Retrofitting Factories towards Green

Dr. Zebun Nasreen Ahmed

Professor, Department of Architecture,
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
e-mail: znahmedarch@gmail.com

Green retrofitting attempts to minimize negative environmental and social impacts of an existing building in
its setting. As at present, buildings are responsible for the consumption of about 50% of global energy, for
sustainability it is important to reduce this consumption, which can be done by using and managing
resources available to the building. Among the principal resources available to buildings in Bangladesh are
the wind, daylight, solar energy and rain water. Greening the building involves adequate employment of
these resources and the reduction and reuse of waste and byproducts generated from the building systems
to prevent pollution and impacts on the immediate environment. Moreover, using the green concept, social
equity is also addressed and a green building ensures that it equitably provides for all the sections of its users
by providing them appropriate work and recreation spaces.
This presentation attempts to establish a method by which existing factory buildings can be transformed into
green ones, stemming conventional energy consumption. The discussion is based on research conducted
during a joint project by the Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and
Technology and Promotion of Social and Environmental Standards In the industry, a project supported by
Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of German Government
during 2009 and 2010 titled, Promoting the Green Architecture Concept in Bangladesh.
It is extremely important to address the issue of existing buildings, which were built in unawareness of their
potential to harm the environment, as new construction forms only a very small percentage of all building
stock in any country. Since any building is constructed with a long-term expectation, it is vital for them to be
sustainable and energy efficient so that they do not unnecessarily strain the scarce energy resources of
Bangladesh. Through this presentation, a method is discussed that may be used to retrofit existing factory
buildings towards achieving green targets set by the needs of international markets. It is now becoming
increasingly advantageous for factories to comply with international standards, as this ensures wider
business, greater profit and better working environment – gains for all stakeholders.

The green retrofitting process suggested here is three-pronged. The first step consists of evaluation of the
existing factory in its site to identify problem areas and taking field measurements to record existing
conditions of temperature, wind velocity, humidity and daylight within the key activity zones. The second step
is the formulation of Design Suggestions for greening – options for different elements and aspects of the
building aiming towards efficiency of resource use and consumption. The ultimate choice of green measures
can be decided by a final step involving simulations of the different elements and their combinations
suggested for the building.
Measuring Up for a Green Future: Design Issues for Factory
Buildings in Bangladesh
Dr Khandaker Shabbir Ahmed
Professor, Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of
Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
e-mail: saa.studio@gmail.com

Bangladesh has arrived at a juncture where demand for industrial buildings and the potential for economic
growth continue to play out in a context of a strained energy environment relationship. Impending effects of
climate change and an apparent degradation of the local environment competes with the need for energy to
power our industries. Our buildings and industries are based on fossil fuels from dwindling reserves. This is of
particular concern where buildings have been reported to directly consume 44% of total energy produced and
where almost 60% can be assigned to buildings when indirect consumption by buildings are taken in to
account. In Bangladesh economics of demand and supply of energy seem to pervade all spheres of strategic
thinking and the issues of design of buildings impacting this scenario still remain in the shadows. It is very
important that we address this causal relationship between building, environment, production and profit to
arrive at a sustainable future for our industries-a green future.
In recent times the concept of ‘green’ has captured the attention of the industry which has lead to a demand for
green design. This paper presents the findings of a research undertaken as a part of joint project by the
Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and PSES, a project
supported by GIZ on behalf of BMZ, looking at developing a viable concept of green design for industrial
sector. This is of particular importance for the present context as much of the ideas of green design in use are
gestures of topical nature, often relying on rhetoric and more as labels. In this paper discussions are
presented in view of our need for green design from a technical point of view based on detailed field
campaigns conducted in industrial buildings of RMG sector, supported by environmental simulation studies.
A multi level research technique has been employed where a host of secondary data along with a range of
primary data have been acquired and used to arrive at tangible design references. A set of Green Measures
were developed based on findings from various level of this research work and by way of precedence, cross
referencing, analysis and synthesis of primary and secondary data into a coherent set of guidelines.
Guidelines by regional Green Building Councils (GBC) were particularly referred to however guidelines by
GBC Brazil, Australia, Dubai and USA were also used. An outline of green measures will be presented in the
paper leading to ideas of performative design or performance based design for industrial buildings.
Performance based design is a concept where performance such as behavior of the building in generating a
desired indoor climate or a particular level of energy consumption acts as a guiding factor for the design. This
design approach heavily relies on building performance simulation for modification of material,
specifications, form, among others, towards optimizing a design idea. The method is well established,
documented and practiced around the world though new in Bangladesh. The architects today can interact,
control and moderate dynamic mechanisms of building climate relationship leading to a new expectations of
the building design, its process and practice. Green measures developed by BUET will facilitate such a
design approach by way of setting out performance targets and criteria towards evolving a green future for
our industrial buildings.
Potentials of Efficient Lighting in Production Spaces

Md. Mohataz Hossain

Lecturer, Department of Architecture
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka
e-mail: mohataz@arch.buet.ac.bd, tofa_4300@yahoo.com

The Ready-made garments (RMG) sector of Bangladesh has been expanding rapidly since the late 1970s.
The workers work in the garments factory building all day long and the economy of this sector depends on the
performance of these workers. Efficient lighting in production spaces, which indicates the quality as well as
quantity of lighting suitable for the effective production processes and saving energy consumption, is
concerned as one of the necessary safety requirements. As the Indoor environment is becoming highly
complex, workers are usually exposing to various visual problems with textile sewing activities, ironing and
others. Visual comfort for various illumination levels has an impact on total physical comfort condition and
influences the human behaviour and production level. The visual comfort of garment workers is an issue
based partly upon determining the suitable range of lighting levels available on their work plane. Local
standards and guidelines for improving the lighting conditions in these production spaces should be
established for incorporation in the sustainable design process.
The efficient lighting and its quality should be maintained not only for the visual comfort of the workers but also
for the effective production in the RMG sectors. On the other hand, if luminous environment is not given
enough consideration by the designer, while locating and selecting the type of artificial lights and daylight
penetration in the building envelop, pressure will be created on the overall national electrical energy demand.
In such a context, it is necessary to save energy as well as to ensure health and environmental safety of the
workers in production spaces, by reducing dependence on artificial lighting and by ensuring efficient lighting.
The objective of this paper to illustrate the existing illumination condition, with reference to various building
code and compliances, and to show the potentials for designing efficient lighting to increase the productivity
of the workers as well as save energy in production spaces of RMG sector. In this regard, research previously
conducted on lighting related issues were studied. The standards, BNBC codes, local and international
compliances were also studied from relevant published documents. Physical survey was conducted with
some observations and experimental studies on randomly selected RMG production spaces with the
illumination condition and actual performance of the workers. With above mentioned literature review and
field survey, this paper is limited to evaluating the scope for improving the effective lighting design in the
production spaces especially in the purpose built RMG factory in Dhaka region.
Thermal Comfort and Productivity: Towards New Directions
Md. Nawrose Fatemi
Lecturer, Department of Architecture
The University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka
e-mail: nawrosefatemi@gmail.com

Thermal Comfort is one of the basic phenomena of indoor environment. Comfort is one of those appealing
words which are easy to understand but difficult to explain. It is a condition of mind dependent on satisfaction
of both physical sensations and emotional states. Positive comfort conditions are those that do not distract by
causing unpleasant sensations of temperature, humidity or other aspects of environment. According to LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System, Thermal Comfort is one of
the major focuses to enhance indoor environmental quality. The intent is to provide a comfortable thermal
environment that promotes occupant productivity and well being. It is noteworthy that the efficiency of the
workers in the production line is highly dependent on the quality of indoor environment.
Recently, people have developed their concern to understand the effects of indoor environmental conditions
on worker performance. In the production sector, especially in the garments' production that involves many
complex operations and relationships, no standard method or way existed to measure workers productivity.
There are, however, many studies that have identified factors influencing workers productivity and attempted
to measure their individual effects. One of these effects is thermal environment variation that affects the
efficiency of workers and reduces their productivity. Work performance can be understood at two levels:
group tasks and individual task. Spatial configuration makes work groups more or less effective whereas
ambient environmental condition (lighting, acoustics and thermal condition) affect individual performance. In
Bangladesh, a huge number of populations (approximately 2 million) work in the indoor environment of the
industries, mostly working in production areas. For this, the indoor environment becomes much more
important for health and comfort than the outdoor environment.
The indoor environment affects several human responses, including thermal comfort, perceived air quality,
sick building syndrome symptoms and performance in work. Among these, this specific study focuses on the
correlation between thermal comfort and work productivity to improve the workplace environment in
production spaces of RMG factories. It also evaluates the effects of the environmental comfort factors (air
temperature, relative humidity and air movement) on the physiological comfort of the workers. Through this
study, literature related to the performance in work and thermal comfort is analyzed. A theoretical framework
for increasing knowledge of the environmental design on health and performance of workers is also outlined.
In Bangladesh, there are no available standards for thermal comfort evaluation adequate for work conditions
in the country, and especially, for activities not sedentary, as those developed in most industrial workplaces.
Recommended Temperature Range, Relative Humidity and Ventilation Rate are not mentioned properly
either in Bangladesh Factory Act 1965 or in Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC). However,
Recommended Temperature Range, Relative Humidity and Ventilation Rate are properly suggested in LEED
by United States Green Building Council and also in Green Factory Rating System by Indian Green Building
Council. Recent studies in the field survey showed that comfortable room temperature, comfortable humidity
range, and more effective ventilation increases the performance of the worker.
This study indicates that, indoor environments significantly influence worker performance, and existing
technologies and procedure can improved in a manner that increases productivity and welfare of the worker.
Re-thinking Steel Building for the RMG Sector in Bangladesh

B.M. Anisur Rahman

Research Architect
BUET –GIZ Project

The ready-made garment industry is one of the main sources of foreign exchange earnings in Bangladesh.
During the early 80's, the RMG sector underwent a very high growth rate in Bangladesh. Since then this
industries continued development and contributing significantly to the overall foreign exchange earnings.
Generation of employment has been on the rise. Most of RMG factories in Bangladesh, are located in an
around the Capital City, Dhaka. Unfortunately, the development of the RMG sector has not taken place in a
systematic and planned way. In fact, rapid and sporadic development of this industry has resulted in
unsystematic and unplanned growth, causing a number of problems and issues within and outside the
industry. During the last few decades most of the buildings constructed for RMG sectors are brick and RCC
Buildings. A large number of those buildings are not suitable for RMG industry, as they fail to provide many
important factors such as, cost effective production flow, large and flexible production area, comfortable
working environment, minimum operation and maintenance cost, safety and security etc. In recent days Steel
Buildings are becoming increasingly popular in the RMG sector. There are some inherent potential and merits
of steel buildings, such as, cost-effectiveness, fast construction and lightweight options, flexibility and high
resale value, leading to less waste generation at the end of the life cycle of a steel fabricated factory. As a
result, total number of steel buildings in the RMG sector is continuously increasing. The characteristics of
Steel Buildings are different from typical Brick and RCC Buildings. In local context however some poorly
designed steel buildings are creating various problems such as, uncomfortable indoor environment and huge
energy consumption. It becomes imperative to examine these contradictions.

Indoor thermal conditions, ventilation, lighting, work flow process etc. have profound effect on the overall
indoor environment, thermal comfort, energy consumption and productivity. Again, thermal performance of a
building greatly depends on the thermal properties of its building materials. Thermal conductivity of steel is
very high compared to other conventional building materials like wood, brick, concrete, etc. Huge amounts of
energy are usually consumed to ensure thermal comfort of the occupants in industrial buildings, especially in
production units of RMG sector. With the growth of industries, energy demands in industrial sectors are also
increasing continuously. As a developing country, Bangladesh is currently undergoing a phase of acute
shortage of power due to depletion of its energy resources. In the event of this energy crisis, “Green buildings”
consisting of steel structures can play an important role in ameliorating this situation by providing comfortable
indoor working environments through efficient use of energy.

Steel factory buildings offer great potential, especially for RMG sector in Bangladesh. It has, therefore,
become essential to identify the overall performance of Steel factory buildings in local context to improve the
overall comfort of the occupants as well as to improve energy efficiency and productivity of the RMG industry
in Bangladesh.