. Paint that is twice as

expensive but lasts four times as long may be a better buy in the long run. Make sure that

you consider the life-cycle costs of your materials.

www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/construction/gogreen.html

Environmental Benefits

 Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems

 Improve air and water quality

 Reduce waste streams

 Conserve and restore natural resources

Economic Benefits

 Reduce operating costs

 Create, expand, and shape markets for green product and services

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  Improve occupant productivity

 Optimize life-cycle economic performance

Social Benefits

 Enhance occupant comfort and health

 Heighten aesthetic qualities

 Minimize strain on local infrastructure

 Improve overall quality of life

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CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY

The methods applied on this study were Documentation or Descriptive Analysis

data-gathering approach, reading books, technical reports, and internet surfing. These will

be used to identify and a mass relative information about the topic. The diagram below

explains the methods we used in order to complete the study.

(Problem Identification)
"GREEN CONSTRUCTION: IT’S EFFECT TO THE ENVIRONMENT"

Research
Topics/Problem

Conduct Library Sorting of Relevant

and Internet Documents Data Analysis
Research Needed

Figure 3: Conceptual Framework

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Glavinich, T.E. (2008). Contractor’s Guide to Green Building Construction. New Jersey:
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Kibert, C. (March 2005) Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Deliver.
Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley & Sons, ©2012

Connors, T. (2012). Ultimate Guide to Green Building. Copyright © 2012 Discovery

Communications, LLC., from http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/green-
building.html

Feller, S. (2009). What is Green Building and What is Its Purpose?. Copyright © 2012
Knoji.com . from .http://green-building.knoji.com/what-is-green-building-what-
is-its-purpose/.html.

Green building (2012). Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia. last modified on 2 October 2012
at 11:13., from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_building.html

Green Construction. From http://marvistacr.com/index.php?option=com_content

&view=article&id=55&Itemid=50

Greenfan (2009). http://www.greenfan.co.za/environmentalimpactconstruct.html

Stone,B. (2011). How Building Green Got Its Start. Updated last 2 May 2011 from
http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/51601.aspx

THINK "GREEN"! (2006), California Energy Commission. Copyright © 2006-2012.

from http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/construction/gogreen.html

United States EPA, Why Build Green?," accessed September 17, 2008. from
http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/whybuild.htm l

Urban Catalyst Associate Building (June 2005) . Green for the Future: Case Studies of
Sustainable Development in Michigan. from
http://www.epa.gov/P3/success/michigan.pdf

Wilson, Alex. "Your Green Home: A Guide to Planning a Healthy, Environmentally

Friendly New Home." (New Society Publishers, 2006)

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