Green Building – Civil Engineering Projects

Development of Lammas Ecovillage, UK

July 28, 2013 by Designer

New revolutionary Ecovillage development in the UK | Lammas

It is one ecovillage in the UK to attain prospective planning permission. The permission was achieved in 2009 after three years of planning campaign (1). It is situated in Northern Pembrokeshire, Wales. It consists of only 9 households spread over an area of 75 acres. The concept of the development of ecovillage was to provide the residents with a sustainable lifestyle. The aim was to help residents learn to grow their food, fulfill their own water and energy needs without depending on mains (2).

Locally available materials have been used for construction. The materials include local timber, straw bale insulation and locally sourced aggregate. Green techniques have been incorporated in the design of ecovillage. Use of masonry stove, passive solar heating and a wood fired kitchen. Department of Energy and Climate Change funded the ecovillage project (3).

The project was designed in a way that it could be replicated anywhere across the country. Each household purchased a 1000 year agricultural lease from the organization that provides them security and autonomy. They employed systems of Permaculture which were used in Australia in 1970s. These techniques helped in maximizing the land productivity. It emulated the natural ecosystems, increase in biodiversity in the local area. It also helped in increasing the productivity organic food. There was a considerable decrease in the levels of carbon pollution (4).

Casestudy of Toyota, Japan | Ecological Sustainability

March 22, 2013 by Designer

Sustainable City in Japan – Toyota

Toyota, a city in Japan has been working to achieve ecological sustainability and has been taking effective measures to strive towards it. Toyota is called the eco-ful town. It has earned its renown for building a life sized model of sustainable living and demonstrating it successfully. Use of renewable energy and achieving energy efficiency has been its prime goal.

Design of Roads in Toyota

The roads laid in the city of Toyota have been paid special attention to. The roads are coated with water retaining and thermal insulation substances to minimize heat emission.

The transportation system has been very well developed in Toyota. It is called as “Demand responsive transportation“.

Effect of Economic breakdown on Construction Industry

March 12, 2013 by Designer

Poor Economic state of the World | Effect on Construction Industry and its prevention

Sudden Economic change is extremely bad for Construction industry of any country. The status of Global markets determines the behaviour of an individual country. For example, if the economy of United Kingdom is suffering due to employment problems in the country or financial crisis; it affects the whole of Europe. On the whole, the economy of Europe plays a great role in moving the market.

The first and foremost bad effect of the market would be:

Banks going bankrupt. Banks are the main sources of capital for major construction projects.

Construction industry is capital intensive.

Because of the banks going bankrupt, there is not enough capital in the market that could be utilized for new projects. Because of less money in the market, people are unable to afford luxury homes, offices. This has two major effects on the construction industry:

Since, people do not have the money to buy buildings, Existing projects are stalled due to increasing raw material cost and decreasing real estate value. No more gigantic home loans available.
After analyzing the scenario of the bad economic conditions of the market, the builders decide to scrap the idea of new constructions and decide to wait for the right time to start the project. This brings recession in the construction industry which affects architects, engineers and mainly workers badly.

Financial Crisis in the country will result in major construction firms going bankrupt which in turn would be responsible for the loss of thousands of jobs.

Is it possible to prevent this from happening? If yes, then how?

A new system of design is needed to ensure very low energy footprint, sustainable development and optimum use of local materials.

A renewed focus is needed on Green building Design…

Growing Need for Environmental Sustainability

October 29, 2011 by Designer

Chronic Need for Environmental Sustainability

Everyone is aware of the fact that the life on earth is degrading day by day. The quality of life on earth has gone from best to worst in the past 150 years.

For people who do not agree with the concept of Sustainability

The concept of sustainability is brought up for the betterment of human species and not for the earth. The Earth can survive without humans. Sustainability is for us to survive on earth.

The video illustrates the story of our Mother Earth or rather I should say “Sad story of Earth”….

Earth was beautiful and Green before humans started using Earth’s resources ruthlessly… The earth is now in the devastated condition and if this continues for the next 50 years, it will bring with it the end of Human life on Earth by the next century.

We should all work towards making our environment green and sustainable because we are the ones who are responsible for getting it into such a bad ruined state.

Aerocon Blocks – the new Green Generation Blocks | Sustainable Building Material

October 28, 2011 by Designer

Aerocon Blocks | Green Building Materials

Aerocon Blocks are an innovative product in the green building revolution. Aerocon blocks are the new blocks in walling materials, substituting conventional and environmentally unsustainable materials like clay bricks, concrete and Hollow blocks.

Aerocon blocks are an Autoclaved Aerated concrete blocks used in the construction of walls. The raw materials used in the manufacture of these blocks are environmentally friendly and are certified green products. Flyash is also used as an alternative building material which is a waste from thermal power plants.

Aerocon Blocks | Aerated Concrete Blocks

Since, these materials are light weight with high thermal insulation, they are highly fire resistant. These blocks save water during construction and ensure long term sustainability of the building. These blocks have been used in wide range of constructions which include residential, commercial, hotels, hospitals, schools etc.

Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) – A New Green Building System

October 27, 2011 by Designer

Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) | Efficient Building Systems | Green Material

Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) was developed in Sweden in the late 1920s and has been used successfully in a variety of applications in commercial, industrial and residential construction. AAC is a lightweight, high strength building material and is produced in a variety of forms from blocks, to structural floors and wall panels.

AAC is credited by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and USGBC (US Green Building Council) as an “green” alternative to traditional construction materials. Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) recommends its use in India.

AAC consists of 80% of air. It is manufactured by combining silica in the form of sand or recycled flyash, cement, lime, water and an expansion agent – aluminium powder and paving it into a mold.

Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) – A New Green Building Material

Structurally reinforced AAC products like lintels or roof panels, steel rebar or mesh are also placed in the mould.

When added to concrete, the aluminium powder reacts with the silica, resulting in the formation of millions of microscopic hydrogen bubbles. The hydrogen bubbles cause the concrete to expand to roughly five times its original volume.

The hydrogen evaporates and leaving a highly closed cell aerated concrete. It is then cut into blocks or panels which are then steam and pressure cured in an autoclaved. Using AAC is very advantageous because it is environmentally friendly qualifies as a ‘green’ building material from manufacturing to recycling.

All the waste material like trimmings, rejected units are all recycled and hence there is zero wastage. All the waste on the sites is crushed and safely used as a fill or buried shallow underground. Spread AAC dust on the lawn serves as a great lime supplement.

AAC is so lightweight, it weighs 1/5th of the weight of the standard concrete, which results in lower transportation costs, faster work-flow lower material handling costs etc. AAC is in ‘ready to build’ material, requiring no onsite curing time. It has unparalleled workability because it can be sown, drilled, nailed, screwed and milled with common hand tools. AAC openings are easily and alternately cut.

VNIT – Nagpur | Energy Efficient Structures

October 27, 2011 by Designer

Concept

The major concept is that it merges with the design of the city. Embodiment of special characters of Nagpur in the design. Principles of energy efficiency and Green building technology have been incorporated in the design.

As the world reels under the stress of economic recession and Peak oil, efforts are being made to minimize the use of energy, to maximize return on invested resources by recycling and optimum use of natural resources. Such efforts have culminated into the new Green building movement across the planet.

IPSA – Indore (AAYAM) | Sustainable Green Architecture

August 12, 2010 by Designer

Incorporation of Sustainable Green Features in the Design

Aayam in Sanskrit means dimension, and the presented design has provided innovative solutions in all the dimensions of creative world.

The entire building has been made in order to preserve the landscape and adapt suitable style pertaining to the topography. By determining the quantity and quality of light entering the spaces, they have eventually taken on greater reality. The galleries are woven into a modulated space, born of light and geometry.

IPSA - Indore (Sustainable Green Architecture)

The design is a centre of culture that is rooted in the region and reflecting contemporary art and architecture at the highest level that have come together with nature. The core of the annex is open to sky and the rigorous used of a geometric vocabulary. A reflection of land art with pure modernism, the convention centre is rooted to traditions and mirrors ideas if the youth of India.

Redesigning Institution as a Convention Centre

May 29, 2010 by Designer

Perception

Convention centre are often a means to represent ethos of a particular country, perhaps, even an expression of myth of a particular community and their traditions. A place which can provide the essential, platform for exchange of ideas. In an urban context, where cities witness rapid growth and development, a convention centre caters the need of stage where new innovative ideas can be sold, shared, felt and experienced. This can be in the form of exhibitions, workshops, seminars, conferences serving the purpose of both the industrialist and the consumer. The best example is the Pragati Maidans.

Redesigned Elevation of the Convention Centre

Case Studies

Pittsburg Convention Centre

The largest first gold LEED certified building located near the Alleghemy river which was also appreciated for having the concept similar to that of the suspension bridges in that city. The planning thus offered dramatic vistas overlooking the river onto the historic downtown.

Application of Green Building Technology in India | Thiagaraj Convention Center

May 11, 2010 by Designer

When people talk about Green buildings, it is assumed they are eco-radical tree-huggers. But its true. Green building technology can really help achieve sustainable development by reducing energy consumption to a large extent and improving the return on investment by reducing maintenance.

When considering the economic benefits of smart technologies one must include many factors, such as health cost, future economic stability, quality of life and costs of operation.

In India, Thiagaraj Convention Center in Chennai is one such place where green building technology has been extensively used. Many of the building techniques can easily be adapted to existing buildings. For example, the transition from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs can lead to energy savings of upto 75% of costs. The small increase in initial costs to purchase the bulbs would easily be recouped many times over by the savings and extended life of the new bulbs.