Module 5 – Water & Materials

A. WATER EFFICIENCY:

I. Water efficiency:

Rainfall does not necessarily translate to more water available.

The World Economic Forum identifies water supply crises as one of the highest and most likely risks
that could impact the planet. It is important to remember that 25% of the water in the world is used in
buildings.

II. Conserving water in buildings:

Water use varies by building type

+ Homes: Primary use for bathing & cooking

+ Hotels: most use for bathing

+ Offices: most use in washroom

The best water conservation strategy for each building type will vary according to its usage pattern.

Drinking water

It is important to evaluate if any of the uses of water can be

reduced or replaced, such as flushing (xả) or watering plants with
rainwater or recycled water.

Existing technologies facilitate reducing the water usage in

buildings.

Analysis of a building’s projected water use  identify where water

The graphic shows percentages for a typical home,
can be better conserved and where the most savings are possible.
including showers, flushing water, etc.
The water-energy nexus (mối quan hệ)

a strong connection

Energy is used to purify (lọc), treat and pump water to a water fixture such as a tap or faucet.

Energy is also used to heat water for domestic and service uses. More hot water use means more
energy use.

The graphic shows this relationship between energy and water. The horizontal bars show ‘energy’ use
(not water use) by end-use for different building types. The part in blue shows the energy use for heating
water.

When efficient options like a low-flow shower head are implemented, the overall energy consumption is
also reduced.

B. WATER EFFICIENCY MEASURES

I. Water efficiency measures (biện pháp sử dụng nước hiệu quả)

Water can be conserved in three main ways: reduce demand, recycle water, or harvest natural
resources such as rainwater.

1. Reducing water use

Water-consuming systems need to be evaluated to determine which options best reduce water use.

Technologies for water efficiency include:

Low-flow plumbing fixtures - Thiết bị ống nước lưu lượng thấp

Aerators and auto shut-off faucets - Máy sục khí và vòi tự ngắt

Rainwater harvesting system

Efficient water closets

Grey water treatment and recycling system

Black water treatment and recycling system

Water-efficient landscaping

Condensate water recovery - thu hồi nước ngưng đọng

Most fixtures on the market are rated for flow based on

litres or gallons per minute. Using fixtures with a lower flow
rating will reduce a building’s water demand.

Small savings in each system can add up to a substantial

amount.

2. Water efficient fixtures and faucets

a general misconception - low-flow fixtures  a poor user experience.

Modern aeration technology - Công nghệ sục khí hiện đại, even low flow fixtures do not compromise on
the sensation of fullness of water flow.

Options for reducing the amount of water used include:

a. Water flow controls on faucets and showers

Low-flow fixtures such as taps (faucets) and shower heads can help with water efficiency. Water flow
controls reduce the flow by restricting the opening of the fixture.

b. Push-operated faucets

Auto-shut off fixtures help avoid water waste in public toilets. Push-operated faucets come on when
pushed and go off after a few seconds.

c. Beam-activated faucets - vòi kích hoạt chùm tia

Beam-activated faucets work by sensing an interruption to a tiny infra-red light beam, essentially working
as a motion detector. These are touchless faucets.

Water-efficient fixtures typically have quick paybacks of less than a year.

3. Water efficient WCs and urinals

use technologies and design features to reduce water usage. Key options include:

Low flush and double flush WCs

Low flush urinals

Waterless urinals
Air-assisted WCs

Combined WC and basin (chậu)

It is important to also look at the efficiency of the flushing mechanism. Having to flush multiple times
can waste more water than it saves.

II. Recycling water in buildings

One way to reduce water and energy consumption is to use recycled water  grey water and black water
recycling.

1. Grey water recycling

Water going down the drain from all sources such

as sinks, bath and laundry (except solid waste
from toilets) can be reused in the building for uses
such as irrigation (tưới tiêu), flushing toilets (dội
nhà vệ sinh), water for the cooling tower or even
for washing clothes if it has been treated properly.

Key options for greywater recycling include:

low-tech laundry-to-landscape systems,

simple greywater filters

active greywater systems.

Greywater systems require dual piping (đường ống kép) inside buildings to separately carry the potable
municipal water (nước đô thị uống được) versus the grey water for supply.

2. Black water recycling

also called soil water = grey water + toilet waste. Treatment systems can be physical, chemical or
biological.

Key options for black water recycling include:

small domestic systems,

communal sewage treatment plant (STP),

municipal wastewater plant,

biological systems.
Compared to greywater recycling, black water recycling can be easier since all the wastewater can go
down a single drainpipe system as usual. It is more economical because a separate drain system is not
needed, whereas a greywater system requires two piping systems.

2 ways to reduce stress on municipal water systems: rainwater harvesting and storm-water attenuation
(suy giảm).

1. Rainwater harvesting

Rainwater can be harvested for non-drinking uses and can also reduce usage at the water meter.

There are several ways to harvest and store rainwater on site.

Use ground and underground storage tanks from which water can be pumped for other uses.

Innovative method - use wall-mounted storage tanks (bể chứa treo tường) this allows water to be gravity
fed for use.

Swales and water bodies can also be used to store rainwater, this can also recharge ground water.

The size of a system should be estimated based on average height of rainfall, volume of water
required, and percentage lost in evaporation.

2. Storm-water attenuation (reduction)

Storm water can put stress on the municipal drainage system, causing localized floods (lũ cục bộ),
especially in low-lying (vùng trũng thấp) cities.

Porous surfaces (bề mặt xốp) help reduce storm water runoff. We need attenuation (reduction) options for
water to be stored and slowly released; or it can be used for groundwater recharge if the site experiences
long periods between heavy rainfall.

Storage systems + porous surfaces  capture water for later use.

C. EFFICIENCY IN EMBODIED ENERGY OF MATERIALS

I. Efficiency in embodied energy of materials

The energy “embodied” in construction materials = the energy used in creating the building materials –
from extraction of raw materials, transportation to a factory, to the manufacturing process.

Every single step in the process of creating materials uses energy and produces carbon emissions.
Broader frameworks also look at the energy used to transport the material to the building site, energy
used in construction, and then in demolition (phá hủy) and waste disposal.

Manufacturing = the largest proportion of embodied energy (năng lượng tiêu tốn) and emissions
associated with the life cycle of a building product.

Concrete blocks are the greenest - low embodied energy and high potential to use recycled aggregates
and cement substitutes.

Stainless steel cladding requires a lower quantity of material and steel is manufactured with 95% recycled
content.

Clay bricks, however, are typically kiln-fired (nung bằng lò nung) and have high embodied energy and
associated emissions.

Building lifecycle energy impact

Most of the focus in previous modules has been on reducing operational energy.

However, as energy consumption is driven down, the relative importance of embodied energy increases.

The ratio of embodied to operational energy also varies for each country based on the methods of
construction used and the climate zone.

A building contributes to energy usage in two ways: operational energy and embodied energy. For a
typical office building, around 10-15% of energy usage is from embodied energy. While operational
energy savings are important, embodied energy also plays a critical role.
The graphic is based on an office building in Delhi, using the EDGE software and some back of the
envelope calculations. It shows that operational energy is 87%, while embodied energy is 13% of the
total energy use over 25 years of building use.

When we add insulation to the roof and wall of a building, it reduces the building’s operational
energy, but it increases its embodied energy. The proportion of embodied energy compared to
operational energy can jump from 10% to 15%.

Now, if more and more insulation is added, the embodied energy of the insulation increases but the
‘return on investment’ - lợi tức đầu tư in terms of operational savings is much lower.

There are trade-offs between operational energy and embodied energy.

Materials selection strategy

the early design stage + making sensible design and specification (thông số kỹ thuật) choices can reduce
the embodied energy significantly,

An architect can influence the embodied energy of materials in three main ways:

1. Re-use existing building components.

it gives new life to existing materials. Reusing materials reduces the demand for new resources.

2. Use the site as the source of materials.

Using materials extracted onsite reduces energy wasted in hauling them offsite. It also reduces the need
to bring in new materials.

Options could include:

compressed earth block (CEB) from extracted soil,

stone,

recycled concrete for aggregates,

sand,

timber, and

agricultural products such as bamboo or straw bale.

Example: Using soil from the site

Sun dried bricks are a good example of using local materials from the building site. This example is from
Biome, an architect in India that only builds using material from the site.

3. Select materials with low environmental impact.

If new materials must be used, select ones with the

lowest environmental impact.

III. Embodied energy of alternative materials

1. Embodied energy: Floor slabs and roof

Typically use concrete - largest contributor to emissions from building materials, especially in multi-story
buildings (tòa nhà nhiều tầng). Several other options are available for a typical floor slab.

Adding GGBS (ground-granulated blast-furnace slag) saves 7%

Using a polystyrene filler slab saves 21%

Using hollow concrete panels saves 29%

Using a thinner slab such as concrete poured on top of a corrugated sheet saves 39%

Innovative approaches are possible for the basic structural elements

2. Embodied energy: Exterior walls

Using cored bricks

Bricks and concrete blocks

Solid concrete blocks

Compressed mud blocks

Kiln-fired bricks (gạch nung) are a common material, but they are high in embodied energy. We can
reduce the quantity of the brick material by using cored or hollow bricks (gạch có lõi hoặc gạch rỗng) of
similar strength (độ bền).

3. Embodied energy: Wall and roof insulation

Insulation is recommended for energy savings in most climates and saves operational energy use.
Foam board is commonly used material for insulation. Using an air cavity as insulation instead has zero
embodied energy. Using other forms of insulation such as mineral wool board or fiberglass rolls can save
on embodied energy in Materials.

Air Cavity

Fiberglass Board

Fiberglass Roll

Cellulose

4. Shape impacts the amount of material used

Form is an important consideration for saving embodied energy in materials, because it determines the
surface area of the building.

IV. Materials efficiency case studies

1. Kesar City, India

The project was built using in-situ concrete with greater than 30% pulverized fly ash - tro bay nghiền
thành bột (PFA) as a cement substitute. The external walls were made with FlyAsh- Lime-Gypsum or
FaLG blocks.  saved embodied energy from cement manufacture & saved on costs which made the
project more affordable.

2. Faculty of Biology UGM-Building B, Indonesia

The internal and external walls were made of aerated autoclaved concrete (AAC) blocks - gạch bê tông
khí chưng áp. The roof was made of clay roofing tiles on rafters. Such basic material changes changed
the profile of embodied energy consumed in the building by 65%.

3. Ciudad Campestre El Castillo, Colombia

Water: The project in Colombia uses dual-flush toilets to conserve water, as well as low-flow faucets and
showerheads.

Materials: The project used honeycomb clay blocks (see image of block on slide) for internal and external
walls with plaster on both sides, clay roofing tiles on steel rafters, and UPVC window frames.

4. Jade Housing Complex, Ecuador

Water: The housing complex in Ecuador uses dual-flush toilets to conserve water, and low-flow faucets
and showerheads.
Materials: The project used less concrete for floor construction, and medium weight hollow concrete
blocks for internal and external walls

5. City Express Hotel Santé Fe, Mexico

Water: The final example of a hotel chain in Mexico uses water-efficient urinals, and low-flow
showerheads along with dual flush water closets. With the new generation of well-designed faucets and
shower heads, users still receive the same feeling of plentiful water.

Materials: Include concrete filler slabs for the floors and roof, medium-weight hollow concrete blocks for
internal walls, finished concrete flooring and uPVC window frames.

Practical exercise: Water and Materials

Start with the model saved in the practical exercise in the previous Module. Confirm that the model
shows Energy savings of -0.17%, and 0% savings in both Water & Materials.

In this exercise, we will assess the impacts of:

1. Low-flow water fixtures

2. Rainwater system and recycling water
3. Alternate floor slab
4. Alternative exterior wall
5. Alternate flooring

Practical exercise: Water and Materials

Water efficiency
On the Water tab, select all of the following measures (cumulatively):

1. OFW01 — Low-Flow Faucets in All Bathrooms - 2 L/min

2. OFW02 — Dual Flush for Water Closets in All Bathrooms - 6 L/first flush and 3 L/second flush
3. OFW03 — Water-Efficient Urinals in All Other Bathrooms - 2 L/flush
4. OFW04 — Water-Efficient Faucets for Kitchen Sinks - 4 L/min
Note the Water savings indicated next to the Water tab name, and the Final water use in the Results bar
into your Excel spreadsheet.

Water savings – 37.31%

The Final water use – 712.80 m3/month

Time to save the file

1. Unselect all Water measures.

2. Save the file.

Water reuse
Confirm that the model is showing 0% Water savings.

Go to the Water tab and select the following individually:

a) OFW06 — Rainwater Harvesting System

Water savings 1.12% and the Final water use 1,123.37 m3/month

b) OFW08 — Black Water Treatment and Recycling System

Water savings 42.22% and the Final water use 657.00 m3/month

For each case, note the Water savings and the Final water use in the Results bar into your Excel
spreadsheet.

1. Unselect all Water measures.

2. Save the file.

Materials
Start with the model saved in the practical exercise in the previous section. Confirm that the
model shows Energy savings of -0.17%, and 0% savings in both Water & Materials.

For each case below, note the Materials savings and the Embodied Energy Savings in the
Results bar (which can be viewed by scrolling to the right in the Results bar) into your Excel
spreadsheet.

1. In the Materials tab, choose the following options under the measure OFM01* Floor
Slabs, individually:
a) In-situ Concrete with > 30% PFA (Pulverized Fly Ash)
Materials savings 20.88% and the Embodied Energy Savings 542.89 MJ/m2
b) Concrete Filler Slab

Materials savings 26.02 % and the Embodied Energy Savings 676.63 MJ/m2

Reset the floor slab to the default material: In-situ reinforced concrete slab.

2. On the Materials tab, choose the following slab options under the measure OFM03*
External Walls, individually:
a) Cellular Light Weight Concrete Blocks

Materials savings 15.37% and the Embodied Energy Savings 399.68 MJ/m2

b) Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks

Materials savings 18.10% and the Embodied Energy Savings 470.62 MJ/m2

1. Unselect all Materials measures.

2. Save the file.

Click ‘End of practical exercise’ to mark this activity as complete.

Materials savings and the Embodied Energy Savings

Reset the external walls to the default material Common Brick Wall with Internal and
External Plaster.