GREEN BUILDINGS:GREEN BUILDINGS: An Approach towards An Approach towards Pollution PreventionPollution Prevention

Abhilash Vijayan

Charanya Varadarajan

Department of Civil Engineering

University of ToledoAir Pollution Research Group

IntroductionIntroduction Since the Industrial Revolution the world has witnessed

incalculable technological achievements

population growth

corresponding increases in resource use

“Side effects” of all the activities and achievements include:

pollution, landfills at capacity, toxic waste, global warming, resource

and ozone depletion, and deforestation

All these efforts are straining the limits of the Earth’s “carrying capacity”— its ability to provide the resources required to sustain life while retaining the capacity to regenerate and remain viable.

Construction

Population Vegetation

Air Quality Climate

Transportation Watersheds

1/6 of the world’s1/6 of the world’s freshwater withdrawalsfreshwater withdrawals

1/4 of world’s1/4 of world’s wood harvestwood harvest

2/5 of world’s2/5 of world’s material & energy flowsmaterial & energy flows

Building Industry- FactsBuilding Industry- Facts

50

40

40

35

30

25

16

0 10 20 30 40 50

Percentage

Ozone depleting CFCs in Use

Municipal Solid Waste to Landfills

Global Energy Use

Global CO2 Emissions

Raw Materials Consumption

Timber Harvest

Fresh Water Withdrawals

Environmental and Economic Impacts of Buildings

Compiled from:Worldwatch Paper #124

Building Industry in USBuilding Industry in US Represents more than 50 percent of the nation’s wealthRepresents more than 50 percent of the nation’s wealth New construction and renovation activity amounts to New construction and renovation activity amounts to

approximately $800 billionapproximately $800 billion Represents 13 percent of the GDPRepresents 13 percent of the GDP Employs over ten million peopleEmploys over ten million people C&D debris comprise approximately 15 to 30 percent of all waste disposed

of in landfills

The resources required to create, operate, and replenish this level The resources required to create, operate, and replenish this level of infrastructure and income are enormous, but diminishingof infrastructure and income are enormous, but diminishing

To remain competitive and continue to expand and produce profits To remain competitive and continue to expand and produce profits in the future, the building industry has to address the in the future, the building industry has to address the

Environmental and Economic consequences of its actionsEnvironmental and Economic consequences of its actions

SustainabilitySustainability

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Development that meets the needs of the present Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future without compromising the ability of future

generations to meet their own needsgenerations to meet their own needs

(The Brundtland Commission,1987)(The Brundtland Commission,1987)

SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGSSUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

A “Cradle-to-Cradle” ApproachA “Cradle-to-Cradle” Approach

Working Principles

Application of Sustainability

Pre-Design On-Site Design Construction O&M

Material Selection

Building Program

Project Budget

Team Selection

Partnering

Project Schedule

Laws, Codes

& Standards

Research

Site Selection

Site Analysis

& Assessment

Site Development

& Layout

Watershed

Management &

Conservation

Site Material

& Equipment

Environmentally

Conscious

Construction

Preservation of

Features &

Vegetation

Waste Mgmt

IAQ Issues

Source Control

Practices

Passive Solar

Design

Materials &

Specification

Indoor Air

Quality

Maintenance Plans

Indoor Quality

Energy Efficiency

Resource Efficiency

Renovation

Housekeeping &

Custodial Practices

Application of Sustainability –Application of Sustainability – A Superior Technology A Superior Technology

Effect of SustainabilityEffect of Sustainability

Best Building Form

Solar & Energy Efficient Design

Improved Indoor Air Quality

Usage of Green Materials

Proper Mechanical Systems

Efficient Lighting

Proper Testing & Maintenance

Advanced Features of a Sustainable Building

Green Materials Materials, production, use and disposal must Materials, production, use and disposal must

be safe for the planet. Most of the materials be safe for the planet. Most of the materials have specific range of conditions in which they have specific range of conditions in which they best work best work

Sustainable building materials have the Sustainable building materials have the following features:following features:• Durable and easily maintainedDurable and easily maintained• Less processing requiredLess processing required• Low odorLow odor• Low emittingLow emitting• Cost-effectiveCost-effective• AestheticAesthetic

Economics of Economics of Green BuildingsBuildings

Reduction in lighting energy requirements by at least 50 percent

Cut heating and cooling energy consumption by 60 percent

Reduced water consumption by up to 30 percent or more

Lower building operating expenses through reduced utility and waste disposal costs

Lower on-going building maintenance costs, ranging from salaries to supplies

Increase worker productivity by six to 16 percent

Higher property values and potentially lower lenders’ credit risk

Higher building net income

New economic development opportunities

Benefits of Sustainable Benefits of Sustainable ConstructionConstruction

Sustainable construction makes wise use of all the natural resources and a 50% reduction in energy use

Improves occupant health, comfort, productivity, reduces pollution and  landfill waste that are not easily quantified

A sustainable building may cost more up front, but saves through lower operating costs over the life of the building

Building is designed as one system rather than a collection of stand-alone systems with the help of the integrated system approach

•Further research

•Successful examples of Sustainable buildings

•Newer, efficient and healthier technologies

•Availability of computer software programs to identify and evaluate options for a building project

•Governmental support

•An active participation from every sector of the society

Future of Sustainable Buildings

Case Study- The Dalles Case Study- The Dalles Middle School (Oregon)Middle School (Oregon)

((Source: http://www.energy.state.or.us/school/thedalles.pdfSource: http://www.energy.state.or.us/school/thedalles.pdf

Problem:Problem: Poorly built middle school Poorly built middle school

in a landslide areain a landslide area In 1955, to meet the In 1955, to meet the

sudden influx of students, sudden influx of students, temporary facilities were temporary facilities were constructed with an constructed with an expectant life of 20 years, expectant life of 20 years, but were used for 45 yearsbut were used for 45 years

By 2000, the State Fire By 2000, the State Fire Marshall closed down the Marshall closed down the facility with the decision to facility with the decision to build a new schoolbuild a new school

Building Design

Heating and cooling are a large part of the energy use of a school building

The high temperature ground water from the landslide area was used to provide both heating and cooling using geothermal principles

It is one of the first schools in the nation that is heated and cooled with the very ground water that caused the landslides

LightingLighting

Daylighting & Daylighting &

Skylighting-Skylighting- Incorporated

lots of natural light to reduce the need for electric lighting and the associated increase in the air conditioning load

Energy efficient fluorescent T5s installed in classrooms

Natural VentilationNatural Ventilation

Operable windows pull fresh air into one side of the classroom, while ventilation stacks pull the air out on the opposite side of the classroom

At extreme temperatures, automatic backup mechanical ventilation systems used

Application of Concepts of Application of Concepts of SustainabilitySustainability

Use of paints and sealers with low or no-volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Reclaimed ground water to irrigate the ball fields. Exterior lighting directed downward to reduce

night light pollution Mechanically zoned science classrooms to avoid

exposure to hazardous chemicals Stained the concrete walls to blend with the

colors of the natural landscape Use of ceiling tiles produced from 75 percent

post-consumer recycled waste

ResultsResults High performance school building

emerged that will prevent pollution, save energy, natural resources and money

60 percent cost reduction in energy expected

Students performed better with the skylights and windows that bring natural, non-glare light inside the classroom

Improved Indoor Air Quality and occupant comfort due to no-VOC emissions from building materials