Green Architecture - Green Buildings

Green architecture is architectural approach by which harmful impacts on air, water and our environment are reduced by using eco-friendly building materials.

Characteristics of Green architecture

•Energy efficient lighting
•Better Ventilation system to maintain heat and cool
•Alternate source of power by using solar energy
•Better usage of resources.

The Green building can be achieved by the following these steps
The first step is the Design for the glass building; it mainly focuses on taking advantage of the renewable resources.
• Allowing sunlight to flow through the passive and active solar photovoltaic options
• Use green roofs made of glass to reduce the heat.
• Installing high performance glass that will reduce the solar heat.

The next step in installation is the construction; it helps to identify the material and ensures sustainability. Some of the materials that are used are listed below.

• Solar control glass that keeps your rooms cool by reflecting unwanted solar heat and also allows natural light to flow in thus reducing energy bills.
• Recycled stone and metal and other products that are non-toxic, reusable, renewable, and/or recyclable.
• Rapidly renewable plant materials like bamboo and straw
• Use building materials from local sources to minimize energy use due to their transportation.

The next step is the construction and maintenances

Once the construction of done with the renewable raw materials, maintenance is very important part, since the building should sustainable and profitable.

Consider the idea of design concepts taking into account the increased usage of natural light and temperature control services–the more natural used, the less maintenance of and dependency on furnaces, air conditioners, and lighting systems you will have to worry about, as they will be used less. Sustainable development attempts to minimize greenhouse gases, reduce global warming, preserve environmental resources, and provide communities that allow people to reach their fullest potentials.

Reduce Waste

The wastage of water is greatly reduced at several levels by making the building with the green architecture.
• on site waste management, such as separating garbage, recycling and compost
• The green building reduces the usage of the electricity by using solar control glass for windows which allows the light to flow in naturally.
• converting wastewater to fertilizer via a biogas plant, and more
Ultimately, from diverting waste from landfills in the construction process, to designing efficiently to minimize waste during operation, to ensuring on-site maintenance chooses efficient products and processes, keeping green concepts in mind throughout all stages of building life cycle will contribute to waste reduction.

Guidelines to built Green Buildings

1. Use solar control glass window, shutters or screens that keep the rooms cool during summer.
2. As the northern side of your house receives the most sun, the roof overhang should be longer (at least 40 cm to 60 cm) in length. Windows will be shaded in summer when the sun is high, while allowing the sun’s rays through the windows in winter when the angle of the sun is low.
3. Plant trees on the south, east and/or west of your home to provide shade during summer.
4. A skylight in the roof allows natural light into the house on sunny days and eliminates the use of artificial lighting. Make sure that the sloping glass of the skylight faces north.
5. Floors made out of brick or concrete maintain comfortable temperatures in your house as they are good at absorbing heat during the day and releasing this slowly at night. These floors should not be covered with carpets as a concrete floor absorbs more heat than a floor covered by carpeting.
6. Ensure suitable ventilation for fresh air and cool breezes - rooms can be ventilated using airbricks, forced ventilation or by opening windows.
7. Install efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems if required and ensure they are efficiently used. Be sure to shade the air conditioning unit outside with a tree.
8. Consider switching to green electricity. Green electricity is generated from renewable sources such as wind, solar and wave power.
9. Heat loss is ten times faster through glass windows than through insulated walls, so open the curtains during the day (let in the natural light and heat) and close them at night (keeps in the heat).
10. Install energy efficient light bulbs (CFLs) throughout the house. These are usually more expensive than conventional incandescent light bulbs, but have a much longer life-span and use far less electricity. They pay themselves back in a few months and are a very sound environmental choice.

Visit: Saint Gobain Glass India.

Olympia Tech Park, Chennai.