Project Paper Presentation

Cost optimization in green buildings by innovation in

materials









Prepared by:
Megha Saxena (090280106054)
&
Pooja Thakkar (09028010647)

Identification of Topic

A green building, also known as a sustainable building, is a structure that is
designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological and resource-
efficient manner. Green buildings are designed to meet certain objectives such as
protecting occupant health; improving employee productivity; using energy, water,
and other resources more efficiently while reducing the overall impact to the
environment.

Green Buildings are environmentally responsive due to their lower impact on
environment. They use less energy, so they contribute less greenhouse gases and
therefore considered to have less of an impact on global warming. They promote
the use of natural building materials that require less processing. Now days,
contribution of the building industry to global warming can no longer be ignored.
And thus, constructing the green buildings can serve the purpose of reducing the
effect of global warming very well. Some green materials and equipments are
readily available from domestic sources, such as recycled aluminum, bamboo
based products, fly-ash cement, fly-ash block, low VOC (Volatile Organic
Compounds) paints and adhesives, high efficiency cooling systems, building
controls, green roof materials and recycled wood.


Disadvantages
Higher ownership costs
Additional costs: although usually balanced by the energy savings, it is still
extra money coming out of the pocket

We, Megha and Pooja, having known these facts, wanted to know about the
additional costs and benefits involved in green buildings compared to conventional
buildings and thereby, research and suggest ways of cost-optimization in green
buildings by innovation in construction materials. Weve also studied the Indian
scenario in the field of green construction. These all factors led us to choose this
topic and research on it as a part of our final year project.
Historical Background
The extinction of natural resources and pollution in the environment has brought
our planet to a worsened condition. People have started thinking about our
environment subsequently revered as a way of life.
Green Buildings began to rise in 1990s. One of the first milestones for green
movement was in 1989 in the United States. In 1998, United States Green Building
Council (USGBC) launched the LEED Program and helped to contribute to the
future of green buildings.
The green buildings concept came into existence in India in 1990s and was
incorporated in 2001 by IGBC-LEED. But it was in 2002 that the green buildings
started materializing with support of many external agencies, governmental bodies,
financial institutions, real estate companies, investment companies, construction
firms, architectural firms etc.

Advantages of Green Buildings (Nicmar survey 2010)

Buildings consume energy and are one of the reasons in causing damage to the
natural environment. Green buildings can play a major role in contributing in the
movement to conserve environment for our future generations. Besides, there are
tangible benefits that can be derived from Green Buildings, like as follows:

Operational Savings: Green buildings consume at least 40-50 % less energy and
20-30 % less water vis--vis a conventional building. This comes at an incremental
cost of about 5-8 %. The incremental cost gets paid back in 3-5 years time.
Daylights & Views: Working in environment with access to daylight and views
provides connection to the exterior environment. This has a soothing effect on the
mind. Various studies prove that the productivity of people who have access to day
lighting and views is at least 12-15 percent higher.
Air Quality: Green buildings are always fresh and healthy. Every green building
will have to purge continuous fresh air to meet the ASHRAE 62 requirements. The
green buildings use interior materials with low volatile organic compound (VOC)
emissions. A typical office building would require purging of fresh air of about 15
cfm (cubic foot per minute)/person which provides a fresh ambience inside the
building.


Operational Savings
Energy Savings: 40% - 50%
Water Savings: 20% - 30%

Daylight & Views
Increase in productivity: 12% - 15%

Fresh Air Quality
Air availability: 15 cubic feet per minute/person Operational Savings




Benefits of Green Buildings
Ali & Nashrat, 2009
1) Considers true costs of building and site impacts on the local, regional and
global environment through life cycle costing and assessment
2) Uses natural resources efficiently, maximizes the use of local materials and
eliminates waste
3) Reduces building ecological footprints allowing ecosystems to function
more naturally
4) Optimizes climatic conditions site orientation and design
5) Uses energy-efficiency systems and materials
6) Integrates natural daylight and ventilation and improves indoor air quality
7) Plans for future flexibility, expansion and building demolition
8) Reduces, reuses and recycles materials in all phases of construction and
deconstruction
9) Minimizes the use of mined rare metals and persistent systematic
compounds
10) Conserves and reuses water and treats storm water runoff on-site
11) Encourages a transit, bicycle and pedestrian oriented project
12) Includes advanced telecommunications technology allowing
electronic access and reducing the need to travel
13) Improves acoustics and reduces noise levels

Environmental benefits:
1) Enhances and protects biodiversity and ecosystems
2) Improves air and water quality
3) Reduces waste streams
4) Conserves and restores natural resources
Economic benefits:
1) Reduces operating costs
2) Creates, expands and shapes markets for green products and services
3) Improves occupant productivity
4) Optimizes life-cycle economic performance
Social benefits:
1) Enhances occupant comfort and health
2) Heightens aesthetic qualities
3) Minimizes strain on local infrastructure
4) Improves overall quality of life












Perceptions and Realities (Nicmar survey, 2010)
People have different perceptions on green buildings; some are correct and some
are otherwise. It is important to look at these. There is a trend of decrease in the
incremental cost over the years.


Perception 1: Green buildings are costlier

Reality: Considerable research and analysis has been carried out with regard to the
cost impacts of a green building. The cost could be slightly higher than a
conventional building. But then, this needs to be seen with a different paradigm.
The question is how do we compare the costs? There needs to be a baseline cost
for all comparisons to be alike. The incremental cost is always relative and
depends on the extent of eco-friendly features already considered during design.
The incremental cost would appear small if the baseline design is already at a
certain level of good eco-design, it would appear huge if the base design has not
considered green principles.
The second critical paradigm is to look at the incremental cost in relation to the life
cycle cost. Buildings would last for a 50 years or 60 years or 100 years. Over its
life cycle, the operating cost would work out to 80-85 % while the incremental cost
which is a onetime cost is only 8-10 %.
The table below captures the typical payback period in the recently constructed
green buildings in India.


Table
Payback Period
for Green
Buildings
Building
Built-in Area
(Sqft)
% increase in
cost
Payback (yrs)
CII - Godrej GBC 20,000 20% 7 years
ITC Green Centre,
Gurgaon
1,70,000 15% 6 years
Wipro, Gurgaon 1,75,000 8% 5 years
Grundfos Pumps,
Chennai
40,000 6% 3 years




Perception 2: Green buildings have to be air-conditioned

Reality: Green building concepts can be applied for non-air conditioning
buildings. It has been applied on three such buildings in India viz., IGP office,
Gulbarga, the Royal Engineering College, Hyderabad and LIC office and Shimoga.
While performing the energy analysis using software tools, such buildings will
input the same cooling system both in the baseline and the proposed design. This
ensures that the building is recognized for any of the other energy efficiency
measures incorporated, for example - the envelope, lighting, roof insulation etc.
This kind of an approach also ensures that an apple-to-apple comparison is made
while evaluating two green buildings, whether conditioned or not.



Perception 3: Green buildings take more time

Reality: There is a general perception that going the green way may affect the
project schedules. This was perhaps the case for the CII-Godrej GBC building
when it was the first time that a green building rating tool was being applied in the
country. The design in this case took about one-and-half years while the
construction was completed in about 9 months. Now, there is absolutely no
difference in the time involved in constructing a green building vis--vis a normal
building. The time schedule for the rating can be synchronized with that of the
building. This has been amply demonstrated in buildings like the Wipro in
Gurgaon and Grundfos in Chennai.


Elements of Green Building Design which make it a smart building and
different from a conventional building

1) Site design
Works with natural features, protects trees, streams, soils and parks, has
effective drainage and energy saving shade
Buildings grouped together to conserve energy, space and cost
Covering soil with woodchips or plywood
Orienting buildings to take advantage of sun angles and prevailing winds

2) Community
Encourages neighborhood interaction and establishes safe and healthy living
conditions
Public spaces for residents
o Large front porches, balconies, lobbies, playgrounds and community
gardens, meeting rooms, fitness and childcare facilities
o Laundry areas, shopping and entertainment close to houses
o Wide sidewalks, speed bumps and tree plantations alongside roads
near the houses
Transportation
o Good access to transit
o Secure bicycle parking and bike lanes connecting to local bike routes
Security
o Outdoor areas and pathways within sight from windows and balconies
o Hallways and stairways with windows or openings into common areas
o Lighting covering pathways and adjacent areas
o Barbed shrubbery, like raspberry, along exterior walls can deter
break-ins
o Installing bars can secure ground floor units
o Secure construction site and landscape in front of graffiti-attracting
walls

3) Indoor air quality
Excluding pollutant sources
o Design
Let in fresh air by keeping vents away from exhausts
Directly vent heating equipments, ovens, bathrooms etc.
Non-smoking policy
Entry mats that remove dirt from shoes


o Construction
Cover ductwork during construction, vacuum it and install new
filters before turning on the central heating/ cooling system
Clean the site during and after construction
Expose building to outside air for at least 30 days as furniture,
equipments etc are installed
Pest control measures before residents move in
Choose non-polluting materials
o Choose less-or-no VOC (volatile organic compounds) options for
paints, sealants and wallpapers
o Avoid products containing formaldehyde
o Minimize carpeted area. Use green label or 3
rd
party certified carpet,
pad and adhesives
o Choose non-toxic cleaning products
Manage moisture and humidity
o Install bathroom exhaust controls that use a timer or humidistat
o Use quite fans (the quieter they are, the more they will be used)
o Protect moisture-sensitive construction materials with just-in-time
delivery and dry storage
o Keep plumbing supply lines out of exterior walls
Ventilate effectively
o Design
Constantly ventilate preferably with balanced exhaust and
supply fans or with a heat-recovery or energy-recovery
ventilator
Opt for operable windows
Establish constant air barriers between each unit and ventilate
them separately
o Equipment
HVAC equipment delivering quality air to each room under full
and partial loads
Install high performance filters. Clean/ change them regularly
Keep water out with rainproof louvers and lower air-intake
velocities
Economizer cycles bring fresh air and effective cooling
Consider radiant heating
Transfer grilles or heat exchangers can improve system
efficiency
o Maintenance
Regular maintenance and calibration of HVAC systems
Educate maintenance staff and residents about: healthy pest
control and cleaning methods
Teach residents how to operate ventilation systems and
incorporate natural ventilation
Avoid water waste. Inspect leakage.
Care in repair and renovation. When material removal, painting,
sanding, and other disruptive activities are anticipated, consult
the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National
Association (SMACNA) IAQ Guidelines for Occupied
Buildings under Construction

4) Energy
Reduce buildings energy requirements
o Reduce buildings energy requirements
o Passive solar heating: stores heat and keep temperatures where
required
o Passive cooling allows for natural ventilation
o Effective insulation and foundation to roof
o Avoid thermal bridging at structural joints
o Install reflective or light colored roofing to keep cool in summer
Efficient integrated systems
o Integrated and effective design of heating, cooling, ventilation and
plumbing systems
o Consider a computerized energy management system that can track
loads and system response, and then make adjustments to maintain
efficiency. HVAC balancing will work best if you go one room at a
time
o Adaptable systems like modular boilers, variable air volume
ventilation systems, and independent mechanical rooms let improve
performance
o Water-saving showerheads and faucets, in coordination with efficient
hot water heating and delivery, also offer considerable energy savings
Encouraging energy efficient living
o Meter each unit so that residents know their electricity and gas usage,
and give them smart controls to adjust heat and AC and make it easy
to switch off lights and electrical outlets
o Educate how to make most out of natural ventilation and window
shades
Clean energy and renewable
o Pairing solar water heater system with efficient central boiler cuts up
to 70% water heating energy use
o Geothermal heat pump reduces heating and cooling costs even more
o Generating electricity onsite with photovoltaic panels can cut costs for
a single family home

5) Materials
Green materials strategy: Reduce the amount used and to reuse existing
buildings or deconstruction debris
Recycled and resource efficient products
o Buy durable materials and products that can be reused and recycled at
the end of their useful lives
o Examples: Recycled rubber and polymer roofing reduces weight and
maintenance; recycled latex paint (made from unused paint) can cut
costs; recycled steel framing can replace lumber and increases
strength, durability, and workability
o Select materials that dont require on-site finishing
o Pre-cut/assembled components can save 15% of overall construction
cost
Avoid toxic products like arsenic and chromium that seep into soil. Less-
toxic products like vinegar and baking soda should be used for cleaning by
residents

6) Waste
Reducing construction waste
o Use recycled materials to reduce waste
o Educate workers
o Debris from deconstruction can be donated to a non-profit
organization and a tax-reduction can be received
o Set up bins on-site and bring in a grinder to reduce transportation
costs
o Minimize hazardous wastes like motor oil, solvents and paint.
Develop procedures for separation, handling and legal disposal for
them.
o Timely delivery and storage will prevent theft and damage
Design for reuse and recycling
o Practices for keeping out water and precipitation can be:
Water resistive barriers or drainage plane system
Foundation waterproofing
Gutters diverting water 5 feet from the foundation
o Using termite-resistant materials for walls, decks etc.
o Include features for residents with disabilities
o Flexible spaces allow for addition of units and converting ground
floor units to retail or classrooms etc.
Setting up food waste composting areas near gardens
Water savings by using water efficiently during construction and also by
installing fitting systems which help to save water usage in excess once the
building is in use.


7) Water
Water efficiency
o Installing water-efficient appliances and plumbing fixtures
o Taking advantage of rainwater and grey water to irrigate or flush
toilets
o Steps to raise indoor water use efficiency:
Minimize distance between water heaters and kitchen/
bathrooms
Install low-flow showerheads
Install HETs (high efficiency toilets)
Use automatic shut-off faucets and composting toilets for
common areas
o Steps to raise outdoor water efficiency
Plant drought-resistant varieties and supplement soils to
improve water retention
Bubblers, soaker hose, and stream-rotator spray heads are
efficient irrigation options
Storm water management
o Put up trees and vegetation to soak rainwater and intercept runoff
streams
o Consider a Green Roof: soaks up rainfall, saves energy, and lasts
longer than the traditional one
o reduce treatment systems that filter out pollutants
o installing tap filters help achieve the highest quality water for cooking
and drinking

8) Commissioning
Its the process of making certain that a building works as it has been designed. Its
various components are:
Systems
o It expands on testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) of standard
inspection
o Includes heating, cooling, ventilation and automation systems,
plumbing, electrical equipments etc.
Benefits
o Costly change orders and delays can be reduced by constantly
involving commissioning agents
o Improved thermal comfort and reduced air quality reduces resident
complains
Process and responsibilities
o Check design documents against initial design intent and to see that
they equate with performance
o Maintain key building statistics and contact numbers for all firms on
the building team
o Help operations and management staff make adjustments to optimize
systems performance

9) Marketability
Ultimate goal is to build homes that residents would be proud of owning
Just the low utility bills and high quality indoor air doesnt sound
impressive. Attractive designs and comfort are most important.
Natural ventilation, open space, ease of use, lesser maintenance, trees,
overhangs etc. become attractive features

LEED
As all the buildings have been certified by LEED - The Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system is intended to encourage
adoption of sustainable green building practices through the use of universally
understood performance criteria. Their goal is to make LEED the primary standard
in this area. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in March
2000, LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for
identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design,
construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing
performance in five key areas of human and environmental health. There is a
rating scale in each area and points are assigned to the building in each category.
The overall score determines the LEED rating of Certified, Silver, Gold or
Platinum.
The LEED Green Building Rating Systems are consensus-based, market-driven
programs that are intended to be voluntary. LEED is a whole building rating
system, looking at the environmental impacts of the building from design through
occupancy. There are five main categories to the LEED rating system and they
include;
Sustainable Sites
Water Efficiency
Energy & Atmosphere
Materials & Resources
Indoor Environmental Air Quality
LEED for Homes has added two additional categories, Locations & Linkages and
Awareness & Education. LEED for Homes is geared toward single-family homes,
low-rise residential, production homes, affordable homes, manufactured &
modular homes as well as major (gut) rehab projects on existing homes.
A building must meet certain prerequisites in each of these categories to earn
points in each category. Once all of the prerequisites have been achieved, the total
number of credits earned determines if a building is LEED certified and at what
rating. There are four levels of certification, each signifying a higher level of
sustainable design; certified, silver, gold and platinum.

The Green Building Rating Standard According to LEED:
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building
Rating System was promulgated to improve the environmental and economic
performance of new and existing commercial, institutional, and high-rise
residential buildings.

The rating system consists of the following 6 major categories, and maximum
points:
Sustainable Sites: 14
Water Efficiency: 05
Energy and Atmosphere:17
Materials and Resources:13
Indoor Environmental Quality:15
LEED Innovation Credits: 05
Total Maximum Possible Points: 69
Certification Levels:
LEED Certified: 26-32 points or >37% of max.
LEED Certified Silver Level: 33-38 points or >47% of max.
LEED Certified Gold Level: 39-51 points or >56% of max.
LEED Certified Platinum Level: 52-69 points or >75% of max.



Raw Materials Used in the Construction of Conventional Building:

1. Building Stones (or Dimension Stones)
Rock structures have existed for as long as history can recall. It is the longest
lasting building material available, and is usually readily available. There are many
types of rock throughout the world all with differing attributes that make them
better or worse for particular uses. Rock is a very dense material so it gives a lot of
protection too, its main draw-back as a material is its weight and awkwardness. Its
energy density is also considered a big draw-back, as stone is hard to keep warm
without using large amounts of heating resources.
Dry-stone walls have been built for as long as humans have put one stone on top of
another. Eventually different forms of mortar were used to hold the stones
together, cement being the most commonplace now.
Most widely used rocks are sedimentary limestone and sandstone, the igneous rock
granite, the metamorphic rocks marble and slate (and sometimes gneiss).


2. Crushed Rock, Sand and Gravel
The primary use of crushed rock is as an aggregate for concrete and as a base for
streets and roads. Sand and gravel are usually taken directly from stream beds,
glacial out wash, beaches. 3-4 billion tonnes/yr (~20 billion $)

3. Cement
Cement is a mix of minerals that when water is added it becomes hard and
strong. It is usually made from a mixture of limestone and clay or shale, or from
an impure limestone with high clay content. The raw materials go through a multi-
step process to meet certain specifications before entering the market as a binder.

4. Clay
Clay can be molded into a desired form and heated to produce bricks, porcelains,
tiles, ceramic pipes, etc. The amount of each material used leads to different styles
of buildings. The deciding factor is usually connected with the quality of the soil
being used. The other main ingredients include more or less sand/gravel and
straw/grasses. Rammed earth is both an old and newer take on creating walls, once
made by compacting clay soils between planks by hand; now forms and
mechanical pneumatic compressors are used.
Soil and especially clay is good thermal mass; it is very good at keeping
temperatures at a constant level. Homes built with earth tend to be naturally cool in
the summer heat and warm in cold weather. Clay holds heat or cold, releasing it
over a period of time like stone. Earthen walls change temperature slowly, so
artificially raising or lowering the temperature can use more resources than in say a
wood built house, but the heat/coolness stays longer.

5. Plaster
It is used mainly for a wall-surface material, most commonly found in pre-
fabricated sheets. Gypsum is the primary raw material.
6. Glass
Glass has many uses. Quartz is the main mineral content. The supply is plentiful -
sandstone or unconsolidated sand deposits. The use of glass in architectural
buildings has become very popular in the modern culture. Glass "curtain walls" can
be used to cover the entire facade of a building, or it can be used to span over a
wide roof structure in a "space frame". These uses though require some sort of
frame to hold sections of glass together, as glass by itself is too brittle and would
require an overly large kiln to be used to span such large areas by it.

7. Asbestos
It is used as an electrical and thermal insulator. It is also very resistant to
corrosion. It is used in brake linings and fire resistant suits. The main source of
mineral is chrysotile. Some forms of asbestos have been linked to lung cancer.

8. Wood
A natural material for building dwellings for thousands of years, wood was also
used to make Churches in the past. The main problems with wood structures are
fire risk and durability. Wood is an aesthetically pleasing material that never goes
out of trend completely, though the current popularity of plastic is taking its place
in many construction sites.

9. Concrete
Concrete is a composite building material made from the combination of aggregate
and a binder such as cement. The most common form of concrete is Portland
cement concrete, which consists of mineral aggregate (generally gravel and sand),
portland cement and water. After mixing, the cement hydrates and eventually
hardens into a stone-like material. When used in the generic sense, this is the
material referred to by the term concrete.
Concrete has been the predominant building material in this modern age due to its
longevity, formability, and ease of transport. Recent advancements, such as
Insulating concrete forms, combine the concrete forming and other construction
steps (installation of insulation). All materials must be taken in required
proportions as described in standards.

10. Metal
Metal is used as structural framework for larger buildings such as skyscrapers, or
as an external surface covering. There are many types of metals used for building.
Steel is a metal alloy whose major component is iron, and is the usual choice for
metal structural building materials. It is strong, flexible, and if refined well and/or
treated lasts a long time. Corrosion is metal's prime enemy when it comes to
longevity.
The lower density and better corrosion resistance of aluminum alloys and tin
sometimes overcome their greater cost. Brass was more common in the past, but is
usually restricted to specific uses or specialty items today.
It requires a great deal of human labor to produce metal, especially in the large
amounts needed for the building industries.
Other metals used include titanium, chrome, gold, and silver. Titanium can be used
for structural purposes, but it is much more expensive than steel. Chrome, gold,
and silver are used as decoration, because these materials are expensive and lack
structural qualities such as tensile strength or hardness.

11. Plastic
Plastics vary immensely in heat tolerance, hardness, and resiliency. Combined with
this adaptability, the general uniformity of composition and lightness of plastics
ensures their use in almost all industrial applications today.

12. Foam
More recently synthetic polystyrene or polyurethane foam has been used in
combination with structural materials, such as concrete. It is light weight, easily
shaped and an excellent insulator. It is usually used as part of a structural insulated
panel where the foam is sandwiched between wood and cement or insulating
concrete forms, where concrete is sandwiched between two layers of foam.

Raw Materials Used in the Construction of Green Building:
1. Flyash Concrete
Flyash is defined in Cement and Concrete Terminology (ACI Committee 116) as
the finely divided residue resulting from the combustion of ground or powdered
coal, which is transported from the firebox through the boiler by flue gases.
Flyash is a by-product of coal-fired electric generating plants.
Two classifications of flyash are produced, according to the type of coal used.
Anthracite and bituminous coal produces flyash classified as Class F. Class C
flyash is produced by burning lignite or subbituminous coal. Class C flyash is
preferable for the applications presented in the Green Building Guide and is the
main type offered for residential applications from ready-mix suppliers.
Flyash is one of three general types of coal combustion byproducts (CCBPs). The
use of these byproducts offers environmental advantages by diverting the material
from the waste stream, reducing the energy investment in processing virgin
materials, conserving virgin materials, and allaying pollution. Although flyash
offers environmental advantages, it also improves the performance and quality of
concrete. Flyash affects the plastic properties of concrete by improving
workability, reducing water demand, reducing segregation and bleeding, and
lowering heat of hydration. Flyash increases strength, reduces permeability,
reduces corrosion of reinforcing steel, increases sulphate resistance, and reduces
alkali-aggregate reaction. Flyash reaches its maximum strength more slowly than
concrete made with only portland cement. The techniques for working with this
type of concrete are standard for the industry and will not impact the budget of a
job.

Talking about the cost of this Flyash concrete, it is of the same price as ordinary
concrete without flyash. Flyash is also used to produce bricks. Flyash mainly helps
to reduce the cement use content by 30% in any building.



2. Gypsum:

Gypsum offers a number of opportunities to go greenfrom recycled content to
local manufacturing credits to long-term durability. Gypsum board, or drywall, is
typically made with 100% recycled, unbleached paper facings that are bonded
without adhesives onto a gypsum core. Recycled gypsum board is derived from in-
plant scrap and some clean construction waste; advances in recycling technology
allow separation of the paper from the core so that each may be recycled
separately. Synthetic gypsum may replace up to 100% of the natural gypsum in
drywall. Reducing waste is an important consideration in green projects.



3. Structural Insulated Building Panel

A marriage of engineered wood and foam, the building monolithic panel uses EPS
(expandable polystyrene) insulation, similar to the foam coffee cup, but 6 to 12
inches thick, sandwiched between two panels of oriented strand board (OSB or
engineered wood panel). Both products are environmentally friendly. The OSB
uses fast growing trees once considered "trash trees" or unusable to dimensional
lumber specifications. With a uniform thickness and construction, all walls are
sound without the voids common in wood framing. Many times the panels are
finished away from the construction site allowing straighter walls.



Distinguishing factors between green and conventional building

Paul & Taylor, 2007
Solar energy contributes 30% in green homes whereas it counts only 0.70% in a
conventional one. Also, it contributes 45% wind energy in green homes and
0.40% in conventional.


Percentage distribution of Energy Consumption in conventional building
Conventional Building Green Building
0.70% Solar energy 30% Solar energy
0.40% Wind energy 45% Wind energy
No standards for recycled renewable
materials
25-80% Recycled materials
6% Wood (renewable resources) used 50% Wood used
30% Local materials 50% Local materials are extracted +
20% manufactured= 70% Local
materials


Green building facts as compared to conventional
(As per U.S. Department of Energys Building Technology Program)
1) 35% reduction in potable water use
2) 50% savings in overall energy consumption
3) 88% reduction in lighting consumption
4) 80% of materials used are either recycled or recyclable
5) 20% of the buildings energy requirement is provided by photovoltaics
6) 15-20% less load on AC due to aerated concrete blocks used in facades
7) Zero water discharge building
8) 90% of building daylight
9) 75% of occupants have outside view

Costs associated with green buildings
Good green buildings often cost only a few percentage points or no more to build
than a conventional design. Integrated design processes that identify the most
efficient and holistic approaches to building green can reduce initial costs. There
may also be green products and materials that cost the same or even less than
conventional ones.
Savings due to green building ranges from 35% to 70% with different factors
related to it. Savings from carbon emissions contribute 35% in green buildings,
water use 40%, energy use 50% and solid waste contributes 70% in green
buildings.


Green Buildings in India- Emerging trends
In recent years India has emerged as one of the worlds top destinations for green
buildings and has implemented a number of home-rating schemes and building
codes, which open up a wide range of opportunities in construction, architecture
and engineering design, building materials and equipment manufacture.

Year Projected certified green
buildings per year
LEED-rated green
buildings estimated
market potential in A$M
2007 50 250
2008 150 625
2012 1000 5000
Source: Indian Green Building Council

India, the seventh largest country, is a leading economy and home to over one
billion people living in various climatic zones. The countrys economy has been
growing at a fast pace ever since the process of economic reforms started in 1991.
Construction plays a very important role in its economy, contributing an average
6.51% of the GDP. Commercial and residential sectors continue to be a major
market for construction industry.
People are becoming more environmental conscious nowadays as media is
highlighting the phenomenon of global warming. Construction Industry is
witnessing growth and both these factors provide for huge scope for Green
buildings in India.

From 20,000 sq. ft of green footprint in the country in the year 2003 to 725.22
million sq. ft till date, green buildings can see growth projection in coming years.
Today, a variety of green building projects are coming up in the country -
residential complexes, exhibition centers, hospitals, educational institutions,
laboratories, IT parks, airports, government buildings and corporate offices. There
is a tremendous potential for construction of Green Buildings in India. This could
open up a plethora of opportunities for several stakeholders in construction
industry like architects, material, equipment manufacturers etc in India and abroad.

An estimated market potential of USD 4000 million is expected out of green
buildings in India by the year 2012.

Todays scenario of construction industry shows a big step of development towards
green building. There have been many projects implemented and registered by
many companies reflecting immense participation of private companies in
improving the deteriorating state of India and contributing its part.

In order to encourage such a step towards green development there has been a
council actively participating and encourage such development INDIAN GREEN
BUILDING COUNCIL. This committee or council has been aiming towards
becoming one of the world leaders in green building by 2015.

IGBC has been involved in the following projects:

IGBC Green Homes
IGBC Green Townships
IGBC Green SEZs
IGBC Green Factory Building

This committee consists of 1318 members (104 founding members), 1241
registered buildings and 187 certified buildings. The following is the list of all
certified green buildings:








IGBC - Green Homes Projects

Project Location Rating
Mahindra Lifespace Developers
Limited - Mahindra Splendour
Mumbai Pre - Certified,
Platinum
Aliens Developers - Aliens Space
Station -1
Hyderabad Pre - Certified,
Platinum
Shree Ram Infrastructure Ltd. -
Palais Royale
Mumbai Pre - Certified,
Platinum
Mahindra Chloris Faridabad Pre - Certified,
Platinum
Mahindra Royale Pune Pre - Certified,
Platinum
Green Grace Hyderabad Pre - Certified,
Platinum
Kalpataru Riverside Mumbai Pre - Certified,
Platinum
Srishti Mumbai Pre - Certified,
Platinum
Megapolis Pune Pre - Certified,
Platinum
Avani Residence Hyderabad Platinum
Raisina Residency Gurgaon Pre-Certified,
Gold
Kalpataru Pinnacle Mumbai Pre - Certified,
Platinum
Aquila Heigths Bangalore Pre-Certified,
Gold
BCIL T ZED Homes Bangalore Platinum
Viswa Syamalam Chennai Platinum
Kalpataru Hills Thane Pre - Certified,
Platinum
Park Infinia Pune Pre - Certified,
Platinum
Aqua Lily Chengulpet Pre - Certified,
Platinum
August Park Bangalore Pre-Certified,
Gold
NOEL Greenature Kochi, Kerala Pre-Certified,
Gold
La Residency Mumbai Pre-Certified,
Gold
Camelot Kansal-Mohali Punjab Pre-Certified,
Gold
Nitesh Columbus Bangalore Pre-Certified,
Gold
Springs Chennai Pre-Certified,
Gold
Shem Park Chennai Gold
Trimurtys Aurum Jaipur Precertified Gold
Planet Green Vadodara Precertified
Platinum
Nautilus - E5 Vadodara - Gujrat. Precertified
Silver
Ecociti Noida Precertified
Platinum
Soudhamini Bangalore Precertified Gold
Mahindra Eminente, Building A &
C
Mumbai Precertified Gold
Windermere Koregaon Park, Pune. Precertified
Platinum
Godrej Garden Enclave - B type
Towers
Mumbai Precertified
Platinum
Purva Atria Platina Bangalore Pre-Certified,
Gold
One Avighna Park Mumbai Precertified
Platinum
Orion Mumbai Pre-Certified,
Gold
Godrej Palm Grove Chennai, Tamil Nadu Pre-Certified,
Gold
Dosti Ambrosia Wadala-Mumbai Pre-Certified,
Gold
Tirumala Habitats Mulund, Mumbai Precertified
Platinum
czar's Greenways road at
Chennai.
Precertified
Platinum
Renaissance Nature Walk Bangalore Pre-Certified,
Gold
Bhuvana Greens Kasavanahalli, Sarjapura
road, Bangalore
Pre-Certified,
Gold
Ackruti Greenwoods Mumbai Pre-Certified,
Gold
Mantri DSK Pinnacle Bangalore Pre-Certified,
Gold
Rustomjee Urbania Mumbai Pecertified Silver
Brigade Exotica Bangalore Pre-Certified,
Gold
X'czar Mumbai Precertified
Platinum
Signature Estates Guwahati Pre-Certified,
Gold
INORA Park, TATA Housing Dev.
Co.Ltd.
Pune Pre-Certified,
Gold
Hebron Enclave KR Puram, Bangalore Precertified
Platinum

IGBC Green Factory Building Projects

Project Location Rating
Pennar Engineered Building Systems
Limited
Sadashivpet,
Hyderabad
Gold
Tata Motors Ltd. Pimpri, Pune Gold
Mainetti (India) Pvt. Ltd. Sriperumbudur,
Chennai
Platinum
Orient Craft Ltd Rajasthan Silver
Cummins Generator Technologies
India Ltd. Plant 2
G-06
,MIDC,Ranjangaon
Gold
Grundfos Pumps India Pvt Ltd Thoraipakkam,
Chennai
Gold
LEED Rated Green Buildings in India

Project Location Rating
CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business
Centre
Hyderabad Platinum
ITC Green Centre Gurgaon Platinum
Wipro Technologies Gurgaon Platinum
Grundfos Pumps India Pvt Ltd Chennai Gold
NEG Micon India Pvt Limited,
(Vestas India)
Chennai Gold
Technopolis Kolkata Gold
L & T EDRC 1 Chennai Silver
Olympia Technology Park Chennai Gold
Hiranandani BG Building Mumbai Platinum
IGP Office Gulbarga Gold
Hyderabad Institute of Technology &
Management
Hyderabad Silver
ABN Amro Bank - Central
Enterprises
Chennai Gold
Spectral Services Consultants Pvt Ltd Noida Platinum
ETL BPO Park Chennai Gold
World Bank Building Chennai Silver
Rane Institute for Employee
Development
Chennai Silver
Wipro Technologies SDB1 Kochi Gold
Haworth Pune India Regional Office Pune Gold
ABN Amro Bank N.V. Ahmedabad Platinum
HSBC GSC Hyderabad 1 Hyderabad Silver
HUDA - Annexe II Building Hyderabad Certified
K Raheja Corp C 30 BKC Mumbai Gold
InterfaceFLOR Bangalore Gold
Enercon India Pvt Ltd Mumbai Gold
Microsoft Building 3 Hyderabad Gold
IMTMA's Banglore International
Center
Bangalore Certified
RMZ Millenia Business Park Chennai Gold
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Hyderabad Silver
TECCI PARK Chennai Silver
Minestone Green Diamonds Gujarat Gold
Patni Knowledge Center Noida Platinum
Motorola Manufacturing Facility Sriperumbudur, Chennai Silver
Turbo Energy Chennai Platinum
Technology Block, L&T Hazira Platinum
Kalpataru Square Mumbai Platinum
Ashok Leyland Corporate Office Chennai Gold
TCS Technopark Chennai Gold
FLSmidth House Chennai Gold
Infinity Benchmark Kolkata Platinum
Spectral Services Consultants Pvt Ltd Hyderbad Gold
Green Boulevard Noida Platinum
Modine Thermal Systems Pvt. Ltd. -
Office
Sriperumbudhur Gold
Modine Thermal Systems Pvt. Ltd. -
Factory
Sriperumbudhur Silver
Odyssey Building - GE India
Technology Centre Pvt. Ltd
Bangalore Gold
Fast Track Building 1 & 2, Wipro
Technologies
Noida Gold
Software Development Block 3 Pune Gold
Wipro Chennai Development Center-
SEZ
Chennai Silver
247 Park Mumbai Gold
Bagmane World Technology Center Bangalore Gold
Thermax Corporate House Pune Silver
Hotel Fortune Select Dasve LAVASA City Silver
Cognizant Green Campus Coimbatore Gold
Kohinoor Hospital Mumbai Platinum
Yamuna - Corporate office Kirloskar
Brothers Limited
Pune Platinum
Cisco VTV Banglore Platinum
CII - Suresh Neotia Centre of
excellence for leadership
Kolkatta Silver
ITC Royal Gardenia Bangalore Platinum
Xylem Bangalore Gold
Wipro Special Economic Zone (EC)
Tower "S2"
Bangalore Silver
Wipro Special Economic Zone,
Gopannapally,S1 & S2
Hyderabad Gold
Electrical Systems & Equipment,
Electrical & Automation Operating
Company, Larsen & Toubro Limited
Ahmednagar Gold
ABN AMRO - KRM Towers Chennai Gold
Burt Hill India Office Interiors Ahmedabad Platinum
DBAG Nirlon Deutsche Bank Mumbai Gold
Frontier Business Systems Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore Gold
IT Park, TCS Ltd. Bhubaneshwar Platinum
Leadership Development Institute,
TCS
Thiruvananthapuram Silver
M Moser Delhi Certified
Nothern Operating Services Pvt Ltd Bangalore Gold
Nokia India Private Limited Gurgaon Gold
Sabarmati Gas Limited Gujarat Gold
Shell Business Service Center - Phase
1
Chennai Platinum
Space Matrix Office New Delhi Platinum
Pre-Clinical R & D Laboratory VIMTA Life Sciences
Campus, Genome Valley,
Hyderabad
Gold
Wipro Special Economic Zone (SR) -
Tower S3
Banglore Silver
SNQS Internationals Avinashi Silver
Mindspace Airoli, Building No 8 Mumbai Gold
Aquamall Water Solutions Limited Dehradun Gold
Wipro Special Economic Zone Pune Gold
Suzlon One Earth Pune Platinum
Tamilnadu Legislative Assembly Chennai Gold
DuPont Knowledge Center Hyderabad Silver
Wipro Technologies Vizag Gold
Max Super Speciality Hospital New Delhi Gold
Cement House Mumbai Gold
Wipro Technologies, BHDC Bhubaneshwar Silver
Technology Centre II, L&T Chennai Certified
HSBC House - Finance COE, Phase-
1
Gurgaon Platinum
Cognizant Green Campus Kolkata Silver
Cisco B4 Bangalore Platinum
Logix Cyber Park Noida Silver
YCH DistriPark India Chennai Chennai Gold
Nirlon Knowledge Park (Phase I) Mumbai Gold
Anna Centenary Library Building Chennai Gold
Oracle India Pvt. Ltd., Phase 3
Building
Hyderabad Gold
PS Srijan Tech Park Kolkata Gold
Unitech Commercial Tower Gurgaon Gold
Wipro Technologies (Tower - 4) Kolkata Gold
Wipro Limited (Infotech Division) Kotdwar Silver
Infosys Technologies Jaipur Platinum
Shriram The Gateway Chennai Gold
Godrej Waterside IT Park Kolkata Gold
American Embassy School New Delhi Gold
HSBC Baroda Vadodara Platinum
Great Lakes Institute of Management Manamai Platinum
CDPL Corporate Office Hyderabad Silver
Commerzone Building No.4 Pune Gold
Dabur Corporate Office Gurgaon Gold
Nokia Siemens Networks, Phase II Noida Gold
Net Magic Chennai Data Centre Chennai Gold
Chennai Development Center 5 Chennai Gold
K Raheja Corp.- Novartis Building,
Mindspace
Hyderabad Platinum
CA Technologies India Hyderabad,
Building 2
Hyderabad Gold
Cognizant MEPZ Campus Chennai Gold
ING Vysya Bank Mumbai Gold
IDFC Bank Chennai Gold
Mudra House Mumbai Gold
Kohinoor City Mall Mumbai Gold
Express Avenue Mall Chennai Gold
CRISIL House Mumbai Platinum
Navins WSS Towers Chennai Gold
Admin Building, HED-Talegaon
Complex
Pune Platinum
HCL Green Data Centre Noida Platinum
ITC Maurya Hotel New Delhi Platinum
Project OII - RBS Chennai Certified
Scope International Pvt. Ltd. Chennai Gold
Indira Gandhi International Airport,
Terminal 3
New Delhi Gold
Pritech Park Bangalore Platinum
Ahill Apparel Tirrupur Gold
Software Development Block 1,
Infosys Technologies Ltd
Thiruvananthapuram Platinum
Central Control Room (CCR),
Chanda Cement Works
Chanda, Dist. Chandrapur,
Maharashtr
Platinum
SBU Block, L & T, Hazira L & T Hazira Manufacturing
Complex
Platinum
Dr.Reddy's Laboratories Ltd -
Corporate Office
Hyderabad Gold
Delta Power Solutions India Pvt. Ltd. Rudrapur, Uttarakhand Gold
Pune Marriott Hotel & Convention
Centre, A Panchshil Project
Senapati Bapat Road Gold
Cooling Tower Cafe Nirlon Knowledge Park,
Goregaon East
Gold
Nirlon Knowledge Park, Phase 2 Mumbai Gold
Heritage Madurai Hotel & Resort Madurai Gold
Yahoo Software Development India
Pvt. Ltd.
Bangalore Gold
Symantec Pune India Pune Gold
Citibank N A Mumbai Platinum
ITC Windsor Bangalore Platinum
ITC The Mughal Agra Platinum
ITC Sonar Kolkata Platinum
ITC Kakatiya Hyderabad Platinum
ITC HOTEL - The Maratha Mumbai Platinum
Menon Eternity Chennai Platinum
Paharpur Business Center New Delhi Platinum
ITC The Grand Central Platinum
Godrej Bhavan Mumbai Gold
EMC BECP Bangalore Gold
Deutsche Bank Ludhiana Branch. Ludhiana Silver
CB Richard Ellis South Asia Pvt Ltd. Mumbai Silver
Syntel Global Development Center Chennai Gold
Tecpro Towers Chennai Silver
Wipro Enterprise Data Center, Wipro
Limited, SEZ,Knowledge Park IV,
Greater Noida Gold
Greater Noida
Patni Computer System, Block B. Noida Gold
TSI Waverock - Phase I Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Gold
NUCLEUS - Mall and Office NH 49, Maradu, Kochi,
KERALA
Gold
NIIT Technologies Ltd. (Software
Development Block - 1) SEZ
Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh) Platinum
Wadia International Centre, C II Worli, Mumbai - 400025. Gold
Commercial Building at Kalina Santacruz (West), Kalina,
Mumbai
Gold
TVH AGNITIOPARK Chennai Gold
Wipro Enterprise Data Center,Wipro
Limited, SEZ,Knowledge Park IV,
Greater Noida
Greater Noida Gold












List by IGBC
Government Projects of Green Buildings in Ahmedabad
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is going green, not with envy but with
eco-friendly buildings. In what is being touted as the first-of-its-kind initiative in
the state and probably in the country, the AMC is planning to build four green
buildings.
Mark Ginsberg, senior executive adviser to the office of secretary of state for
renewable energy, USDoE from the US is working on the project to make these
public utility buildings green."We are working on some projects in Ahmedabad to
make the buildings certified green," said Ginsberg.
Confirming the news, a highly placed source in the corporation said that they are
converting the new dental college near Anupam Cinema, LG Medical College in
Maninagar, corporation building at Danapith in the eastern part of the city and the
new west zone corporation office in Bodakdev into green buildings.
The source added that CEPT University faculties will also provide technical
support to the project. Chairman of Indian green building council (IGBC) -Gujarat
chapter, Sameer Sinha said such an effort will motivate others to come up with
green buildings.


Green Buildings in Gujarat (focusing Ahmedabad)
Shapath V, being developed by the Rs 600-crore Savvy Infrastructures Ltd on
Ahmedabads SG Highway, will be the first green building in Gujarat. The
building, worth Rs 300 crore occupies 20,000 sq yards of land.
Top soil removed while excavating for a foundation of Shapath V will be used in
the terrace gardens of the building. This will insulate the building from direct heat
cutting down cooling cost by a sharp 25-30 per cent. Materials being used include
fly ash bricks and high performance glass that absorbs light but reflects heat. This
glass has a unique property with which it selectively allows the light to come
inside the building minus the heat. The heat gained by a building made of fly ash is
less than other buildings, which reduces the use of air-conditioning in the room.
The building will also have water harvesting tanks and an inbuilt sewage treatment
plant.
Shapath-5 will be a gold-certified green building. The Indian Green Building
Council (IGBC) has 69 credits to assess buildings. If one has 48-59 credits without
interiors or 45-55 credits with interiors, it will be certified a gold building. The
buildings under the green architecture plan are certified under LEED (Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design) with Platinum, Gold and Silver ratings. This
is a UK based certification. The LEED ratings are given according to the amount
of energy a building can save. This encourages the developers to use energy
efficient measures like the rainwater harvesting, waste management etc.
Savvy Infrastructure is investing about Rs 400 crore in developing green
commercial and residential projects over the next two years. Apart from Shapath V
green project, Savvy has also begun construction on Solaris-a 400-flat green
residential complex in Ahmedabad entailing a cost of Rs 100 crore.
Developers like Savvy Infrastructure Ltd. and Parshwanath Developers Ltd. are
coming up with commercial complexes which are energy efficient.
Touted as a green project, Shapath Hexa is under construction on S G Highway.
The building will have 2.5 lakh sq. ft. constructed area. According to its developer,
an office of around 1000 sq. ft. with 10 occupants will have Rs. 1,12,000 per sq. ft.
annual bill, considering electric supply charge at Rs. 6/KWH. While in a simple
structure the bill will be around Rs. 1,90,000 annually.
Savvys Shapath-5 project promotes green building concept. The Rs. 250-crore
project on 20,000 sq. yards of land will house Crown Plaza, an intercontinental
hotel chain.
Shree Parshwanath Corporation Ltd. is also coming up with a 12-storey building
with 2.5 lakh sq. ft. of constructed area. Rushabh Patel, MD of the company said
We are using double glance glass to keep the temperature down. This will also
lead to less consumption of light and air conditioner.
In Ahmedabad, there are developers like the Savvy Infrastructures Pvt. Ltd,
Manpasand Builders Pvt. Ltd (Sangath group) and few other developers as well
who have started green projects. There are people who have their homes built in a
green concept too.
The ABN Amro Bank branch in Ahmedabad has become the 1st LEED
commercial interiors project outside the U.S. to achieve LEED Platinum
certification and only the 8th in the world. En3 along with architect Karan Grover
and Associates have made this 8000 square feet branch into one of the greenest
interiors possible. The branch has energy efficient lighting systems that save 34%
over conventional systems and HVAC systems that consume 20% less than
standard systems. Low flow fixtures that consume 38% less than regular fixtures
have been used as well. Also more than 40% of the materials used have high
recycled content, only certified wood products have been used and over 50% of the
materials used are locally and regionally procured thereby reducing the impact of
environmental pollution through transportation. Also more than 75% of the
interiors have natural day lighting thereby considerably reducing the artificial light
consumption.

Conclusion

There is indeed lot of scope for further
reduction in cost of green buildings by
adopting more efficient materials in
construction and construction techniques.