BUILDING

SERVICES

CALEB UNIVERSITY,
IMOTA, LAGOS.
COLLEGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCES AND MANAGEMENT,
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE.

SUBMITTED BY:
OLANIYANUOLANIYI
18/5116
 ASSIGNMENT
1.
RENEWABLE &
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
NAME FIVE (5) SOURCES OF RENEWABLE AND
ALTERNATIVE POWER.
RENEWABLE POWER.
1. Biomass – Biomass or bio-energy, the energy from
organic matter for thousands of years, ever since people
started burning wood to cook food. Wood is still our
largest biomass energy resource even today. Other
sources of biomass can be used including plants residue
from agriculture or forestry and the organic
components. Plant and animal matters are used for
 products of fibres chemicals or heat. It is more useful to
convert the biomass into biogas or bio fuel.
2. Biogas – is a mixture of methane, carbon dioxide,
hydrogen and hydrogen sulphite, the major constituents
being methane. Biogas is produced by anaerobic
degradation of animals and plants wastes in the
presence of water. Anaerobic degradation is to break
down the organic matter ty bacteria in the absence of
oxygen. It is a non-polluting, clean and low cost fuel
which is very useful for rural areas. Biogas plants used
in our country are of two types i.e Fixed dome biogas
plant and Floating drum biogas plant.
3. Tidal Energy – Tidal energy is not a very popular
energy source, but has immense potential of becoming
one in the near future. Tidal energy can be generated in
two ways i.e tidal stream generators or by barrage
generation. The power generated or created through
tidal generators is generally environmental friendly and
causes less impact on established ecosystems. It is
similar to the wind energy. Tidal energy is the only fom
of energy that derives directly from the motion of the
Earth-Moon system. The Tidal forces produced by the
Moon-Sun in combination with Earth’s rotation are
responsible for the tides.
4. Wind Energy – Wind energy is a conversion of wind
energy by wind turbines into a useful form,such as
electricity or mechanical energy. The principal
application of wind power today is the generation of
electricity, historically, it has been directly to propel
sailing ships or converted into mechanical energy for
pumping water or grinding grains.
5. Geothermal Energy – This is the heat from earth. It’s
clean and sustainable. Resources of geothermal energy
range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot
rock found in a few miles beneath the earth’s surface
and down even deeper to the extremely high
temperatures of molten rock called magma. The steam
 or hot water comes out of the cracks in the Earth and
when it doesn’t find any way to come out, holes are
drilled with pipes in it to gush the hot water out due to
high pressure which turn the turbine of generator to
produce electricity.
6. Hydro Electricity – This is the most widely used form
of renewable energy. The gravitational force of falling
water is the key point in hydro-electricity generation.
Small scale hydro or micro-hydro power has been an
increasingly popular alternative energy source in remote
areas where other power sources are not viable.

ADVANTAGES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY.

1. Renewable energy won’t run out.

Renewable energy technologies use resources
straight from the environment to generate power.
These energy sources include sunshine, wind,
tides, and biomass, to name some of the more
popular options.
2. Maintenance requirements are lower.
In most cases, renewable energy technologies
require less overall maintenance than generators
that use traditional fuel sources. This is because
generating technology like solar panels and wind
turbines either have few or no moving parts and
don’t rely on flammable, combustible fuel sources
to operate. Fewer maintenance requirements
translate to more time and money saved.

3. Renewable energy saves money.

Using renewable energy can help you save money
long term. Not only will you save on maintenance
costs, but on operating cost as well. When you’re
using a technology that generates power from the
sun, wind, steam, or natural processes, you don’t
 have to pay to refuel. The amount of money you
will save using renewable energy can vary
depending on a number of factors, including the
technology itself.
4. Renewable energy has numerous health and
environmental benefits.
Renewable energy generation sources emit little to
no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air.
This means a smaller carbon footprints, and on the
overall, positive impact on the natural
environment. The use of fossil fuel not only emits
greenhouse gases but other harmful pollutants as
well, that leads to respiratory and cardiac health
issues.
5. Renewable energy lower reliance on foreign
energy sources.
With renewable energy technologies, you can
produce energy locally. The more renewable
energy you are using for your power needs, the
less you’ll rely on imported energy, and the more
you’ll contribute to US energy independence as a
whole.
DISADVANTAGES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY.
1. Higher Upfront Cost.
While you can save money by using renewable
energy, the technologies are typically more
expensive upfront than traditional energy generators.
To combat this, there are often financial incentives,
such as tax credits and rebates, available to help
alleviate your initial costs of renewable technology.

2. Intermittency.
Though renewable energy resources are available
around the world, many of these resources aren’t
available 24/7, year round. There can be
unpredictable weather events that distrupt these
 technologies. Some days may be windier than others,
the sun doesn’t shine at night, and droughts may
occur for period of time.

3. Storage Capabilities.
Because of the intermittency of some renewable
energy sources, there’s a high need for energy
storage. While there are storage technologies
available today, they can be expensive, especially for
large-scale renewable energy plants.

4. Geographic Limitations.
The United States has a diverse geography with
varying climates, topographies, vegetation, and more.
This creates beautiful melting pots of landscape but
also means that there are more suitable renewable
technologies than others. For example, a large farm
with open space may be a great place for a residential
wind turbine or a solar energy system, while a
townhome in a city covered in shade from taller
buildings wouldn’t be able to reap the benefits of
either technology on their property. If your property
isn’t suitable for a personal renewable energy, there
are other options. If you are interested in solar but
don’t have a sunny property, you can often still
benefit from renewable energy by purchasing green
power in a community solar option.

ALTERNATIVE POWER.
The present store of coal and petroleum will be
completely exhausted within few years.
The alternative energy sources represents the clean
energy source ( does not pollute). May be Atom derived
 energy or the energy from natural and renewable
sources such as solar, wind, waves, water, sunlight,
hydrogen etc. Some of them are already in use at very
limited scale. Some are having bi products with severe
effects on environment.
Today, we start using Alternative sources of energy are:
a. Solar power
b. Wind power
c. Geothermal power
d. Biomass energy
e. Hydro power
Waste energy and so on, because these renewable
energy sources are not polluting the environment and
are helping us
i. to reduce the level of greenhouse gas emission in
the atmosphere and
ii. to reduce climate change effects.
1. SOLAR POWER.
Solar power represents an abundant sources of clean and
renewable energy that is produced by the sun, and can be used
here on earth to cover our energy needs without releasing
harmful greenhouse gases. It is used because it produces free
heat, and free electricity without producing any kind of CO2
emissions. The power of sun is also used by plants and other
living organisms in the process called photosynthesis, which
helps the plants to produce their own food. To produce their
own food in the photosynthesis process all plants will need the
presence of sunlight, CO2 and of course, water.
Solar energy is used by mankind in many ways, to produce heat,
clean electricity, to turn saltwater into drinkable water, in
agriculture and horticulture and so on.
Solar energy is also used in space as the main energy source
because the International Space Station and many other space
mission are using solar panels to gather the energy of the Sun.
2. WIND POWER.
Wind power is considered an alternative source of energy
because the wind is also produced by the sun and today, this
clean energy source is harvested offshore and onshore by large
wind turbines.
Luckily, technology evolves pretty fast every year, and because
almost all the countries in the world have realized the
importance of the renewable energy sources in the battle against
climate change, today there is a great involvement in the
research and development of new technologies that can harvest
renewable energy in a new and more efficient way.
As time passes, the price of renewable energy goes down, so
there are more chances to see a broad development of this sector
in the following decades and a phase-out of fossil fuels.

3. GEOTHERMAL POWER.
Geothermal power is the alternative energy source generated by
the Earth’s heat.
The underground heat is produced by the presence of the molten
rock called magma. The underground water is heated up by the
heated rock and the steam released is harvested by geothermal
heat pumps. Hot water located near the surface of the earth can
be used directly for heating. This an alternative source that can
be used to heat buildings, to grow plants in greenhouses, to dry
crops, in fish farms, and in several industrial processes like milk
pasteurizing.
1. BIOMASS ENERGY.
Biomass represents the green fuel obtained from organic
materials like wood, certain crops, green algae, manure and
organic waste.
Biomass is considered a renewable energy source because trees
regrow and waste will always exist as long as we live here on
Earth. A power station that uses biomass to generate clean
electricity will consume at least 75tons of biomass every hour to
generate about 50MW of green energy. The power station will
consume in an entire year, almost 500,000tons of biomass, but
will generate more than 200,000MW of clean electricity.
The alternative sources of energy will evolve along with the
mankind, and I hope that at least by the year 2050, these sources
of clean electricity will represent at least 50% in the global
energy mix.
5. HYDRO POWER.
Hydropower or Waterpower derived from the energy of falling
or fast-running water may be harnessed for useful purposes. It is
the conversion of energy from flowing water into electricity. It
is considered a renewable energy source because the water cycle
is constantly renewed by the sun. Historically, one of the first
uses of Hydropower was for mechanical milling, such as
grinding grains. Today, modern hydro plants produce electricity
using turbines and generators, where mechanical energy is
created when moving water spins rotors on a turbine. This
turbine is connected to an electromagnetic generator, which
produces electricity when the turbine spins. Hydropower is the
largest contributor of all renewable energy sources and accounts
for 6.7% of worldwide electricity production.
Hydropower is an abundant, low cost source of power ( where
applicable ), despite high upfront building cost. It is also a
flexible and reliable source of electricity compared to other
renewable options, as it may be stored for use at a later time.
Damned reservoirs can also help with flood control, be a reliable
source supply, and may be used for recreational purposes.
However, there are many concerns with hydropower,
particularly large dam facilities. Damming a river has a
significant impact on the regional ecosystem, by flooding
upstream landscape, distrupting habitats for wildlife, blocking
fish passage, and often displacing local communities. In
addition, dam failures can be catastrophic, further distrupting
landscapes and claiming the lives of those living downstream.
Finally, hydroplants are not completely free of greenhouse gas
emissions. As with most forms of energy, carbon-dioxide
emission occur during construction, particularly as a result of
the large quantities of cement used, and loss of vegetation in
flooded areas creates methane, another greenhouse gas, as it
matter decays underwater.
 ASSIGNMENT 2.
HYDRAULIC & ELECTRIC
LIFT SYSTEM.

Elevators, also called lifts, car that moves in a vertical shaft to

carry passengers or freight between the levels of a multi-storey
building.
Most modern elevators are propelled by electric motors, with the
aid of a counterweight, through a system of cables and sheaves
i.e the working principle of an elevator or lift is similar to the
pulley system. A pulley is used to draw the water from the well.
Basically, an elevator is a metal box in different shapes which is
connected to a very tough metal rope. The tough metal rope
passes through a sheave on the elevator in the engine room. The
most familiar types of elevator systems are; hydraulic, traction,
climbing, and pneumatic elevators. Hydraulic elevators are
typically used in low-rise application (2-8 storey buildings), and
move up and down via a piston that supports the elevator cab
from the bottom.
The different types of lifts or elevators include:
i. Building lift
ii. capsule lift
iii. hydraulic elevator
iv. pneumatic elevator
 v. passenger elevator
vi. freight elevator
vii. traction elevator/cable driven
viii. residential elevators
ix. machine room-less elevator, etc.
Thus, this all about an overview of elevators or types of lifts.
These have been around for 100’s of years; however, they work
on a very fundamental principle. Even though the elevator has
not altered over the decades, but small twists have been made
for the smooth ride as well as by using computer controlled
systems, efficiency has been improved for quicker transport.

HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC LIFT SYSTEM.

Hydraulic Lift System – A hydraulic lift is a type of machine
that uses a hydraulic apparatus to lift or move objects using the
force created when pressure is exerted on liquid in a piston.
Force then produces “lift“ and “work.” It is the most commonly
used types of lifts in modern-day engineering.
Advantages
1. Hydraulic lifts are cheaper to install than other elevator
types.
2. They occupy less space in a building requiring almost 10%
less area for lift shaft.
3. They are highly effective with heavy loads, as the
hydraulic power provides a far greater lifting strength.
4. There is no need for an overhead machine room. i.e
overhead structural requirement aren’t needed as the load
of the elevator is distributed to load-bearing walls.
5. You have the option of using a remote machine room.
Despite the popularity of the hydraulic elevator system, it does
come with its own set of drawbacks.
Disadvantages.
 1. The relatively slow speed. A hydraulic lift cannot move
faster than 150feet per minute.
2. Oil in the piston system can overheat fairly quickly, which
is why an efficient machine-room control is important.
3. Hydraulic oil can leak out of the pumping system and into
the ground at the base of the elevator. This can lead to the
pollution of groundwater.
4. Hydraulic lifts tend to be a little noisier than other elevator
system.
5. The hydraulic oil can emit an unpleasant odor when it
becomes too warm from overuse.
6. The lift movement is generally not as smooth as with other
lift system.
Despite these being said, the hydraulic elevator is still by far one
of the most popular feats of engineering and is used in many
commercial buildings today.
Electric Lift System – Elevator, also called lift, car that moves
in a vertical shaft to carry passengers or freight between the
levels of a multi-storey building. Most modern elevators are
propelled by electric motors, with the aid of a counter-weight,
through a system of cables and sheaves (pulleys). By opening
the way to higher buildings, the elevator played a decisive role
in creating the characteristics urban geography of many modern
cities, especially in the United States, and promises to fill an
indispensable role in future city development.
Advantages.
1. Safety – The foremost reason for using an electric lift is to
provide safety to the people. It is helpful for the senior
citizens and children who may find it difficult to move up
the stairs.
2. Advanced High Technology – the technology of electrical
lifts is too advanced. Electrical lifts are noticeably faster in
the execution of movement. They consume less electricity
and are sustainable with the environment.
3. Provide Proper Comfort – Electric lifts provide comfort to
the people where people enjoy when they use it. It
provides convenience to the people.
4. Functionality – Electric lifts can be too much helpful in
simplifying the life of people. It helps to minimize daily
recurring movements of climbing stairs.
5. Maintenance – Electric lifts provides a predictive
maintenance. In this, performance and of the elements are
correctly checked. There would be reviewing and testing
of all the system elements of electric lifts. The sum of all
these ensures the safety of the electric lifts which will also
help to increase the optimum performance of the electric
lifts.
Disadvantages.
1. It has a relatively slow speed. An elevator can not move
faster than 150feet per minute.
2. Oil in the piston system can overheat fairly quickly, which
is why an efficient machine-room is important.
3. The Electric Lift movement is generally not as smooth as
other lift systems.
 ASSIGNMENT 3.
SOURCES OF WATER FOR
DOMESTIC USE
1. MENTION FIVE SOURCES OF WATER FOR
DOMESTIC USE
The main sources of water are:
a. Ground Water
b. Surface Water
c. Rain Water
d. Well Water
e. Lake and River Water

In arid regions where Sea Water or Salt Water from the ocean
is accessible ( such as in the middle east ), desalination ( the
removal of salt from water ) is used to generate drinking water.

2. MENTION FIVE WAYS WATER CAN BE

POLLUTED.
Clean sanitary drinkable water is essential and it is an integral of
staying fit and healthy. Without plentiful supplies of water one
can become at risk of suffering from dehydration which can lead
to long-term issues and put your health at risk. Major ways
water can get polluted include:
i. Sewage and Fertilizer
ii. Acid Rain
 iii. Non-point Sources ( i.e indirect sources, like
agricultural runoff, mining waste, paved roads, and
industrial activity. )
iv. The Oil Industry – Everthing about the oil industry i.e
from drilling, moving, laying pipeline, shipping etc
opens up the possibility for water pollution. From the
rigs that are compromised by foul weather ( like thse on
the Gulf Coast ) to barges that have accidental spills, the
damage is never intentional, but it’s still one of the
major dangers facing clean water and marine life.
v. Heat/Thermal Pollution – this may not seem like such
a bad thing after all, hot water and cold water even out
eventually. Discharging hot water while cooling power
plants means changing the temperature of the water
source, which can encourage the species density and
alter the biology of the water. Thermal pollution, then,
can be just as damaging as bacterial or sediment
pollution.

3. MENTION AND EXPLAIN FIVE WAYS TO

PURIFY WATER.
The method of decontaminating water used at home determines
how clean and safe it is for different purposes. Though a number
of methods are available to install and use, some are more
effective and easy to use while others are not economical and
require a lot of resources . Here are five methods of purifyiny
water:
i. Boiling i.e to kill Pathogens – Boiling water is a
simple and effective method of cleaning water from
contamination and bacteria. The process involves
heating water in a container to about 100 Celsius.
However, the boiling point may go up in higher
latitudes that have air pressure. By boiling the water for
about 10-15mimutes many pathogens that causes
 waterborne diseases will be killed. After boiling in a
clean and suitable container, leave to cool, store in
closed container to avoid further contamination before
use. This method does not remove other impurities such
as fluoride and heavy metals. However, it is the best
option when living in areas with no supply of treated
water or as a temporary option when other purification
system gets exhausted.
ii. Distillation – this is a physical method of water
purification that utilizes evaporation and condensation
to separate impurities. The process utilizes differing
boiling point of impurities and water. Water is boiled in
a prolonged process that help to kill pathogens and
vaporizing it into cooling tubing for condensation to
take place into a collection reservoir. Once the
impurities are cleared then water is okay for home use.
One advantage of distillation process is that it does not
require addition of chemicals or changing some parts
like in the case filtration.
iii. Chemical Purification – treating water with
chemicals is a good method of clearing bacteria,
parasites, and impurities. The process is fast, easy and
convenient to use whether in the city or away. However,
it is prudent that instructions are carefully followed to
ensure that only the right quantities are used. If a lot of
chemical are added, the taste might be affected and even
cause health risk. Some of the chemical purification
methods include chlorine bleach that involves adding
sodium hypochlorite to kill all pathogens and make the
water safe.
iv. Filtration – This is one of the oldest water purification
processes. From ancient civilization in Egypt to date,
the method has evolved to become one of the most
reliable for clearing most contaminants easily. The
process utilizes a filtering media that blocks different
contaminants while allowing water to pass through.
Though materials for such filters are diverse, the
 commonest is carbon or its combination with other
materials to vary permeability. Though it is a
mechanical process, the modern filtration system
present a combination with chemical procedures to
achieve better results. For example, some utilize
absorption processes that facilitate the breakdown of
molecular bond between water and its impurities. The
process is also easy, fast, and does not require an
additional source of energy. It is, therefore an
inexpensive method that can be used in both small and
large scale applications.
v. Reverse Osmosis treatment method – Though reverse
osmosis purification system is seen by many people to
be a complex system, it works just like filtration. The
process utilizes very thin films to remove dissolved
solids to about 0.001microns. water is forced through
the reverse osmosis chamber at high pressure to have
the pure water and impurities separated, and released
from different exits. The process helps to improve the
taste of water and its appearance. It does not involve the
addition of chemicals. You can therefore, use the water
without fear of side effect or negatively affecting the
environment.
Once you select any of these outlined methods, make sure to
factor home consumption requirements, quantities of water to be
purified, and energy requirements. Besides every methods of
purification, there are several types of models that are ideal for
different home use.
4. WHAT IS ACIDITY?
This is the level of acid in substances such as water, soil or wine
e.g “ The increased acidity of rainfall “
What is Alkalinity?
Alkalinity is a chemical measurement of a water’s ability to
neutralize acids. Alkalinity is also a measure of a water
buffering capacity or its ability to resist changes in ph upon the
addition of acids or bases.

5. WHAT IS HARD WATER?

Hard water is water that has high mineral content ( in contrast
with “soft water”). Hard water is formed when water percolates
through deposits of limestone, chalk or gypsum which are
largely made up of calcium and magnesium carbonates,
bicarbonates and sulfates.
How can we remove Hardness in Water?
We can remove hardness in water through a process called
Softening.
Softening is the process of removing the dissolved calcium and
magnesium salt that causes hardness in water. It is achieved
either by adding chemicals that form insoluble precipitates or by
ion exchange. Chemical used for softening include:
a. calcium hydroxide ( slaked lime ) and
b. sodium carbonates.

6. WHAT IS SOFT WATER?

Soft water is surface water that contains low concentration of
ions and in particular is low in ions of calcium and magnesium.
Soft water naturally occurs where rainfall and the drainage basin
of rivers are formed of hard, impervious and Calcium-poor
rocks. Soft water makes household chores easier and lowers
your energy bill, but the sodium in soft water can make it
problematic for drinking.