Why Build Green?

Building Green saves money

- The cost per square foot for buildings seeking LEED certification falls into the existing range of costs for building not seeking LEED certification
- An upfront investment of 2% in green building design results in life cycle savings of 20% of the total construction costs.
- Building sale prices of energy efficient buildings are as much as 10% higher per square foot than conventional buildings.

- Cost benefits:

o Operating costs decrease 8-9%

o Building value increases 7.5%

o Return in investment improves 6.6%
o Rent ratio increases 3%

Green buildings consumes less energy and fewer resources
- In comparison to the average commercial building
o Green buildings consume 26% less energy
o Green buildings have 13% lower maintenance costs
o Green buildings have 27% higher occupant satisfaction
o Green buildings have 33% less greenhouse gas emissions

Green Building Materials and Architecture Planning

In addition, integrating green building materials into building projects can help reduce the environmental impacts associated with the excavation, extraction, transport, processing, recycling and disposal of these building industry source materials. Among the primary concrete making materials, the emission of CO2 is largely attributable to cement production.

Cement manufacture causes environmental impacts at all stages of the process:

- The cement industry is one of two primary producers of carbon dioxide (CO2), creating 5% of global man-made CO2 emissions, of which 50% is from the chemical process, and 40% from burning fuel.

- Higher energy consumption because cement is burned at higher temperatures

- (~ 1500°C)

- A cement plant consumes 3 to 6 Gigajoule (GJ) of fuel per tonne of clinker produced, depending on the raw materials and the process used.

- Surface runoff, when water runs off impervious surfaces, such as non-porous concrete, can cause heavy soil erosion. Urban runoff tends to pick up trash or other pollutants from sidewalks, roadways and parking lots and cause water quality problems

- Concrete and asphalt are the primary contributors to what is known as the urban heat island effect.

- Building demolition and natural disasters such as earthquakes often release a large amount of concrete dust into the local atmosphere.

- Natural radioactive elements (K, U and Th) can be present in various concentrations in concrete dwellings and can cause health concerns. Toxic substances may also be added to the mixture for making concrete by unscrupulous makers.

- Long transport distance.

Architects & planners should start thinking green in the planning of building. The Architects can use large windows with double glass system. Further, hollow fly ash bricks can be used in walls during construction. The process of fetching it from the clay pit as well as the production process of the clay bricks has minimal impact on the environment. Clay is a product which canusually be taken from the local environment and does not need to be transported over long distances.

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The typical characteristics of clay bricks include the extraordinary thermal insulation, sound insulation, structural strength and safety. They are fireproof, water resistant and as already mentioned: durable, recyclable and therefore exceptionally environmentally friendly. From both environmental and economic perspectives, clay bricks are still a valuable, healthy and efficient construction material.

To have green Building concept, some or all of the following steps need to be followed:

- Plan each office/home orientation to the sun to harness energy and shield
it from heat
- High efficiency insulated glass windows can reduce requirements of energy
- Minimize cement/concrete consumption
- Maximum use of waste material like fly ash in clay mixture
- Non – toxic paints should be used on the walls
- Use Solar Panels to heat bath water