Professional Documents
Culture Documents
depending on the type of primary stress that may arise in the members of the structures
under major design loads. However any two or more of the basic structural types
tension under the action of external loads. Because the tensile stress is uniformly
distributed over the cross-sectional area of members, the material of such a structure is
compressive stresses under the action of axial loads. Because compressive structures
such failures.
ends by hinged connections to form a stable configuration. Because of their light weight
and high strength, are among the most commonly used type of structure.
wooden shear walls, which are used in multi-storey buildings to reduce lateral
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movements due to wind loads and earthquake excitations. Shear structures develop
mainly in-plane shear with relatively small bending stresses under the action of external
loads.
under the action of external loads. The shear stresses associated with the changes in
systems. Structural material systems for high-rise buildings will be chosen by carefully
considering architectural, economical and site factors. The economic drivers vary by
geography as the relative costs of material, labour, time and space vary from one
location to another. Other factors to consider in choosing the structural material for the
Mixed-Used High Rise include: local market preference or availability; project size or
dynamic performance, adaptability, and the like); site location/access and speed of
construction.
Electricity constitutes a form of energy itself which occurs naturally only in unusable
forms such as lightning and other static discharges or in the natural galvanic cells, which
cause corrosion. The primary problem in the utilization of electric energy is that, unlike
fuels or even heat, it cannot be stored and therefore must be generated and utilized at
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Alternative Energy
Alternative energy refers to energy not derived from traditional fossil fuel sources
fuels remain rather high and costs of some renewable and alternative energy
technologies are coming down. The practical use of these systems varies with the
Solar Energy
Solar energy systems in buildings include systems that capture heat (such as
solar water heating systems and passive heating), and systems that convert solar
energy into electricity. The latter is done primarily through photovoltaic (PV) systems.
in the PV modules themselves. The modules convert sunlight to direct current (DC)
energy; the DC energy is typically then converted to alternating current (AC) energy via
inverters. From the inverters, energy is typically fed into a building's electric system or
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APPLICATION
+ming more viable and affordable, renewable energy is still often much more
expensive than energy efficiency; it is usually much less expensive to save energy than
to generate renewable energy. The most cost-effective route to meet the EPAct (or
other) renewable energy goals will likely include both increasing the numerator
Renewable Energy
____________________ 7.5%
Total Energy
Site considerations are also important during planning. In addition to the obvious
(e.g. PV systems should not be shaded, wind turbines should have access to consistent
winds), designers should consider aesthetic and noise impacts of the technologies.
and maintenance requirements. In addition to the costs, make sure the facility or staff
has the resources needed to keep the systems operating at peak performance.
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For plumbing purposes, the term multi-storey is applied to buildings that
are too tall to be supplied throughout by the normal pressure in the public water mains.
These buildings have particular needs in the design of their sanitary drainage and
venting systems. Water main supply pressures of 812 metres (25 40 feet) can supply
a typical two-storey building, but higher buildings may need pressure booster systems.
All premises intended for human use or habitation shall be provided with a
supply of pure and wholesome water, neither connected to unsafe water supply nor
sufficient volume and pressure adequate to function satisfactorily and without undue
noise.
Plumbing shall be designed and adjusted to use the minimum quantity of water
Devices for heating and storing water shall be so designed and installed as to
Every building abutting on a street, alley or easement with a public sewer shall
Each family dwelling unit shall have at least one water closet, one kitchen type
sink, a lavatory and a bathtub or shower to meet the basic requirements of sanitation
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The drainage system shall be designed, constructed and maintained to
safeguard against fouling, deposit of solids, clogging and with adequate cleanouts so
satisfactory service.
Each fixture directly connected to the drainage system shall be equipped with a
watersealed trap
circulation of air free from siphonage, aspiration or forcing of trap seals under ordinary
use.
Vent terminals shall extend to the outer air and installed to prevent clogging and
Substance which will clog the pipes, produce explosive mixtures, destroy the
pipes or their joints or interfere unduly with the sewagedisposal process shall not be
sterile goods and similar materials by backflow of sewage. When necessary, the fixture,
device or appliance shall be connected indirectly with the building drainage system.
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If there is no sewer system in the area, suitable provision shall be made for the
Master Plumbers.
Plumbing shall be installed with due regard to the preservation of the strength of
structural members and the prevention of damage to walls and other surfaces through
fixture usage.
surface or subsurface waters shall not be discharged into the ground or into any
waterway, unless first rendered innocuous through subjection to some acceptable form
of treatment.
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1. Disinfection
Alum is added in proportion to the river turbidity to form floc particles created
3. Sedimentation
The water travels through Sedimentation Basins where the heavier material
arsenic.
4. Filtration
5. Corrosion control
At the end of the treatment process, pH is adjusted with caustic soda (NaOH) to
Bank Filtration
Bank filtration is the infiltration of surface water, mostly from a river system into a
groundwater system induced by water abstraction close to the surface water (e.g. a river
bank). This water abstraction is commonly done by operating wells. As the water flows
through the soil, it is filtered and its quality hence is improved. In the context of
sustainable water cycle by recharging stressed groundwater bodies with filtered surface
water.
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drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a hand
In tropical areas it is desirable that the incoming water should be kept cool, and a
depth of 0.5 metres (20 inches) may be suitable. Where the ground is under cultivation,
a depth of 0.8 metres (30 inches) should provide adequate protection. Distance
requirements from other services such as electric, telecommunications and gas pipes
This section deals with requirements for the storage of water supplied from the
important to ensure that the required air gap is established between the drinking water
Dual drinking-water supply systems are those in which two different grades of
water are available in separate piping systems. An example is the provision of a tap at a
sink supplying water directly from the incoming water service while all other fixtures are
Correct installation of non-return devices will prevent hot water from entering the
hospitals, hotels, multiple dwellings and schools require large quantities of water to be
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Multiple dwellings and multi-storey buildings may have fire protection systems
such as sprinkler variety systems or high-pressure mains and hydrants. Industrial and
Combined tanks storing potable water alongside water for other purposes should
have a double partition wall installed internally to separate the two supplies. The space
between the partition walls should be arranged to ensure that any leakage cannot enter
drainage piping requirements within large buildings where economies may be made in
serving the fixtures to which they are connected when all other fixtures in the building
Maximum Loads for Horizontal Fixture Branches and Building Drains or Sewers
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Diameter Fixture branch Building drain or sewer
In the drainage system for a multi-storey building, the drains from the plumbing
fixtures are connected to vertical drain stacks that convey the waste and sewage to
below the lowest floor of the building. The fixture drain traps must be vented to prevent
their water trap seal from being siphoned by negative pressure or blown out by positive
pressure in the drain piping. The fixture vent pipes must extend through the roof to
outdoors. They can be run individually or be combined into one or more vents through
the roof. Where buildings are over 10 storeys high, the drainage stacks require relief
vent connections at specified intervals from the top, and connected to a vent stack that
1. The piping must be air tight, gas tight and water tight.
2. Each plumbing fixture, except those with integral traps, shall be separately
trapped by an approved type water seal trap. This is to prevent odorladen and germ
laden to rise out of the drainage system and contaminate the surrounding air in the
room.
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3. Each plumbing fixture trap shall be provided with vent pipes. This is to protect
the drainage system against siphonage and back pressure and to assure air circulation
Within 1.5 m (5) inside the property line before the house sewer connection
5. All horizontal piping shall be run in practical alignment and at a uniform grade
6. All horizontal piping shall be supported and anchored at intervals not to exceed
3 meters.
7. Vertical piping shall be secured at sufficiently close intervals to keep the pipe
All horizontal piping shall be run in practical alignment and at a uniform grade of
not less than two (2%) percent or 20mm rise per meter length, and shall be supported or
anchored at intervals not exceeding 3.0m (10feet). All stacks shall be properly supported
at their bases and all pipes shall be rigidly secured. Two inches (2) rise per every one
hundred (100) length. A soil branch having a pitch of more than 2% has the tendency of
waste separation. The water flow faster and heavy suspended materials are left and
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CHANGES IN DIRECTION
All changes in direction shall be made by the appropriate fortyfive degree (45)
wyes, half wyes, long sweep quarter bends, except that single sanitary tees may be
used on vertical stacks, and short quarter bends may be used in soil and waste lines
where the change in direction of flow is from the horizontal to the vertical. Tees and
PROHIBITED FITTINGS
No double hub, double T branch shall be used on horizontal soil or waste line.
The drilling and tapping of house drains, soil waste or vent pipes and the use of saddle
At each run of piping more than 15 meters (50 feet) in total developed length at
Inside the building near the connection between the building drain and the
building sewer or installed outside the building at the lower end of the building drain and
extended to grade.
Septic Tank
discharge of sewage from a building sewer, separate solids from the liquid, digest
organic matter and store digested solids through a period of detention, and allow the
Sludge
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Solid organic matter that are denser than water and settle at the bottom of the
septic tank.
Scum
Effluent
5. For School and industrial establishment: Volume should not be less than
Storm Drain
This is the portion of the plumbing system which conveys rain or storm water to a
suitable terminal. This is usually discharged into a street gutter conveyed by a public
drain system and carried to some natural drainage terminal such as lakes or rivers.
The following factors should be considered when determining the size of the 1.
Gauging the rainfall, constant, short duration or heavy shower storm drain:
2. The varying roof area and its slope including the distance of water travel
3. Water drain is faster on higher pitched roofs hence, requires a larger drainage
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4. The height of the building contributes to the high velocity of water in the
vertical conductor and accelerate the flow of water entering the storm drain.
5. Short offsets and indiscriminate use of fittings affect the flow of water.
and the vacuum becomes the driving force that propels the wastewater towards the
water shortage;
building refurbishment.
DRAINPIPES
Such drains should be of adequate size, and laid at a constant gradient that will
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wastes need to have a diameter of at least 100 millimetres (4 inches) for a single
dwelling and at least 150 millimetres (6 inches) if more than one property is served.
Table below shows the gradients at which these velocities are reached in pipes
of various diameters and the approximate quantities that will be carried at such
velocities.
There are three principal ways to dispose of rainwater from roofs, courtyards and
paved areas: storm water sewers, soak aways and collection in storage tanks. Storm
water sewers, which may in some cases consist of open channels, are more common in
urban or densely built-up areas, and they normally serve to take the drainage from
In many cases, the ditches or channels are laid alongside the road just outside
the boundary of the property and are the responsibility of the highway authority, which
may have its own connection requirements that should be incorporated into the plumbing
code of practice.
WASTEWATEUSE
Use of greywater
Economic and environmental pressures, and the conservation ethic, have led to
food and non-food crops, green spaces, recovering arid land, fire systems, industrial
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cooling or industrial processing, sanitation and even as indirect and possibly direct
bathroom wash basins, and water from clothes washing machines and laundry tubs. It
shall not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers (IAPMO 2000).
Use of wastewater
Greywater does not include the wastewater from toilets, urinals or bidets. The
black water), because they contain high levels of pathogenic organisms and solids. Such
From a public health point of view, the crucial aspects to take into account
include the protection of the water source to prevent contamination, and provision of
access to water on individual properties, thus eliminating the need for carrying
household supplies and storing them within the home. In many cases the earlier stages
systems to introduce outdoor air during the occupied mode. Thermal comfort is
foot of material carries a permanent upkeep cost for fuel over the years. The index for
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comparison is the u-coefficient of transmission. The method of establishing this value for
selected walls in developed in the following sections in the following figures, u-coefficient
is defined here as the number of British thermal units per hour that pass through 1 sq. ft.
of wall, floor or roof under actual conditions at the building when the difference between
the inside and outside air temperature is 1 F under a steady rate of heat flow.
It should be pointed out that while glass is quick to lose heat under critical
oriented, to the passage of solar energy into the building during sunny hours.
It is a double glazed unit said to have the highest energy saving potential of their
extensive inventory. It consists of two panels of clear glass separated by a dry air space.
glass panel. On a typical summer day, the assembly is said to reduce the peak solar
heat gain by 86% compared with the conventional 1/8 inch clear glass.
Solar Energy is being tapped in many strange and wondrous ways. However,
there are two ways of heating or cooling a building utilizing the solar heat.
to operate Electric water heaters and air conditioners. In short they are technologically
designed solar buildings. The awesome energy of the sun's radiation is harnessed,
absorbed, transferred and stored for building heating and cooling. Using this system, the
temperatures inside a house will stay at 68 to 70F during even the coldest days.
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"PASSIVE" Solar Design
building which uses solar power for air conditioning and other methods which use little or
In addition to the thousands of ways in which the sun's energy has been used by
both nature and man throughout time-to grow food, to see by, to get a sun tan, to dry
clothes-it has also been deliberately harnessed to perform a number of other 'chores'.
Solar energy is used to heat and cool buildings, to heat water and swimming
pools; to power refrigerators"; and to operate engines, pumps and sewage treatment
plants.
Glass, therefore, acts as a heat trap, a phenomenon which has been recognized
for some time in the construction of greenhouses, which can get quite warm or sunny
days, even in the middle of winter; solar collectors for home heating, usually called Flat
plate collectors".
HEAT COLLECTION
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Natural thermo siphoning of air through solar collectors without an auxiliary
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"BIOSPHERE"
solar still. This was conceptualized by physicist Day Chahroudi. The space between the
solar col lector and the heat storage wall is large enough to be used for growing food.
The North wall of the greenhouse stores the heat and serves as the south wall of
the House.
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PRINCIPLES OF CENTRAL COOLING
In larger buildings and those with varied and diverse occupancy, it is usually
circulated to an outdoor cooling tower and the evaporator produces chilled water. The
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mixed-air plenum and outdoor air control
air filter
The main tasks of air handling systems include supplying a sufficient amount of
oxygen, removing carbon dioxide and maintaining a comfortable room climate that is
special requirements, such as laboratories, the supply air has further functions. The air
handling system must also act as a barrier screening the specified protected area,
the proper amounts of air for heating, cooling, and ventilation in commercial buildings.
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Testing and balancing involves the testing, adjusting, and balancing of HVAC
system components so that the entire system provides airflows that are in accordance
with the design specifications. Typical components and system parameters tested
include:
air temperatures
In many modern buildings, the above ceiling space is utilized for the inducted
passage of return air. This type of system approach often reduces initial HVAC system
costs, but requires that the designer, maintenance personnel, and contractors obey strict
guidelines related to life and safety codes (e.g., building codes) that must be followed for
Ventilation Recommendations
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Stairwell Pressurization
Most building codes will require that the fire stairwells in a tall commercial
building be pressurized to keep them smoke-free in the event of a fire in the building.
(1) the stairs will be an area of refuge to be used by the building occupants who
are directed to leave a fire floor or floor in proximity to the fire floor;
(2) the stairs are an essential element in the escape route for the controlled
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(3) the stairs will be used by the fire fighters as they attempt to control and
COOLING TOWER
a. A cooling tower will be located on the roof and will consist of multiple cells,
sized
for the installed refrigeration tonnage of the packaged direct expansion (DX) equipment
plus an allowance of 2 W/usable ft2n (22 W/usable m2) of additional capacity for
b. The cooling tower condenser water system will be provided with a bypass
c. Cooling tower cells will be of the packaged, induced draft, cross-flow type with
variable-speed motors. Tower cells will have stainless steel basins and sumps with hot
dipped galvanized frames and non-combustible fill. Each cooling tower cell will be
winterized.
means of the main secondary condenser water risers, which extend from the cooling
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towers located on the penthouse mechanical equipment room down to the floor-by-floor
fan rooms. Valved outlets will be provided in each floor fan room for future extensions.
secondary condenser water pumps and plate-and-frame heat exchangers located in the
type sized for the full rated capacity of the cooling towers they serve.
for the building condenser water/cooling tower, complete with automatic feed pumps for
a. Dedicated smoke exhaust fans and risers (complete with fire/smoke dampers
at each floor take-off) will be utilized for smoke control by means of pressurization and
exhaust, all as controlled from the smoke damper and fan switch panel located within the
b. The outside air supply systems will be capable of providing 100% of their
capacity for floor pressurization and will be capable of being controlled from the central
fire command center in a similar manner to the smoke exhaust fans described above.
1) The two interior stair towers above grade will be designed to resist
smoke infiltration. Each of the interior stair towers will be provided with a
dedicated pressurization system that will draw supply air directly from
atmosphere. Air will be distributed vertically from each fan system to stair
discharge points located on approximately every other floor. Pressure relief ducts
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located approximately every other floor between the stair tower and the adjacent
floor space. Each fan system will be controllable from the fire command center.
2) The supply air quantities to each interior stair tower will be such as to
b. All elevator hoistways will be provided with dedicated hoistway smoke venting
ducted directly from the hoistways to atmosphere. The smoke vents will be provided with
fire/smoke dampers activated by smoke detectors located at the top of their respective
hoistways. Each dedicated smoke vent riser will be encased in a two hour fire rated
enclosure in its entirety from the hoistway to the terminus at an outside air louver.
VERTICAL TRANSPORTATION
The vertical transportation system will always include elevators and may include
escalators. The escalators, when included, will meet the limited and special needs that
may develop in a building, to allow the efficient transferring of people from an entrance
level to a main lobby that exists on the floor above the entrance level.
passengers from the entrance level to a sky lobby located at the point where the
passengers transfer to a second bank of elevators that serve the local floors above the
sky lobby.
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Service Elevator
All buildings greater than 300,000 to 350,000 ft2 (28,000 to 32,500 m2) should
include a dedicated service elevator. The sizing of the platform for a service elevator
should, due to the nature of its particular usage, differ from the platform size of a
passenger elevator.
The HVAC designer has limited involvement with the vertical transportation
system. The involvement will be to provide adequate cooling to the elevator machine
room and to vent the elevator shaft so that it will conform to the codes that are in effect
The elevator machine room in a building has cooling loads that consist not only
of the electric motor that drives the hoisting mechanism for the elevators, but also of
One of the requirements of many codes is the inclusion of a vent opening at the
top of each elevator shaft that is 3.5 percent of the plan area of the hoistway or 3 ft2
The lobbies of elevators can be pressurized to keep smoke from entering. These
lobbies are sometimes areas of refuge and must be kept clear of smoke.
Any hoistway, for example a dumbwaiter, provides a path for smoke to travel
throughout a building. Elevators are typically the largest shaft in a building and provide a
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In order to protect elevator (or other the hoistway) shafts, the shaft can be
pressurized with fresh air. The pressure prevents smoke from entering the shaft itself
and from traveling to other areas via the hoist way. Due to the large volumes of air and
consequently very large fans required, a more common alternate is to provide lobbies
with smoke barriers. Use of elevators that are in protected hoistway shafts is a
developing area of study as of this writing. In single elevator car shafts, fans above and
below the car may be necessary if the free space between the car and the shaft walls is
Any detailed analysis of life safety for the occupants of a high-rise building
indicates that the proper control of the elevator system in the event of a prospective fire
catastrophe is to return the cabs to the lowest floor that they serve in the case of mid-
rise or high-rise elevator banks or to the lobby level in the case of the low-rise bank.
FOR OTHER PURPOSES. This Act shall be known as the "Fire Code of the Philippines
of 2008".
From the perspective of life safety systems, this definition recognizes that the
usual characteristics of such buildings are: (1) they are beyond the reach of fire
department aerial equipment; (2) they pose a potential for significant stack effect; and (3)
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Detection System
A key element in the detection system is a system of smoke detectors. They are
not required in all areas of a commercial office building but rather will be installed in
locations that will provide specific functions for the building. These functions can include
the altered control and/or shutdown of specific fans and the recall of elevators.
There are separate purposes behind the installation of fire standpipe systems
and sprinkler systems. The standpipe system is provided to allow the fire department to
fight a fire by bringing a flow of water through a hose connection provided at each floor
in the standpipe in an effort to extinguish the fire. It requires a constant flow of water for
as long as the fire fighter has a need for the flow. On the other hand, a sprinkler system
provides the best means of protection from small fires, as this system automatically
functions by putting water on a fire and, as a minimum, holding the fire in check until the
trained fire fighter arrives and uses the fire standpipe system to extinguish the fire.
needed to remove smoke from the area within which a fire has developed and to
maintain smoke-free areas that will allow the occupants to exit the building without being
FIRE SUPPRESSION
Once a fire has been detected, a suppression system to extinguish the fire is
required to minimize damage and avoid evacuation. A variety of fire fighting equipment
can be installed in different locations in the hospital to combat specific types of fires, with
special consideration to the patients occupying each area and the medical equipment
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FIRE EXTINGUISHER
A portable fire extinguisher can save lives and property by putting out a small fire
or containing it until the fire department arrives; but portable extinguishers have
limitations. Because fire grows and spreads so rapidly, the number one priority for
These systems have a water droplet diameter greater than 1 mm, and the
cumulative surface area coverage for 1 liter of water is approximately 3 square meters.
Typically, in fire sprinkler systems, the full network of pipes is constantly charged with
water. The sprinkler head is a heat-sensitive valve that releases water once the
temperature. Each sprinkler head operates independently and will activate only once
Their water droplet diameter is less than 1 mm, and their cumulative surface area
coverage for 1 liter of water is approximately 60 square meters. Once the system is
activated, a pump drives water through a special nozzle to form a dense water mist or
fog. This mist suppresses and extinguishes the fire through the removal of heat and
displacement of oxygen from the fire zone. Some of the key advantages of well-
maintained sprinkler systems are: They allow for a more open-plan layout in a facilityin
other words, longer distances between fire compartmentswhile still meeting fire safety
requirements. They allow greater flexibility in the design and future adaptability of the
space in the facility. Structures with sprinklers can reduce fire rating requirements for
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structural elements by as much as 30 minutes, depending on building code
Fire hoses are connected to the main water supply or an independent water
storage system. Fire hoses are typically 18 m to 36 m (59 to 118 feet) in length and have
an internal diameter of 13 to 19 mm (0.5 to 0.7 inches). The size of the hose reel used is
dependent on the size of the medical facility, as there needs to be sufficient length to
response, and ductile detailing. Operational security and life safety measures should be
involvement of blast engineers and security consultants at the onset of the programming
phase. Early and ongoing coordination between the blast engineer, the structural
engineer, and the entire design team is critical to providing an optimal design that is both
open and inviting to the public and compliant with the security requirements.
For some establishments, simple good practice coupled with vigilance and well
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DESIGN BASIS THREAT TACTICS
Depending on the building type, acceptable levels of risk, and decisions made
Insider threats
bombs
operations)
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Supervisory Control and Acquisition Data (SCADA) system threats (relevant as
Protecting the facility and assets from unauthorized persons is an important part of
Clear zone
Alarms
Credential management
Tailgating policies
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Primary and secondary credential systems
Acoustic shielding
telephone systems
Insider Threats
One of the most serious threats may come from persons who have authorized
access to a facility. These may include disgruntled employees or persons who have
gained access through normal means (e.g., contractors, support personnel, etc). To
occurrence but the consequences of an attack may be severe. These threats may be
While fully protecting a facility against such threats may not be feasible with few
exceptions, there are several common sense and low cost measures that can improve
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Control access to air inlets and water systems
Provide detection and filtration systems for HVAC systems, air intakes
facility
evacuation
Businesses rely heavily on the transmission, storage, and access to a wide range
of electronic data and communication systems. Protecting these systems from attack is
Understand and identify the information assets you are trying to protect. These
functions.
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Protect the physical infrastructure that supports information systems. If the
EVACUATION PLANNING
routes and exits must be well defined. Assembly areas should be a minimum of 100, 200
Protected Spaces. Protected spaces may offer the best protection against blast,
and systems that deal with the actual running of plants and equipment, include devices
that ensure physical system integrity and meet technical constraints, and are event-
software. These types of specialized systems are pervasive throughout the infrastructure
and are required to meet numerous and often conflicting safety, performance, security,
controls (HVAC, lighting), to systems such as the electrical power grid. With the
increasing interconnectivity of ICS to the internet, the ICS can be an entry point into the
Within the controls systems industry, ICS systems are often referred to as
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Industrial Control Systems and Operational Technology
Within the controls systems industry, Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are often
technologies and systems that deal with the actual running of plants and equipment,
include devices that ensure physical system integrity and meet technical constraints, and
embedded software. These types of specialized systems are pervasive throughout the
infrastructure and are required to meet numerous and often conflicting safety,
Information systems will affect all design objectives of the complex modern
security devices
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Functional/Operational for integrated control of building operational systems and
The design and implementation of wiring and cabling systems has direct impact
Over the next twenty years, If all buildings are designed and constructed using
fossil fuels, there is no way to avoid irreparably damaging the planets climate.
site power generation from renewable sources, and have access to off-site renewables if
necessary, then the building sector can become the solution to the climate change crisis.
Getting to Zero
process.
The first step is design; to integrate sustainable and passive design strategies
that are low-cost or no-cost. This can get you 70-80% of the way there. For example,
how you orient the building, shade the glass, incorporate daylighting and passive heating
and cooling strategies, and the materials and systems you specify. These approaches
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The second step is to provide fossil-fuel-free energy; ideally from on-site
site.
Sustainable Sites
Sustainable sites maintain and/or regenerate soils and vegetation, manage and
Site Considerations:
Soils protect and preserve healthy soils by minimizing grading, soil compaction
Locate and manage vegetation to mitigate potential fire hazards, block winter
winds, and shade walls, walkways, and hard surfaces during warm periods.
Vegetative Cooling
Trees and vegetation shade buildings and surfaces, while water evaporating
Shaded walls and surfaces may be 1125C (2045F) cooler than unshaded
surfaces. Temperatures under a canopy of shade trees may be reduced 15C (29F)
Locate:
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Trees on the east, west, southeast, and southwest sides of a building (east, west,
Ground cover and shrubs around buildings to lower air temperatures and reduce
reflected sunlight.
Vegetated pergolas and trees with a high canopy provide shade and allow in
beneficial winds. In climates with cold winters, locate trees away from the wall facing the
Water catchment systems divert and store rainwater, providing a clean, free water
source that reduces stormwater runoff as well as demand on potable water supplies.
A typical system collects water from a roof piped to a storage tank where it can be
used for both potable (drinkable) and non-potable purposes such as landscaping, toilet
flushing and clothes washing. Each square meter (square foot) of roof area will capture
7.37 liters (0.46 gallons) of rainwater for one centimeter (inch) of rainfall.
Storage tank capacity (liters) = water catchment area (m2) x rainfall (cm) x 7.38
Storage tank capacity (gallons) = water catchment area (ft2) x rainfall (inches) x
0.46
The larger the storage tank, the longer water will be available between rain
events. Rainwater intended for potable use must be treated using appropriate filtration
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Green Roofs
Green roofs provide water retention, green space, and improved water and air
Both roof vegetation and soil increase roof insulation, reducing ambient air
temperatures and building energy consumption. Green roofs retain rainfall, alleviate
pressure on sewer systems, protect roofing membranes, reduce noise, and filter
pollutants.
Extensive: 60-200 mm thickness (2-8 inches) green protection layer for roofs
with little load-bearing capacity. Shallow soil suitable for less demanding plants
(low maintenance).
and deep soils, suitable for lawns, shrubs, and trees, walkways, and even
A building shape with a narrow floor plate maximizes exterior wall area for
When developing a building shape, consider how best to admit daylight into the
building.
Use the 4.5 / 9 meter (15 / 30 foot) rule-of-thumb for developing building shapes and
A 4.5 meter (15 foot) perimeter zone depth for task daylighting; and
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Building floor plates can be elongated, curved, or organized into many shapes.
Buildings elongated in the east-west direction expose the longer north and south sides
for controlled daylighting, and high ceilings and windows allow for greater interior
daylight penetration. Buildings with large floor plates can introduce daylight through
atriums and courtyards. Low-rise and one-story structures can be any shape since
Side Daylighting
A light shelf added to a glazed opening will reflect daylight deeper into a space,
and can increase the daylighting depth to 2.5 times the height of the glazed opening.
Make the side walls, back wall and ceiling a light color to evenly distribute
Cool Roof
In hot climates, and climates with hot summers, a light colored roof reflects
sunlight, remains cooler, offsets CO2 warming, and reduces the amount of heat
Cool roofs have surfaces that reflect sunlight and emit or discharge heat
efficiently, keeping them cooler on sunny days. The two surface properties that
determine a roofs temperature are solar reflectance and thermal emittance, which range
on a scale from 0 to 1. The larger the two values are, the cooler the roof will be.
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Make the roof surface a light color and chose a roofing material that has a surface:
In hot climates, cool roofs can help mitigate urban heat islands, reflect solar radiation
collecting and treating solid wastes. It also offers solutions for recycling items that do not
belong to garbage or trash. As long as people have been living in settlements and
residential areas, garbage or solid waste has been an issue. Solid waste management
should be embraced by each and every household including the business owners across
the world. Industrialization has brought a lot of good things and bad things as well. One
disposing of solid material that is discarded because it has served its purpose or is no
longer useful. Improper disposal of municipal solid waste can create unsanitary
conditions, and these conditions in turn can lead to pollution of the environment and to
wastes. There are various types of solid waste including municipal (residential,
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Types of Waste Disposal
There are five major groups of waste management methods, each of them
divided into numerous categories. Those groups include source reduction and reuse,
application.
Landfill
The Landfill is the most popularly used method of waste disposal used today.
This process of waste disposal focuses attention on burying the waste in the land.
Landfills are found in all areas. There is a process used that eliminates the odors and
dangers of waste before it is placed into the ground. While it is true this is the most
popular form of waste disposal it is certainly far from the only procedure and one that
This method is becoming less these days although, thanks to the lack of space
available and the strong presence of methane and other landfill gases, both of which can
cause numerous contamination problems. Many areas are reconsidering the use of
landfills.
Incineration/Combustion
wastes are burned at high temperatures so as as to convert them into residue and
gaseous products. The biggest advantage of this type of method is that it can reduce the
volume of solid waste to 20 to 30 percent of the original volume, decreases the space
they take up and reduce the stress on landfills. This process is also known as thermal
treatment where solid waste materials are converted by Incinerators into heat, gas,
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steam and ash. Incineration is something that is very in countries where landfill space is
Resource recovery is the process of taking useful discarded items for a specific
next use. These discarded items are then processed to extract or recover materials and
resources or convert them to energy in the form of useable heat, electricity or fuel.
prevent energy usage and consumption of fresh raw materials. Recycling is the third
component of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle waste hierarchy. The idea behind recycling is
to reduce energy usage, reduce volume of landfills, reduce air and water pollution,
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and preserve natural resources for future use.
Plasma gasification
an electrically charged or a highly ionized gas. Lighting is one type of plasma which
produces temperatures that exceed 12,600 F. With this method of waste disposal, a
gasification zone till 3,000 F for the conversion of solid or liquid wastes into a syngas.
During the treatment solid waste by plasma gasification, the wastes molecular
bonds are broken down as result of the intense heat in the vessels and the elemental
found. This form of waste disposal provides renewable energy and an assortment of
Composting
wastes i.e. remains of plants and garden and kitchen waste and turns into nutrient rich
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food for your plants. Composting, normally used for organic farming, occurs by allowing
organic materials to sit in one place for months until microbes decompose it. Composting
is one of the best method of waste disposal as it can turn unsafe organic products into
safe compost. On the other side, it is slow process and takes lot of space.
items into useable heat, electricity, or fuel through a variety of processes. This type of
over and over again to create energy. It can also help to reduce carbon emissions by
offsetting the need for energy from fossil sources. Waste-to-Energy, also widely
recognized by its acronym WtE is the generation of energy in the form of heat or
Avoidance/Waste Minimization
materials thereby reducing the amount of waste going to landfills. Waste reduction can
be done through recycling old materials like jar, bags, repairing broken items instead of
buying new one, avoiding use of disposable products like plastic bags, reusing second
individuals or in areas where waste can be mixed with farming soil or used for
landscaping purposes. Recycling is widely used around the world, with plastic, paper
and metal leading the list of the most recyclable items. Most material recycled is reused
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Zero Waste in Business
Zero waste is the term used when referring to the complete elimination of waste
created by businesses and homes. Usually, this means that no waste created by a
A zero waste philosophy strives to make the most efficient use of all materials, and
Not only is following a zero waste philosophy potentially cost effective for
A zero waste model can also help create jobs, save money and reduce damage to
Every year across the globe, landfills are estimated to emit between 30 and 70
Landfills can pollute surface water and groundwater, which are harmful to both
Landfills cost millions to build and operate. This in turn, costs businesses and
homeowners money
The use of a Zero Waste to Landfill logo on any of the marketing materials
Following are a few started ideas that all businesses can use:
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Encourage more electronic alternatives to printing (such as eFax and email)
Switch your standard light bulbs to CFL or LED lights, which last a great deal
longer
If you are able to, try and sell or donate any materials that any individuals or
Parks
Locate smaller parks within short walking distances of the residences they serve.
Larger parks serve entire cities, are bounded by public-rights of way and attached to
City/Town Parks 1/8 km2 to 1/5 km2 (30 to 50 acres) within 1 kilometer
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Create open space corridors and greenways that include walking, jogging, and
bicycling paths connecting parks and residential areas to places where people work,
shop or socialize.
Bikeways
Urban bikeways facilitate safe efficient travel, promote physical activity, while
Bikeway modes:
Bike Lanes 1.8 meter (6 feet) lane adjacent to curb; 5.5 meter (18 feet) lane
incorporating a bike lane, on-street parking and open-door zone; 4.3 meter (14
feet) shared-use bike/auto lane; 4.9 meters (16 feet) shared-use bike/bus lane.
Cycle Tracks separated 1.8 meter (6 feet) wide track with a 1 meter (3 feet)
Off-Road Routes bicycle route along greenways, rail corridors, and waterfronts
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Studies show that adding bike lanes improves public health at a fraction of the
cost of direct health treatments, since the lanes get more people moving, and regular,
The proponent will consider a kind of bike lane design - a Glowing bike lane. The
solar-charged lane, which uses materials called phosphors, it is meant not just to be
easy on the eyes but on cyclists joints and noggins, ostensibly raising the level of safety
The material is able to give light for more than 10 hours. This means that the
path overnight emits light energy and re-gathers the next day. Importantly, the effect is
due to aggregate properties used is without additional sources of energy. The proponent
will chose phosphors glowing blue, to be consistent with the [local] landscape.
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Complete Streets
Complete streets allow pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and public transit to move
Streets designed primarily for cars make walking, bicycling, and public
streets balance competing needs and support safe travel by all users.
amenity zone (street furniture, trees, bus shelters); building spill-out zone
(varies).
Traffic Lanes 3 to 3.3 meters (10 to 11 feet) for automobiles, 3.3 meters (11
On-Street Parking Lane (optional) 2.2 to 2.5 meters (7 to 8 feet), more on bus
route.
Bike Lanes 1.8 meters (6 feet) adjacent to curb; 5.5 meters (18 feet) bike lane
with on-street parking and door zone; 4.3 meters (14 feet) shared-use bike/auto
Shared Streets
Shared streets combine cycling, pedestrians, social activities, parking, and local car
Eliminating the traditional segregation of motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists can
create a shared and more vibrant streetscape. Conventional devices such as curbs,
signs and signals are replaced with an integrated, people-oriented public space that
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Shared Streets generally contain similar characteristics:
District Centers
District centers are mixed-use, high-density core areas served by public transit.
Densities in transit-oriented districts are normally greatest in the district center - the 400-
Core
FAR: 3.0
Center
Village
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At least 40% of a mixed-use district center has ground floor retail, restaurant,
The proponent will use this kind of material in pavements and roads to ease the
The building material company Tarmac has developed a new kind of concrete
that is capable of absorbing up to 4,000 liters (1057 gallons) of water in the first minute.
On average, one square meter of this new road surface, called Topmix Permeable, can
permeable layer on top, which allows water to drain through a matrix of large pebbles
The water is then fed into a drainage system thats connected to groundwater
reservoirs. Thus, the water that quickly disappears from the surface is fed right back into
with flooding. According to Tarmac, two-thirds of homes damaged in floods were due to
water running off pavements and inadequate drainage systems. The recent floods in
different part of the country further highlight the need for advancement in water
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