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Sustainable design

Does Sustainable and Green Building Cost More?

by Editor November 1, 2023

written by Editor

Green buildings are not just a concept that can save the world but also make our world healthier, richer, and safer. It’s time to research more and the sooner we realize the benefits, the more the chances of survival for us as a species. Consider Green Buildings from the context of conventional goals of Affordable Housing: Affordability: While there has been no systematic study to the costs associated with green building construction,

one of the recent reports by Newecology states that “development costs of green buildings ranged between 18% below to 9% above the costs of conventional affordable housing projects”.

Further, we should also be including the added value of health and comfort for residents. A healthier living environment also cuts back your medical expenses apart from the fact that you feel good! Performance: Green technologies and architecture improve the durability of the building to a great extent and minimize the costs of refurbishments, repairs, or regular maintenance.

Better insulation, the right amount of ventilation, and a stronger building envelope also offer a better performing asset while adding to the resale value. Health: The construction of green buildings is carefully designed around the heath of the residents and the environment around them. Reduced emissions, better indoor air quality, reduced need for artificial insulation (HVAC), and a cleaner environment are the perfect mix we should be living with.

Green building does not necessarily have to be more expensive than traditional construction. In the case of more extensive green projects, such as fitting an array of solar panels, there is likely to be a significant increase in costs but decreased energy costs and benefits to the environment lead to an impressive return on investment over time.

Less comprehensive green building projects, such as the reuse of existing buildings or materials, should not involve additional costs and can still provide significant environmental benefits. This is why any level of green building should represent the future of construction.

Green Products

There are more green products available today than even a few years ago. Facility executives can specify everything from carpets with backings that don’t contain PVC to paints that are low in volatile organic compounds to energy-efficient elevators.

The benefits of green buildings

The world over, evidence is growing that green buildings bring multiple benefits.

They provide some of the most effective means to achieving a range of global goals, such as addressing climate change, creating sustainable and thriving communities, and driving economic growth.

Highlighting these benefits, and facilitating a growing evidence base for proving them, is at the heart of what we do as an organization.

The benefits of green buildings can be grouped into three categories: environmental, economic, and social. Here, we provide a range of facts and statistics from various third-party sources that present these benefits.

Environmental

One of the most important types of benefits green buildings offer is to our climate and the natural environment. Green buildings can not only reduce or eliminate negative impacts on the environment, by using less water, energy or natural resources, but they can – in many cases – have a positive impact on the environment (at the building or city scales) by generating their own energy or increasing biodiversity.

Economic

Green buildings offer a number of economic or financial benefits, which are relevant to a range of different people or groups of people. These include cost savings on utility bills for tenants or households (through energy and water efficiency); lower construction costs and higher property value for building developers; increased occupancy rates or operating costs for building owners; and job creation.

Social

Green building benefits go beyond economics and the environment and have been shown to bring positive social impacts too. Many of these benefits are around the health and wellbeing of people who work in green offices or live in green homes. Green buildings can be built in a cost-competitive way or they can be built at a premium. It depends on what strategies are selected, and what standard it is being compared to.

Design Costs: If the standard buildings around the area are being built without any particular designer input, then the cost of the design for a green building will be seen as an additional cost. Green building design includes the work of architects, mechanical, electrical, and structural engineers, and specialized green building consultants.

Construction Costs: If the normal buildings are being built with concrete, brick, glass, and steel, and a green building decides to use local materials like mud or sun-dried bricks, there may actually be some savings compared to standard buildings. The cost will also depend on the availability and cost of skilled labour for these alternative building methods. Such strategies using local materials or passive design strategies such as good building orientation, shading etc typically do not add much cost if any. But if a building is trying to be green using high-end technology such as automated controls and sensors, then yes, it would be more expensive and significantly more complex.

Timing: A lot of strategies to go green cost-effectively can only be used in the planning starts from the concept stage. For example, it is greener to use fewer windows, but that decision has to be made very early in the design stage. Almost always, the green strategies that are tacked on at the end cost more. In a country like the US, where most buildings use a design team anyway, the additional cost for a LEED Gold building can be as low as around 2% if the design team makes it part of the plan from the very start.

Lifecycle cost: the total cost incurred in a building is the sum of the cost of land, construction, and maintenance up to demolition, usually considered 30–60 years. Green buildings come into their own when lifecycle costs of the building are factored in, which incidentally, are fantastically lower than a non-green building. The monthly electrical and water cost of a reasonably green building would be anything between 18–35% lower for a LEED gold and perhaps up to 45% lower for a LEED Platinum project. All these numbers, of course, depend on what systems are energy-saving, and how much energy is saved. In conclusion, I would say yes, green buildings are more expensive to build but less expensive to run. A balance is what makes one successful.

The green building Concept is gaining importance in various countries, these are buildings the ensure that waste is minimized at every stage during the construction and operation of the building resulting in low cost according to the experts in the technology.

Different levels of green building

Let’s start by saying that not every green building project has to be large scale. Of course, there are many projects of that type and some of them can be expensive. For instance, installing an array of solar panels necessitates a large initial investment.

However, there are green building projects which are smaller but can still make a difference. For instance, a current building can be repurposed or recycled materials can be used. In these cases, the costs involved should not be any higher than for traditional construction. In fact, reusing materials can actually help to reduce costs.

It’s also important to note that although creating a building that uses sustainable energy can involve a significant initial outlay, money can actually be saved in the long term. This is because green buildings are more cost-effective to heat and cool.

High-performing buildings can be sold at a premium, with the average green building worth 7 percent more than its traditional counterpart.
Green buildings, on average, are 14 percent less costly to operate than traditional buildings, with most new builds today achieving significantly more energy savings than that.
Market demand for green building is doubling every three years.

Green skyscraper covered with vertical Gardens and ingenious sunlight reflection systems

Green Buildings Boost Property Value Of Properties

Indeed, the study finds that, on average, certified buildings have a higher occupancy rate than non-certified buildings: + 4% for LEED-certified buildings, or + 9.5% for office buildings. Energy-Star certified buildings are also better rented than those with no certification (+ 3.7% on the rental price for LEED-certified buildings). This means certified buildings are easier to rent – they stay less idle, which reduces costs for real estate operators and owners.

And they can also be rented for a more expensive price whose value is offset by lower energy, water, and heating consumption for tenants. But that’s not all: the study remarks an increase in the property value of certified green buildings: if it goes to resale, it’s worth 8 to 10% more compared to the original property value. In this way, investing in a green building is a profitable initiative for house owners in the short and long term – whether the prospect is renting or selling.

Green buildings are one of the key strategies to reduce environmental pollution and create a healthier environment inside and outside of buildings and, generally, the materials used are harmless. Green buildings provide optimal utilization of valuable energy sources such as wind, water, sun and etc.

Green building is a response to a demand for energy and resource efficiency. Nowadays the green building is much more than energy efficient. Now designers understand that fresh air, improved indoor environment, and water savings are also important. Buildings are now examined in different aspects like local, natural and their neighbours as well.

At first when environmental expert people and the government was trying to convince people that green building is good and beneficial for the environment, then people’s interest level is quite low, then expect people start talking about its other beneficial side like it’s good for residents also now they are also disclosing that it’s profitable as well. One green building can help to improve the environment, health, and bank balance as well. Green buildings environmental benefit is well recognized.

The Green building program has matured with time and now discuss return on investment, risk mitigation, employee productivity and heal as well. Green building projects shift their emphasis over time from ‘planet’ to ‘people and ‘profit.’

November 1, 2023 0 comment

Sustainable Heritage Story: Charminar

by Editor September 30, 2023

written by Editor

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the current caretaker of the structure, mentions in its records, “There are various theories regarding the purpose for which Charminar was constructed. However, it is widely accepted that Charminar was built at the centre of the city, to commemorate the eradication of Cholera”, a deadly disease that was widespread at that time. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah had prayed for the end of the plague that was ravaging his city and vowed to build a Mosque at the very place where he prayed. According to Jean de Thevenot, a French traveller of the 17th century whose narration was complemented with the available Persian texts, the Charminar was constructed in the year 1591 CE, to commemorate the beginning of the second Islamic millennium year (1000 AH). The event was celebrated far and wide in the Islamic world, thus Qutb Shah founded the city of Hyderabad to celebrate the event and commemorate it with the construction of this building. Due to its architecture, it is also called Arc de Triomphe of the east.

The Charminar was constructed at the intersection of the historical trade route that connects the markets of Golkonda with the port city of Machilipatnam. The Old City of Hyderabad was designed with Charminar as its centrepiece. The city was spread around the Charminar in four different quadrants and chambers, segregated according to the established settlements. Towards the north of Charminar is the Char Kaman, or four gateways, constructed in the cardinal direction. Additional eminent architects from Persia were also invited to develop the city plan. The structure itself was intended to serve as a Mosque and Madrasa. It is of Indo-Islamic architecture style, incorporating Persian architectural elements.

Historian Masud Hussain Khan says that the construction of Charminar was completed in the year 1592 and that it is the city of Hyderabad which was actually founded in the year 1591.

Structure

The Charminar masjid is a square structure with each side 20 meters (approximately 66 feet) long, with four grand arches each facing a fundamental point that open into four streets. At each corner stands an exquisitely shaped minaret, 56 meters (approximately 184 feet) high, with a double balcony. Each minaret is crowned by a bulbous dome with dainty petal-like designs at the base. Unlike the minarets of the Taj Mahal, Charminar’s four fluted minarets are built into the main structure. There are 149 winding steps to reach the upper floor. The structure is also known for its profusion of stucco decorations and the arrangement of its balustrades and balconies.

The structure is made of granite, limestone, mortar and pulverized marble and it weighs approximately 14000 tones. Initially, the monument with its four arches was so proportionately planned that when the fort was opened one could catch a glimpse of the bustling Hyderabad city, as these Charminar arches were facing the most active royal ancestral streets.

There is also a legend of an underground tunnel connecting the Golconda fort to Charminar, possibly intended as an escape route for the Qutb Shahi rulers in case of a siege, though the location of the tunnel is unknown.

A mosque is located at the western end of the open roof; the remaining part of the roof served as a court during the Qutb Shahi times. The actual mosque occupies the top floor of the four-storey structure. A vault that appears from inside like a dome supports two galleries within the Charminar, one over another, and above those a terrace that serves as a roof, bordered with a stone balcony. The main gallery has 45 covered prayer spaces with a large open space in front to accommodate more people for Friday prayers.

The clock on the four cardinal directions was added in 1889. There is a Vazu (water cistern) in the middle, with a small fountain for ablution before offering prayer in the Charminar mosque.

Tags: Charminar, Charminar at Hyderabad, Charminar Hyderabad, Charminar Hyderabad history, Charminar Hyderabad Telangana, Hyderabad Charminar gate.

September 30, 2023 0 comment

Building Envelope Energy Efficiency Sustainable Architecture

Tips to reduce the heat of your roof

by Editor May 30, 2023

written by Editor

Summers can be troublesome especially if your roof is not insulated. The roof and building stay exposed to the scorching heat of the Sun and get heated. This heats the room which takes longer to cool. The roof is made up of concrete which is a dense material, meaning doesn’t cool down easily. When the day begins to cool, the heat from the roof and walls radiates in the rooms. When the fan is switched on, the hot air from the roof circulates the hot air in the room.

Prepare a shade for your roof
False Ceilings

In buildings that are a work in progress, insulation can be built on the roof. Lightweight foam concrete panels are used to fill in the roof. They are also known as filler slab roofs. The advantages are – there is less consumption of concrete, the structural load is reduced, and the heat retained by the roof is under control.

Ballast Roofing Hire a roof installation service that does ballast roofing. This roofing involves a membrane to be spread over a roof deck with natural stones weighing them down in place. In this roofing system, the stones are used to hold the roof membrane in place while acting as an insulating barrier against the scorching sun. It acts like those old stone houses that stay cooler due to their thick walls. They are mostly inexpensive and can be combined with a rooftop garden to make it more effective.

Ways to Cool Your Roof

Ballasted roofing systems are roofs in which a membrane is laid on the roof deck and held in place by the weight of concrete pavers or natural stones, such as river stones. While ballasted roofing systems don’t meet current Energy Star guidelines for cool roofing options, they do meet the “cool roof” standard for Chicago, which has been one of the earliest adopters of rooftop gardens and other green roofing technologies.
While a rooftop garden isn’t technically a “cool roof,” it achieves many of the same benefits as qualified cool roof products and reduces stormwater runoff to boot.

If you’d rather enjoy the benefits of a cool roof without the addition of new surface materials or coatings, consider a roof mist cooling system. Also called an evaporative cooling system, a roof misting system lowers surface temperatures by spraying an extremely small amount of water across the roof, allowing the water to cool the roof as it evaporates.

You have begun to see a slight increase in popularity thanks in part to newer manufactured tiles containing “cool-coloured” pigments. Developed through a partnership between the California Energy Commission, national research laboratories, and roofing manufacturers, these tiles are produced in earth-toned colours including brown, green, and terra cotta, and many qualify as Energy Star materials for steep-sloped roofs. The cost of these “cool-coloured” tiles is comparable to the cost of traditional roofing tiles

Unpainted metal roofs are naturally reflective (high solar reflectance), but they tend to hold heat in (low emissivity), so they are generally a better choice for steep roofs than for flat or low-sloping roofs, which receive more sunlight throughout the course of a day. A factory-applied cool roof coating can improve the heat releasing properties of a metal roof, enough so that some coated metal roofs are able to qualify as cool roofs.

How to Beat The Summer Heat By Keeping the Roof Cool

Grow a roof Garden

One of the best ways to keep the roof cool is by growing your own rooftop garden with green grass and potted plants. The green roof shades the building from direct sunlight while the mud within the potted plants and the lawn absorbs most of the heat that hits the roof. Before going for a roof garden, make sure that the roof is properly waterproofed so as to prevent any type of water seepage through the external walls or roof slab, which may cause damage to the building.

2. Paints the terraced white

Heat gain can be considerably reduced by turning the roof into a reflective roof surface. How?

Paint the concrete floor with cool roof paints. These paints provide good thermal insulation by reflecting the sun’s rays and keeping the indoors cool. Brands such as Dr Fixit have such products on offer.
A cost-effective way to keep the roof cool throughout summer is by coating the floor with white lime wash, locally known as chuna. One drawback with using lime wash is that it gets washed away during the monsoon season, hence reapplication is required every summer.
For a more permanent solution one can install white ceramic or porcelain tiles on the roof.

3. Add shade

The roof slabs are made of concrete, which is a very dense material – it retains heat for a very long time and then transfers it to the indoors. The temperatures can be controlled by creating shade on the rooftop because shaded areas are cooler than the surroundings.
Go for high walls or trellises along the perimeter of the roof, like in the photo here; this is an interesting way to shade the roof.
Introduce design features, such as pergolas with creepers, to create shade.

4. Go for heat-resistant flooring

Go for flooring materials such as wooden deck tiles or terracotta tiles that do not absorb or transfer as much heat to the lower floors and are comfortable to walk on even during peak summers.

5. Install solar panels

Alternatively, one can cover the roof with solar panels. The solar panels comprise photovoltaic cells and block the heat from hitting the roof, as in his example. Instead, these panels capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity.

Note that the whole roof can be covered with solar panels only in multi-storied buildings or apartment complexes where the roof is primarily used for building services.

A cool roof is one that has been designed to reflect more sunlight and consume less heat than a standard roof. Cool roofs can be made of a deeply reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or shingles.

Thermal Insulation Cool roofing Coating — Solar Roof

Cool roofs can be made of a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or profoundly reflective tiles or shingles. Standard or dark roofs can reach temperatures of 150°F or more in the summer sun. A cool roof under the same conditions could stay more than 50°F cooler and save energy and money by using less air conditioning.

Benefits of Cool Roofs

Reducing energy bills by decreasing air conditioning needs
Improving indoor comfort for spaces that are not air conditioned, such as garages or covered patios
Decreasing roof temperature, which may extend roof service life.
Reduce local air temperatures (sometimes referred to as the urban heat island effect)
Lower peak electricity demand, which can help prevent power outages
Reduce power plant emissions, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and mercury, by reducing cooling energy use in buildings.

Deciding Whether to Install a Cool Roof

If you are building a new home, you can decide during the planning phase what type of roof to install and whether it should be a cool roof. If you want to convert an existing roof into a cool roof, you have three basic options:

Retrofit the roof with a specialized heat-reflective material
Re-cover the roof with a new waterproofing surface (such as tile coating)
Replace the roof with a cool one.

Cost and Energy Savings

A cool roof does not necessarily cost more than a non-cool roof, particularly if you are installing a new roof or replacing an existing one. However, converting a standard roof that’s in good condition into a cool roof can be expensive. Major roof costs include upfront installation (materials and labour) and continuous maintenance (repair, recoating, and cleaning). Additional cool roof costs include specialized materials and labour.

Climate and Environment

Your climate is an important consideration when deciding whether to install a cool roof. Cool roofs achieve the greatest cooling savings in hot environments but can increase energy costs in colder climates due to reduced beneficial wintertime heat gains.

Moisture Control

In warm, moist areas, cool roof surfaces can be more susceptible to algae or mould growth than hot roofs. Some roof coatings include special chemicals that prevent mould or algae growth for a few years.

In cold climates, roofs can accumulate moisture through condensation, and it is possible that cool roofs might be more susceptible to accumulating moisture than dark roofs of the same design. Condensation can be avoided using proper design techniques.

May 30, 2023 0 comment

Building Envelope Editor's Pick Sustainable Architecture

6 Innovative Green Building Ideas for Your Next Commercial Remodel

by Editor May 26, 2023

written by Editor

Eco-friendly construction is more than just a trend. Your business can save money and help the environment by renovating your commercial building with environmental upgrades. Green construction is a relatively new concept in commercial structures, and many business owners find the planning and implementation of these upgrades to be overwhelming.

Benefits of Green Building

There are many reasons to make your next commercial remodel environmentally friendly.

Cut energy costs: Electricity, water, and gas can be costly. Making eco-friendly upgrades to your building can help your business save money on monthly utilities. Over time, your business can save hundreds or thousands of dollars on its energy bills. For businesses seeking to get the most savings possible from their eco-friendly renovation, we recommend performing an energy audit to determine where upgrades are most needed.
Reduce consumption of non-renewable resources: Eco-friendly upgrades allow your business to cut back dramatically its use of non-renewable resources like petroleum and natural gas.
Help your community. What’s good for the earth is good for your community. By joining the ranks of businesses that have made a commitment to protecting the environment, your company will help make your community a cleaner and more desirable place.

Attract environmentally conscious customers: Many people who prioritize protection of the environment will seek out businesses that do the same. By making green improvements to your business and by advertising these improvements to the general public, your business is more likely to attract environmentally conscious customers.
Take advantage of tax credits: In some cases, businesses that invest in green building upgrades can claim tax credits. Your business’s accountant will be able to tell you more about tax credits for energy efficient improvements. Consult with your accountant to find out more information.
Put your business on the cutting edge: Environmentally friendly upgrades tend to incorporate the most recent advances in building and construction, which can put your business on the cutting edge of modern construction.

Environmentally Friendly Upgrades to Commercial Construction

Solar Panels

To get solar panels for your business, you’ll need to have a consultation with a company that can determine how many panels your building will need to satisfy your energy consumption.

Reclaimed Materials

Reclaimed or repurposed materials are materials that have already been used once and are now being used again. Reclaimed materials can come from anywhere. In Connecticut, many reclaimed materials come from old barns, sheds, and warehouses. Wood and metal are among the most common types of reclaimed materials. Even old, unused paint can be given a second life.

Some businesses intentionally seek out reclaimed materials for aesthetic value. Reclaimed wood can include certain types of hard to get species and even extinct woods that are no longer available. Often, reclaimed wood bears scars, scratches, nail holes and other imperfections, giving this type of material a rustic appearance. This decorative and aesthetically interesting material is often used in showrooms, restaurants, and rustic shops. In addition to natural beauty, reclaimed materials can also save businesses money and eliminate waste.

Skylights

Many business owners don’t think of skylights as being green, but skylights are used to allow natural light to illuminate interior spaces. Skylights save electricity that would be used to power electric lights and also create a more pleasant interior environment. In establishments like restaurants and other businesses that rely heavily upon ambience, skylights are desirable and attractive in addition to being practical.

Heated Floors

Heated floors are a good investment for a variety of reasons. Heated floors keep warmth close to the ground, which helps keep people warmer. Heated floors are an especially wise investment for establishments like spas, massage clinics, and hotels, where customers are likely to walk around barefoot.

Heated floors also save money by heating only the space they intended to be heated rather than heating the entire interior space in order to keep customers comfortable.

Water Reduction

Water systems like rainwater barrels, tankless water heaters and other appliances can help your business save water. For businesses that use water to conduct business, a water collection system like a rain barrel can reduce the amount of water that the business draws from nearby water supplies.

Green Windows

Old windows that no longer fit properly in their frames can be a major source of heat loss during the winter. In the summer, old windows can contribute to the warming of interior spaces. Both of these problems force your business’s HVAC system to run extra hard just to keep your commercial space comfortable for your employees and customers.

Green windows represent a significant upfront cost. In some cases, businesses choose to save money by installing a Low-E coating over their existing windows. A Low-E coating can prevent the exchange of heat through the glass. In other cases, businesses choose to replace their existing windows with brand new windows. Costs for window replacement can be recouped over time by saving money on utilities. In addition to lower heating and cooling costs, green windows reduce pressure on the building HVAC system, thus reducing HVAC maintenance costs.

Radiant systems for commercial projects

As far as green building innovations go, radiant solutions have long been popular in Europe, even as they continue to gain steam in the US. Barcol-Air itself has been a large part of the excitement. But some have asked: Can radiant systems be used in a commercial building as the sole sensible heating and cooling system?

Six Fundamental Principles of Sustainable Building Design

1. Optimize Site Potential

Whether designing a new building or retrofitting an existing building, site design must combine with sustainable design to achieve a successful project and begins with the proper site selection, including the actual building’s rehabilitation. The location, orientation, and landscaping of a building all affect local ecosystems, transportation methods, and energy use.

2. Optimize Energy Use

Improving the energy performance of existing buildings is important to increasing our energy liberation. Operating net-zero energy buildings is one way to significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuel-derived energy.

3. Protect and Conserve Water

A sustainable building design and construction is one that uses Water efficiently to minimize the impact that influences freshwater stock. Additionally, sustainable construction and building design should encourage the practice of recycling water on certain on-site projects when possible.

4. Optimize Building Space and Material Use

As the world population continues to grow; the use of natural resources (and the demands for them) continues to increase. A sustainable building is designed and operated to use and reuse materials in the most productive and sustainable way over the entire life cycle.

Utilizing sustainable materials can also help to minimize environmental impacts such as global warming, resource depletion, and toxicity. According to wbdg.org, “environmentally preferable materials reduce impacts on human health and the environment, and contribute to improved worker safety and health, reduced liabilities, and reduced disposal costs.”

5. Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)

The indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of a building has a significant impact on occupant health, comfort, and productivity. Among other attributes, a sustainable building maximizes daylighting, has appropriate ventilation and moisture control, optimizes acoustic performance, and avoids the use of materials with high-VOC emissions.

6. Optimize Operational and Maintenance Practices

Building owners face unique challenges to meet increasing demands for new or renovated sustainable building designs that are balanced with safe, secure, and productive environments.

Through collaboration, engineers, architects, and other site contractors can specify materials and systems that simplify operational practices and reduce maintenance requirements. On-site and within the facility, these systems not only aim to reduce water and power requirements, and require less toxic chemicals use, but are also cost-effective and reduce life-cycle costs.

Green buildings, as many knows, have a less negative impact on the environment than standard buildings. Their construction minimizes on-site grading, saves natural resources by using alternative building materials, and recycles construction waste rather than sending truck after truck to landfills. A majority of a green building’s interior spaces have natural lighting and outdoor views, while highly efficient HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning) systems and low-VOC (volatile organic compound) elements like paint, flooring, and furniture create a superior indoor air quality.

Sustainable Building Design — Green Building

Sustainable Wall Systems

When constructing a new green project, the interior walls and infrastructure should include sustainable materials. You can choose metal wall systems that meet LEED standards, ensuring quality and sustainable materials. Using recycled materials, metal panels that go into walls could have a lower impact on your carbon footprint compared to using traditional lumber materials.

Furthermore, a quality wall system has better insulation, moisture management and cooling properties than traditional walls. These factors will add to the sustainability of the building in the long term as well.

May 26, 2023 0 comment

Product Reviews Water Management

Waterless Urinals Technology by Zerodor!

by Editor December 6, 2022

written by Editor

There is a situation like a tug of war happening in the minds of people regarding the catastrophic environmental crisis because of reduction of water levels as well as increased amounts of GHG emissions in the atmosphere and the traditional, conventional ways of using the resources which is a habit formed over the years.

“Ekam Eco Solutions Private Limited” started its operation in 2013, We are an eminent firm engaged in manufacturing a wide range of Sanitation and related infrastructure Products and Solutions.

What is the problem faced today?

Water scarcity coupled with poor sanitation and hygiene practices is a grave concern faced by people all around the world. Millions of people do not have adequate water for drinking purposes and with a solution to conserve freshwater, 14 or more families can meet their daily requirement for water. According to the data by environmental agencies the average amount of water that is wasted in every flush is calculated to be about 4 litres which unnecessarily goes to drain. Flushes on average are used 5 times a day by a person which makes it 20 litres of freshwater waste by a person in a day

Is there a way out?

This water is restricted from getting wasted can be used for other purposes in organizations or households. Most of the buildings constructed use the solution of recycling as an alternative where greywater is used to flush toilets. There are solutions coming up on the principle of reducing where the product is equipped in a water system.

The use of greywater for flushing reduces the consumption of water by 25-35% and a treatment and storage plant is usually installed at 50,000 to 1 lac INR. But one of the drawbacks registered by the users is the odour of water and initial installation process cost.

There is another effective technique that cuts on water consumption and offers an odour free solution that uses bacterial cultures to clean away the waste from PeePee. The use of Zerodor products advises the people on some bustling myths where the consumption of water cleans the urine waste flushing it away which on the contrary complicates it as ammonia of urine mixes with water and produces a bad odour.

Product Description

Benefits and Advantages

Biodegradable and removes the cause of odor
Suitable for all types Urinals and Troughs, Stainless Steel, Porcelain and Ceramic
Prevents blocked traps and pipes. Saves on Water Bills. Cleans and Freshens
Contain Odor neutralizing Perfume

Product Design

The Only Solution “Zerodor”

Zerodor is an innovative solution to all the problems including wastage of water, odour issues, hygiene problems and soil conservation. Zerodor can be used in various organizations, hotels, restaurants, households and even submarines and warships. It can be easily installed in more than 75% of the existing urinal systems with a mechanism of perforated cap replacing the orifice section of the existing pan.

Zerodor by Ekam Eco Solutions is a one-stop destination for the green initiative for the present scenario. Ekam Eco offers easy installation techniques as well as the working procedure for the product. In addition, the company offers a range of Organic Care solutions for bathroom cleaning, flooring, utensils, clothes and other room freshening solutions. Also, it offers sludge care solutions by natural methods where the sludge can be converted to nutrient-rich water in 8-72 hours.

Ekam Eco Solutions is a green initiative startup to reduce water wastage and offer organic cleaning solutions. It is involved in offering technologies for the decomposition and extraction of fertilizers for arresting the pollution in nearby water bodies.

Econaur is the only online platform offering sustainable products used for greener constructions with dealer engagement networks and other added services. Zerodor being a green product is showcased on the website with other brand products under the Ekam Eco page.

Submit Your Enquiry For Waterless Urinals Zerodor Click Here.

Bio-digester toilets

The human waste which is not treated due to open deification or leaking drainage systems or accumulated sewers causes dreadful disease. The bio-digester toilets are innovated by DRDO in India primarily for the defence personnel serving India in remote locations at very odd weather conditions. Here the requirements were to work in extreme cold. No discharge as there is no sewer, no sewer treatment plants.

At EKAM we found that there is also a need for such technology away from these border areas and also for common people, who do not have access to a safe sanitation place due to similar difficulties.

The anaerobic digestion of the human waste allows exerting only non-harmful non-odorous slurry which can easily be discharged to the fields and in soak pit as manure. These are stand-alone toilet blocks made out of bio-digester tanks and EKAM-MoTo structures.

Conclusion

Growing India requires innovative solutions for upcoming challenges, to imbibe new techniques in place of old traditional ways where zerodor is a solution to create water efficiency in homes and offices. It is a way to achieve the ecological and economic balance in the environment by reducing the usage of water.

Tags: technology behind waterless urinals, waterless urinals, waterless urinals india, waterless urinals jaquar., Waterless Urinals Technology by Zerodor

December 6, 2022 0 comment

Sustainable Architecture

Sustainable Heritage Story:-Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

by Editor February 16, 2022

written by Editor

“Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus” This famous landmark which has become a symbol of the city was built as the headquarters of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway.

The railway station was built to replace the Bori Bunder railway station, in the Bori Bunder area of Bombay, a prominent port and warehouse area known for its imports and exports. Since Bombay became a major port city at the time, a bigger station was built to meet its demands and was named Victoria Terminus, after the then reigning Empress of India, Queen Victoria. The station was designed by Frederick William Stevens, a British-born engineer architect, attached to the Bombay office of the Indian colonial Public Works Department. Work began in 1878. He received ₹1,614,000 (US$23,000) as the payment for his services. Stevens earned the commission to construct the station after a masterpiece watercolour sketch by draughtsman Axel Haig.

The design has been compared to George Gilbert Scott’s 1873 St Pancras railway station in London, also in an exuberant Italian Gothic style, but it is far closer to Scott’s second prize-winning entry for Berlin’s parliament building, exhibited in London in 1875, which featured numerous towers and turrets, and a large central ribbed dome. The style of the station is also similar to other public buildings of the 1870s in Bombay, such as the Elphinstone College but especially the buildings of Bombay University, also designed by G G Scott.

The station took ten years to complete, the longest for any building of that era in Bombay.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formerly known as Victoria Terminus Station, in Mumbai, is an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in India, blended with themes deriving from Indian traditional architecture. The building, designed by the British architect F. W. Stevens, became the symbol of Bombay as the ‘Gothic City’ and the major international mercantile port of India.

The terminal was built over 10 years, starting in 1878, according to a High Victorian Gothic design based on late medieval Italian models. Its remarkable stone dome, turrets, pointed arches and eccentric ground plan are close to traditional Indian palace architecture. It is an outstanding example of the meeting of two cultures, as British architects worked with Indian craftsmen to include Indian architectural tradition and idioms thus forging a new style unique to Bombay.

Integrity

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) building is the expression of the British, Italian, and Indian architectural planning and its use for Indian Railways. The entire building retains entire structural integrity. Its façade, outer view, and usage are original. The premise of the building is a strictly protected area maintained by Indian Railways. The property is protected by a 90.21-hectare buffer zone.

The Terminus is one of the major railway stations in the Metropolis of Mumbai and more than 3 million rail commuters use it every day. In addition to the initial 4 railway tracks, the terminus now facilitates 7 suburban and 11 separate out-station tracks. This has led to the restructuring of several areas in the surroundings, and the addition of new buildings. Indian Railways are working to decongest this terminus and to deviate some of the traffic to other stations.

The property is located in the southern part of the city, and it is subject to huge development pressures and potential redevelopment. However, considering the business interests in such a central place, there is a continuous challenge regarding development control. Another risk comes from intensive traffic flow and the highly polluted air in the region around the railway station. Industrial pollution in the area has been reduced due to a reduction in industrial and harbour activities. Another problem is the saline air from the sea. The fire protection system needs to be checked and upgraded.

Authenticity

The heritage building retains a large percentage of its original structural integrity. The authenticity of the structure expresses the rich Italian gothic style through the eye-catching 3D-stone carvings of local species of animals, flora and fauna, symbols, arched tympana, portrait roundels of human faces, and the stone mesh works on the decorated rose windows. The elaborate detailing of the heritage building is original. It has carvings made in local yellow Malad stones blended with Italian marble and polished granite in a few places.

The architectural detailing is achieved through white limestone. The doors and windows are made of Burma teak wood with some steel windows mounted in the drum of the octagonal ribbed masonry dome with the coats of arms and corresponding paintings in stained glass panels. There are large numbers of other embellishments in statuary, which the architect has introduced in decorating the grand frontage.

These further include gargoyles, allegorical grotesques carrying standards and battle-axes, and figures of relief busts representing the different castes and communities of India. In prominent places on the façade, the bas-reliefs of the ten directors of the old Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company (GIPR) are shown. The entrance gates to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) carry two columns, which are crowned, one with a lion (representing the United Kingdom) and the other with a tiger (representing India) and there are tympana portraying peacocks.

However, internal modifications and external additions affected a moderate change in the authenticity. These changes were generally reversible and have since listing been reverted to bring the building and surroundings to their original glory. Protection and management requirements.

The property has been declared as a “Heritage Grade – I” structure under the resolution of the Maharashtra State Government Act on 21st April 1997. Continual efforts are being made to improve the overall state of the property and to ensure that the same does not decay due to its use by commuters and visitors. The buffer zone is established to prevent and reduce negative development in the surroundings.

All legal rights of the property are vested in the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. Mumbai was the first city in India to have heritage legislation, enacted by Government Regulation in 1995 (N° 67). The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) and the Fort area, of which it is part, are protected on the basis of this legislation. A multidisciplinary committee, called Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) was established to ensure the protection of heritage buildings.

There are 624 listed buildings in the whole city, out of which 63 buildings are Grade-I structures: this includes the Terminus building. The administrative control and the management of this property lie with the Divisional Railway Manager, Mumbai Division of Central Railway. The day-to-day maintenance and protection of the building is also the responsibility of the Divisional Railway Manager. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) has also been considered to be developed as a World Class Station by Indian Railways; this would lead to decongesting and reducing the pressures on this Terminus Station, which is now over-crowded by traffic.

Tags: George Gilbert Scott’s, Metropolis, High Victorian Gothic , Heritage Grade, structural integrity.

February 16, 2022 0 comment

Sustainable Architecture

Sustainable Heritage Story:- Bombay House, Mumbai

by Editor January 28, 2022

written by Editor

Bombay House, Bombay House is a historic privately owned building in Fort, Mumbai, India that serves as the head office of the Tata Group.

Situated near Flora Fountain, it was completed in 1924 and has been the Tata Group’s headquarters ever since. The building is a four-story colonial structure built with Malad stone and was designed by Scottish architect George Wittet, who designed over 40 buildings for the group and later became the head of Tata Engineering Company Limited, now Tata Motors.

The building houses the office of the chairman and all top directors of Tata Sons, the holding company. Core companies of the group-Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals, Tata Power, Tata Industries, Tata airlines, and Trent operate out of the Bombay House.

Bombay House — located on Homi Modi Street ((after the noted industrialist and banker associated with the Tatas) in Fort — was built on the two plots of land bought by Sir Dorabji Tata, the group’s second Chairman and Jamsetji Tata’s elder son, from the Bombay Municipality in 1920.

The building was designed by the well-known architect, George Wittet, who was also the architect of the Gateway of India, the Prince of Wales Museum (now called Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya) and other iconic buildings of Mumbai.

The overhaul of the Bombay House office was led by architect and urban conservationist Brinda Somaya, of Somaya and Kalappa Consultants. In March 2014, it became the first heritage structure in the country to get a gold rating as a green, environmentally friendly building, awarded by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), the Indian chapter of the US Green Building Council.

Inside the Renovated and Hi-Tech Bombay House

The ground floor of Bombay House has been converted into a shared space housing an in-house coffee lounge, informal breakout places, and the Tata Experience Centre (TXC). TXC, a digital museum, is aimed at giving visitors an immersive experience into the world of Tata using digital technologies for effective storytelling. In a first for Bombay House, a kennel has been created for the canine friends who have been an integral part of the building for decades.

The four floors of the building house offices of major Tata organizations. The historic boardroom on the fourth floor has been restored to its original beauty with only technology being a new addition.

The new technology set up in the building has been designed to create digital workplaces with seamless integration. Each floor has digital meeting rooms with immersive technology to enable seamless collaboration.

A custom-made app has been developed to bring together all the technology controls through an intuitive and simple interface. The four-story Bombay House is owned by The Associated Building Company, part of the Tata Group.

Bombay House is the only heritage building in the country to receive ‘Platinum Rating’ by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), under their Existing Building rating system, Bombay House has received this rating for continuously implementing measurable strategies and solutions in five categories: site & facility management, water efficiency, energy efficiency, health & comfort, and innovation.

The project was implemented with the support of occupants of the building, The Associated Building Company Limited (ABCL), a Tata group company, responsible for the building, and Eco first Services, the sustainability arm of Tata Consulting Engineers Limited, which works in the area of building retro-commissioning and facilitation.

Tags: Bombay House, Tata organizations, Associated Building Company Limited, Sustainability Arm, Tata Engineering Company Limited.

January 28, 2022 0 comment

Sustainable Architecture

Sustainable Heritage Story:- Chittorgarh Fort Marvellous piece of Rajput Architecture

by Editor January 28, 2022

written by Editor

The Chittorgarh Fort also known as Chittorgarh or Chittor Fort is one of the largest forts in India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort was the capital of Mewar and is located in the present-day town of Chittorgarh. It sprawls over a hill 180 m (590.6 ft) in height spread over an area of 280 ha (691.9 acres) above the plains of the valley drained by the Berach River. The fort covers 65 historic structures, which include four palaces, 19 large temples, 20 large water bodies, 4 memorials and a few victory towers.

Chittorgarh Fort Marvelous piece of Rajput Architecture

In 2013, at the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Chittorgarh Fort, along with five other forts of Rajasthan, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as a group called the Hill Forts of Rajasthan.

The fort, which is roughly in the shape of a fish, has a circumference of 13 km (8.1 mi) with a maximum length of 5 km (3.1 mi) and it covers an area of 700 acres. The fort is approached through a difficult zig-zag ascent of more than 1 km (0.6 mi) from the plains, after crossing over a limestone bridge.

The bridge spans the Gambhir River and is supported by ten arches (one has a curved shape while the balance has pointed arches). Apart from the two tall towers, which dominate the majestic fortifications, the sprawling fort has a plethora of palaces and temples (many of them in ruins) within its precincts.

The 305-hectare component site, with a buffer zone of 427 hectares, encompasses the fortified stronghold of Chittorgarh, a spacious fort located on an isolated rocky plateau of approximately 2 km length and 155 m width.

It is surrounded by a perimeter wall 13 km (8.1 mi) long, beyond which a 45° hill slope makes it almost inaccessible to enemies. The ascent to the fort passes through seven gateways built by the Mewar ruler Rana Kumbha (1433–1468) of the Sisodia clan. These gates are called, from the base to the hilltop, the Paidal Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jolla Pol, Laxman Pol, and Ram Pol, the final and main gate.

The fort complex comprises 65 historic built structures, among them 4 palace complexes, 19 main temples, 4 memorials, and 20 functional water bodies. These can be divided into two major construction phases. The first hill fort with one main entrance was established in the 5th century and successively fortified until the 12th century. Its remains are mostly visible on the western edges of the plateau.

The second, more significant defence structure was constructed in the 15th century during the reign of the Sisodia Rajputs when the royal entrance was relocated and fortified with seven gates, and the medieval fortification wall was built on an earlier wall construction from the 13th century.

There are seven entrances which are −

Padan Pol
Bhairon Pol
Hanuman Pol
Ganesh Pol
Jodala Pol
Laxman Pol
Ram Pol
The fort also includes palaces, temples, and water bodies.

Temples

When the fort was built in the 5th century, it had only one gate. Sisodia Rajputs renovated the fort and built six more gates. The temples related to Hindus and Jains built inside the fort are

Kumbha Shyam Temple
Mira Bai Temple
Adi Varah Temple
Shringar Chauri Temple
Sattaes Devri
SatBis Devri
There are two towers which are the other Jain monuments and these are Kirti Stambh and Vijay Stambh.

Palaces

Rana Kumbha Palace can be accessed from the seventh gate. Rana Ratan Singh Palace was constructed in the 19th and 20th centuries. Fateh Prakash Palace is also there which has been converted into a museum.

The Seven Gates

All the gates were built for security purposes and not surprisingly, the gates have special architectural designs. The gates have pointed arches, to make sure it provides extra protection should there be an attack. Notched parapets were built on top of the gates, enabling soldiers to shoot arrows at the enemy army.

There is a common road that runs inside the fort, connecting all the gates. The gates, in turn, lead to various palaces and temples within the fort. All the gates have historical significance. Prince Bagh Singh was killed at the Padan Gate during one of the sieges in the year 1535 AD. During the last siege, led by Emperor Akbar, Rao Jaimal of Badnore was allegedly killed by the Mughal emperor himself. This incident is said to have taken place somewhere in between the Bhairon Gate and Hanuman Gate.

Architecture

All the seven gates of the fort are nothing but massive stone structures, aimed at providing maximum security from the potential threat of enemies. The entire fort is built in such a way that it makes it almost impregnable for the enemies to enter. To ascend the fort, one has to go through a difficult path, which itself proves that the architectural design of the fort was aimed at keeping the enemies at bay.

This is one of the main reasons why the fort was sieged by various kings at regular intervals. In between the second and the third gate, there are two Chhatris or cenotaphs, built in honour of Jaimull and Patta, the heroes of 1568 AD when the fort was sieged by Emperor Akbar.

These cenotaphs are considered architectural marvels. The tower of the fort is nine-storeyed and is adorned with sculptures of Hindu deities and stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The tower provides a breathtaking view of the city.

Architecture of Palaces

The palace of Rana Kumbha was built using plastered stone. One of the main features of this palace is its series of canopied balconies. Suraj Gate leads to the entrance of this palace, which is associated with a host of legends. Padmini’s palace is an impressive edifice with three storeys.

The old palace, which was ruined due to various reasons, was reconstructed in the early 19th century. The building, as it stands today, is white in colour. The architectural design of the old palace was a nice blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture.

Tags: World Heritage Committee, UNESCO World Heritage Site, limestone bridge, special architectural designs, Mughal architecture.

January 28, 2022 0 comment

Building Envelope Editor's Pick

Improving Efficiency & Exploring the Suitability of Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF)

by Editor January 28, 2022

written by Editor

Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) are cast-in-place concrete walls that are sandwiched between layers of insulation material. This construction method is known for its high strength and energy efficiency. Some typical applications of ICFs include residential and commercial low-rise buildings. Walls are made from interconnected forms, which stay in place as permanent structures. Traditional finishes are applied to both interior (drywall) and external faces (stucco, lap siding, brick, etc), therefore buildings with ICFs will look similar to typical constructions, only with slightly thicker walls.

Insulated Concrete Forms

The use of insulated concrete forms dates back to the years after World War II when multiple companies developed structures that resemble today’s typical ICFs. In the 1990s, the Insulating Concrete Form Association (ICFA) was founded with several goals. when Swiss engineers began holding cement walls together with treated blocks of wood. After that, the idea was adopted by chemical companies that developed plastic foams.

This was later further developed by Jean-Louis Béliveau to regulate the temperature in his parents’ Florida home. The pursuit of these forms is to be permanent wall supports that create space to run wiring and plumbing, provide thermal and acoustic insulation, and be the interior side for exterior walls.

Conducting research
Promoting product approval
Developing new technologies to enhance this construction method
Achieving acceptance in building codes

The major issue with ICFs was the lack of technical knowledge since installers were not acquainted with the system. Contractors had to work carefully to achieve regulatory approvals and materials were proprietary, leading to much higher costs than conventional frame construction.

Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) and blocks are not new, but their sudden popularity and growth as a building material are. More builders and homeowners are selecting to build with ICFs than ever before, which has led rise to some questions and misconceptions about the material.

Like anything else being put forward for the first time, some home and business owners may be sceptical about using the forms, and some builders who have long worked with wood and concrete, but not ICFs, may be reluctant to use them. These five misconceptions about ICFs and blocks may be keeping you from making the leap to using this innovative product, without you recognising it.

RELIABLE ICF – Our Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF) based technology is now approved by Min. of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India. Specifications of the same will be included in the DSR that is currently under process.

Design and construction with our product RELIABLE ICF for mass housing or other Government projects can be formally adopted in any future projects across the country.

While all future government constructions are to use any one of the new technologies listed by CPWD, RELIABLE ICF is the only one that has the added benefit of being fully insulated (100% insulation on walls and roof).

Reliable ICF

Is the most convenient construction system using lightweight, hollow, “Self Extinguishing” grade high-density EPS (expanded polystyrene) moulded forms inter-locking on all six edges to create a building load-bearing wall shuttering?

These are used as a lost shuttering system (shuttering is not removed after concrete pour) to provide an extremely economic and environment-friendly method of wall construction. This permanent insulated formwork is the shell for a super fast & energy-saving building.

A Convenient construction, Greener, Safer & Faster than the traditional systems”

Reliable ICF is a Convenient on-site technology :

Easily assembled
With minimal components and tools/tackles
Uses minimal manpower of limited skills
Simple stacking of light weight, interlocking, hollow blocks
Wall shuttering with door – window openings created up to 3m roof height at a time
Shuttering filled with reinforced concrete, cures adiabatically (at constant temperature and pressure), without any water even in cold climate (-25⁰C).

Why Reliable ICF

Resource conservation both during & after construction.
A zero wastage formwork system and
Adiabatic concrete curing, uses no water at site.
Saves up to 90 % of HVAC energy
Reduces HVAC capacities by 50%
“Green” or recycled concrete with higher flyash content due to zero thermal stress in concrete monolithic, loadbearing concrete walls
Strong, disaster proof structure
Safe from fire, earthquakes, floods & cyclones cracks free inner concrete core
Ultra light shuttering without heavy equipment for construction ensures zero accidents
Ideal for bunkers, explosion-proof structures
Remote locations, extreme weather conditions

Types of Insulated Concrete Forms Systems

There are three major ICF system designs: flat system, grid system, and post and beam system. All three methods are accepted by codes and have been deployed successfully in many projects. Flat systems are similar to conventional poured walls, with a continuous thickness of concrete through the entire wall. On the other hand, grid systems have a waffle pattern where the concrete is thicker at some points. The post and beam systems have horizontal and vertical elements of concrete that are completely encapsulated in foam insulation.

Pros

Strong Walls

Adding an insulated concrete form has the primary advantage of strengthening a building’s walls. The poured concrete hardens around the ICFs, which then reinforces the wall and reduces its vulnerability to vertical and horizontal forces. Depending on whether the frame of the ICF is flat or grid, the wall can be made even more powerful by the frequency and rigidity of the inner connectors. Unlike a normal cement fixture, the pockets and ICFs between the walls actually increase the structure’s strength and durability

Energy Efficient

One of the most appealing aspects of using insulated concrete forms is that it has the potential to significantly reduce the heating and cooling costs of a particular building. That’s also the most impressive feature of ICF walls; they can release heat in the summer and store heat in the winter. In some instances, ICFs are estimated to save about 20% of total energy costs.

As a comparison, the tightness around insulated concrete form walls is much tighter than those of compatible window and door frames. If your insulated concrete forms have a lifespan of 100 years, with no degradation, a single-family ICF home could save up to 110 tons of carbon dioxide compared to traditional wood-framed homes. CO2 savings that high would create a net positive carbon footprint for the cement and the ICFs.

Sound Reduction and Temperature Stability

Through a sandwich of materials, insulated concrete forms are able to act as a sound barrier, protecting the interior of the house from outdoor noises. When a massive material, in concrete, is combined with a light one like foam, fluctuations in temperature, air filtration, and sound are able be dramatically reduced. The layer of foam that insulates the entirety of an ICF wall helps keep it the same temperature throughout – essentially eliminating “cold spots” that occur in frame walls between insulation voids or around the studs. In terms of sound reduction, walls with insulated concrete forms allow for only one-eighth the amount of sound to be penetrated as that of a wood frame wall.

Cons

Don’t Work As Well In Cold Climates

In theory, these walls act as strong insulators of heat at colder exterior temperatures. However, this doesn’t account for the amount of heat that transfers outside. Insulated concrete forms are designed to transfer heat out of the structure so that outdoor temperatures don’t negatively affect the curing process of the concrete. Therefore, ICFs work much better in more tropical climates where the heat transfer and insulation can keep a home cool during the day while also making it comfortably warm at night.

Could Be More Costly Than Expected

The savings regarding insulated concrete forms is undeniable; however, that’s assuming you have the affordable labour to install it. If you decide to incorporate ICFs into your project’s walls or foundation, you might be looking at overall costs that are more expensive than conventional processes. Insulated concrete forms require specialized labour; if your worksite is located in an area with very few contractors capable of incorporating ICF, then you may want to switch to cheaper methods.

ICF Building Process

ICF construction is often considered less demanding than typical construction. Less-skilled labour can be employed to lay the ICF forms (although careful consideration must be made when pouring concrete to make sure it joins fully and cures evenly without cracking). Unlike traditional wood beam construction, no additional structural support is required for openings, doors, windows, or utilities.

ICF Cost

ICF construction will cost about 40% less than conventional construction, primarily because of the labour savings from combining multiple steps into one step. Above-grade ICF construction is typically more expensive, but when adding large openings, ICF construction becomes very cost-effective.

QUICK AND SIMPLE

ICF forms can be assembled by a modest number of workers. Once the forms are in place, concrete pouring is typically completed in a matter of hours. Since concrete is included within layers of rigid foam insulation, curing can continue while other parts of the project proceed.

Tags: Insulated concrete forms, Insulating Concrete Form Association, Self Extinguishing, curing process, structural support.

January 28, 2022 0 comment

Renewable Energy Sustainable Architecture

Green Building – Sustainability is transforming our world

by Editor December 28, 2021

written by Editor

As awareness has grown about the effect of any human activity on our amazing ecosystem, there’s been an ever-increasing interest in the use of techniques that minimize the harm done to the environment, as well as lowering the cost and amount of energy use.

Green building practices developed out of this worldwide desire to put aside harmful practices and create a sustainable building model. Nearly every country nowadays recognizes it’s crucial to minimize energy use and eliminate the waste of valuable resources.

In the last two decades, green building has advanced from living a barely recognized movement to prominent status. The mainstream market for sustainable construction, along with more beneficial work and living places, springs from two main sources: government agencies and individual clients.

Sustainable development goals adopted by the United Nations in 2016 include various aspects of climate protection, water management, and recycling or repurposing materials, as well as endowing innovations to produce clean energy.

When you consider the huge amount of energy (mostly electricity) used for the construction and supervision of buildings, the volume of water that buildings require, carbon emissions created, and the amount of landfill waste made by the demolition of buildings, it’s easy to acknowledge that a shift toward energy-efficient and sustainable building is imperative

Green Building - Sustainability is transforming our world — Green Energy

Aside from a lower impact on the environment, green buildings also create healthier, more comfortable indoor environments for the people who use them. Saving the planet and promoting the physical well-being of the occupants are equally significant.

What exactly is green building?

The Environmental Protection Agency describes the green building as the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and deconstruction.

In other words, it’s the whole package – from the first planning stages to construction and throughout the entire lifespan of the building. Reducing the consumption of energy and cutting back on the use of water are two chief resource aims of green building.

Structures that create just as much energy as they use, mainly through solar, wind or geothermal sources, are quickly gaining in popularity. An exciting current development in buildings that create even more energy than they down, feeding excess electricity back into the grid. Imagine the possibilities of other eco-friendly solutions that weren’t envisioned a decade or two ago.

But energy-efficiency and fabrication aren’t the only concerns behind green building practices. The human health factor is high on the list of desirable features too. Indoor air quality is significantly better in green buildings, and these buildings play a part in securing better mental and emotional health for occupants.

Unlike their ancestors, human beings in industrialized areas spend most of their time in buildings throughout the day and night. Contaminants from many of the synthetic building products developed in the last century expose us to various types of chemical and biological pollution. Dust, fibreglass, gases, asbestos, and formaldehyde are just a few of the problematic materials that have been used traditionally in constructing homes and other buildings.

Eliminating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in building materials is the healthiest practice. Off-gassing from carpet, paint, and glue, for instance, can create or add to sensitivities and cause headaches, coughs, asthma, and eye irritation. These fumes have even been connected to serious bouts with fatigue, memory loss or depression.

Construction methods and materials used in green buildings strive to eliminate this harm, along with preventing or minimizing further depletion of the natural resources in our environment. Modern building materials that are considered ‘green’ now comprise quite a lengthy list.

The concept of sustainable building incorporates and integrates a variety of strategies during the design, construction and operation of building projects. The use of green building materials and products represents one important strategy in the design of a building.

Green building materials offer specific benefits to the building owner and building occupants:

Reduced maintenance/replacement costs over the life of the building.
Energy conservation.
Improved occupant health and productivity.
Lower costs associated with changing space configurations.
Greater design flexibility.

Overall material/product selection criteria:

Resource efficiency
Indoor air quality
Energy efficiency
Water conservation
Affordability

What are the desirable materials for green building?

No doubt you’ve heard many concerns about the destruction of numerous acres of forest land. That’s just one reason that popular materials for sustainable construction include renewable plant materials.

Sourcing lumber only from well-managed and certified forests – that meet third-party sustainability standards – is the preferable green practice. Bamboo persists to grow in popularity because it’s fast-growing, sustainable, and versatile.

Recycled metal, concrete, and stone are common materials for green structures. Paper and cardboard can be fashioned into wood-type products that are very sturdy. Glass can be reclaimed into the shape of bricks.

Up-to-date methods of fabricating adobe, clay, compressed earth block, rammed earth, or baked earth into building components utilize older forms of architecture in new ways. These materials are safe for humans and cause less shortage of the ecosystem.

Many other non-toxic, reusable, or recyclable products broaden the choices. Even materials like flax, wool, linen, sisal, cork, and coconut have been added to the list of possible building resources. Moving away from synthetics (which are mostly plastics) to the use of natural fibres instead reduces the presence of chemicals in everyday life.

The merits of green building are much broader than the reduction of poor indoor air quality that leads to lung and breathing problems. Aside from the obvious physical need for reducing pollutants, there’s a growing emphasis on structures adding comfort and beauty. “Going green” doesn’t mean boring, unattractive structures.

An eco-friendly building involves better lighting, especially the introduction or increase of natural light. The addition of greenery and stunning interior design along with pleasant views for the occupants create a sense of well-being. There are even commercial green buildings that adjust indoor oxygen levels when necessary to keep occupants more alert.

The step involves gathering all technical information to be evaluated, including manufacturers‘ information such as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) test data, product warranties, source material characteristics, recycled content data, environmental information, and durability information. In addition, this step may involve researching other environmental issues, building codes, government regulations, building industry articles, model green building product specifications, and other sources of product data. Research helps identify the full range of the project’s building material options.

What are the most popular techniques for green home building?

Green building used to be equated with luxury home construction but that’s no longer the case. Builders and investors are now finding that many green products and techniques are competitively priced, and homeowners benefit from lower energy costs throughout the lifetime of their homes.

The process springs from good planning and design, well before any materials are chosen. Careful site location and consideration of the sun’s orientation to the structure will cut down on energy and heating needs. Some homes can be partially built into a slope or hillside to provide a buffer and conserve energy.

Heating and cooling are responsible for up to half of a home’s energy use. Using High-R value insulations (that also meet “green” standards) inside the walls and sealing any places prone to drafts prevents air leaks and mean lower operating costs for homeowners. High-efficiency windows block out heat in the summer and prevent warm air from escaping the home in colder temperatures.

Design elements such as placing windows on all sides permit cross-ventilation of the interior. Light tubes and skylights add brightness to darker interior areas so that less artificial light needs to be used. Awnings or overhangs protect the home from the sun when it’s high in the summer sky, but allow natural light and warmth to penetrate in the winter when the sun is lower.

There’s also been a move toward using panels or pre-made trusses. This mode of construction can be more energy-efficient than doing all of the building on site. Many of these pre-fab systems need less labour and earn points toward gaining green certification. There’s less waste material left on-site, too.

Well-executed landscaping, such as deciduous trees or vines on the south side of buildings, provide shade for the structure during hot summer days but allow the entrance of natural heat and sunshine during colder winter months.

Using only native plants reduces the need for water or chemical fertilizers. A “green roof” (which is a roof literally covered in sustainable plants) lowers cooling costs, adds oxygen to the atmosphere, and reduces stormwater runoff. Many of these unexpected gardens are being added to urban and suburban areas.

What certifications does a building need to be called a certified green building?

Many of these were the result of concerns about toxic materials and their potential impact on either children’s health or general indoor air quality. Later the emphasis grew to include concerns about global warming and using fewer resources.

Hundreds of green product certifications are in use around the world. It can be tough to wade through which standards apply to a specific building project. The benefit of meeting certifications is threefold: to have buildings that cost less to operate, that have optimal energy performance, and can be promoted to the public as environmentally friendly. Studies show that occupants typically have high satisfaction rates with these buildings.

One of the best-known green building rating certifications is called LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The managing organization for LEED is the U.S. Green Building Council, which ensures independent third-party verification for both new construction and remodelling of existing structures.

LEED certification focuses on finding sustainable sites, ensuring good practices for energy use and a clean atmosphere, water efficiency, materials and resources that are sustainable, and indoor environmental quality.

The number of other green certifications is growing yearly – supportive programs that help to cut down on energy usage and lower costs while providing healthier living spaces to protect the environment. With the advances of the past fifty years as a foundation and all the progress that still lies ahead, green building practices promise to be of great benefit to the billions of people populating our precious planet.

Tags: Construction, carbon emissions created, Eliminating volatile organic compounds, High-efficiency windows.

December 28, 2021 0 comment

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