GBCM- TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED ON

1. Smart City (For a better tomorrow)/ (Smart City, Smart Lives)

A smart sustainable city is an innovative city that uses information and communication technolo

gies (ICTs) and other means to improve quality of life, efficiency of urban operationand services,

and competitiveness, while ensuring that it meets the needs of present and future generations wit

h respect to economic, social and environmental aspects (Roger Lea, 2017). It has a concept about

developing and investing in a mix of commercial, leisure and residential uses that, as a whole,

achieves physical and functional integration and creates a pedestrian-oriented urban environment,

a combination of office, light industrial, education, medical and tourism clusters, high technology

and innovation cluster, infrastructure to service green-field sites with roads and inspiring

landscaping, clean technology aimed at carbon and waste reduction, efficient transport, low-

energy-consumption buildings, digital solutions, urban sensing technologies and big data

analytics, energy production and water management and utilities, high-end residential estate and

real estate investment management providing investors, nationals and foreigners, with options for

living in sustainable, convenient and enjoyable urban surroundings.

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2. Placemaking (Making a public space a living space)

Placemaking is the process through which we work together to shape our public spaces. Its

concept is about community-based participation, which involves the planning, design,

management and programming of shared use spaces. More than just designing spaces,

placemaking brings together diverse people (including professionals, elected officials,

residents, and businesses) to improve a community’s cultural, economic, social and

ecological situation (Rethinkurban, 2018). It is not just the act of building or fixing up a

space; it is a process that fosters the creation of vital public destinations – the kind of places

where people feel a strong stake in their communities and commitment to making things

better.

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3. Net Zero Building (NZEB)

Net zero building, is a building with zero net energy consumption, meaning the total

amount of energy used by the building on an annual basis is roughly equal to the amount

of renewable energy created on the site. These buildings consequently contribute less

overall greenhouse gas to the atmosphere than similar non-ZNE buildings. A similar

concept approved and implemented by the European Union and other agreeing countries

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is nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB), with the goal of having all buildings in the region

under nZEB standards by 2020. The net zero concept is applicable to a wide range of

resources due to the many options for producing and conserving resources in buildings

(e.g. energy, water, waste) (John Farrell, 2018).

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Renewable Energy (The future is green energy, sustainability & renewable energy)

Renewable energy is energy that is collected from renewable resources, which are naturally

replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat.

Renewable energy often provides energy in four important areas: electricity

generation, air and water heating/cooling, transportation, and rural (off-grid) energy services.

These fuels into usable forms of energy—most often electricity, but also heat, chemicals, or

mechanical power. Renewable Energy sources are not depleted, and it is distributed over a wide

geographical area, these resources are quickly renewed through natural process. It won’t create

any environmental pollution problems. The main advantage of using renewable resource is it is

available throughout the year. By one time investment we can drew energy for many decades

without affecting the environment. . The most prevalent forms of renewable energy are solar,

wind, biomass, hydro power, geothermal and biofuels (Renewables Guide, 2018).

GBCM- TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED ON

4. Internet of things

The Internet of things (IoT) is the network of physical devices, vehicles, home appliances

andotheritems embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators,and connectivity which

enables these objects to connect and exchange data. IoT is enhancing green buildings in several

ways: Enabling edge analytics, creating adaptive building systems, predictive maintenance, easily

solving previously difficult integration issues between different building devices and management

systems, bring better security and privacy to building technologies. Green building principles have

been more focused on the design of buildings and systems; building automation and technologies

have evolved more to simplify operating the building (Sudhi Sinha, 2016).

5. Blockchain

A blockchain, originally block chain, is a continuously growing list of records,

called blocks, which are linked and secured using cryptography. Each block typically

contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp and transaction data. A

blockchain is a shared, encrypted ledger that is maintained by a network of computers. It

can be used as a tracking system that verifies a product’s source data as it moves across a

supply chain, sending automated alerts about unexpected deviations that could signal

potential tampering or environmental conditions that might pose health and safety

GBCM- TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED ON

issues. Through such a system an electronics business purchasing component parts from a

supplier could verify that the raw materials used were actually sourced from sustainable

mines (e.g. operating in accordance with the latest conflict mineral legislation such as

3TG). In addition, environmental data concerning everything from energy consumption to

waste generation could be allocated to the product’s ‘ledger’ each step of the way providing

transparent and accurate data on the true environmental impact of the product (WSP, 2017)

6. Tropical Architectural

Tropical architecture is a branch of the architecture, the study of the climate of the oriented

architecture the weather in a place where the mass of the building or group of buildings,

and the impact or impact on the environmental link or influence on the tropical

surroundings. It refers to reducing these impacts by designing and constructing buildings

that are appropriate for the climate, have minimal environmental impacts, and are healthy

and comfortable for building users (Cairns Regional Council, 2017).

7. Health and well-being in Green building

Whether living in a green home, working in a sustainably-renovated office or learning in

an eco-friendly school, people all over Canada are experiencing the benefits of

GBCM- TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED ON

environmental construction and design every day. People who live, learn and work in these

buildings and homes have been found to be more productive, higher performing and

healthier. Whether it is improved employee retention, fewer sick days or better math scores,

the end result is clear: green buildings are good for you (CaGBC, n.a).

8. Sustainable Urban Planning

Sustainable urban planning involves many disciplines, including architecture, engineering,

biology, environmental science, materials science, law, transportation, technology,

economic development, accounting and finance, and government, among others. This kind

of planning also develops innovative and practical approaches to land use and its impact

on natural resources. Sustainable building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with

which buildings and their sites use energy, water, and materials, and of reducing impacts

on human health and the environment for the entire life-cycle of a building (IEREK, 2018).

New sustainable solutions for urban planning problems can include green buildings and

housing, mixed-use developments, walkability, greenways and open spaces, alternative

energy sources such as solar and wind, and transportation options. Creating sustainable

communities- including the physical, economic, political, social and environmental

aspects- involves many challenges.

GBCM- TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED ON

9. Alternative Material: Bamboo

Concrete is a material that quite literally holds our cities together. Concrete is a material

that quite literally holds our cities together. From homes and apartment buildings to

bridges, viaducts, and sidewalks, this ubiquitous gray material’s importance to modern

urban life is undeniable. Bamboo is one of natural resources that can be applied for building

materials. In such bamboo growing countries, bamboo has main role as a building material

for more than hundreds years ago. Sometimes bamboo can be used to replace wood based

building material. Bamboo might seem trendy, but it has actually been a locally-

sourced building material in some regions of the world for millennia. What makes bamboo

such a promising building material for modern buildings is its combination of tensile

strength, light weight, and fast-growing renewable nature. Used for framing buildings and

shelters, bamboo can replace expensive and heavy imported materials and provide an

alternative to concrete and rebar construction, especially in difficult-to reach areas, post-

disaster rebuilding, and low-income areas with access to natural locally-sourced bamboo

(Construction Climate Challenge, 2016).

GBCM- TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED ON

10. Biomimicry and Biophilia

Biomimicry is the creation of great designs by imitating various living organisms that they

have evolved during the 3.8 billion years. Benyus J (2017) defined Biomimicry as "a new

discipline that studies nature’s best ideas and then imitates the designs and processes to

solve human problems. Biomimicry is being used to inspire energy efficient passive

cooling systems in buildings. A biomimicry-based material, this time stemming

from the wood building material realm, is Columbia Forest Product’s Pure Bond

technology. This formaldehyde-free, soy-based plywood assembly adhesive

was originally inspired by the way mussels grip onto rocks (Martin Smith, 2016).

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Biophilia is the process of integrating nature, visually and literally into architecture and

urban planning. Biophilia literally translates to love of life and the living world; the affinity

of human beings for other life forms. E.O. Wilson coined the term in 1984, but it’s a

concept that we all inherently understand. Biophilia explains why we feel more relaxed in

nature, why all of our senses are fully engaged when we step outside (Amanda Sturgeon,

2018).

11. Cost Benefits Analysis

Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is the examination of a decision in terms of its consequences

or costs and benefits (Stephanie Riegg Cellini, James Edwin Kee, 2010). In green

building studies, the relationships between green strategies and building performances are

examined to verify the existence and strength of the link among certain variables, such as

natural ventilation strategies and thermal comfort performances. Cost-benefit studies,

though, aim to identify relationships among green costs as a consequence of green

strategies and benefits as a consequence of green performances. In other words, the extra

costs of green buildings are evaluated against the extra financial benefits (Khoshbakht,

2016).

GBCM- TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED ON

12. Green Finance

Green finance is defined as financing of investments that provide environmental benefits.

Green Finance for Developing Countries summarizes this work to date, and spells out

developing countries’ concerns, needs and innovations as momentum grows to catalyse

green finance through financial system development. It maps out broad support for

advancing green finance as a key aspect of sustainable development. Importantly, it

highlights the leadership taken in diverse developing country contexts in advancing

financial policies, regulations and fiscal measures that encourage financial market actors

to take greater account of national priorities and sustainable development.

13. Green Building Rating Tools

Green building rating tools also known as certification are used to assess and recognize

buildings which meet certain green requirements or standards. Rating tools are often

voluntary, recognize and reward companies and organisations who build and operate

greener buildings, thereby encouraging and incentivizing them to push the boundaries on

sustainability. They kick-start the market by setting standards that then in turn elevate the

ambition of government building codes and regulation, workforce training, and corporate

strategies. Rating tools vary in their approach and can be applied to the planning and

design, construction, operation and maintenance, renovation, and eventual demolition

phases of a green building. Rating tools can also differ in the type of buildings they are

applied to, with specific tools or subsets of tools used for different building types such as

homes, commercial buildings (WorldGBC, 2016).

14. Green Metro- Rapid Mass Transit (MRTS)

Green MRTS rating system is a voluntary and consensus based programme. The rating

system has been developed to enable new Rail based MRTS to apply green concepts during

design & construction, so as to further reduce environmental impacts that are measurable.

The overarching objective is to ensure environmental sustainability, while enhancing

commuter experience. An example of MRTS is in India (IGBC, 2017).