Unit -1 (Introduction)

Introduction to Sustainability

Sustainable architecture is architecture that seeks to minimize the

negative environmental impact of buildings by efficiency and
moderation in the use of materials, energy, and development space
and the ecosystem at large. Sustainable architecture uses a
conscious approach to energy and ecological conservation in the
design of the built environment.

The idea of sustainability, or ecological design, is to ensure that our

use of presently available resources does not end up having
detrimental effects to our collective well-being or making it impossible
to obtain resources for other applications in the long run.

Sustainable Energy Use

Energy efficiency over the entire life cycle of a building is the most
important goal of sustainable architecture. Architects use many
different passive and active techniques to reduce the energy needs of
buildings and increase their ability to capture or generate their own
energy.[3] One of the keys to exploit local environmental resources
and influence energy-related factors such as daylight, solar heat
gains and ventilation is the use of site analysis.

While the definition of sustainable building design evolves over

time, six fundamental principles persist:

Optimize Site Potential

Creating sustainable buildings starts with proper site selection,

including consideration of the reuse or rehabilitation of existing
buildings. The location, orientation, and landscaping of a building
affect local ecosystems, transportation methods, and energy use.
Incorporating smart growth principles into the project development
process is important whether a project is a single building, a campus,
or a large complex such as a military base. Siting for physical security
is a critical issue in optimizing site design, including locations of
access roads, parking, vehicle barriers, and perimeter lighting.
Whether designing a new building or retrofitting an existing building,
site design must integrate with sustainable design to achieve a
successful project. The site of a sustainable building should reduce,
control, and/or treat storm-water runoff. If possible, strive to support
native flora and fauna of the region in the landscape design.

Optimize Energy Use

With ever-increasing demand on fossil fuel resources and growing

concerns about energy independence and security, and impacts of
global climate change becoming more evident, it is essential to find
ways to reduce energy load, increase efficiency, and maximize the
use of renewable energy sources in federal facilities. Improving the
energy performance of existing buildings is important to increasing
our energy independence. Government and private sector
organizations are increasingly committing to building and operating
net zero energy buildings to significantly reduce dependence on fossil
fuels.

Protect and Conserve Water

In many parts of the United States, fresh water is an increasingly

scarce resource. Since building fundamentally changes the ecological
and hydrological function of non-built land, a sustainable building
should seek to minimize the impervious cover created through
practices that can reduce those impacts while using water efficiently,
and reusing or recycling water for on-site use, when feasible. The
effort to bring drinkable water to our household faucets consumes
enormous energy resources in pumping, transport, and treatment.
Often potentially toxic chemicals are used to make water potable. The
environmental and financial costs of sewage treatment are significant.

Optimize Building Space and Material Use

While the world population continues to grow (to more than 9 billion
by 2050), consumption of natural resources will continue to increase
and the demand for additional goods and services will continue to
stress available resources. It is critical to achieve an integrated and
intelligent use of materials that maximizes their value, prevents
'upstream' pollution, and conserves resources. A sustainable building
is designed and operated to use and reuse materials in the most
productive and sustainable way across its entire life cycle, and is
adaptable for reuse during its life cycle. The materials used in a
sustainable building minimize life-cycle environmental impacts such
as global warming, resource depletion, and toxicity. Environmentally
preferable materials reduce impacts on human health and the
environment, and contribute to improved worker safety and health,
reduced liabilities, and reduced disposal costs.

Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)

The indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of a building has a significant

impact on occupant health, comfort, and productivity. Among other
attributes, a sustainable building maximizes daylighting, has
appropriate ventilation and moisture control, optimizes acoustic
performance, and avoids the use of materials with high-Volatile
Oorganic Compounds (VOC) emissions. Principles of IEQ also
emphasize occupant control over systems such as lighting and
temperature.

Optimize Operational and Maintenance Practices

Consideration of a building's operating and maintenance issues

during the preliminary design phase of a facility will contribute to
improved working environments, higher productivity, reduced energy
and resource costs, and prevention of system failures. Encourage
building operators and maintenance personnel to participate in the
design and development phases, to ensure optimal operations and
maintenance of the building and the features such as stormwater
facilities designed to reduce the impact of the building on the land.
Recruit, develop, and train highly skilled maintenance personnel to
operate increasingly sophisticated high-performance buildings.
Designers can specify materials and systems that simplify and reduce
maintenance requirements; require less water, energy, and toxic
chemicals / cleaners to maintain; and are cost-effective and reduce
life-cycle costs. Also design facilities to include metering, to track the
progress of sustainability initiatives, including reductions in energy
and water use and waste generation, in the facility and on-site.

The Three Dimensions of Sustainable Development

Due to the fact that a synergy is sought of these different implications,

it has been commonly accepted that sustainable development
consists of three dimensions:

1. social solidarity,

2. environmental responsibility and

3. economic efficiency.

Sustainable development calls for a long-term structural strategy for

the world's economic and social systems, which aims to reduce the
burden on the environment and on natural resources to a
permanently viable level, while still maintaining economic growth and
social cohesion. Only development that manages to balance these
three dimensions can be sustained in the long term. Conversely,
ignoring one of the three aspects could potentially endanger the
success of the entire development process.

The three dimensions of sustainable development:

Social solidarity: equality of opportunities for people, involving

welfare, quality of life and sustainable human development –
development should liberate individual capacities and fulfil human
needs, thus ending poverty and improving individuals' quality of life
offering a secure life with full rights and liberties in the long term - and
social cohesion.

Environmental responsibility: the ability to use natural resources

without undermining the equilibrium and integrity of ecosystems,
reduce burden on the environment.

Economic efficiency: efficiency of economic and technological

activities, foster investment and productivity, economic growth,
economic output potential.

Green Building

Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable

building) refers to both a structure and the application of processes
that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient
throughout a building's life-cycle: from planning to design,
construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition.This
requires close cooperation of the contractor, the architects, the
engineers, and the client at all project stages. The Green Building
practice expands and complements the classical building design
concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a set of

rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and
maintenance of green buildings which was developed by the U.S.
Green Building Council. Another certificate system that confirms the
sustainability of buildings is the British BREEAM (Building Research
Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) for buildings and
large-scale developments. Currently, World Green Building Council is
conducting research on the effects of green buildings on the health
and productivity of their users and is working with World Bank to
promote Green Buildings in Emerging Markets through EDGE
(Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) Market Transformation
Program and certification. There are also other tools such as Green
Star in Australia and the Green Building Index (GBI) predominantly
used in Malaysia.

Although new technologies are constantly being developed to

complement current practices in creating greener structures, the
common objective of green buildings is to reduce the overall impact
of the built environment on human health and the natural environment
by:

1. Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources

2. Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity

(see healthy building)

3. Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation

A green building has four main elements or components on which it is

designed: materials, energy, water and health to make green building
more sustainable.

Difference between Green Building and Sustainable Building

A green building has four main elements or components on which it is
designed: materials, energy, water and health to make green building
more sustainable.
Elements of Green Building Design

Following are the components of a Green Building to make it

sustainable:

1. Materials for Green Building

Materials for a green building are obtained from natural, renewable
sources that have been managed and harvested in a sustainable
way; or they are obtained locally to reduce the embedded energy
costs of transportation; or salvaged from reclaimed materials at
nearby sites.

Materials are assessed using green

specifications that look at their Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) in terms of
their embodied energy, durability, recycled content, waste
minimisation, and their ability to be reused or recycled.

2. Energy Systems in Green Buildings

Passive solar design will dramatically reduce the heating and cooling
costs of a building, as will high levels of insulation and energy-
efficient windows. Natural daylight design reduces a building’s
electricity needs, and improves people’s health and productivity.
 Green buildings also incorporate energy-efficient lighting, low energy
appliances, and renewable energy technologies such as wind
turbines and solar panels.

2.1 Passive Solar Design

Passive solar design uses sunshine to heat, cool and light homes and
other buildings without mechanical or electrical devices. It is usually
part of the design of the building itself, using certain materials and
placement of windows or skylights.

2.1a) Rules Of Passive Solar Systems

·0 The building should be elongated on an east-west axis.

·1 The building’s south face should receive sunlight between the hours
of 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. (sun time) during the heating season.
·2 Interior spaces requiring the most light and heating and cooling
should be along the south face of the building. Less used spaces
should be located on the north.
2.1b) The Advantages Of Passive Solar Design
·3 High energy performance: lower energy bills all year round.
·4 Investment: independent from future rises in fuel costs, continues to
save money long after initial cost recovery.
·5 Value: high owner satisfaction, high resale value.
·6 Attractive living environment: large windows and views, sunny
interiors, open floor plans.
·7 Low Maintenance: durable, reduced operation and repair.
·8 Unwavering comfort: quiet (no operating noise), warmer in winter,
cooler in summer (even during a power failure).
·9 Environmentally friendly: clean, renewable energy doesn’t contribute
to global warming, acid rain or air pollution.

2.2 Passive Solar Heating

The goal of all passive solar heating systems is to capture the sun’s
heat within the building’s elements and release that heat during
periods when the sun is not shining. At the same time that the
building’s elements (or materials) is absorbing heat for later use, solar
heat is available for keeping the space comfortable (not overheated).

2.2a) Two primary elements of passive solar heating are

required:
·10 South facing glass

·11 Thermal mass to absorb, store, and distribute heat.

2.2b) There are three approaches to passive systems
1. Direct Gain: Sunlight shines into and warms the living space.

2. Indirect Gain: Sunlight warms thermal storage, which then warms the
living space.
3. Isolated Gain: Sunlight warms another room (sunroom) and
convection brings the warmed air into the living space.
4.
3. Water Management in Green Building
Minimising water use is achieved by installing greywater and
rainwater catchment systems that recycle water for irrigation or toilet
flushing; water-efficient appliances, such as low flow showerheads,
self-closing or spray taps; low-flush toilets, or waterless composting
toilets. Installing point of use hot water systems and lagging pipes
saves on water heating.

3.1) Rainwater Harvesting in Green Building

Rainwater harvesting is the principle of collecting and using
precipitation from a catchments surface.

An old technology is gaining popularity in a new way. Rain water

harvesting is enjoying a renaissance of sorts in the world, but it traces
its history to biblical times.

Extensive rainwater harvesting apparatus existed 4000 years ago in

the Palestine and Greece. In ancient Rome, residences were built
with individual cisterns and paved courtyards to capture rain water to
augment water from city’s aqueducts.
 3.2) Rainwater harvesting is essential
Surface water is inadequate to meet our demand and we have to
depend on groundwater. Due to rapid urbanization, infiltration of
rainwater into the subsoil has decreased drastically and recharging of
groundwater has diminished.

As you read this guide, seriously consider conserving water by

harvesting and managing this natural resource by artificially
recharging the system.

3.3) Rainwater Harvesting Techniques for Green Buildings

There are two main techniques of rainwater harvestings.

5. Storage of rainwater on surface for future use.

6. Recharge to groundwater
3.3.a) Storage of rainwater on surface for future use.
The storage of rainwater on surface is a traditional techniques and
structures used were underground tanks, ponds, check dams, weirs
etc.

3.3.b) Recharge to groundwater

Recharge to groundwater is a new concept of rainwater harvesting
and the structures generally used are Pits, Trenches, dug wells,
Hand pumps, etc.
4. Health Components of Green Building

Using non-toxic materials and products will improve indoor air quality,
and reduce the rate of asthma, allergy and sick building syndrome.
These materials are emission-free, have low or no VOC content, and
are moisture resistant to deter moulds, spores and other microbes.

Indoor air quality is also addressed through ventilation systems and

materials that control humidity and allow a building to breathe.

In addition to addressing the above areas, a green building should

provide cost savings to the builder and occupants, and meet the
broader needs of the community, by using local labour, providing
affordable housing, and ensuring the building is sited appropriately for
community needs.

Difference between passive system and active system

Passive Sytems

Passive Solar Space Heating: Passive solar heating systems are a

simple and cost effective way to take advantage of the sun’s free,
renewable energy and displace the need for electricity, natural gas, or
other active energy systems. Strategic planning of building location,
orientation, and materials provide great control over the inside
temperature. Installing large south facing windows, planting shade
trees, and using Trombe walls, which are made of absorptive
materials that store heat during the day and slowly release it at night,
are measures that can be adopted for new and old buildings alike.
Sunspaces or glass rooms built on the south side of a building can
provide up to 60 percent of a home’s winter heating. Regardless of
climate, solar energy can be harnessed as long as the building has
adequate insulation and ventilation.

Active Systems

Active Solar Space Heating: In an active solar space heating system,

a collector holding a heat-transfer medium such as air or liquid
captures the sun’s thermal energy, which is then distributed through
the building via electric fans or pumps.

Solar water heaters (active) produce thermal energy to heat water

for households, commercial entities, and swimming pools. These
heaters are one of the most commonly implemented renewable
energy technologies because of their cost effectiveness and relatively
simple installation. With the proper model installed, they heat
efficiently regardless of outside temperature. Solar water heaters
typically need a backup conventional gas or electric water heater to
account for cloudy days or unusually high water demand.

Solar water heaters consist of two parts: a solar collector and a

storage tank. In warm climates, collectors heat water directly, but in
cold climates, a denser fluid is heated and then transported to a water
tank where it heats the water indirectly. The heater can be built to use
an active or passive system for circulating warmed fluid depending on
climate and the time of day when water demand is highest. The
maximum heating temperature varies with collector model, but water
temperature can exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit, suitable for
commercial purposes.
Photovoltaic (PV) cells, or solar cells, are an active system in which
small panels faced with semiconducting material turn sunlight into
electricity. This material, usually made of silicon but potentially other
polycrystalline thin films, generates a direct current when sunlight hits
the panel. PV cells are effective in all regions of the country, from
Alaska to Alabama. Commercially available PV panels are up to 22.5
percent efficient at converting sunlight into electricity in optimal
conditions, but even in partly cloudy weather, they can operate at 80
percent of their maximum output. The United States is the leader in
thin-film technology, which enables PV cells to be installed on
windows and roof tiles. PV systems can be tailored to meet a
building’s energy needs by adding concentrating or sun-tracking
devices, DC-AC converters, and/or battery storage.

PV systems may or may not be connected to the electric transmission

grid. PV systems linked to the transmission grid can supplement
utilities’ energy supply during daylight hours, which normally include
the peak energy demand periods. Independent PV cells can power a
variety of individual items, from personal calculators and streetlights
to water pumps on ranches and remote settlements far from power
lines. A few utility-scale PV installations have been constructed
although energy production is limited to daylight hours and they
generally have higher upfront costs than fossil fuel plants.

Passive Solar Design

Passive solar design refers to the use of the sun’s energy for the
heating and cooling of living spaces by exposure to the sun. When
sunlight strikes a building, the building materials can reflect, transmit,
or absorb the solar radiation. In addition, the heat produced by the
sun causes air movement that can be predictable in designed
spaces. These basic responses to solar heat lead to design
elements, material choices and placements that can provide heating
and cooling effects in a home.
Unlike active solar heating systems, passive systems are simple and
do not involve substantial use of mechanical and electrical devices,
such as pumps, fans, or electrical controls to move the solar energy.

Passive Solar Design Basics

A complete passive solar design has five elements:

Graphic courtesy of EERE

Aperture/Collector: The large glass area through which sunlight

enters the building. The aperture(s) should face within 30 degrees of
true south and should not be shaded by other buildings or trees from
9a.m. to 3p.m. daily during the heating season.

Absorber:The hard, darkened surface of the storage element. The

surface, which could be a masonry wall, floor, or water container, sits
in the direct path of sunlight. Sunlight hitting the surface is absorbed
as heat.
Thermal mass: Materials that retain or store the heat produced by
sunlight. While the absorber is an exposed surface, the thermal mass
is the material below and behind this surface.

Distribution: Method by which solar heat circulates from the collection

and storage points to different areas of the house. A strictly passive
design will use the three natural heat transfer modes- conduction,
convection and radiation- exclusively. In some applications, fans,
ducts and blowers may be used to distribute the heat through the
house.

Control: Roof overhangs can be used to shade the aperture area

during summer months. Other elements that control under and/or
overheating include electronic sensing devices, such as a differential
thermostat that signals a fan to turn on; operable vents and dampers
that allow or restrict heat flow; low-emissivity blinds; and awnings.

Passive Solar Heating

The goal of passive solar heating systems is to capture the sun’s heat
within the building’s elements and to release that heat during periods
when the sun is absent, while also maintaining a comfortable room
temperature. The two primary elements of passive solar heating are
south facing glass and thermal mass to absorb, store, and distribute
heat. There are several different approaches to implementing those
elements.

Direct Gain

The actual living space is a solar collector, heat absorber and

distribution system. South facing glass admits solar energy into the
house where it strikes masonry floors and walls, which absorb and
store the solar heat, which is radiated back out into the room at night.
These thermal mass materials are typically dark in color in order to
absorb as much heat as possible. The thermal mass also tempers the
intensity of the heat during the day by absorbing energy. Water
containers inside the living space can be used to store heat.
However, unlike masonry water requires carefully designed structural
support, and thus it is more difficult to integrate into the design of the
house. The direct gain system utilizes 60-75% of the sun’s energy
striking the windows. For a direct gain system to work well, thermal
mass must be insulated from the outside temperature to prevent
collected solar heat from dissipating. Heat loss is especially likely
when the thermal mass is in direct contact with the ground or with
outside air that is at a lower temperature than the desired
temperature of the mass.

Indirect Gain

Thermal mass is located between the sun and the living space. The
thermal mass absorbs the sunlight that strikes it and transfers it to the
living space by conduction. The indirect gain system will utilize 30-
45% of the sun’s energy striking the glass adjoining the thermal
mass.

Trombe Wall at Zion Visitor Center at Zion National Park in Utah. The
trombe wall is the lower two panes of the lowest level of glass. Image
courtesy of NREL
The most common indirect gain systems is a Trombe wall. The
thermal mass, a 6-18 inch thick masonry wall, is located immediately
behind south facing glass of single or double layer, which is mounted
about 1 inch or less in front of the wall’s surface. Solar heat is
absorbed by the wall’s dark-colored outside surface and stored in the
wall’s mass, where it radiates into the living space. Solar heat
migrates through the wall, reaching its rear surface in the late
afternoon or early evening. When the indoor temperature falls below
that of the wall’s surface, heat is radiated into the room.

Operable vents at the top and bottom of a thermal storage wall permit
heat to convect between the wall and the glass into the living space.
When the vents are closed at night, radiant heat from the wall heats
the living space.

Passive Solar Cooling

Passive solar cooling systems work by reducing unwanted heat gain

during the day, producing non-mechanical ventilation, exchanging
warm interior air for cooler exterior air when possible, and storing the
coolness of the night to moderate warm daytime temperatures. At
their simpliest, passive solar cooling systems include overhangs or
shades on south facing windows, shade trees, thermal mass and
cross ventilation.

Shading
Overhang design for shading. Diagram courtesy of the Arizona Solar
Center. The steeper arrow shows the angle of the sun's rays during
the summer, while the shallower arrow indicates the angle during the
winter.

To reduce unwanted heat gain in the summer, all windows should be

shaded by an overhang or other devices such as awnings, shutters
and trellises. If an awning on a south facing window protrudes to half
of a window’s height, the sun’s rays will be blocked during the
summer, yet will still penetrate into the house during the winter. The
sun is low on the horizon during sunrise and sunset, so overhangs on
east and west facing windows are not as effective. Try to minimize
the number of east and west facing windows if cooling is a major
concern. Vegetation can be used to shade such windows.
Landscaping in general can be used to reduce unwanted heat gain
during the summer.

Thermal Mass

Thermal mass is used in a passive cooling design to absorbs heat

and moderate internal temperature increases on hot days. During the
night, thermal mass can be cooled using ventilation, allowing it to be
ready the next day to absorb heat again. It is possible to use the
same thermal mass for cooling during the hot season and heating
during the cold season.
Ventilation

Natural ventilation maintains an indoor temperature that is close to

the outdoor temperature, so it’s only an effective cooling technique
when the indoor temperature is equal to or higher than the outdoor
one. The climate determines the best natural ventilation strategy.

In areas where there are daytime breezes and a desire for ventilation
during the day, open windows on the side of the building facing the
breeze and the opposite one to create cross ventilation. When
designing, place windows in the walls facing the prevailing breeze
and opposite walls. Wing walls can also be used to create ventilation
through windows in walls perpendicular to prevailing breezes. A solid
vertical panel is placed perpendicular to the wall, between two
windows. It accelarates natural wind speed due to pressure
differences created by the wing wall.

In a climate like New England where night time temperatures are

generally lower than daytime ones, focus on bringing in cool nighttime
air and then closing the house to hot outside air during the day.
Mechanical ventilation is one way of bringing in cool air at night, but
convective cooling is another option.

Convective Cooling

The oldest and simplest form of convective cooling is designed to

bring in cool night air from the outside and push out hot interior air. If
there are prevailing nightime breezes, then high vent or open on the
leeward side (the side away from the wind) will let the hot air near the
ceiling escape. Low vents on the opposite side (the side towards the
wind) will let cool night air sweep in to replace the hot air.
At sites where there aren’t prevailing breezes, it’s still possible to use
convective cooling by creating thermal chimneys. Thermal chimneys
are designed around the fact that warm air rises; they create a warm
or hot zone of air (often through solar gain) and have a high exterior
exhaust outlet. The hot air exits the building at the high vent, and
cooler air is drawn in through a low vent.

There are many different approaches to creating the thermal chimney

effect. One is an attached south facing sunroom that is vented at the
top. Air is drawn from the living space through connecting lower vents
to be exhausted through the sunroom upper vents (the upper vents
from the sunroom to the living space and any operable windows must
be closed and the thermal mass wall of the sunroom must be
shaded).