9850393464 WHAT IS GREEN DESIGN.

Design and construction practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and occupants in five broad areas: Sustainable site planning Safeguarding water and water efficiency Energy efficiency and renewable energy Conservation of materials and resources Indoor environmental quality Reduced maintenance/replacement costs over the life of the building

Materials for green buildings Green concrete Green Concrete as the name suggests is eco friendly and saves the environment by using waste products generated by industries in various forms like rice husk, ash, micro silicates. to make resource-saving concrete structures .Use of green concrete helps in saving energy, emissions, waste water Green concrete is very often also cheap to produce as it uses waste products directly as a partial substitute for cement, thus saving energy consumption in production of per unit of cement. Over and above all green concrete has greater strength and durability than the normal concrete

Green Building Materials Green building materials offer specific benefits to the building owner and building occupants:

Reduced maintenance/replacement costs over the life of the building Energy conservation Improved occupant health and productivity Lower costs associated with changing space configurations Greater design flexibility

Building and construction activities worldwide consume 3 billion tons of raw materials each year or 40% of total global use . Using green building materials and products promotes conservation of dwindling nonrenewable resources internationally. 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 . (Renewable resources such as solar energy, wind, hydropower, and geothermal energy have many benefits. These resources can reduce carbon dioxide emission, water consumption, and waste. Clean air is vital on this planet because it can reduce human health problems such as asthma (children are at a higher risk) and lung disease. Renewable resources can also lead to environment sustainability because these resources will not be depleted and stimulate the economy by creating more job opportunities.)In addition, integrating green building materials into building projects can help reduce the environmental impacts associated with the extraction, transport, processing, fabrication, installation, reuse, recycling, and disposal of these building industry source materials. Depending upon project-specific goals, an assessment of green materials may involve an evaluation of one or more of the criteria listed below.

Green building material/product selection criteria Overall material/product selection criteria:

Resource efficiency Indoor air quality Energy efficiency Water conservation Affordability

Resource Efficiency can be accomplished by utilizing materials that meet the following criteria:

Recycled Content: Products with identifiable recycled content, including postindustrial content with a preference for post consumer content.

1. Fly ash, slag cement, and silica fume are industrial by-products that are used as a partial replacement for portland cement in concrete. These supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) are pre-consumer materials. 2. Recycled material or recycled concrete can be used as aggregates in concrete. 3. Spent solvents, used oils, tires, and medical waste are used as fuel in many cement plants. Industrial byproducts are used as ingredients for manufacturing portland cement.

Natural, plentiful or renewable: Materials harvested from sustainably managed sources and preferably have an independent certification and are certified by an independent third party. Resource efficient manufacturing process: Products manufactured with resource-efficient processes including reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste (recycled, recyclable and or source reduced product packaging), and reducing greenhouse gases. Locally available: Building materials, components, and systems found locally or regionally saving energy and resources in transportation to the project site. Salvaged, refurbished, or remanufactured: Includes saving a material from disposal and renovating, repairing, restoring, or generally improving the appearance, performance, quality, functionality, or value of a product. Reusable or recyclable: Select materials that can be easily dismantled and reused or recycled at the end of their useful life. Recycled or recyclable product packaging: Products enclosed in recycled content or recyclable packaging. Durable: Materials that are longer lasting or are comparable to conventional products with long life expectancies.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is enhanced by utilizing materials that meet the following criteria:

Low

or

non-toxic:

Materials

that

emit

few

or

no

carcinogens,

reproductive toxicants, or irritants as demonstrated by the manufacturer through appropriate testing.

Minimal chemical emissions: Products that have minimal emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Products that also maximize resource and energy efficiency while reducing chemical emissions.

Low-VOC assembly: Materials installed with minimal VOC-producing compounds, or no-VOC mechanical attachment methods and minimal hazards. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary, room-temperature conditions. Their high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and enter the surrounding air. An example is formaldehyde, with a boiling point of 19 C (2 F), slowly exiting paint and getting into the air.

Many VOCs are dangerous to human health or cause harm to the environment. VOCs are numerous, varied, and ubiquitous. They include both man-made and naturally occurring chemical compounds. VOCs play an important role in communication between plants. [1] Anthropogenic VOCs are regulated by law, especially indoors, where concentrations are the highest. VOCs are typically not acutely toxic, but instead have compounding long-term health effects. Because the concentrations are usually low and the symptoms slow to develop, research into VOCs and their effects is difficult.

Moisture resistant: Products and systems that resist moisture or inhibit the growth of biological contaminants in buildings. Healthfully maintained: Materials, components, and systems that require only simple, non-toxic, or low-VOC methods of cleaning. Systems or equipment: Products that promote healthy identifying indoor air pollutants or enhancing the air quality. IAQ by

Materials, components, and systems that help reduce energy consumption in buildings and facilities. Energy Efficiency can be maximized by utilizing materials and systems that meet the following criteria: Water Conservation can be obtained by utilizing materials and systems that meet the following criteria:

Products and systems that help reduce water consumption in buildings and conserve water in landscaped areas. (See Green Building Basics for more 0information.)

Affordability can be considered when building product life-cycle costs are comparable to conventional materials or as a whole, are within a project-defined percentage of the overall budget.

Lately, the construction of green homes has become increasingly prosperous. The building materials used in this case are eco-friendly and have little impact on the environment. For constructing a house, a large variety of construction materials are needed, such as bricks, wood, cement, lime, etc. Not only are trees being cut down every year, but in the process of obtaining construction materials harmful substances are being released into the atmosphere. Using green building materials would reduce the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere. Following materials are considered eco-friendly: Recycled products, Long lasting products, Products which can be found in nature and represent renewable resources, Products which generate little or no pollution. During construction it is best to use less polluting materials, which shouldnt hold in their composition too many harmful chemicals. A more elaborate thinking is expected from every architect, because the choices which he makes are crucial, as they affect the shape, aesthetics and the structure of the green home, not to mention the costs.

Below you will find some suggestions of green materials, which can be used in the construction of green homes: Medium-density Fiberboards for the outside, to protect the house against cold winters, hot summers and wind; it provides additional insulation, prevents moisture from penetrating the layers of insulation and behaves as an isolated layer.

Fiberboards for indoor use have a high capacity of absorbing and afterwards releasing moisture, keeping the entire structure of the house dry. Natural paints for interior and exterior walls. In the past, binders used for natural paint were made of bones, starch or leather, but nowadays, we use methylcellulose which has a higher quality and is less polluting. Reinforced Concrete with natural or artificial fibers, lightweight aggregate concrete, eco-friendly cement with a reduced carbon percentage of 40%. Fiberreinforced concrete (FRC) is concrete containing fibrous material which increases its structural integrity. It contains short discretefibers that are uniformly distributed and randomly oriented. Fibers include steel fibers, glass fibers, synthetic fibers and natural fibers. Within these different fibers that character of fiber-reinforced concrete changes with varying concretes, fiber materials, geometries, distribution, orientation and densities.

Recycled building materials, such as nonwoven geotextiles and cotton and polyester for insulation

The latest construction materials are aerogel (a porous solid with the lowest bulk density, which delivers outstanding performance in the field of insulation) and electrochromic and thermochromic windows Using solar power for generating heat and electricity are of major importance in the construction of green homes. The use of solar panels is already widespread and will continue to expand in the near future. Photovoltaic solar panels produce energy without fuel consumption. Energy is stored in batteries and can be used at night or later on. The only disadvantage of using photovoltaic systems is that photovoltaic panels require convenient location. Wind energy represents also a green alternative, when it comes to generating electricity. It is used extensively today which has developed rapidly over the past few years. The problem is that the wind turbines must be placed in locations constantly high wind speed.

INTRODUCTION:-Huge variety of components are used in buildings, which include bricks, cement, aggregates, steel, aluminium, wood, cladding and partitioning materials, electrical and sanitary items, coatings, etc. Building materials account for 65-75 % of the total cost of construction. Wood alone shares about 12-15% cost of a house. Thus as per the new housing and habitat policy 1998, around Rs. 312 to 450 crores would be required every year for timber alone. But due to the depleting forest wealth of the country and its effects on environment, Government of India has taken steps to conserve its forest wealth. Another problem is the existing buildings are responsible for more than 40% of the worlds total primary energy consumption and for 24% of global carbon dioxide emissions.( The International Energy Agency ) It is, therefore, necessary to think over this problem seriously to provide some sustainable and economical solutions to make the alternative cost effective building materials available to the people with housing problem, without effecting the environment and at low cost. What Does green Building mean Green Building is a fairly broad concept, but the core ideas of green building entail the following:

Environmentally Friendly So, what does it mean that a building is environmentally friendly? It simply means two things; constructing the building is safe for the surrounding environment and will not significantly interfere with the wild life, its patterns of daily life, and that it will not negatively affect the natural environment. Nearby, It also means that building is constructed from environmentally friendly materials that are available locally and that the construction process is well designed to reduce the unnecessary pollution and negative effects on `the environment. Another important feature of a green building is its design aimed at providing comfortable and safe environment for the human occupants. It means that building will be pleasant and safe for people to be in Efficient use of Resources In green building practices, efficient use of resources means using 1) water saving taps and plumbing elements, 2) energy efficient lighting units and passive solar design. It also involves, the use of energy efficient building materials aimed to attain highly energy efficient building envelope with well insulated walls(The latest construction materials are aerogel (a porous solid with the lowest bulk density, which delivers outstanding performance in the field of insulation) and electrochromic and thermochromic windows) , floors and ceilings. A well insulated building envelope will helps keeping building cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Reduced energy consumption provides financial benefits for the building owners and helps reduce the carbon monoxide footprint of the building on the environment. Reconstituted wood, fiber composites in inorganic and polymer matrices, MDF boards, polymer sheets etc. are finding increasing uses in buildings. Cement bonded fibre reinforced boards are gaining momentum in the area of doors, windows, cladding, partitioning, false ceiling applications in buildings Designed for health and wellbeing of the building occupants. Another important feature of a green building is its design aimed at providing comfortable and safe environment for the human occupants. It means that building will be pleasant and safe for people to be in. It could contain the elements of intuitive floor plans, spacious and well lit hallways, fresh-air circulation and monitoring units, dampness and temperature controls. Use of Human safe materials and pleasant architectural design that provides psychological and physiological benefits for human occupants.

Green Building Benefits The most fundamental benefit of Green Building is that it is

environmentally friendly and safe for people occupying the building. A well designed and constructed green building is well integrated into the environment in which it is built and does not detract from it. It is pleasant and safe for people who use the building on a daily basis. Its aesthetic appeal of carefully designed and well integrated architectural features, such as efficient use of space, intuitive layouts and [pleasant lighting offers psychological benefits to people. While, elements such as clean air monitoring and circulating systems, handicap access, clean water and other elements make it safe and beneficial to human health. Another important benefit of Green Building is Energy Efficiency, which results in reduced energy consumption for AC and Heating needs. It may feature elements like effective use of natural lighting, cool roof and wall panels, and green energy generating systems all aimed reducing energy consumption, which results in cleaner environment and direct cost savings to the building owners. Green Building Materials Sustainability and environmental friendliness are two key requirements to green building materials. Many green building materials also offer energy efficiency benefits. For instance, use of metal in residential and commercial construction is considered environmentally friendly because metal is recyclable and long lasting building material that also offers excellent solar reflective benefits making it an energy efficient choice for roofing and wall panels when constructing a building envelope. Bamboo is another green building material because it grows quickly and thus can be easily sustained. Specially grown Cedar can be considered sustainable building material when its grown locally and cut in a sustainable manner that will ensure future growth and availability. Green Energy Generation Systems

Energy Generating systems are considered to be the most expensive elements of a green building design, but the initial cost of this type of investment is justified when calculated for future energy savings for the building owner. It is also environmentally sound choice that not only results in free energy, but also earns LEED / green building credits to the building owner. Two most commonly used green energy generating are solar and wind electricity generating systems: Solar Power System The use of solar energy in green building can provide free electricity for the building owners. Solar panels can be installed on the roof top of the building where the solar energy will be converted to electricity. Wind Turbine Energy Another way to generate electricity is through the use of wind energy. Wind turbine can be set up in pathway of winds, which can provide significant amount of free electricity for the building owners. Green Building Guide to Costs and Prices Without a doubt, building green is initially pricier than the cost of conventional construction, but from a long term perspective integrating green building elements will result in energy savings and longer lasting building that will pay for the difference in initial investment and then some. Year 2009, also offers financial benefits and incentives that will make green building technology more affordable for homeowners and commercial buildings.

Homeowners can greatly benefit from the use of green building technology in new home construction and for the existing homes. In fact, there are quite a few green building elements that homeowners of existing homes can benefit from: Use of energy efficient windows and blinds

Replacing existing windows with energy efficient ones will increase the existing insulation level / R-value of your home, which will help keep your rooms warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. This will also translate into energy savings and better and cleaner environment. Installing mini window blinds or other horizontal blind treatments will further help maintain the home's temperature and can easily be adjusted to maximize the use of natural light. Insulating Walls, floors, and ceilings in your home A well insulated home can help save well over fifty percent on your heating bill in the winter, and lower your cooling bill in the summer. A well insulated building will not leak warmer air out or allow cooler air in the winter, and will provide for similar effect in the summer. Not only will well insulated walls and ceilings help you save money by reducing your energy bill, but it can also help the longevity of your home. In fact one of the most frequent damages to homes in the winter are ice dam formation, and one of the easiest ways to prevent ice dam build up is to have a well insulated attic, which will keep it cool and prevent the melting of the snow on your roof. Cool Roofing and Solar Panels Another great way to make your home more energy efficient is by replacing or upgrading your existing roof with energy efficient roof such as metal or cool flat roofing membrane for lower slope roofs. Not only can you keep your home cooler and safer with a longer lasting metal roof, but you can further integrate it with green solar roofing panels that would convert solar energy to free electricity for your home. In modern construction, a thoughtful integration of Green Building technology can make a tremendous difference in an overall appeal of a newly constructed building. Green Building helps preserve the external environment and provides great benefits to Humans through the use of environmentally safe and energy efficient building materials, efficient use of natural resources, human safety, wellbeing and health and wellness considerations

Building Materials Directory of links This directory provides Building Materials Manufacturers information, and lists building material suppliers in the U.S and Canada and World-wide. Companies are listed by the specific location where they offer building matetrials, conservatories, orangeries, home building kits and additions. contracting services. Building Material links provided under the state categories will take you to a web-site of a particular building materials supply company. Building Materials and Construction Equipment suppliers Browse Building Materials Suppliers Directory of galvanized sheets, hot dip galvanized steel, galvanized pipes and street poles at Tradekey.com.

Green Building Supply Directory: www.GreenBuildingSupply.com - Offers natural and non-toxic building materials that are certified, safe, environmentally friendly and sustainable. www.EnvironmentalHomeCenter.com - Offers Green Building materials and sustainable home improvement products. www.EcoHomeMagazine.com - Offers Green Building Industry news, Green Home information and guides for homeowners. www.GreenDepot.com - Offers Green Building products and supplies including paint and finishes, lighting and green household products.

Sustainable Building Materials Directory

www.EcoHaus.com - Sells green building materials, sustainable heating, cooling, and lighting, green flooring, eco baths. Contains online building product catalog with 1 800 number to order. Also, has two store locations; Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington.

Wholesale Glass Blocks Directory Wholesale Glass Blocks - For over 30 years Quality Glass Block has worked with homeowners and builders alike in order to increase energy efficiency through ideal insulation. We are capable of assisting in large-scale projects as well as with customized requirements.

Building Materials Information & Resources www.eBuild.com - Directory of building materials, construction tools and building products for homebuilders and remodelers.

Building Materials : Conservatories and Orangeries : United kingdom Industrial Lubricants - Offers machinery fuel and industrial machinery and plant lubricants in the UK. Country Hardwood Conservatories rooms, Custom designed hardwood and

conservatories,

garden

swimming

pool

enclosures

orangeries from Country Hardwood conservatory experts. Low-rise Residence Industrialized Production System of GBS Building 1. Light Weight The weight of GBS building equals to 1/4 of traditional concrete building, so the load-bearing requirement of foundation is much lowered to reduce the cost, and the overall project cost of GBS building is generally the same with that of traditional building. 2. Short Construction Period The construction period of our house is approximately equivalent to 1/3 that of traditional house, the shorter construction period can not only quicken capital flow and lower risk, but also improve investment efficiency. 3. Environment-friendly Building Organized site construction process limits the construction pollution on the environment. The steel structure part in the house can be recycled 100%, and other materials can also be recycled mostly. 4. Great Earthquake Resistance and Wind Load The flexible structure is made of steel beam and stud can absorb partial seismic shock and defend 8 degree earthquake, suitable for the buildings along the coast or in the seismic zone. 5. Thin Wall All the pipes can be laid through the wall and floor to increase the building usage space dramatically, which is at least 10% more than traditional building. 6. Industrialized Manufacture

All the components in GBS building system can be produced according to standardizing process so as to keep stable and solid quality, which could help the development of house industrialization. 7. Complete Dry Construction All the components are connected by high intensity screws, the construction period will not be influenced by seasons. 8. GBS Structure and Relative Enclosure System GBS system ensures better building performance than traditional building in terms of thermal insulation and acoustic control . 9. Convenient Installation Labor cost can be decreased and components maintainance will be more convenient.

Reducing environmental impact Green building practices aim to reduce the environmental impact of buildings, and the very first rule is, do not build in sprawl (spreading in disordered fashion). No matter how much grass you put on your roof, no matter how many energy-efficient windows, etc., you use, if you build in sprawl, you've just defeated your purpose. Buildings account for a large amount of land. According to the National Resources Inventory, approximately 107 million acres (430,000 km2) of land in the United States are developed. The International Energy Agency released a publication that estimated that existing buildings are responsible for more than 40% of the worlds total primary energy consumption and for 24% of global carbon dioxide emissions.[5] [edit] Goals of green building

the Blu Homes mkSolaire, a green building designed by Michelle Kaufmann. The concept of sustainable development can be traced to the energy (especially fossil oil) crisis and the environment pollution concern in the 1970s.[6] The green building movement in the U.S. originated from the need and desire for more energy efficient and environmentally friendly construction practices. There are a number of motives to building green, including environmental, economic, and social benefits. However, modern sustainability initiatives call for an integrated and synergistic design to both new construction and in the retrofitting of an existing structure. Also known as sustainable design, this approach integrates the building life-cycle with each green practice employed with a design-purpose to create a synergy (cooperation of two or more things to produce a combine effect greater than the sum of their separate effect) amongst the practices used. Green building brings together a vast array (collections) of practices and techniques to reduce and ultimately eliminate the impacts of buildings on the environment and human health. It often emphasizes taking advantage of renewable resources, e.g., using sunlight through passive solar, active solar, and photovoltaic techniques and using plants and trees through green roofs, rain gardens, and for reduction of rainwater run-off. Many other techniques, such as using packed gravel or permeable concrete instead of conventional concrete or asphalt to enhance replenishment of ground water, are used as well. While the practices, or technologies, employed in green building are constantly evolving and may differ from region to region, there are fundamental principles that persist from which the method is derived: Siting and Structure Design Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Materials Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality Enhancement, Operations and Maintenance Optimization, and Waste and Toxics Reduction.[7][8] The essence of green building is an optimization of one or more of these principles. Also, with the proper synergistic design, individual green building technologies may work together to produce a greater cumulative effect. On the aesthetic side of green architecture or sustainable design is the philosophy of designing a building that is in harmony with the natural features

and resources surrounding the site. There are several key steps in designing sustainable buildings: specify 'green' building materials from local sources, reduce loads, optimize systems, and generate on-site renewable energy. [edit] Life cycle assessment (LCA) A life cycle assessment (LCA) can help avoid a narrow outlook on environmental, social and economic concerns[9] by assessing a full range of impacts associated with all the stages of a process from cradle-to-grave (i.e., from extraction of raw materials through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling). Impacts taken into account include (among others) embodied energy, global warming potential, resource use, air pollution, water pollution, and waste. In terms of green building, the last few years have seen a shift away from a prescriptive approach, which assumes that certain prescribed practices are better for the environment, toward the scientific evaluation of actual performance through LCA. Although LCA is widely recognized as the best way to evaluate the

environmental impacts of buildings (ISO 14040 provides a recognized LCA methodology), it is not yet a consistent requirement of green building rating systems and codes, despite the fact that embodied energy and other life cycle impacts are critical to the design of environmentally responsible buildings. In North America, LCA is rewarded to some extent in the Green Globes rating system, and is part of the new American National Standard based on Green Globes, ANSI/GBI 01-2010: Green Building Protocol for Commercial Buildings. LCA is also included as a pilot credit in the LEED system, though a decision has not been made as to whether it will be incorporated fully into the next major revision. The state of California also included LCA as a voluntary measure in its 2010 draft Green Building Standards Code. Although LCA is often perceived as overly complex and time consuming for regular use by design professionals, research organizations such as BRE in the

UK and the Athena Sustainable Materials Institute in North America are working to make it more accessible. In the UK, the BRE Green Guide to Specifications offers ratings for 1,500 building materials based on LCA. In North America, the ATHENA EcoCalculator for Assemblies provides LCA results for several hundred common building assembles based on data generated by its more complex parent software, the ATHENA Impact Estimator for Buildings. (The EcoCalculator is available free at www.athenasmi.org.) Athena software tools are especially useful early in the design process when material choices have far-reaching implications for overall environmental impact. They allow designers to experiment with different material mixes to achieve the most effective combination. A more product-oriented tool is the BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) software,[10] which combines environmental measures with economic indicators to provide a final rating. Particularly useful at the specification and procurement stage of a project, BEES 4.0 includes data on 230 products (including generic and manufacturer brands) such as siding and sheathing. [edit] Siting and structure design efficiency See also: Sustainable design The foundation of any construction project is rooted in the concept and design stages. The concept stage, in fact, is one of the major steps in a project life cycle, as it has the largest impact on cost and performance.[11] In designing environmentally optimal buildings, the objective is to minimize the total environmental impact associated with all life-cycle stages of the building project. However, building as a process is not as streamlined as an industrial process, and varies from one building to the other, never repeating itself identically. In addition, buildings are much more complex products, composed of a multitude of materials and components each constituting various design variables to be decided at the design stage. A variation of every design variable may affect the environment during all the building's relevant life-cycle stages.[12]

[edit] Energy efficiency Main articles: Low-energy house and Zero-energy building

An eco-house at Findhorn Ecovillage with a turf roof and solar panels Green buildings often include measures to reduce energy consumption both the embodied energy required to extract, process, transport and install building materials and operating energy to provide services such as heating and power for equipment. As high-performance buildings use less operating energy, embodied energy has assumed much greater importance and may make up as much as 30% of the overall life cycle energy consumption. Studies such as the U.S. LCI Database Project
[13]

show buildings built primarily with wood will have a lower embodied

energy than those built primarily with brick, concrete or steel.[14] To reduce operating energy use, high-efficiency windows and insulation in walls, ceilings, and floors increase the efficiency of the building envelope, (the barrier between conditioned and unconditioned space). Another strategy, passive solar building design, is often implemented in low-energy homes. Designers orient windows and walls and place awnings, porches, and trees[15] to shade windows and roofs during the summer while maximizing solar gain in the winter. In addition, effective window placement (daylighting) can provide more natural light and lessen the need for electric lighting during the day. Solar water heating further reduces energy costs. Onsite generation of renewable energy through solar power, wind power, hydro power, or biomass can significantly reduce the environmental impact of the

building. Power generation is generally the most expensive feature to add to a building. [edit] Water efficiency See also: Water conservation Reducing water consumption and protecting water quality are key objectives in sustainable building. One critical issue of water consumption is that in many areas, the demands on the supplying aquifer exceed its ability to replenish itself. To the maximum extent feasible, facilities should increase their dependence on water that is collected, used, purified, and reused on-site. The protection and conservation of water throughout the life of a building may be accomplished by designing for dual plumbing that recycles water in toilet flushing Dual
flush toilets handle solid and liquid waste differently from standard American style toilets, giving the user a choice of flushes. It's an interactive toilet design that helps conserve water that has caught on quickly in countries where water is in short supply, likeAustralia, and in areas where water supply and treatment facilities are older or overtaxed. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that by the year 2013, an estimated 36 states will experience water shortages as a result of increased water usage and inefficient water management from aging regional infrastructures. Using less water to flush liquid waste makes sense, but in the United States there may be cultural biases that make accepting a more hands-on approach to personal waste harder to accept [source: Safe Plumbing]. For a time, toilets were called necessaries, one in a long line of euphemisms used to describe the business end of handling a simple biological process. One problem is that bodily waste is a delicate topic, so delicate that culture can be as much a factor in affecting change as necessity. Consider the words: defecate, poop and pee. They're not accepted in polite conversation, are they? We keep our bodily functions under wraps, so any changes in our approach to handling them can create culture shock and resistance. Imagine being in charge of a household that relied on the safe and familiar use of the family outhouse. Now, consider the reaction you may have had when the outhouse moved indoors. Walking the privies, another euphemism for going to the outhouse, might have seemed a more sanitary option than moving personal waste management into your home, yet the bathroom still made its way inside. Dual flush toilets may be another defining moment in the development of the American john: the introduction of environmental conservation to the process of elimination. Interest in low flow and dual flush toilets is on the rise in the United States, due in part to increased government regulation and the rising cost of water, and there are incentives for making changes in the way we use the commode. In the next sections, we'll see why change may be a good thing, learn more about the specifics of the dual flush and find out how government and business are coming together to help America flush responsibly. Next up, let's take a closer look at the dual flush toilet's history and popularity around the world.

. Waste-water may be minimized by utilizing water conserving fixtures such as ultra-low flush toilets and low-flow shower heads. Bidets help eliminate the use

of toilet paper, reducing sewer traffic and increasing possibilities of re-using water on-site. Point of use water treatment and heating improves both water quality and energy efficiency while reducing the amount of water in circulation. The use of non-sewage and greywater for on-site use such as site-irrigation will minimize demands on the local aquifer.[16] [edit] Materials efficiency See also: Sustainable architecture Building materials typically considered to be 'green' include lumber from forests that have been certified to a third-party forest standard, rapidly renewable plant materials like bamboo and straw, dimension stone, recycled stone, recycled metal, and other products that are non-toxic, reusable, renewable, and/or recyclable (e.g., Trass, Linoleum, sheep wool, panels made from paper flakes, compressed earth block, adobe, baked earth, rammed earth, clay, vermiculite, flax linen, sisal, seagrass, cork, expanded clay grains, coconut, wood fibre plates, calcium sand stone, concrete (high and ultra high performance, roman self-healing concrete[17]) , etc.[18][19]) The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) also suggests using recycled industrial goods, such as coal combustion products, foundry sand, and demolition debris in construction projects
[20]

Building

materials should be extracted and manufactured locally to the building site to minimize the energy embedded in their transportation. Where possible, building elements should be manufactured off-site and delivered to site, to maximise benefits of off-site manufacture including minimising waste, maximising recycling (because manufacture is in one location), high quality elements, better OHS management, less noise and dust. [edit] Indoor environmental quality enhancement See also: Indoor Air Quality The Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) category in LEED standards, one of the five environmental categories, was created to provide comfort, well-being, and productivity of occupants. The LEED IEQ category addresses design and construction guidelines especially: indoor air quality (IAQ), thermal quality, and lighting quality.[21]

Indoor Air Quality seeks to reduce volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, and other air impurities such as microbial contaminants. Buildings rely on a properly designed ventilation system (passively/naturally- or mechanically-powered) to provide adequate ventilation of cleaner air from outdoors or recirculated, filtered air as well as isolated operations (kitchens, dry cleaners, etc.) from other occupancies. During the design and construction process choosing construction materials and interior finish products with zero or low VOC emissions will improve IAQ. Most building materials and cleaning/maintenance products emit gases, some of them toxic, such as many VOCs including formaldehyde. These gases can have a detrimental impact on occupants' health, comfort, and productivity. Avoiding these products will increase a building's IEQ. LEED[22], HQE[23] and Green Star contain specifications on use of low-emitting interior. Draft LEED 2012[24] is about to expand the scope of the involved products. BREEAM[25] limits formaldehyde emissions, no other VOCs. Also important to indoor air quality is the control of moisture accumulation (dampness) leading to mold growth and the presence of bacteria and viruses as well as dust mites and other organisms and microbiological concerns. Water intrusion through a building's envelope or water condensing on cold surfaces on the building's interior can enhance and sustain microbial growth. A well-insulated and tightly-sealed envelope will reduce moisture problems but adequate ventilation is also necessary to eliminate moisture from sources indoors including human metabolic processes, cooking, bathing, cleaning, and other activities. Personal temperature and airflow control over the HVAC system coupled with a properly designed building envelope will also aid in increasing a building's thermal quality. Creating a high performance luminous environment through the careful integration of daylight and electrical light sources will improve on the lighting quality and energy performance of a structure.[16][26] Solid wood products, particularly flooring, are often specified in environments where occupants are known to have allergies to dust or other particulates. Wood itself is considered to be hypo-allergenic and its smooth surfaces prevent the buildup of particles common in soft finishes like carpet. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American recommends hardwood, vinyl, linoleum tile or slate

flooring instead of carpet.[27] The use of wood products can also improve air quality by absorbing or releasing moisture in the air to moderate humidity.[28] Interactions among all the indoor components and the occupants together form the processes that determine the indoor air quality. Extensive investigation of such processes is the subject of indoor air scientific research and is well documented set of in resources the on journal indoor Indoor air Air, is available available at at http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0905-6947. An extensive quality http://www.buildingecology.com/iaq.[29] [edit] Operations and maintenance optimization No matter how sustainable a building may have been in its design and construction, it can only remain so if it is operated responsibly and maintained properly. Ensuring operations and maintenance(O&M) personnel are part of the project's planning and development process will help retain the green criteria designed at the onset of the project.[30] Every aspect of green building is integrated into the O&M phase of a building's life. The addition of new green technologies also falls on the O&M staff. Although the goal of waste reduction may be applied during the design, construction and demolition phases of a building's life-cycle, it is in the O&M phase that green practices such as recycling and air quality enhancement take place. [edit] Waste reduction Green architecture also seeks to reduce waste of energy, water and materials used during construction. For example, in California nearly 60% of the state's waste comes from commercial buildings[31] During the construction phase, one goal should be to reduce the amount of material going to landfills. Well-designed buildings also help reduce the amount of waste generated by the occupants as well, by providing on-site solutions such as compost bins to reduce matter going to landfills. To reduce the amount of wood that goes to landfill, the CO2 Neutral Alliance (a coalition of government, NGOs and the forest industry) created the website

dontwastewood.com. The site includes a variety of resources for regulators, municipalities, developers, contractors, owner/operators and individuals/homeowners looking for information on wood recycling. When buildings reach the end of their useful life, they are typically demolished and hauled to landfills. Deconstruction is a method of harvesting what is commonly considered waste and reclaiming it into useful building material.[32] Extending the useful life of a structure also reduces waste building materials such as wood that are light and easy to work with make renovations easier.[33] To reduce the impact on wells or water treatment plants, several options exist. "Greywater", wastewater from sources such as dishwashing or washing machines, can be used for subsurface irrigation, or if treated, for non-potable purposes, e.g., to flush toilets and wash cars. Rainwater collectors are used for similar purposes. Centralized wastewater treatment systems can be costly and use a lot of energy. An alternative to this process is converting waste and wastewater into fertilizer, which avoids these costs and shows other benefits. By collecting human waste at the source and running it to a semi-centralized biogas plant with other biological waste, liquid fertilizer can be produced. This concept was demonstrated by a settlement in Lubeck Germany in the late 1990s. Practices like these provide soil with organic nutrients and create carbon sinks that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, offsetting greenhouse gas emission. Producing artificial fertilizer is also more costly in energy than this process.[34] [edit] Cost and payoff The most criticized issue about constructing environmentally friendly buildings is the price. Photo-voltaics, new appliances, and modern technologies tend to cost more money. Most green buildings cost a premium of <2%, but yield 10 times as much over the entire life of the building.[35] The stigma is between the knowledge of up-front cost[36] vs. life-cycle cost. The savings in money come from more efficient use of utilities which result in decreased energy bills. It is projected that different sectors could save $130 Billion on energy bills.[37] Also,

higher worker or student productivity can be factored into savings and cost deductions. Studies have shown over a 20 year life period, some green buildings have yielded $53 to $71 per square foot back on investment.[38] Confirming the rentability of green building investments, further studies of the commercial real estate market have found that LEED and Energy Star certified buildings achieve significantly higher rents, sale prices and occupancy rates as well as lower capitalization rates potentially reflecting lower investment risk.[39][40][41] [edit] Regulation and operation As a result of the increased interest in green building concepts and practices, a number of organizations have developed standards, codes and rating systems that let government regulators, building professionals and consumers embrace green building with confidence. In some cases, codes are written so local governments can adopt them as bylaws to reduce the local environmental impact of buildings. Green building rating systems such as BREEAM (United Kingdom), LEED (United States and Canada), and CASBEE (Japan) help consumers determine a structures level of environmental performance. They award credits for optional building features that support green design in categories such as location and maintenance of building site, conservation of water, energy, and building materials, and occupant comfort and health. The number of credits generally determines the level of achievement.[42] Green building codes and standards, such as the International Code Councils draft International Green Construction Code,[43] are sets of rules created by standards development organizations that establish minimum requirements for elements of green building such as materials or heating and cooling. Some of the major building environmental assessment tools currently in use include: Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refers to a structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and

resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. This practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.[1] Although new technologies are constantly being developed to complement current practices in creating greener structures, the common objective is that green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:

Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation[1]

A similar concept is natural building, which is usually on a smaller scale and tends to focus on the use of natural materials that are available locally.[2] Other related topics include sustainable design and green architecture. Sustainability may be defined as meeting the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.[3] Green building does not specifically address the issue of the retrofitting existing homes. A 2009 report by the U.S. General Services Administration found 12 sustainably designed buildings cost less to operate and have excellent energy performance. In addition, occupants were more satisfied with the overall building than those in typical commercial buildings.
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passive solar building design, windows, walls, and floors are made to collect, store, and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer. This is called passive solar design or climatic design because, unlike active solar heating systems, it doesn't involve the use of mechanical and electrical devices. The key to designing a passive solar building is to best take advantage of the local climate. Elements to be considered include window placement and glazing type, thermal insulation, thermal mass, and shading. Passive solar design techniques can be applied most easily to new buildings, but existing buildings can be adapted or "retrofitted".

Active solar technologies are employed to convert solar energy into another more useful form of energy. This would normally be a conversion to heat or electrical energy. Inside a building this energy would be used for heating, cooling, or off-setting other energy use or costs