PRINCIPLES OF GREEN BUILDING PRACTICES

UNIT- II
Site selection and planning: Criteria for site selection, preservation of landscape, soil erosion control, minimizing urban
heat island effect, maximize comfort by proper orientation of building facades, day lighting, ventilation, etc.
Water conservation and efficiency: Rainwater harvesting methods for roof & non-roof, reducing landscape water demand
by proper irrigation systems, water efficient plumbing systems, water metering, waste water treatment, recycle and reuse
systems.

SITE PLANNING FOR GREEN BUILDING

Sustainable site planning is followed in green building construction. These involve the
following features.
1. Planning
A collaborative approach is followed where the owners, engineers, architects, contractor and
important stakeholders to bought together to develop a sustainable design process. This helps
to combine valuable inputs from different expertise.

2. Site Plan
A sustainable site plan is developed based on the discussions and inputs. A sustainable site
plan of green building construction is the plan that has less impact on the environment while
meeting the project goals of the client. The site plan must fit to the project parameters without
compromising environmental concerns.

3. Site Selection
Important parameters to be considered while selecting site are:
1. The site must not fall under the disaster zone. Flood plain areas must be avoided.
2. If the building is to be constructed around water bodies, buffers of undisturbed soil must
be provided.
3. Ease of transportation of resources for construction purpose must be kept in mind. The
site accessible to public and other means of transportation is a good choice.
4. Ensure that basic amenities such as bank, child care, post office, park, library, primary
school, clinic and community hall are near to or within the site premises.

4. Site Layout
Proper orientation of building or site layout helps to save energy by 25%. Following
parameters are considered while siting and orienting building.
1. The plan is elongated along East/West axis
2. Exposures to north and south are good for day lighting
3. Windows must not be provided facing east and west
4. The most populated area must be oriented towards the north or south direction

5. Reduce Impervious Surfaces of Site

Implementing large impervious surface throughout the site to avoid water runoff issues and to
increase the aesthetic is not a sustainable practice. Increase in the impervious surface affects
the groundwater recharge causing heat island effect.

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Limiting the impervious surface helps reduce the environmental impact drastically. Site
imperviousness can be reduced by the following methods:
1. Implementing green roofs
2. Placing plants around parking areas
3. Implementing permeable pavement options

LANDSCAPING FOR GREEN BUILDING

In most of the project, landscape design is ignored in the planning stage. There are many
benefits a sustainable landscape design can provide beyond the aesthetics of the site. Good
landscape design is an effective microclimate modifier. A good landscape design provides
shading for the outdoors which is one way of modifying microclimate. It helps to modulate
the air flows within the building.
Improperly designed landscape consumes large amount of potable water for its maintenance.
Some important parameters to be considered for landscape planning for green building
construction are:
1. The landscape is placed to directly receive the runoff and captured water
2. Landscape is placed and design such that it filters and clean storm water
3. Provide site rain gardens in parking areas
4. Instead of constructing retention ponds, bio-retention ponds can be employed.

Care needs to be taken to avoid an undesirable increase in humidity levels, by excessive

plantations. Plant species for landscaping have to be chosen based on the microclimatic
benefits they provide and their water demand.

LANDSCAPING CONSIDERATIONS FOR GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

o For Projects larger than 1 hectare of topsoil and preserve for reuse on site. For tsunami-
affected areas, ensure that topsoil has not been rendered unusable.
o A pH of value of soil ranging from 6.0 to 7.5 and organic content of not less than 1.5% by
mass needs to be maintained. When the pH is less than 6, lime is added. This can adjust
the value to 6.5 or higher. Any soil that has soluble salt content >500 ppm should not be
used for the purpose of landscaping.
o Preserve existing vegetation on site. Mark all existing vegetation in tree survey plan.
Evolve tree preservation guidelines
o For all mature trees removed for construction, as a compensation forestation has to be
performed in a ratio of 1:5 within the site premises.
o Do not alter the existing drainage pattern on site. All the existing grades should be
maintained around existing vegetation.
o Use of recycled landscaping products.

Soil Erosion:
Control of Soil Erosion is a mandatory requirement in IGBC Rating system
Reference Books: National Building Code of India

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Erosion is the process of weathering and transport of solids (sediment, soil, rock and other
particles) in the natural environment or their source and deposits them elsewhere. It usually
occurs due to transport by wind, water or by down-slope creep of soil and other material
under the force of gravity; or by living organisms, such as burrowing animals, in the case of
bioerosion.

Erosion is a natural process, but it has been increased dramatically by human land use,
especially industrial agriculture, deforestation, and urban infrastructure.

A certain amount of erosion is natural and, in fact, healthy for the ecosystem. For example,
gravels continuously move downstream in watercourses. Excessive erosion, however, causes
serious problems, such as receiving water sedimentation, ecosystem damage and outright loss
of soil.

SOIL EROSION CONTROL METHODS AT CONSTRUCTION SITE:

Development projects involve disturbance to the existing soil conditions, removal of existing
trees and overall change in the microclimate and drainage pattern.

Approach and Methodologies:

Evolve strategies to stockpile top soil and reuse later for landscaping purpose or stockpiled
soil can be donated to other sites for landscaping purpose.
Consider adopting measures such as temporary and permanent seeding, mulching, earth
dikes, silt fencing, sediment traps, and sediment basins as appropriate.
Open areas can be landscaped (eg., grass, trees, shrubs). Paved areas can be installed with
permeable paving. For impermeable surfaces direct all run off towards storm water collection
pits.

National Building Code Guidelines. (Reproduced from NBC – India)

Pre Construction Measures:
Timing of Construction:
Construction work and erosion control applications shall be scheduled and sequenced during
dry weather periods when the potential for erosion is the lowest. Slope protection techniques
to control erosion shall be used when construction during wet season is unavoidable.
Sedimentation collection systems, drainage systems, and runoff diversion devices shall be
installed before construction activity.
Preservation of Existing Vegetation:
Protect existing vegetation (including trees, shrubs, grasses and other plants) where possible,
by preventing disturbance or damage to specified areas during construction.
Preservation of Topsoil:
Topsoil removal and preservation shall be mandatory for development projects larger than
1.00 hectare. Topsoil shall be stripped to a depth of 200 mm from areas proposed to be
occupied by buildings, roads, paved areas and external services. Topsoil is rich in organic
content and is essential to establish new vegetation. It shall be stockpiled to a height of 400
mm in designated areas and shall be re-applied to site during plantation of the proposed

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vegetation. Topsoil shall be separated from sub-soil debris and stones larger than 50 mm
diameter. The stored topsoil may be used as finished grade for planting areas.
Spill Prevention and Control:
Spill prevention and control plans shall be made, clearly stating measures to stop the source
of the spill, to contain the spill, to dispose the contaminated material and hazardous wastes,
and stating designation of personnel trained to prevent and control spills. Hazardous wastes
include pesticides, paints, cleaners, petroleum products, fertilizers and solvents.
Measures during Construction:
During construction soil becomes unconsolidated due to removal of stabilizing material such
as vegetation and disturbance of stabilized existing grade resulting in loss of topsoil and also
deposition in undesirable places.
Sedimentation Basin:
A temporary dam or basin at the lowest point of the site has to be constructed for collecting,
trapping and storing sediment produced by the construction activities, together with a flow
detention facility for reducing peak runoff rates. This would allow most of the sediments to
settle before the runoff is directed towards the outfall.
Contour Trenching:
Contour trenching is an earth embankment or ridge- and-channel arrangement constructed
parallel to the contours along the face of the slope at regular intervals on long and steep
slopes (in sloping areas with slopes greater than 10 percent). They are used for reducing
runoff velocity, increasing the distance of overland runoff flow, and to hold moisture and
minimize sediment loading of surface runoff. Vegetative cover of tree and native grasses in
the channels may be planted to stabilize the slopes and reduce erosion.
Mulching:
Mulching shall be used with seeding and planting in steep slope areas (slopes greater than 33
percent) that are prone to heavy erosion. Netting or anchoring shall be used to hold it in
place. Other surface runoff control measures like contour terracing to break up concentrated
flows shall be installed prior to seeding and mulching. Materials such as straw, grass, grass
hay and compost shall be placed on or incorporated into the soil surface. In addition to
stabilizing soils, mulching will reduce the storm water runoff over an area. Together with
seeding or planting, mulching aids plant growth by holding the seed, fertilizers and topsoil in
place. It retains moisture and insulates the soil against extreme temperatures.
Gee-grids:

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A deformed or non-deformed netlike polymeric material used with foundation, soil, rock,
earth or any other geo technical engineering related material as an integral part of the human
made project structure or system, called gee-grids may be used as control measure. On filling
with lightly compacted soil or fine aggregate, a monolithic structure is created providing an
effective means of confinement for unconsolidated materials within the cells and preventing
their movement even on steep slopes. If required the area can then be seeded to maintain
‘green’ environment. The junctions have a central opening through which water can permeate
ensuring that organic material receives moisture for rapid growth.

MINIMIZING URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT

How Green Buildings Can Reduce the Urban Heat Island

Considering that almost half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, cities are facing
greater challenges by the day in managing and curbing their impact on the environment. The
rapid rate of urbanization and exponential increase in the size of urban areas contribute
greatly to climatic differences between urban and rural areas – meaning simply, that urban
areas are contributing greatly to global warming by getting warmer.

The phenomenon of the rise in temperature in urbanized zones is known as the Urban Heat
Island. Cities are getting warmer and warmer, mainly because the synthetic, man-made
materials that are replacing natural vegetation in these zones is absorbing much of the natural
radiation, which is then released as heat.

For climates that already experience high levels of humidity, the urban heat island can
contribute to a harsher environment in which to live. It is of vital importance that close

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attention is paid to the monitoring of temperature rises in these zones, particularly as Asian
cities continue to grow in large numbers.

The Building Envelope

The building envelope is essentially the thermal barrier between the interior and exterior of
the building that creates the conditions necessary for thermal comfort within the building. It
is also part of the determining factors for how much energy is needed to heat and cool a
building. In the cause of reducing the urban heat island and lessening the environmental
impacts of the building, it is necessary to consider design elements that will enable the
building to create a cooler building envelope and thus radiate less heat into the surrounding
environment.
Green Building Solutions for Curbing the UHI (urban heat island) Effect
Implementing sustainable design elements into your building will not only help your building
to achieve green building certification standards and align with energy efficiency goals; it
will also help to curtail your building’s effect on climate change and global warming.

There are many different considerations for sustainable design that can be implemented in
your building to achieve this. In hot and humid climates, using reflective roofing and
reflective walls can help as they reflect more sunlight in the natural evaporation cycle – and
absorb less heat.

Restricting the passage of air through the building, particularly in humid climates, can also
help to increase energy efficiency by reducing the demand for latent heat load reduction and
cooling. This will also eventually help to manage your building’s heat transfer and to lessen
its impact on the urban heat island effect.
There is also the possibility of a symbiotic relationship between your building and the
environment, as the green building landscape of the city in which your building is built will
also influence your building’s energy consumption needs. For example, it has been found that
surface temperature of buildings can drop considerably when neighboring buildings are fitted
with bio-inspired retro-reflective facades.

With roughly a third of the world’s energy needs consumed by buildings alone, it is pivotal
time to consider the impact that your building has on climate change and global warming.
Aiming towards a green building by considering sustainable design elements, particularly
ones that contribute to a cooler building envelope, can reduce your building’s contribution to
the urban heat island and ultimately curb its effect on global warming.

MAXIMIZE COMFORT BY PROPER ORIENTATION OF BUILDING FACADES:

Site selection and planning
Criteria for site selection
Below are certain essential parameters that must to be taken into consideration while
selecting the site:
o Impact on the Environment
o Connection with the Community

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o New Development is Limited
o Transportation
o Public Amenities and Availability
o Utilizing Open spaces
o Heat Island Reduction
o Storm Water Control

Impact on the Environment:

The environmental impact from the project is how the construction of buildings, roadways,
parking structures affect the soil, land, the waterways and the whole ecosystem. LEED rating
system points out certain policies, which include:
Not to undergo construction of structures on land that is purely marked as the farmland by the
government authorities as per the Department of agriculture. This is specifically marked in
U.S.
No construction on land that serves as natural habitats for the endangered species
Avoid construction on land that was previously marked as public parkland
Avoid constructing on land less than 50 cents that have small waterways which are the
habitat for aquatic lives. This are land that serve recreation purpose.

Connection with the Community

This idea is based On LEED system which specifies that the construction of a particular
project must contribute some positive development for the surrounding community under
consideration.
This means to protect the green fields that are the important trademark for the community and
convert any grayfield or brownfield for the construction purpose.

LEED specifies certain specifications and concerns related to the same:

1. Having project development that is half a mile away from the populated or residential
area.
2. A site that was previously occupied and form an urban neighborhood is good for
development.
3. Having renovations to the existing buildings
4. Having the project within half mile of amenities. The access to these amenities must also
be provided by means of sidewalks, roadways so that pedestrians can reach easily. The
amenities include places of worship, hospitals and medical centres, post offices,
restaurant, stores, libraries and parks.
5. LEED system application in green building construction not just let the construction
happen in a sustainable manner, but also help develop the community surrounding the
construction site.

New Development is Limited:

This policy of LEED system is to make it clear to avoid the construction of a new project on
a new land and utilize the land that are already abandoned. This involves the construction on
brownfield sites, run – down land.

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The sites that are already contaminates, landfills, and those lands that are classified as
brownfields sites officially by government can also be utilized for the same.

There are certain policies that are put forward by LEED system in order to save the green
field land, by restricting the perimeter of the building:
1. The construction of a parking garage can be carried out under the building (underground
parking) instead on outside land.
2. To have reduction of water usage, bad impacts on soil and spreading of invasive plants;
low maintenance plants and shrubs that are very much native and local to the area are
incorporated as a part of building aesthetics and landscaping feature.
3. The construction or the demolition activities carried out are kept within a limited boundary,
so that the surrounding environment does not face undesirable disturbances.

Transportation
LEED system provides a great concern for proximity of transportation. When analyzing a
building that is seeking LEED certification, a maximum of 6 credits are given for those
construction sites that are near to public transportation facilities like subway station, train
station and bus station.
The LEED specifies the site to be within a quarter of a mile walking distance for a minimum
of 1 or 2 stops for transportation. This promotes the use of public transportation by the future
occupants instead of having their own cars. This reduces traffic, carbon emission and hence
the negative impacts on the environment.

Public Amenities and Availability

Those project that grants room for storage and bicycle racks are credited with 1 point by the
LEED system under LEED certification credits. If the commercial green building also
provide space for workers for changing rooms, storage lockers, showers and other essential
utilities this credit is added.
The racks that are provided must be within 200 yards of the building. These racks must
occupy 5% of the building occupants. The changing areas and the showers must be sufficient
so that it occupies 0.5% of the occupants.
If the facility provide space for parking low emission vehicles and electric cars the LEED
system credit with 3 points. If there is parking charge, it must be discounted This point can
increase, if there is provision for alternative fuel stations. This helps the employees to carpool
or ride – share in a low emitting vehicles. This commitment must be for at least 2 years.
If the facility grants primary packages for the carpools and shuttle service during mass
transportation, the LEED system credits 2 points.

Utilization of Open Space

The provision of open space in an office environment helps to preserve the natural
environment and the improvement of overall working atmosphere. This makes LEED system
to grant 1 point.
This can be achieved by different methods, which includes:
1. Having open space greater than local zoning requirements by an amount of 25%.

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2. Having open space that is 20 % of the building footprint. These are for areas with no open
space environment available
3. Having underground parking or sharing the parking with the neighboring buildings or the
facilities helps to achieve the above mention goal for open space.

Heat Island reduction:

In order to minimise heat island effect so as to reduce negative impact on micro-climate.
Use material with a high solar reflective index to cover at least 75% of the exposed roof area,
including covered parking.
Material with high solar reflectance index (SRI) include white / light colored china mosaic
tiles or white cement tiles or other high reflective materials / coatings
Provide vegetation to cover at least 50% of the exposed roof area, including covered parking

Control of Storm water

For those projects that reduce the pollution caused by storm water by an amount of 25%
makes the LEED system to grant 1 point. This includes the incorporation of irrigation
techniques so that the storm water and the runoff is controlled and prevented adequately.
The use of permeable pavements helps in the reduction of storm water and runoff issues. The
use of such special pavement helps in water absorption that help in ground water recharging.
The storm water can be collected and used for landscape irrigation and for toilet flushing.
Extra points are also for those facilities that collect and treat 90 % of the storm water runoff.
Reduction of Heat Islands: Many methods can be followed so that heat absorbing structures
can be reduced. This means the formation of heat islands is reduced. The use of black roof
can be avoided as a measure against heat island.

The use of shading through trees or through sun blockers artificially made or minimize the
using open parking lots are some of the good measures.

The use of vegetated roofs or a roof that is painted in light color help a lot in avoiding heat
absorption. Having vegetation on the exterior landscape of the building is also a good
solution against heat islands. The LEED system grants 1 point for these considerations.

Water Conservation:
Most of the Asian countries are water stressed and in countries like India, the water table
has reduced drastically over the last decade. IGBC Green New Buildings rating system
encourages use of water in a self-sustainable manner through reduce, recycle and reuse
strategies. By adopting this rating programme, green new buildings can save potable water
to an extent of 30 - 50%.

Rainwater Harvesting, Roof & Non-roof:

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Enhance ground water table and reduce municipal water demand through effective rainwater
management.
Design rainwater harvesting system to capture at least ‘one-day rainfall*’ runoff volume from
roof and non-roof areas.
One-day rainfall can be derived from ‘percentage of average peak month rainfall’ given in
Table - 3.
To arrive at average peak month rainfall, consider an average of at least last 5 years peak
month rainfall (of the respective year).

Table 3 - Criteria to arrive at ‘One-day Rainfall’

S One-day Rainfall(% of Average Peak Month
Average Peak Month Rainfall (in mm)
No Rainfall)
1 Upto 250 12%
2 251 – 350 10%
3 351 – 500 8%
4 501 – 700 6%
5 701 & above 4%

In areas where the Central / State Ground Water Board does not recommend artificial rain
water recharge (or) if the groundwater table is less than 4 meters, the project is required to
provide justification for not implementing rainwater harvesting system.

Enhance ground water table and reduce municipal water demand through effective rainwater
management.

For rainfall information, refer Indian Meteorological Department data at

http://www.imd.gov.in
• Runoff volume = Surface area X Runoff Coefficient X Rainfall.
• Consider Rainwater Harvesting Guidelines (as and when available) from the National
Building Code (NBC) of India, Part 11 - Approach to Sustainability, Section 7.2 - Rainwater
Harvesting-Surface Runoff.
• In areas where the water percolation is limited, collection tanks / water bodies may be
provided to meet the above requirement.
Filtering of suspended solids shall be ensured by providing suitable filtering media before
letting the water into the collection tanks, water bodies, municipal storm water drains.

Water Efficient Plumbing Fixtures:

To enhance efficiency of plumbing fixtures, thereby minimising potable water use.
Use water efficient plumbing fixtures (as applicable) whose flow rates meet the baseline
criteria in aggregate. The total annual water consumption of the building should not exceed
the total base case water consumption computed.
Use of treated waste water/ captured rain water shall not be considered to show water
savings.

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Baseline Flow Rates / Consumption for Plumbing Fixtures:

Source: Uniform Plumbing Code – India

* Reporting pressure for these fixtures shall be at 3 bar.
** Full Time Equivalent (FTE) represents a regular building occupant who spends 8 hours per day in
the building. Part-time or overtime occupants have FTE values based on their hours per day divided by 8.

WATER CONSERVATION:
• Water fixtures do not include irrigation systems.
• Faucets / Taps installed for hand wash in rest rooms and canteen shall be considered;
whereas, faucets / taps installed for dish washing and washing clothes need not be considered.
• Rain showers (if any) need to be considered in the calculations under Showerhead.
• The baseline flows can be demonstrated at a flowing water pressure of 3 bar. Flowing water
pressure of 3 bar does not mean that the water supply in the building is at 3 bar. The building
fixtures can operate at lower pressures, however to show compliance under this credit, the
design flow rates are to be submitted at 3 bar.
• Default occupancy shall be considered as 50% for male and female.
• FTE occupancy shall be considered in calculation, including visitors.
• Plumbing fixtures that are certified by IGBC under Green Product Certification Programme
or by a third party agency approved by IGBC, can be used by the project to show compliance.

Landscape Design:
Design landscape to ensure minimum water consumption
Limit use of turf on the site to conserve water and / or ensure that landscaped area is planted
with drought tolerant / native / adaptive species.
• This credit is applicable only for those projects which have at least 10% of the site area
landscaped.

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• Landscape areas over built structures such as basements, podium, roofs, etc., can be
considered for this credit calculation.

• The landscape here refers to soft landscaping, which includes only pervious vegetation.
• Drought tolerant species are those species that do not require supplemental irrigation.
Generally accepted time frame for temporary irrigation is 1 - 2 years.
• Potted plants shall not be considered as vegetation.
• Areas planted with turf should not exceed a slope of 25 percent (i.e. 4 to 1 slope).

Management of Irrigation Systems:

Reduce water demand for irrigation through water efficient management systems and
techniques.
Provide or install highly efficient irrigation systems incorporating the features mentioned
below:
Central shut-off valve
Soil moisture sensors integrated with irrigation system
Turf and each type of bedding area must be segregated into independent zones based on
watering needs
At least 75% of landscape planting beds must have a drip irrigation system to reduce
evaporation
Time based controller for the valves such that evaporation loss is minimised and plant
health is ensured
Pressure regulating device(s) to maintain optimal pressure to prevent water loss
Any other innovative methods for watering

Waste Water Treatment and Reuse:

Treat waste water generated on-site, so as to avoid polluting the receiving streams by safe
disposal.
Use treated waste water, thereby reducing dependence on potable water.
Have an on-site treatment system to handle 100% of waste water generated in the building, to
the quality standards suitable for reuse, as prescribed by Central (or) State Pollution Control
Board, as applicable.
Use treated waste water for at least 25% of the total water required for landscaping, flushing,
and cooling tower make-up water (if the project uses water-cooled chillers).

• Waste water here refers to both grey and black water.

• The credit point(s) can be claimed only if the waste water is treated in-situ and reused
in-situ. In case the local authorities insist the project to divert waste water to a centralised /
common waste water treatment plant, then the project can show compliance, by reusing
treated wastewater from the centralised / common / any other waste water treatment plant.
• Treated waste water sourced from other sites / local authorities through permanent piped
connections or other means can also be considered to show compliance for ‘waste water
reuse’.

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• Water from sources such as bore wells, natural wells, municipal water systems is considered
as potable water.
• Captured rain water can also be considered to show compliance.
• The water requirement and average number of watering days for landscaping shall be
considered as 6 liters per sq.m. per day (i.e. 6 liters / sq.m. / day) for a minimum of 300 days,
(or) Justify if the water requirement and the average number of watering days for landscaping
is less than the above requirement.
• Potted plants shall not be considered under vegetation.

Water Metering:
Encourage sub-metering to improve water performance of the building, and thereby save
potable water.
Demonstrate sub-metering for at least three of the following water use applications,
as applicable:
• Municipal water supply
• Bore water consumption
• Treated waste water consumption
• Water consumption for landscape requirements
• Water consumption for flushing
• Water consumption for air-conditioning cooling tower makeup
• Any other major source of water consumption

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