Sustainable Buildings and the Carbon Footprint –

An overview
Sustainable Buildings and the Carbon Footprint – An overview

From the introduction of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 to the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change in 2006, the
world has seen a strong focus on the issues of global warming and its effect on the environment. While the socio-economic
effects of climate change are being debated globally, the greater burden of ecological responsibility on industrialisation has
received wide consensus. Hence, businesses and individuals have become increasingly aware of the twin concepts of the
‘sustainable building’ (green building) and the carbon footprint.

G
reen Building, also known as Sustainable Building, is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are
environmentally responsible and resource-efficient. It encompasses factors such as site selection, design,
construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and deconstruction. The aim of designing a Green Building is to
reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment. This is done by:

Reduction in
waste, pollution and
environmental
degradation

Protection of
occupant health Efficient usage of
and improvement energy, water, and
of employee other resources
productivity

Interest in the ‘green building’ concept rose from the requirement for energy efficient and environmentally friendly
construction methods in the 1970s. The construction of a green building brings social, economic and environmental
benefits. Modern design proposals provide ideas for both new constructions as well as renovation of existing structures.

One of the simplest definitions of a Carbon Footprint states that it is “the total set of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions
caused by an organisation, event or product”. Four main greenhouse gases -- carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and
sulphur hexafluoride -- have been the focus of emission controls. . As carbon is the most common of the GHGs emitted by
humans, the carbon footprint is based on the mass of carbon dioxide (CO2) in kilograms or metric tons.

The term ‘carbon footprint’ is a subset of the concept of ecological imprint, which examines the human demand on the
earth’s ecosystem. An organisation, event or product’s carbon footprint can be measured by conducting a GHG emission
assessment, following which, methods to reduce it can be formulated and implemented.

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Sustainable Buildings and the Carbon Footprint – An overview Repositioning of Office Buildings

The following factors are considered while calculating the carbon footprint of buildings:

Energy emissions
Emissions from Carbon emissions
Emissions from from the energy
transportation to related to
energy used in used for providing
and from the construction of a
the building water to the
building building
building

The energy used at a building site is usually the main contributing factor to its carbon footprint. This energy is most
commonly in the form of electricity. The carbon footprint is thus affected by how the electricity is generated. A 1999 study
conducted on electricity generation and carbon emissions across 3 countries shows that coal has the highest carbon
emission per kg while hydroelectricity and nuclear energy have the lowest.

Carbon Emissions for Electricity Generation per Vattenfall 1999

1,200

1,000

800
g/kwh co2

600

400

200

0
Coal Gas Thermal Gas Solar PV Wind Nuclear Hydro
Combined
Cycle

Japan Sweden Finland

Another important element in the assessment is transportation. When a building is designed, it is possible to make
considerations that reduce the use of energy and consequently the emissions from transport-related issues. These
measures could include locating the building in a transit-friendly area, encouraging the practice of walking or the use of
non-polluting vehicles to reach the property.

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Sustainable Buildings and the Carbon Footprint – An overview

A third factor contributing to the carbon footprint of a building is the amount of energy expended to treat and transport
potable water to the structure. Experts estimate that a building’s water supply contributes over 29% of the carbon
associated with operating energy.

The carbon footprint of a building is also measured by calculating the emission due to materials used in the building. The
amount of recycled materials used in the building is also taken into account while measuring the carbon footprint. These
measurements account for the energy expended in the creation of new materials for use in the building.

LEED Ratings for Green Buildings

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is a globally recognised green building certification system. It grants
independent, third-party verification that a building or large property was designed and built using methods aimed at
improving energy savings, water efficiency, reduction of CO2 emissions and improved indoor environmental quality. The
LEED Certification process was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and provides a concise framework for
recognising and executing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance
solutions.

The Indian Scenario

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED - INDIA) Green Building Rating System is an India-specific and
internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED-
INDIA endorses a complete-building approach to sustainability by focusing on the following:

Sustainable
site
development

Indoor
environmental Water savings
quality

Materials Energy
selection and efficiency

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Sustainable Buildings and the Carbon Footprint – An overview Repositioning of Office Buildings

In India, the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) provides LEED ratings to structures and aims to make the country one of
the leaders in green buildings by the year 2015. The Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) is the National
Rating System of India. It has been conceived by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) and developed jointly with the
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. It is a design evaluation system for green building and is
intended for all kinds of buildings across every climatic zone in India.

According to a 2008 news report in the Indian Express, Mumbai had registered 30 green building projects, at the time the
highest among Indian cities. Thanks to the gradual spread of awareness about eco-friendly constructions, there has been a
considerable rise in the number of registered green buildings in India. According to 2008 IGBC data, there are 315 green
buildings in India, of which 250 are commercial properties. Further data (below) shows the steady rise in LEED-India
registered structures in the country:

Registered green building in India

90 80
80
70
60
50 40
40
30
17
20 10
10 1 2
0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
LEED Registered

Eco-friendly renovations at Express Towers

Express Towers takes the responsibility of environmental protection very seriously. This is reflected in the repositioning
exercise which constantly focuses efforts to reduce the environmental impact of the building.

The HVAC system has been completely changed and improved during the overhaul of facilities at Express Towers. This
system comprises of energy efficient equipment that follows codes and standards as applicable for renovation of the
building. As part of the changes, non-CTF and low power consumption chillers have been installed along with AHUs with
energy efficient EFF – 1 motors. Simultaneously, the pumping and electrical systems have been improved to adhere to
environment-friendly practices. Water supply pipes and pumps have been changed to improve supply reliability and reduce
energy losses. Energy efficient CFLs are installed in common building areas. Express Towers also possesses Occupancy and
LUX sensors on every floor, to ensure optimum light usage.

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Sustainable Buildings and the Carbon Footprint – An overview

The Express Towers power distribution system has used copper cables for all wiring to make the building more energy
efficient. Variable voltage-variable-frequency (VVVF) with energy efficient motors in the elevators adds to the energy-
efficient environment of the structure. Grooved fittings have been used in the building to avoid deterioration of the
surrounding environment. Similarly, insulation and adhesives with low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) have been used
during renovations, in keeping with Green Building Guidelines.

Conclusion

At present, ecological awareness is an issue of rising global importance. The concepts of sustainable building and carbon
footprint assessment make invaluable contributions in the efforts to control and reduce the effects of global warming and
climate change.

In this atmosphere of cooperation, it becomes the responsibility of industries, businesses and individuals to make informed
and proactive contributions to reduce the negative output of development. With respect to this, Express Towers, through
its repositioning project, has made firm commitments to sustainable building and reduction of the carbon footprint of the
building. These efforts have a dual significance for Express Towers. Firstly, they allow the building to live up to the values
and vision of its architect, Joseph Allen Stein. Secondly, the renovation exercise has positioned Express Towers not only as
one of the most contemporary business and financial spaces in Mumbai, but also as a building that is committed to
maintaining the balance between Nature and Technology.

References

 http://www.igbc.in

 http://www.mumbaimania.in/2008/09/mumbai-has-20-of-green-buildings-in.html

 http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/coming-up-in-mumbai-more-and-more-green-buildings/290158/

 http://www.spaenvis.nic.in/pdfs/monographs/green-building.pdf

 http://www.buildings.com/ArticleDetails/tabid/3321/ArticleID/4986/Default.aspx

 http://www.grihaindia.org/

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_footprint

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_building

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol

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