Library case study on green architecture

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Library case study on green architecture
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Green architecture

• Green architecture also known as sustainable
  architecture or green building is an approach
  to architectural design which emphasizes the
  place of the buildings with both local ecosystems
  global environment.
• It aims to create environmental friendly and
  energy efficient buildings. It entails actively
  harnessing renewable natural resources like solar
  energy and utilizing materials that cause the
  least possible damage to the global
  commonswater, soil, forests air.

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• Energy resource efficiency in new constructions
  can be effected by adopting an integrated
  approach to the building design. The primary
  steps in this approach are listed below
• 1.Incorporate solar passive techniques in a
  building to minimize load on conventional systems
  (heating, cooling, ventilation lighting).
• 2.Design energy efficient lighting and HVAC
  (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
  systems.
• 3.Use renewable energy systems (solar
  photovoltaic systems/ solar water heating
  systems) to meet a part of building load.
• 4.Use low energy materials and methods of
  construction and reduce transportation energy.

The dark colors on the thermo gram of a Passive
house (right) show how little heat is escaping
compared to a traditional building (left)
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Energy efficient construction techniques

• 1. Solar Chimney A solar chimney often referred
  to as thermal chimney is a way of improving the
  natural ventilation of buildings by using
  convection of air heated by passive solar energy.
  A simple description of a solar chimney is that
  of a vertical shaft utilizing solar energy to
  enhance the natural stack ventilation through a
  building.

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• The use of a solar chimney may benefit natural
  ventilation and passive cooling strategies of
  buildings thus help reduce energy use, CO2
  emissions and pollution in general. Potential
  benefits regarding natural ventilation and use of
  solar chimneys are
• 1. Improved ventilation rates on still, hot days
• 2.Improved control of air flow through the
  building
• 3.Improved air quality and reduced noise levels
  in urban areas
• 4.Increased night time ventilation rates
• 5.Allow ventilation rates of narrow, small spaces
  with minimal exposure to external elements
• 6.Improved cooling during warm seasons
• 7.Improved thermal comfort (improved air flow
  controls, reduced draughts)

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• 2. Wind catcher A wind catcher is a traditional
  Persian architectural device used for many
  centuries to create natural
  ventilation in buildings.
• The wind catcher functions on several principles
• First, a wind catcher is capped and has several
  directional ports at the top (Traditionally
  four). By closing all but the one facing away
  from the incoming wind, air is drawn upwards
  using the, similar to how opening the one facing
  the wind would push air down the shaft. This
  generates significant cooling ventilation within
  the structure below.
• In a windless environment or waterless house, a
  wind catcher functions as a stack effect
  aggregator of hot air. It creates a pressure
  gradient which allows less dense hot air to
  travel upwards and escape out the top. This is
  also compounded significantly by the day-night
  cycle mentioned above, trapping cool air below.
  The temperature in such an environment can't drop
  below the nightly low temperature.

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• 3. Trombe Wall A Trombe wall is a sun-facing
  wall built from material that can act as a
  thermal mass (such as stone, concrete, or water
  tanks), combined with an air space, insulated
  glazing and vents to form a large solar thermal
  collector

Passive solar design using an unvented trombe
wall and summer shading
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• Modern Trombe walls have vents added to the top
  and bottom of the air gap between the glazing and
  the thermal mass. Heated air flows via convection
  into the building interior. The vents have
  one-way flaps which prevent convection at night,
  thereby making heat flow strongly directional.
  This kind of design is an isolated passive
  thermal collector. By moving the heat away from
  the collection surface, it greatly reduces
  thermal losses at night and improves overall heat
  gain.

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Hues of Life kakkanadu, kochi

• Good Earth Hues of Life is a tropical high rise
  apartment building, a green alternative which
  responds to and takes advantage of the climate
  and the location.
• Designed to accommodate 31 apartments with sky
  gardens, Hues is Good Earths foray into
  bio-climatic skyscrapers.
• Details
• 1. 3 bedroom20 units(2380 sq ft)
• 2. 3 bedroom11 units(2080 sq ft)

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Highlights

• Sky-gardens in individual homes
• Sky courts at intermediate levels as community
  spaces
• Service core as a buffer area
• The view exploited from all spaces.
• Tropical landscape in the sky gardens and courts
• Ground floor semi- open, connected to the outside
  
• Air spaces and wind scoops
• Continuous natural ventilation
• Use of cavity walls for insulation
• Natural day lighting, even in the deeper parts of
  the building
• Use of natural materials
• Sun and rain protection to the building by the
  provision of large recesses, for windows and
  openings.
• Reduced use of water and power resources. Lower
  operational costs

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Interesting features

• 1. The individual sky garden These are green
  terraces with a breathtaking view in each
  apartment. The design of sky gardens minimize the
  heat moisture on the lower flower, by virtue of
  protecting the wall below.
• They are staggered on the alternate floors which
  enhance the air movement between the floors. It
  also acts as the buffer from dust, heat and
  lashing rain.

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• 2. The community sky court The sky court  is a
  landscaped terrace designed in the transition
  areas around staircases and lifts, at
  intermediate levels, to act as a community space,
  and as visual relief.
• A space for children to play, neighbors to
  meet, plants and lawn giving the air a fresher
  feel. The sky court is  designed to integrate
  hard and soft landscape, to create a variety of
  areas which encourage interaction among different
  groups.

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Wind scoop natural light

• The atria created by the sky court, act as wind
  scoops, drawing fresh air into them, and allowing
  hot air to escape, even through the homes. The
  same can be said for natural light, which
  penetrates to the deepest area of the building
  through them.
• natural ventilation
• Large openings have been provided on the windward
  and leeward sides, within the apartments, and
  cross ventilation is taken care of through the
  air spaces in the sky courts. The sky gardens in
  the apartments create air currents, drawing air
  into the house.
• the service core
• The service core is located on the south side of
  the building, and thus acts as the buffer from
  the heat, keeping the maximum heat gain away from
  the user space.

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Natural materials and cavity walls

• For creating energy efficient and thermally
  comfortable spaces, a combination of hollow
  terracotta blocks and semi wire cur bricks have
  been used, for the external walls.
• This forms a wall with three air cavities, the
  terracotta blocks on the outside and the bricks
  on the inside, keeping the interiors cool and
  bringing down the use of air-conditioning.
• Besides serving as a passive coolant, the
  external wall is also very low on maintenance,
  bringing down the long term maintenance costs of
  the building.

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References

• 1. Energy-efficient buildings in IndiaTata
  Energy Research Institute (TERI)
• 2. http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImageGreen_City.j
  pg
• 3. http//www.goodearthhomes.net/HuesOfLife.html
• 4. http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImagePassivhaus_t
  hermogram_gedaemmt_ ungedaemmt.png
• 5. http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_archit
  ecture