Jul 15, 2015
GREEN TECHNOLOGY
Technology that has the potential to significantly improve environmental performance relative to other technology
SECTORS OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY
Agriculture.
Energy.
Buildings.
Transportation.
Water and waste management.
WHAT ARE GREEN BUILDINGS
“Green” Buildings are high performance structures that also meet certain standards for reducing natural resource consumption
Green” or “Sustainable” buildings are characterized by:
efficient management of energy and water resources
management of material resources and waste
restoration and protection of environmental quality
enhancement and protection of health and indoor environmental quality
reinforcement of natural systems
GREEN BUILDING MATERIAL
Green building materials are composed of renewable, rather than nonrenewable resources. Green materials are environmentally responsible because impacts are considered over the life of the product
DECISION MAKING
STEPS
Problem Recognition
Information Gathering
Principles for Judging Alternatives
Brainstorm and Analyze different choices
Evaluation of Alternatives
Select the best option
Execute the decision
Evaluate the results
PROBLEM RECOGNITION
Problem recognition is the most important step in order to make the best decision of construction material for green buildings.
PROBLEM RECOGNITION
The major problem is the choice of the construction material that creates less pollution, less disruption of ecosystem, less consumption of energy.
The decision of the selection of such material often involves:
Multiple criteria.
Multiple stakeholders.
Quantifying multiple criteria in monetary terms.
Attractive alternative with significant quantitative analysis
INFORMATION GATHERING
Selection of suitable green building material options can be influenced and determined by numerous preconditions, factors and considerations.
For such purpose adequate information related to the essential factors or variables effecting the decisions in the choice of materials is collected and gathered.
In this stage, wide range of research and information is reviewed to:
Examine impacts of current procedures used for selecting locally-sourced or recycled building materials on overall performance of buildings.
Identify gaps and problems with previous research in the area of material-selection tools or systems developed for green buildings.
Learn from strengths and weaknesses of the expert systems, especially developed to manage the material-selection process.
INFORMATION GATHERING
For assessing building material sustainability the information regarding the following framework of factors is collected:
Information regarding the general site factors is collected.
The concerned Environmental and health factors are determined.
The sensorial factors are taken into consideration.
The related socio cultural factors are analyzed.
The cost and economic value of the material is evaluated.
The technical factors are also considered in the selection of material.
PRINCIPLES FOR JUDGING
THE ALTERNATIVES
In this step the base line criteria for judging the alternatives is set up. Some of the key principles for judging the alternatives are as follows:
a) Cost effective
b) Environmental friendly
c) Ensure energy conservation
d) Maintain Indoor Environmental Quality
e) Ensure water Quality and Conservation
f) High capacity and durable
BRAINSTORMING Clay bricks
Steel
Hemp block
Timber
Compressed earth block
Extruded earth block
Plastic
Clay plasterboard block
EVALUATION OF
ALTERNATIVES
Clay bricks
This is an unfired clay brick, commonly used in cobwork.
They can be used for non-loadbearing walls or infills in lumber-frame constructions.
CONS
Extreme weather may cause degradation of the surface due to frost damage
Services of a qualified structural engineer may be required.
Brick adds a lot of weight to the foundation.
Lower tensile strength
STEEL
Steel
A steel building is a metal structure fabricated with steel for the internal support and for exterior cladding.
Steel buildings are used for a variety of purposes including storage, work spaces and living accommodation.
CONS
Heat conductivity
Steel conducts heat 310 times more efficiently than wood.
Subjected to corrosion
Faulty design leads to the corrosion of iron and steel in buildings.
HEMP BLOCK
Hemp block Hempcrete is a bio-composite base material consists of fibers from the hemp plant mixed with sand and lime.
PROS
Lightweight cementitious material
Best insulating material
weighing about a 7th or 8th of the weight of concrete.
Repellent to white ants and fire ants
Discouraging the growth of mold
Renewable Resource
Rapid growth of fiber without fertilizer
CONS
It’s carbon negative because it sequesters carbon when used as a building material.
it’s not loadbearing
A frame is required to carry the loads
Transportation Cost
Environmental cost
Environmental footprints
TIMBER
Wood is a product of trees, and sometimes other fibrous plants.
It is used for construction purposes when cut or pressed into lumber and timber, such as boards, planks and similar materials.
Wood has been used as a building material for thousands of years in its natural state.
PROS Used to make floors, walls,
supports and roof frames
High Strength
Easy to work with
Versatile
Potentially renewable
Biodegradable
CONS
Some timber is non-renewable
Treated with toxic chemicals
Causes deforestation
It is not Eco-friendly
COMPRESSED EARTH
BLOCK
Compressed earth block
A compressed block out of an appropriate mix of:
a. Dry inorganic soil
b. Non-expansive clay
c. Aggregate
d. Cement
Traditional blocks of this nature, such as adobe blocks, were sun-dried, but modern versions are mechanically compressed.
PROS Provide a source of employment
Non-toxic protection
Don’t off gas VOCs
Sound resistant
Fire resistant
Insect resistant
Mold resistant
EXTRUDED EARTH BLOCK
Extruded earth block Theses are the unfired molded blocks, "extruded," into a continuous length in a machine, and then cut into smaller blocks.
CONS
Unfired blocks degrade to mud when immersed in water
The soil required for Extruded earth is much sandier than the one for fired earth
Thus the soil is more abrasive and the machines get damaged at a much faster rate
They are not cost effective
PLASTIC
It is a product of synthetic materials derived from petrochemicals.
Polymers being used in construction industry such as:
1. Polyethylene
2. Polypropylene
3. Polyvinyl Chloride
PROS
Use to make window frames, water pipes, floor & wall coverings etc.
Light weight
Highly durable
Resistant to damp, water and pests
CONS
Made from non-renewable resources
Intensive energy required to produce it
Highly polluting material
Off gas VOC’S
can not be easily degraded and decomposed
CLAY PLASTERBOARD
BLOCK
Clay plasterboard block It has been made from :
a. Un-fired clay
b. Recycled Dry-wall
It use in the flat orientation for greater loadbearing strength.
Clay plasters regulate relative interior humidity between 40% to 70%.
By keeping RH between 40% to 70% research has shown that the likelihood for airborne infectious bacteria and virus to survive is the lowest.
Keeping RH between 40 to 60% also prevents building materials from off gassing toxins, such as formaldehyde.
CONS
It may contains toxic chemicals
It may contains glass fibers
Expensive
Difficult to Repair
Plaster also changes color slightly as it ages.
COMPRESSED EARTH BLOCK
We have decided to use the “compressed earth block material” for the green building as it has enormous benefits
Economically feasible
The earth used in the production of the CEBs is actually subsoil which leaves the nutrient rich topsoil on the surface.
This healthy topsoil can then, still be used for agriculture.
EXECUTE THE DECISION
Once the Compressed earth block material is decided to use as a green building material, we have to execute it by following a sequence of activities like taking approval from Environmental Protection Agency & For execution, we involve the NGO SECTOR, public participation and the other relevant sub-ordinates.
Compressed Earth Block has been selected because of the following reasons:
CEBs use a uniform building component size.
Rapid construction & No need of pre-heating before use.
High compressive strength can easily hold a roof
They provide durable and weather resistant construction
Unskilled labor can be hired for construction
Environmentally viable.
REFERENCES
Ogunkah. I., Yang. J. (2012) Investigating factors affecting material selection. Buildings. 1-32
Heerwagen. H. J. (2000). Green buildings. Building research and information. 28 (5). 353-367.
http://www.americanlimetechnology.com/what-is-hempcrete/
http://www.diynetwork.com/home-improvement/all-about-green-building-materials/index.html
http://www.readersdigest.com.au/types-of-building-materials