Courtesy : www.re-thinkingthefuture.com
Green building
The orientation of the building
Orientation is the building’s positioning concerning the path of the sun and wind patterns. It is one of the passive design techniques for improving thermal comfort inside the building. Orientation regarding climatology is the key in the initial stages of planning and helps in optimizing the heating and cooling needs throughout the building.
2. Solar shading
Solar control and shading directly impact on the energy efficiency of the building. The cooling load can be minimized to one-fourth of the building’s load. Shading devices such as fins and chajjas (overhangs) are designed to get a minimum exposure of the sun in summer while allowing the winter sun inside the space. This helps in regulating and reducing the electrical load on the building. Solar orientation is important to consider while designing an effective shading device. Some solar shading elements can be trees, hedges, overhangs, vertical fins, low-shading coefficient glass, blinds, and louvers.
3. Building material choices
Material selection for the building’s construction plays a crucial role in deciding its impact on the environment. Locally available materials that are non-toxic and sustainable should be selected for the construction to reduce the environmental impact of transportation. Recycled materials can also minimize waste products from the environment. UV-reflective paints can be used on the exterior walls to reduce the heat gain of the building. Material on the roof also plays a major role in the energy efficiency of the building. China mosaic white finish, vermiculite concrete, and polystyrene insulation are some materials that can be used as a roofing material. The lighter the color of the material used on the roofs, the lesser the heat gain for the building.
4. Building envelope
The building envelope is the division or a barrier between the interior of a building and the exterior. It controls the exchange of air, water, heating, and cooling in the building’s interior. Therefore, it is important to consider the components that make up the envelope. It includes the roof, walls, doors, windows, and foundations of the building. Besides experiencing various structural loads, it also accounts for air, heat, and moisture loads. Also, the building’s exterior such as color and texture contributes to the heat gain/loss for the building. An envelope can be either tight (in cold climates) or loose (in hot climates) based on the location in which the building is built. A loose envelope lets air flow freely throughout the building while a tight envelope controls the airflow in and out of the building.
5. Window-wall ratio (WWR)
The Window-wall ratio is the ratio of the window area to the exterior wall area of the facade. It is an important value in determining the energy performance of the building. Since windows cause energy loss twice more than the wall, it has impacts on heating, cooling, lighting, and ventilation. Thus, the size and number of windows should be designed according to the climatic conditions. Besides, interior and exterior shading, along with high-performance glazing systems can reduce the undesirable solar heat gains through the windows.
6. Structure design efficiency
The building and construction sector accounts for almost half of the total usage and consumption of raw material, thus causing exhaustion of natural resources available. Thus, the optimization and selection of structural systems concerning the minimal weight of the structure help to minimize the exhaustion of natural resources. Also, structure-wise typical shapes, cross-sections, and varieties are being developed to optimize the structure.