Cities, globally have been recognised as the major promoters of global warming, climate change and increasing carbon footprints. Within cities, it is the built environment and transportation, which are primarily responsible for making them unsustainable. Majority of problems related to urban sustainability are the outcome of the manner in which buildings are planned , designed , constructed and operated. Buildings, as definers of character and fabric of any city, are known for their positivity, negativities, dualities and contradictions. Consuming nearly half of the global energy, majority of resources and generating large carbon emissions, buildings are largely responsible for making cities unsustainable. This call for making buildings energy efficient and least consumers of resources. Sustainable Development Goals also mandate the critical role of buildings in promoting global sustainability. However, majority of buildings are designed and constructed , without any concern for energy, resources and environment. Making buildings minimum consumers of energy and resources would require changing the traditional approach to designing the buildings; making building green; considering relevance of climate,site and orientation, ; life-cycle assessment ;energy ,water efficiency and; building materials.

1. Decarbonising Cities --
Through Green& Energy
Efficient Buildings
Jit Kumar Gupta , former Director, College of
Architecture; IET Bhaddal, Punjab
Email---- jit.kumar1944@gmail.com, Mob- 90410-26414

2. Cities and their Context
 Cities have been part of human history.
 - Cities- known to command power and authority
 Cities -- known for their dualities and contradictions.
 Cities- known for both -- positivity and negativities
 Cities -- known to be areas of concentration of population/
activities, infrastructures, services, healthcare, education
 Cities -- known to be Engines of economic growth-70%
 Cities - generators of employment , wealth and prosperity,
 -- Cities – also known for their negativities,
 – where rich and poor rub shoulders-
 Cities – large consumers of resources/energy/ land
 Cities- generators of 70% waste
 Cities – consuming 60% global energy generating 70% of
carbon footprints- largely responsible for global warming-

3. Cities and their Context
 Cities- remain a manmade , mechanical environment
 Cities- destroy natural habitat-anti-thesis to bio-diversity
 Cities- known to be creator of best/ worst living
conditions- housing both rich and poor
 Cities- home to large migrants
 Cities- home to slums
 Cities- remain in crisis- natural and manmade
 Crisis of population, poverty, pollution
 Cities – ever evolving and devolving
 Cities – shall remain dominant in future
 Cities- drivers of nation’s future
 However Cities needs rationalization
 Made more-- bio-diverse; productive, effective, efficient,
humane, livable, sustainable, Healthy place to live /work

7. Global Context of Cities

8. Indian Urbanization
 250 million in 1919
 1210 million in 2011 (10 yrs. Later)
 2050- Indian population- 1600 mil. -- 50%
in Urban India.
 Metropolitan Centres -5 (1951)- -53 (2011)-
68(2031)
 10 m plus- nil (1951)- 3 (2011) -7 (2031)-9
(2051)
 During last 100 years, India witnessed—
- -Urbanization level going up by 3 times
- --Urban settlements growing merely 4
times
- --Total Population multiplying 5 times
- -Urban population increasing 15 times and
- -Rural population increasing 3.5 times
- Heading to be the most populated country
on this planet-2036

9. URBAN INDIA- 2030- Mckinsey Global Inst-
 India Urban Awakening :Building Inclusive Cities-
Report- April, 2010 -- by 2030:
 590 m to live in Urban India- twice US population
 70% GDP generated by cities
 80% Revenue generated by cities
 4 fold increase in per capita income
 5 times the number by which GDP would multiply
 270 million net increase in working age group
 70% of new jobs(170 mil) generated in cities
 91 M urban households will be middle class-- up from 22 M
 68 Cities will be Metropolises-Europe has 35 only
 $ 1.2T capital needed to meet projected infrastructure demand
 700-900 million Sqmts of residential/ commercial area needed
annually- a new Chicago to be created
 2.5 b Sqmts roads paved-20times created in last decade
 7400km (350-400 km/year) of metro needed -20times created in last
decade
 200 million Rural Indians to benefit-living close to top 70 cities
 75%urban India to live in bottom segment -earning Rs 80 per day

10. Urbanization-issues
 Cities – consuming 60% global energy generating 70%
of carbon footprints
 - largely responsible for global warming-
 Poorly designed buildings & large travel
 Cities-Poorly planned, developed managed and
governed.
 Unable to meet challenges of urban dynamism
 Haphazard /Unplanned pattern of development.
 Enormous growth of slums
 Poor quality of life
 largely unhealthy-Housing large polluting gases of NO,
O3, Co2,SO2 suspended particulate
 -98% cities in low& low/middle countries / 56% in high
income economies do not meet air quality –WHO norms
 6 million people died -due to air pollution-2019-20

11. Urbanization-issues
 --water stressed-prone to disasters- natural / manmade
 --Acute shortage of green spaces--Create large heat island-
 Perpetually suffering from problems of traffic/ transportation
 Remain unsustainable- dependent on rural hinterland
 Remain large consumer of energy and resources
 Remain polluter of environment and destroyer of bio-
diversity
 Cities -- Remain water stressed
 Unable to meet basic needs of
 -Shelter
 --Services ,
 --Sanitation
• Indian Urbanization rightly called :
 Urbanization of Population
 Urbanization of Poverty
 Urbanization of Pollution

12. Urbanization-issues

13. Making
cities
Sustainable

14. SDG 11- Make cities and human settlements inclusive
,safe, resilient and sustainable

16. Making cities Great Places to Live
 Smart Visioning
 Promoting State of art Planned Development
 Weaving nature with development
 Making cities Compact
 --Making cities Inclusive--Making Cities Safe
 Designing energy efficient Buildings
 - Minimizing Travel- promoting pedestrianization/cycling
 --Leveraging Technology
 Making cities Green/blue - Leveraging landscape/water
 -Leveraging Culture, Heritage, Art / Architecture
 -Creating Quality Public Spaces
 --Making cities community/people centric
 -Creating ownership for city
 Reconnecting cities to food productivity
 - integrating agriculture into cities through holistic architecture-
Making Cities Spongy- keeping large area open/ promote water
harvesting--ground water charging/reducing flooding
 Making informal sector- integral part of planning/develop.

17. Context of
Buildings-
Resources/e
nvironment

18. Buildings- Role and Importance
 Buildings-- integral part of human history, growth and
development since inception
 Buildings -- would continue to define future journey of
human growth
 Buildings-- constitute manmade environment-
 Buildings-- remain vital for human growth
 Buildings – are living organism
 Buildings – cater to all human activities
 Buildings- full of dualities and contradictions
 Buildings -- largest consumers of energy
 Buildings - largest consumers of resources
 Buildings – largest generators of waste
 Buildings- largest polluter of environment /ecology
 Buildings --- responsible for largest carbon footprints
 Buildings -- responsible for global warming
 Buildings -- major determinant of global sustainability


19. Buildings- Role and Importance
 Buildings– providers of optimum/worst living conditions
 Buildings -- make people healthy/sick
 Buildings --critical for human living- 80% human life spent
in buildings
 Buildings --critical for Global sustainability and
decarbinisation- 50% energy used by buildings
 Buildings -- vital to overcome human/ ecological concerns
 Making Buildings Sustainable-- essential to make value
addition to resources, environment ,ecology
 Studies revealed —
 A Green School-- makes learning easy and more
meaningful
 A Green House--- makes people happy and healthy
 A Green Hospital-- cures patients quickly
 A Green Shopping Mall-- can increase sale / profits

20. BUILDINGS AS CONSUMERS OF
RESOURCES
•Built environment impact environment / consumption of
resources:
16% of world’s fresh water withdrawal.
25% of wood harvested.
30% of consumption of raw material.
50% of global energy consumption.
35% of world's CO2 emission
40% of Municipal solid waste.
50% of Ozone depleting CFC’s still in use.
30% of the residents having sick building syndrome
( Roodman and Lenssen, 1995)
•70% global warming--outcome of buildings / transportation
•Existing buildings--low concern for energy conservation.
•With annual addition of- 700-900msqmts- energy/ environment
implications can be critical.
•Buildings need to be designed /constructed / operated with
utmost care for considerations--- energy/ sustainability/resources

21. Changing construction perceptions

22. Designing Built Environment


23. Green Buildings-
definition, cost,

24. Defining- Green Buildings

25. Green Building – The Definition
 A green building is one which
Uses less
Water
Optimizes
Energy
Efficiency
Conserves
natural
resources
Generates
less
waste
Provides
healthier
spaces

26. Advantages of Green Buildings

27. Tangible Benefits
 Reduce operating costs
 Optimize life cycle
economic performance
◦ Sustained savings
 Energy savings: up to 50 %
 Water savings: up to 40 %
HPCL-Admin Building, Vizag

28. In-tangible Benefits of Green Design
 Environmental benefits
◦ Reduce impact on environment-- Reduce destruction of
natural areas, habitats, biodiversity
 Health and Safety benefits
◦ Enhance occupant comfort-- Improve Productivity of
occupants
ISRO-NRSC, Shadnagar, Hyderabad

29. Rediscovery of the Indian
ethos
 5 elements of Nature (Panchabhutas)
Prithvi (Earth) Site Selection and Planning
Jal (Water) Water Conservation
Agni (Fire) Energy Efficiency
Vayu (Air) Indoor Environmental Quality
Akash (Sky) Daylight, Night Sky Pollution
Daylighting
Views
Water Body
Local materials

30. Green Buildings- life cycle
costs
Operating Cost 89%
Maintenance/
Consumables 1%
Initial Cost
10%

31. Building Year
awarded
Built-in Area
(sq.ft)
Rating
Achieved
%
Increase
in cost
Payback
(Yrs)
CII-Godrej GBC,
Hyderabad
2003 20,000 Platinum 18 % 7 years
ITC Green Centre,
Gurgaon
2004 1,70,000 Platinum 15 % 6 years
Wipro,
Gurgaon
2005 1,75,000 Platinum 8 % 5 years
Technopolis, Kolkata 2006 72,000 Gold 6% 3 years
Spectral Services
Consultants Office, Noida
2007 15,000 Platinum 8% 4 years
Kalpataru Square 2008 3,00,000 Platinum 2% 2 years
Suzlon One Earth, Pune 2010 8,00,000 Platinum 2% 2 years
Cost of Green Buildings-Indian Experience
 Cost showing a decreasing trend over the years
 Incremental Cost lower-- if base design has already factored normal Green features

32. Designing Green
Buildings

33. Sun- Source of Heat and light

36. Tower of Shadow- Chandigarh

37. Designing Traditional Buildings Vs
Green Buildings
1 TB-Involvement of project members --limited to their trade/
specialization
 GB- Project members involved-- right from beginning to
help design/ planning process
2 TB- Project gets more intensive-- as it progresses-Less
time spent in beginning
 GB-Project starts intensively --with more time spent in
beginning
3. TB– Decisions made by few stakeholders individually--
Owner, Architect, Engineers, Contractor
 GB—Decisions made by team
 -- based on research, discussions, brainstorming
sessions

38. Designing Traditional Buildings Vs
Green Buildings
4 TB- Linear process
 GB— Integrated approach
5. TB- Focus to reduce upfront capital cost
 GB- Focus to reduce long term O&M costs– life cycle costs
6. TB— All systems considered in isolation --leading often to
under/over -designing/ sizing
 GB- Building performance assessed based on impact of each system
individually/collectively to create optimum design
7. TB- Project members undertake limited responsibilities
 GB-Members share equal responsibilities /work jointly
8. TB-Linear process ends-- when construction of project completed
 GB- --Design approach emphasizes-- performance of buildings/user’s
satisfaction through post- evaluation surveys /energy audit

39. Designing Green Buildings
1--Adopting integrated approach to building design
2.--Design based on Climate
 Macro Climate – Regional climate; Meso Climate– local climate
 Micro Climate--Site climate -- based on site characteristics,
3.--Orientation -- to optimize natural light and heat gain/heat loss
4-- Sun movement-- to maximizes use of solar energy for heating
/lighting
5.--Wind direction---using movement of air for ventilation/ cooling
6. --Planning of Building-- to optimize the size/shape of building,
planning spaces, allocating uses, placing of rooms, circulation,
promoting building efficiency, promoting natural sunlight, air and
ventilation
7. --Designing Building Envelop--–positioning of openings and
projections, planning for shading devices, determining height/ shape
of building, natural lighting and ventilations etc
8.--Materials- Materials used for buildings- low embodied materials
locally available / in natural form, lightweight – reduce self load
9.--Technology- cost- effective, material efficient, speedier construction,
energy efficient

40. Integrated APPPROACH-
Designing Green Buildings

41. Designing Green
Buildings- Climate, Site

42. INDIAN CLIMATIC ZONES

43. Integrated Design Process
 Five Climatic Zones In India-
 Hot and Dry
 Warm and Humid
 Moderate / Temperate
 Cold (Cloudy/Sunny)
 Composite
 All green buildings cannot be same
All zones have specific requirements regarding:
--light,
--heat,
--ventilation and
--thermal comfort
 Different zones require different design strategies regarding --
building envelop,
 --HVAC,
 -- lighting ,
 -- fenestration,
 -- performance standards

44. Hot and Dry Climate Zone-
Comfort requirements and Physical manifestations in Buildings
Thermal Requirements Physical Manifestation
Reduce Heat Gain
Decrease exposed surface area Orientation and shape of building
Increase thermal resistance Insulation of building envelope/roof/walls
Increase thermal capacity (Time lag) Massive structure
Decrease air exchange rate
(ventilation during the day)
Smaller windows openings, night ventilation
Increase buffer spaces Create Air locks/lobbies/balconies/verandahs
Increase shading Protect External surfaces by- Overhangs, Fins
and Trees
Increase surface reflectivity Use Pale Colour, glazed china mosaic tiles etc.
Reduce solar heat gain Use glazing with Lower Solar Heat Gain Co-
efficient-SHGC and provide shading for
windows. Minimize glazing in East and West
Promote Heat Loss
Increase air exchange rate
(ventilation during night-time)
Courtyards/wind tower/arrangement of
openings

47. Cold (Cloudy/Sunny) Climate
Zone- Comfort requirements and
Physical manifestations in Buildings
Thermal Requirements Physical Manifestation
Reduce Heat Loss
Decrease exposed surface area Orientation and shape of building. Use
of trees as wind barriers.
Increase thermal resistance Roof insulation, wall insulation and
double glazing
Increase thermal capacity (Time Lag) Thicker walls
Increase buffer spaces Air locks/Lobbies
Decrease air exchange rate Weather stripping and reducing air
leakage.
Increase surface absorption Darker colours
Promote Heat Gain
Reduce shading Wall and glass surfaces
Trapping heat Sun spaces/green houses/trombe walls
etc.

49. Cold (Cloudy/Sunny) Climate
Zone- Comfort requirements and
Physical manifestations in Buildings

50. Cold (Cloudy/Sunny) Climate Zone

51. TROMBE WALL

52. Site Analysis
Site Planning

53. Site Analysis- Factors considered
i) Understanding Site
ii) Location
iii) Orientation
iv) Wind direction
v) Soil conditions
vi) Topography
vii)Vegetation &Natural
Features
viii) Hydrology and
Precipitation
ix) Infrastructures
x) Surrounding Land uses
& Buildings
xi) Vision / Visual Linkages

54. MANAGING SITE- MIN. CUTTING &FILLING

55. Planning for spaces in buildings

56. Impact of Buildings- minimizing
Building Footprints

57. •CONTEXT
OF GREEN ROOFS
IN REDUCING
CARBON FOOTPRINTS

59. Minimising Heat Gain/Heat Loss

60. Defining Green Roof
 Green roof—
 Roof typology used as an option
 -- for promoting sustainability in buildings
 Green roof defined as a-
 -- space on the roof
 --comprising of collection of greenery,
 -- planted on top of a man-made structure.
 --used as a solution to manage the temperature within buildings /
 -- bringing nature into cities,
 Green roof or living roof
 - Roof of a building
 - that is partially / completely covered
 -- with vegetation and a growing medium,
 -- planted over a waterproofing membrane.
 -- may also include additional layers
 -- a root barrier and drainage / irrigation systems-

61. Benefits of Green Roofs in cities
• Green roofs provide—
• -- physical, social, economic,
environmental benefits
• – for building environment, people,
communities, city, climate, human livability,
in terms of ;
• reducing carbon-footprints;
• Decreasing storm water Run off
• Reducing air pollution
• Increasing oxygen production;
• Improving air quality-- purifying air
• encouraging biodiversity,
• minimizing greenhouse gas emissions,
• removing air particulates;
• improving property value / marketability;
• promoting economy,
• generating employment.

63. Low Impact Design

64. Godrej IGBC Building- Hyderabad

66. Cost effective strategy for energy efficiency
Reduce energy
demand by
passive measures
Reduce energy
demand by active
measures
Integration of
renewable energy
Least
cost
impact
Some
cost
impact
Highest
cost
impact
• Climate responsive
architectural design
• Efficient building envelope
• Daylight harvesting
• Integration of natural sources
for cooling & heating in
building design.
Offset energy demand from the
grid by installing on-site
renewable energy
• Energy efficient equipment
• Lights
• Fans
• Air- conditioners
• Efficient building Operation &
Maintenance through BMS (Building
Management System) & Smart
Metering

67. Retro- Fitting of Existing Buildings
• For Decarbonising cities- new buildings – to be made
green / energy efficient
• -- also Retrofitting existing buildings
- Singapore – Prepared master plan
- --for making existing buildings green
- -- through collaborative policy framework
- -- involving residents, property owners/ government.
- Retrofitting of Empire State Building - New York
- led to achieving;
- -- reduction of electricity load by 3.5 MW
- --green house gas by 1,00,000 tonnes over 15 years
- Payback/recovery period
- --for $13.1 million spent
- 3.5 years - by Saving in energy, lighting, air
conditioning etc.
- -- Retrofitting needs promotion on large scale
- for decarbonising cities

68. Sun pipe- Day Light Harvesting
Sun Pipes used to lit
basement,
Viswa Syamalam, IGBC Platinum

73. Indoor Air Quality
Good Indoor air quality --essential for work places
-- to foster better health
Good Indoor environmental quality–
-- reduces respiratory disease, allergy,
asthma, eliminates sick building syndrome
-- enhance worker performance.
• When people themselves are
• main source of emission.
--Carbon dioxide concentration /
indoor air quality in interiors
important indicator for determining
whether quality of indoor air is bad/good
• Poor indoor air quality leads to tiredness,
-- lack of concentration and
---- can even bring about illnesses.

74. Causes of Poor indoor air Quality
i. Poor ventilation
ii. Outdoor air quality/impurities
iii. Poorly insulated Building Envelop
iv. Smoking
v. Use of toxic building material
vi. Use of High VOC compound based paints for walls
vii. Dampness/water intrusion- microbial contamination
viii.Use of VOC based cleaning agents
ix. Poor Lighting x. Furniture
x. Floor Coverings- Carpets, Carpeting of floor
xi. Poor pollution controls-- during construction
xii. Damaging existing vegetation/trees
xiii.Poor site planning/management
xiv.Using pesticides

75. Promoting health and wellbeing
 Promoting health and wellbeing by;
 Bringing fresh air inside/ Delivering good indoor air
quality-- through ventilation-- avoiding materials /
chemicals -- creating harmful /toxic emissions.
 Incorporating natural light / views--to ensure building
users’ comfort /enjoyment of surroundings/ reducing
lighting energy needs .
 Designing for ears/ eyes – through Acoustics /sound
insulation-- for promoting concentration, recuperation/
peaceful enjoyment of a building-- in educational, health
/residential buildings.
 Ensuring Environment comfort --through right indoor
temperature
 Passive design/ using plants
 Building management and monitoring systems

76. Best air purifying plants for
general air cleanliness
Areca Palm Snake Plant
Best Air Purifier
Money Plant
Removes Nitrogen Oxides
& absorbs formaldehydes
Improving Indoor Air Quality through Plants –
Air Purifiers

77. Changing
Paradigm of
Construction/
Material
Technologies

78. Future Typologies of Buildings

79. Future Cities-Conceptual
Ultima Tower- 2Mile High Sky City
•Location: Any densely populated urban
environment
•-Date: 1991
•-Cost: $150,000,000,000
•Population: 1,000,000
•Exterior surface area of building: 150,000,000
sft
•Enclosed volume: 53,000,000,000 cubic feet
•Total enclosed acreage: 39,000 acres
•- 156 Chandigarh Sectors
•Elevator speed:-- 20 feet per second (13 miles
per hour)
•-- 9 minutes and 40 seconds to reach top
floor from ground floor.
•Dimensions: Height--10,560 feet;
•Diameter at the base--6000 feet;
•Number of stories--500;

80. PEARL RIVER TOWER- GUANGZHOU, CHINA
NET ZERO ENERGY BUILDING
YEAR OF COMPLETION- 2011
SITE AREA-10635SQ.M.
PROJECT AREA- 214,100SQ.M.
(2.3MILLION SQ.FT.)
NO. OF STORIES- 71
HEIGHT OF BUILDING-309 M
ENERGY EFFICIENCY ACHIEVED
THROUGH
SOLAR PANELS
PHOTO VOLTAIC CELLS
WIND TURBINES
DAY LIGHT HARVESTING
DOUBLE SKIN CURTAIN WALLS
CHILLED CEILING WATER
UNDER FLOOR VENTILATION

81. Rating/Evaluating Buildings

83. ‘A Green building makes you
Happy, Healthy and More Productive
-Provides highest quality of indoor environment
-Optimizes Resources, , Reduces Waste,
- Reduces/minimises Carbon Footprints
-makes building operations cost effective and
energy efficient
-- create win-win situation for occupants/owner/tenants
- – ‘Natural Capitalism’

84. Go Green! Should be your mantra for life /
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Jit.kumar1944@gmail.com