Green Building PDF

Final Report
Green Building Initiatives for

Affordable Housing
Prepared for
Human Settlement Management Institute (HSMI)
A Research and Training Wing of
Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd.(HUDCO)
Green Building Initiatives for Affordable Housing
© The Energy and Resources Institute 2014
Suggested format for citation
T E R I. 20th October, 2014

Report on Green Building Initiatives for Affordable Housing
Bangalore: The Energy and Resources Institute. 290pp.
[Project Report No. 2014BG02]
For more information

The Energy and Resources Institute
4th Main Tel. 25356590 to 25356594
2nd Cross E-mail [email protected]
Domlur 2 n d Stage Fax 25356589
Bangalore – 560 071 Web www.teriin.org
India India +91 • Bangalore (0)80
Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd.

HUDCO Bhawan, Core-7-A Tel(EPABX) :011-24649610-23,24627113-15,24627091,92,95
India Habitat Centre After Office Hours: 24648193-95
Lodhi Road Fax:011-24625308
New Delhi - 110 003 Email: mail(at)hudco(dot)org
India Visit us at : www.hudco.org
ii
Project Team
Principal Coordinator - Dr. SK Gupta, EDT HSMI
Technical Coordinators - Dr. Manika Negi, Fellow, CAH, HSMI and
Ms. Vijaya R.Vasu, DGM, HUDCO Bangalore Regional Office
TERI Team
Ms. Minni Sastry- Project in Charge
Mr. Sanket Puranik- Co - PI
Mr. Hara Kumar Varma Namburu
Mr. Kiriti Sahoo
Mr. Kiran Kumar DEVS
Ms. Malvika Saran
Ms. Meghana Manjunath
Project Advisor
Ms. Mili Majumdar
Secretarial Assistance
Ms. Padmini P H
Mr. Soy Joseph
Acknowledgements
TERI would like to acknowledge all the owners of case study buildings, Architects,
Developers, Contractors, MEP consultants, Manufacturers and other agencies who
supported our request for conducting field study in the identified projects. Their efforts in
participating in the interview and to collate the required documents during field studies.
The support and detailed comments given by Dr. Manika Negi, Fellow, HSMI and Ms.
Vijaya R Vasu, DGM (Projects), Bengaluru Regional Office, HUDCO have been very vital in
pursuing the activities and completion of reports at various stages of the project.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. N L Manjoka, Director- Corporate
Planning, HUDCO, Dr. S. K . Gupta, Executive Director, HSMI and Ms. Mili Majumdar,
Director, Sustainable Habitat Division, Professor Shaleen from TERI University for their
continuous guidance and support for completing the study.
We also wish to acknowledge the comments received by the Expert Committee.
iii
Table of contents
PROJECT TEAM .................................................................................................................................... III
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................................................... III
TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................... V
LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................................... X
LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................... XIII
1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 1
2 AIM, OBJECTIVE & METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................ 3
2.1 Need for the study .................................................................................................................. 3
2.2 Aim & Objective ...................................................................................................................... 3
2.3 Scope of work .......................................................................................................................... 3
2.3.1 Limitation .................................................................................................................. 3
2.4 Methodology............................................................................................................................ 4
2.5 Methodology for field case study selection ......................................................................... 4
2.5.1 Mapping of Green Building Initiatives in Housing and affordable housing .. 4
2.5.2 Methodology of carrying out case studies............................................................ 5
2.5.3 Selection criteria of sample case studies with green features ............................ 6
2.5.4 Selection of case studies with green features ....................................................... 7
3 LITERATURE REVIEW.................................................................................................................... 13
3.1 Green Building Concept....................................................................................................... 13
3.1.1 Economic benefits .................................................................................................. 14
3.1.2 Environmental benefits ......................................................................................... 15
3.1.3 Social benefits ......................................................................................................... 15
3.2 Affordable housing- The Indian context............................................................................ 15
3.3 Affordable housing - European and U.S. context............................................................. 17
3.4 Affordable housing – Asia ................................................................................................... 17
3.5 Why green affordable housing? .......................................................................................... 18
3.6 Vernacular Practices and National Case studies .............................................................. 19
3.6.1 Vernacular Practices .............................................................................................. 19
3.7 Recent Green Housing Case Studies from Bangalore - under Moderate climate ........ 21
3.7.1 ZED Earth Villa, Bangalore................................................................................... 21
3.7.2 Zed Woods, Bangalore .......................................................................................... 22
3.7.3 T Zed Homes, Bangalore ....................................................................................... 22
3.7.4 PRANA, Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC)............................ 23
3.7.5 Karnataka State Police Housing Board – Houses for Police Personnel,
Bangalore ......................................................................................................................... 24
3.7.6 Development of Solar Passive Building for Silkworm Rearing, SSTL
Campus, Bangalore ........................................................................................................ 25
v
3.7.7 ZED Collective, Bangalore .................................................................................... 26

3.7.8 Summary for Moderate Climate Zone ................................................................ 27
3.8 Cold climate ........................................................................................................................... 28
3.8.1 Vernacular practices .............................................................................................. 28
3.8.2 GERES project, Leh ................................................................................................ 32
3.8.3 Carbon Neutral Eco-Hut, Lonavala ..................................................................... 34
3.8.4 The Doon School, Dehradun ................................................................................ 34
3.8.5 Summary for Cold Climate Zone......................................................................... 35
3.9 Warm and Humid Climate .................................................................................................. 36
3.9.2 GFRG Demonstration Building, IIT Madras, Chennai ..................................... 39
3.9.3 Govardhan Eco Village (GEV), Thane, Mumbai................................................ 39
3.9.4 VBHC,Vaibhava Oragadam, Chennai................................................................. 40
3.9.5 Happinest, Chennai ............................................................................................... 41
3.9.6 Summary for Warm Humid Climate Zone ........................................................ 41
3.10 Composite climate .......................................................................................................... 42
3.10.2 Aranya Homes, Indore .......................................................................................... 45
3.10.3 Summary for Composite Climate Zone .............................................................. 46
3.11 Hot & Dry climate .......................................................................................................... 47
3.11.2 House of Surya and Jaai Kakani, Ahmedabad................................................... 51
3.11.3 Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) Lonar,
Maharashtra .................................................................................................................... 52
3.11.4 Residence at Vadodara, Gujarat ........................................................................... 52
3.11.5 The ACC Greens Village, Bellary, Karnataka .................................................... 53
3.11.6 Summary for Hot Dry Climate Zone................................................................... 54
3.12 International projects ..................................................................................................... 54
3.12.1 Viva Verde, Bronx, New York, USA.................................................................... 54
3.12.2 Treelodge@Punggol, Singapore ........................................................................... 55
3.12.3 Coldharbour Lane, U.K. ........................................................................................ 56
3.12.4 BoKlok project, Sweden ........................................................................................ 57
3.12.5 Green village – Lochiel Park, Australia .............................................................. 58
3.12.6 Melrose Commons II: Sunflower Ways, Bronx, New york, USA .................... 59
3.12.7 River walk Point I, Spokane, Washington, USA ................................................ 60
3.12.8 Glumslöv housing project, Sweden ..................................................................... 62
3.12.9 Casa Aqua, Sao Paulo, Brazil................................................................................ 62
3.12.10 Bio Solar house, Thailand ................................................................................. 63
3.12.11 Broad Sustainable building (BSB) Co. LTD, China........................................ 64
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3.12.12 BedZED (Beddington Zero (fossil) Emissions Development), United

Kingdom .......................................................................................................................... 65
3.12.13 Earth Sheltered Housing, Hockerton, Newark, United Kingdom .............. 65
3.12.14 Summary for International Case Studies ........................................................ 66
4 FIELD CASE STUDIES UNDER MODERATE CLIMATE ZONE ...................................................... 67
4.1 Good Earth Malhar Footprints ............................................................................................ 67
4.1.1 Site location ............................................................................................................. 67
4.1.2 Project Profile .......................................................................................................... 68
4.1.3 Details of green features in the project: ............................................................... 69
4.1.4 Summary of on-field interviews .......................................................................... 96
4.1.5 Summary from the case study .............................................................................. 97
4.2 Field Study of Rohan and Reshmy’s House, Bangalore ................................................ 103
4.2.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 103
4.2.2 Details of green and affordable features ........................................................... 104
4.2.3 Component wise embodied energy of the building and the possible savings
107
4.2.4 Component wise costs of the building and the possible savings .................. 108
4.2.5 Summary from the case study ............................................................................ 118
4.3 Field study of waste management practiced at T ZED homes, Whitefield, Bangalore
............................................................................................................................................... 120
4.3.1 Garden Waste ....................................................................................................... 121
4.3.2 Kitchen waste ........................................................................................................ 122
4.3.3 Paper, card boards, plastic , metal, tetrapak, newspaper, Unbroken Glass
bottles ............................................................................................................................. 123
4.3.4 Hygiene waste ...................................................................................................... 123
4.3.5 Construction waste .............................................................................................. 124
4.3.6 E wastes ................................................................................................................. 124
4.3.7 General waste ....................................................................................................... 124
4.4 Limitation and challenges .................................................................................................. 124
4.5 Summary sheet for Waste management system: ............................................................ 124
4.6 Summary of Green Features for Moderate Climate Zone ............................................. 125
5 FIELD CASE STUDY UNDER WARM AND HUMID CLIMATE ZONE - VBHC VAIBHAVA,
CHENNAI ..................................................................................................................................... 127
5.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 127
5.2 Details of Green and Affordable Features ....................................................................... 128
5.2.1 Construction Technology & Management ....................................................... 128
5.2.2 Building Design .................................................................................................... 130
5.2.3 Alternate Construction Materials and Technologies ...................................... 131
5.2.4 Energy Management............................................................................................ 136
5.2.5 Water Management.............................................................................................. 137
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5.2.6 Performance Monitoring ..................................................................................... 138

5.2.7 Life Cycle Analysis .............................................................................................. 138
5.2.8 Summary of Field Interviews ............................................................................. 141
5.2.9 Summary of the case study ................................................................................. 142
5.3 Summary of warm and humid climatic zone ................................................................. 143
6 FIELD CASE STUDY UNDER COLD CLIMATE ZONE -PASSIVE SOLAR HOUSES, URSI VILLAGE
(LADAKH) .................................................................................................................................... 145
6.1 Project Profile....................................................................................................................... 145
6.2 Background .......................................................................................................................... 145
6.3 Passive solar house design ................................................................................................ 146
6.3.1 Direct Gain (DG) houses ..................................................................................... 151
6.3.2 Solar Wall (SW)..................................................................................................... 152
6.3.3 Attached Green House (AGH): .......................................................................... 153
6.4 Water and waste management .......................................................................................... 154
6.5 On-site monitoring for Indoor Environmental conditions............................................ 155
6.6 Energy performance of PSH .............................................................................................. 155
6.7 Costing of PSH .................................................................................................................... 157
6.8 Payback time ........................................................................................................................ 158
6.9 Summary of field interviews ............................................................................................. 159
6.10 Affordability and green rationale analysis of PSH .................................................. 160
6.11 Summary of cold climate ............................................................................................. 162
7 FIELD CASE STUDIES UNDER HOT AND DRY CLIMATE ZONE ............................................... 165
7.1 Mr Surya Kakani’s House, Ahmedabad .......................................................................... 165
7.1.1 Site location ........................................................................................................... 165
7.1.2 Project Profile ........................................................................................................ 165
7.1.3 Project Brief ........................................................................................................... 167
7.1.4 Details of green features in the project: ............................................................. 168
7.1.5 Instantaneous Performance Measurements ..................................................... 181
7.1.6 Summary of data collection and interview during field visit ........................ 181
7.1.7 Case study summary ........................................................................................... 182
7.2 Field study of Savvy Solaris .............................................................................................. 184
7.2.1 Site location ........................................................................................................... 184
7.2.2 Project Profile: ....................................................................................................... 185
7.2.4 Comparative analysis for cost affordability ..................................................... 191
7.3 Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme, Lonar ................................ 199
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7.3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 199

7.3.2 Site location ........................................................................................................... 199
7.3.3 Project profile ........................................................................................................ 200
7.3.4 Layout plan, dwelling unit plan and section for Phase – II ........................... 200
7.3.6 Summary Table .................................................................................................... 207
7.4 Summary of hot & Dry Climate zone............................................................................... 208
8 FIELD CASE STUDIES UNDER COMPOSITE CLIMATE ZONE .................................................... 211
8.1 Case Study Report for Mahindra Life Spaces - Aura ..................................................... 211
8.1.1 Site location ........................................................................................................... 211
8.1.2 Project Profile: ....................................................................................................... 211
8.1.3 Site planning and Landscape ............................................................................. 214
8.1.4 Alternative Materials ........................................................................................... 215
8.1.5 Water and Waste Management .......................................................................... 217
8.2 Field Case Study - TERI University Hostel ..................................................................... 223
8.2.1 Project Profile ........................................................................................................ 223
8.2.3 Onsite monitoring ................................................................................................ 230
8.2.4 Summary ............................................................................................................... 230
8.3 Summary of Composite Climate zone ............................................................................. 234
9 POLICY GUIDELINES TO PROMOTE GREEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.................................... 237
9.1 Policy guidelines for Neighbourhood / Habitat Level................................................... 237
9.2 Mandatory Regulations for integration of Green building features in Affordable
Housing ................................................................................................................................ 238
9.3 Green Building Initiatives in the State of Karnataka ..................................................... 241
9.3.1 Revised Master Plan 2015, BANGALORE, 2007, Volume – III(ZONING OF
LANDUSE AND REGULATIONS) ............................................................................. 241
9.3.2 Electronic - City Industrial Township Area Bangalore, Building Byelaws-
2013-2015 (ELCITA) ..................................................................................................... 242
9.3.3 Schedule of Rate for Karnataka State ................................................................ 244
10 CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................ 245
10.1 Summary of green features for 5 climate zones ....................................................... 246
11 WAY FORWARD .......................................................................................................................... 249
12 ANNEXURES ................................................................................................................................ 251
Annexure 1 ........................................................................................................................... 251
Annexure 2 ........................................................................................................................... 257
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Annexure 3 ........................................................................................................................... 267

Manufacturers of Green products, materials& systems from various case studies .. 267
Annexure 4 ........................................................................................................................... 271
Annexure 5 ........................................................................................................................... 273
Annexure 6 ........................................................................................................................... 275
Annexure 7 ........................................................................................................................... 278
GLOSSARY ......................................................................................................................................... 279
BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................................. 283
List of Tables
Table 2.1: Green building features for a residential project ........................................................... 6
Table 2.2: Green building features identified in selected field studies of 5 climate zones of
India ............................................................................................................................................ 10
Table 3.1: Affordable housing definition according to MHUPA, Source: Task Force on
Affordable Housing, MHUPA, 2008....................................................................................... 16
Table 3.2: Definition of affordable housing: JNNURM directorate (2011) ................................. 16
Table 3.3: Affordable housing definition according to KPMG report (‘Affordable Housing –
A Key Growth Driver in the Real Estate Sector’ (2010) ....................................................... 17
Table 3.4:Vernacular practices in Moderate climate. .................................................................... 19
Table 3.5: Vernacular practices in cold climate .............................................................................. 28
Table 3.6: Vernacular practices in warm humid climate .............................................................. 36
Table 3.7: Vernacular practices in composite climate ................................................................... 42
Table 3.8: Vernacular practices in hot dry climate ........................................................................ 47
Table 4.1: Comparative analysis for CSEB and CMU ................................................................... 74
Table 4.2: Embodied energy and prices of the tiles ....................................................................... 77
Table 4.3: Summary list of green building materials used in the project ................................... 78
Table 4.4: Comparative analysis ...................................................................................................... 79
Table 4.5: Components and its costs................................................................................................ 82
Table 4.6: Calculation for water demand and supply from various resources ......................... 84
Table 4.7: Cost of water supply ........................................................................................................ 85
Table 4.8: Comparative analysis for Compact fluorescent lamp, Tube light and incandescent
lamps ........................................................................................................................................... 86
Table 4.9: Comparison of metal halide & mercury vapour lamp sodium vapour and led lamp
for external lighting................................................................................................................... 87
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Table 4.10: Summary of the Green Features along with cost and affordability analysis for
Good Earth Malhar Project ...................................................................................................... 97
Table 4.11: Overview of the Rohan &Reshmy’s house ............................................................... 103
Table 4.12:Component wise embodied energy of the building and the possible savings when
compared to conventional construction ............................................................................... 107
Table 4.13: Component wise costs of the building and the possible savings when compared
to conventional construction ................................................................................................. 108
Table 4.14:Indoor thermal comfort parameters observed during the study period ............... 114
Table 4.15: Average daylight levels observed during the study period .................................. 114
Table 4.16:Energy and Carbon footprint of Rohan’s house & conventional house ................ 115
Table 4.17: Initial & O&M costs of Rohan’s house & conventional house ............................... 116
Table 4.18: Summary of replicable green & affordable features from the case study ............ 118
Table 4.19:Summary of Green Features for Moderate Climate Zone ....................................... 125
Table 5.1: Overview of the VBHC’s Vaibhava ............................................................................. 127
Table 5.2: Comparison of R C Wall and Conventional construction ........................................ 129
Table 5.3: Component wise embodied energy of the building and the possible savings when
compared to conventional construction ............................................................................... 133
Table 5.4: Component wise Costs of the building and the possible savings when compared to
conventional construction ...................................................................................................... 134
Table 5.5:Energy and Carbon footprint of VBHC Vaibhava & conventional house .............. 139
Table 5.6: Initial & O&M costs of VBHC Vaibhava & conventional house ............................. 140
Table 5.7: Summary of replicable green & affordable features from the case study .............. 142
Table 5.8: Summary of Green features identified in warm and humid climatic zone ........... 143
Table 6.1: Recommended insulation materials for PSH ............................................................. 149
Table 6.2: Advantages and disadvantages of DG type houses .................................................. 152
Table 6.3: Advantages and disadvantages of SW ........................................................................ 153
Table 6.4: Advantages and disadvantages of AGH. ................................................................... 153
Table 6.5: instantaneous monitoring results................................................................................. 155
Table 6.6: Average temperature measured for three types of PSH design during winter
period of 2008/2009 in Spiti. ................................................................................................... 155
Table 6.7: Annual fuel savings in PSH as compared to conventional house ........................... 156
Table 6.8: Energy simulation results for PSH and conventional house.................................... 157
Table 6.9: Costing of different components of a PSH. Price includes labour cost and material
costs. .......................................................................................................................................... 158
Table 6.10: Cost and Energy payback time for PSH (with SW technique) ............................... 159
xi
Table 6.11: Affordability and green rationale analysis of PSH .................................................. 160
Table 6.12: Cold climate zone summary ....................................................................................... 162
Table 7.1: Cost comparison of surface finishing material........................................................... 171
Table 7.2: Lime plaster ingredients ................................................................................................ 171
Table 7.3: Cost comparison of wind capture and desert cooler................................................. 178
Table 7.4: Cost comparison for solar water heater and electric geyser .................................... 179
Table 7.5: Day lighting performance Measured .......................................................................... 181
Table 7.6: Thermal performance Measured .................................................................................. 181
Table 7.7: Case study summary ..................................................................................................... 182
Table 7.8: Comparative analysis for AAC and CMU .................................................................. 188
Table 7.9: Comparison of energy and prices of the tiles ............................................................. 190
Table 7.10:Day lighting performance Measured ......................................................................... 194
Table 7.11: Thermal performance Measured ................................................................................ 194
Table 7.12: Case study summary ................................................................................................... 196
Table 7.13: Plantations on Site ........................................................................................................ 201
Table 7.14: Energy efficient Fixtures and Lighting Levels ......................................................... 205
Table 7.15: Water efficient Fixtures................................................................................................ 205
Table 7.16: Summary Table ............................................................................................................. 207
Table 7.17: Summary of hot & Dry Climate ................................................................................. 208
Table 8.1: Layers of external wall................................................................................................... 216
Table 8.2: Water balance chart ........................................................................................................ 217
Table 8.3:Day lighting performance Measured ........................................................................... 220
Table 8.4: Thermal performance Measured .................................................................................. 220
Table 8.6: Table showing cost of construction of roof ................................................................. 224
Table 8.7: Wall construction............................................................................................................ 225
Table 8.9: Summary of Composite Climate .................................................................................. 234
Table 9.1: Policy guidelines for Neighbourhood / Habitat Level .............................................. 237
Table 9.2: Mandatory regulations to support the above set policy guidelines at the
Neighbourhood/ Habitat Level ............................................................................................. 238
Table 9.3: Recommendations / policy guidelines for House unit Level ................................... 239
Table 9.4: Mandatory regulations for House unit Level ............................................................. 241
xii
Table 10.1: Summary of green features for 5 climate zones ....................................................... 246
Table 12.1: List of Affordable Housing Projects with Green Features in Warm-Humid
Climate Zone ............................................................................................................................ 251
Table 12.2: Green Building Initiatives for Affordable Housing: Moderate Climate Case
studies ....................................................................................................................................... 252
Table 12.3: Green Building Initiatives in affordable housing for Hot & Dry climate zones.. 254
Table 12.4: Case study of Composite Climate .............................................................................. 254
Table 12.5: Case study of Composite Climate which are rated ................................................. 256
Table 12.6: Manufacturer of materials used in case studies ....................................................... 267
Table 12.7: Details of Manufacturer for Green Building Systems ............................................. 269
List of Figures
Figure2.1: Map of India showing different climatic zones. Source: National Building Code of
India 2005...................................................................................................................................... 5
Figure2.2: Field studies undertaken under five climate zone ........................................................ 9
Figure3.1: ZED woods houses as seen from the garden outside ................................................. 22
Figure3.2: T-zed homes as seen from front site along with the green pathway ....................... 23
Figure3.3: Prana house as viewed from front (BIEC, n.d). ........................................................... 24
Figure3.4: Left Picture-Side View of the model unit of KSPHC housing. Right Picture – Top
View of the same ....................................................................................................................... 25
Figure3.5: Solar Passive Building for Silkworm Rearing, SSTL Campus, Bangalore ............... 25
Figure3.6: ZED Collective ................................................................................................................. 27
Figure3.7: Top picture shows greenhouse been erected next to the house. Bottom picture
shows one of the affordable green home built in ladakh by GERES. ................................ 33
Figure3.8: A completed eco-hut by Tata power............................................................................. 34
Figure3.9: Collage of the completed green home in Doon school. Source: GRIHA case studies
flyer.............................................................................................................................................. 35
Figure3.10: Pictures showing the completed house at IIT chennai7 ........................................... 39
Figure3.11: Picture at top shows a completed house. Bottom left picture shows bio-gas plant
installed in the village. Figure on bottom left shows worker constructing walls made of
special bricks .............................................................................................................................. 40
Figure3.12: Typical street view of Aranya homes, Indore ........................................................... 46
Figure3.13: Diagram showing various systems along with wind catcher in blue .................... 52
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Figure3.14: A completed and Occupied Unit of the Project ......................................................... 54

Figure3.15: Left picture shows rooftop vegetable farming and picture on right shows
building integrated solar panel ............................................................................................... 55
Figure3.16: Top left is picture showing solar panels being integrated on roof. Top right
picture shows pre-cast technology. Middle left picture shows provision for natural
lighting and ventilation. Picture on middle shows Eco-pedestal used to reuse water.
Bottom left is the picture of centralised chute for waste collection. The cycle parking
provision is shown in bottom middle picture. Bottom left is the building picture
showing white outer self-cleansing paint .............................................................................. 56
Figure3.17: Coldharbour lane building picture ............................................................................. 57
Figure3.18: Three types of housing blocks available with BoKlok project ................................ 58
Figure3.19: Left figure shows houses in Lochiel Park and in right the picture shows
ventilation system concept used in houses ............................................................................ 59
Figure3.20: Melrose Commons 2 houses ....................................................................................... 60
Figure3.21: Riverwalk Point I houses as seen from street outside .............................................. 61
Figure3.22: Shows front on the ground floor at Gumslöv and second picture shows a house
during construction period ...................................................................................................... 62
Figure3.23: Model of the Casa Aqua project .................................................................................. 63
Figure3.24: Left- Bio solar house as seen from front, Right- Detail of PV solar system
installed in house. ...................................................................................................................... 64
Figure3.25: BedZED, United Kingdom ........................................................................................... 65
Figure3.26: Earth Sheltered Housing, Hockerton .......................................................................... 66
Figure4.1: Location of Malhar Footprints by Good Earth ............................................................ 68
Figure4.2: Tree protected on site during excavation and around the housing units ............... 69
Figure4.3: Partial site section showing the level difference on site ............................................. 70
Figure4.4: Service corridor trench on site and plumbing service line in each housing unit ... 70
Figure4.5:Paving with mud concrete, brick and Cuddapah and sadaralli stones .................... 71
Figure4.6: Mulching over the soil to avoid soil erosion and Stone paving with grassing
around a seating space.............................................................................................................. 71
Figure4.7:Cross sectional details with photographs depicting wall bracket supporting the
roof and color of the exterior surface...................................................................................... 73
Figure4.8: Compressed Stabilized Earth Block & Random Rubble Masonry Wall .................. 73
Figure4.9:Cross sectional drawing of window shade & schematic sketch of veranda ............ 75
Figure4.10: Cross sectional drawings of parking area and photographs showing daylight
integration in housing units ..................................................................................................... 76
Figure4.11:Cross sectional elevation depicting cross ventilation in one of the units ............... 76
Figure4.12: Interior photographs showing usage of various flooring materials....................... 77
xiv
Figure4.13: Water efficient features depicting water closet and faucet ...................................... 79
Figure4.14: Drip irrigation and micro spray irrigation in the landscape ................................... 80
Figure4.15:Rainwater harvesting integration in the housing units ............................................ 80
Figure4.16:Surface rainwater capture & Soft drains with recharge pits on site ........................ 81
Figure4.17: Schematic sketch of rainwater harvesting network on site ..................................... 81
Figure4.18: Flow diagram of rainwater captured in Malhar Footprints .................................... 82
Figure4.19:Cross sectional drawings of Waste water treatment plant – DEWATS .................. 83
Figure4.20: treatment process of DEWATS system Malhar Footprints ...................................... 83
Figure4.21: Water balance chart for Malhar ................................................................................... 84
Figure4.22:Solar Hot Water & Solar Photovoltaic panels integrated on roof top ..................... 85
Figure4.23: Different instruments used in study. .......................................................................... 88
Figure4.24:Floor plans and photographs of Unit B2 ..................................................................... 89
Figure4.25: Monitoring positions for the day light. ...................................................................... 90
Figure4.26: Monitoring positions for the temperature and relative humidity. ......................... 91
Figure4.27: Floor plans and photographs of Unit E12 .................................................................. 92
Figure4.28:Floor plans and photographs of Unit C4 ..................................................................... 93
Figure4.29: Monitoring positions for the day light. ...................................................................... 94
Figure4.30: Monitoring positions for the temperature and relative humidity. ......................... 95
Figure4.31: Comparison of internal and ambient temperature profile at Malhar Footprints . 96
Figure4.32. Front view of Rohan & Reshmy’s house .................................................................. 103
Figure4.33: Floor plans of the house.............................................................................................. 104
Figure4.34: Details of Jack arch roof construction ....................................................................... 105
Figure4.35: Hollow Mud-Block used for Lintel construction .................................................... 105
Figure4.36: Cost comparison of alternative low-cost materials with conventional materials
.................................................................................................................................................... 106
Figure4.37: Energy comparison of alternative low-energy materials with conventional
materials ................................................................................................................................... 106
Figure4.38: Skylight atrium and the ventilators below the roof ................................................ 110
Figure4.39: Solar PV cells and Solar water heater ....................................................................... 111
Figure4.40: Energy balance in the Rohan &Reshmy’s house ..................................................... 111
Figure4.41: Details of Rain water filtration system ..................................................................... 112
Figure4.42: Details of Rain water filtration system .................................................................... 112
Figure4.43: Water balance in the Rohan &Reshmy’s house ....................................................... 113
Figure4.44: Indoor thermal comfort conditions observed in Rohan &Reshmy’s house ........ 114
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Figure4.45: Greenness and Affordability of Rohan & Reshmy’s house in comparison with
conventional case..................................................................................................................... 116
Figure 4.46: Various Collection Bags/ containers used for handling different wastes ........... 120
Figure 4.47: (a) Stage wise process for composting ; (b). Bins Provided for Leaf composter 121
Figure 4.48: (a) Organic Kitchen Gardens maintained in the project ; (b). Coconut waste used
as mulching and substrate ..................................................................................................... 122
Figure 4.49: Bio digester plant ........................................................................................................ 123
Figure 4.50: Paper & Plastic collected from a household ........................................................... 123
Figure5.1: A view from courtyard of the VBHC Housing ......................................................... 127
Figure5.2: Site Plan and typical unit plans of VBHC Housing in Chennai.............................. 129
Figure5.3: Cost Comparison between R C Wall and Conventional wall ................................. 130
Figure5.4: Construction of Reinforced Concrete (R C) wall ....................................................... 130
Figure5.5: Precast concrete slabs used for compound wall........................................................ 131
Figure5.6: View of Kitchen and Kids Bedroom ........................................................................... 131
Figure5.7: Typical Window Grill design and Kitchen platform detail ..................................... 132
Figure5.8: Stand-alone solar based LED street lighting .............................................................. 136
Figure5.9: Peripheral swales and the open well-constructed on site to collect the rain water.
.................................................................................................................................................... 137
Figure5.10: Dual plumbing and dual flush toilets installed in the project .............................. 137
Figure5.11: Water Balance for VBHC Housing ........................................................................... 138
Figure5.12: Greenness and Affordability of VBHC Vaibhava in comparison with
conventional case..................................................................................................................... 140
Figure6.1: Ursi village...................................................................................................................... 146
Figure6.2: a) A direct gain house, b) House with Solar wall, c) Attached green house to the
house, d) Inside of a green house. ......................................................................................... 147
Figure6.3: Typical plan and elevation of PSH. Picture scanned from GERES booklet. ......... 148
Figure6.4: Typical roof construction from inside the house. ..................................................... 149
Figure6.5: Sun dried bricks being made on site. .......................................................................... 150
Figure6.6: A cut through section of wall showing saw dust used as insulation material. .... 150
Figure6.7: DG house surveyed in the study. ................................................................................ 151
Figure6.8: Concept of DG house. Picture scanned from GERES booklet ................................. 151
Figure6.9: Principle working of solar wall. Picture scanned from GERES booklet ................ 152
Figure6.10: a) House with SW, b) Inside of the SW house. ........................................................ 153
Figure6.11: Shape of AGH with minimum and maximum advised orientation angle .......... 154
Figure6.12: Schematic showing how the waste is recycled in the house. ................................ 154
xvi
Figure6.13: Plan for PSH and toilet. .............................................................................................. 155

Figure6.14: Lifetime energy consumption in conventional house vs PSH .............................. 156
Figure6.15: Thermal performance evaluation of SW done on 12/01/2011. Source: Clottes
Franck (December 2012). L.E.C. Integration Design Manual. GERES ............................. 157
Figure7.1: Location of Mr Surya Kakani’s house ......................................................................... 165
Figure7.2: Green features layout .................................................................................................... 166
Figure7.3: Floor Plans (Left: Ground Floor, Right: First Floor) ................................................. 167
Figure7.4: Outdoor and indoor view of Mr Kakani’s house ...................................................... 167
Figure7.5: Before, during and after renovation of the house respectively ............................... 168
Figure7.6: Top left: old house, Top right: During renovation, Below Left: After renovation,
below right: Vegetable garden on terrace ............................................................................ 169
Figure7.7: Bio-diversity found in the vicinity (Images provided by Mr Kakani) ................... 169
Figure7.8: Nimaj stone and waste brick paved pervious surfaces ............................................ 170
Figure7.9: Images showing internal wall thickness and wall finishes with lime plaster....... 171
Figure7.10: Roof section for terrace garden .................................................................................. 172
Figure7.11: Left: Terrace garden roof image Right: Insulated roof during construction (Image
provided by Mr Kakani) ......................................................................................................... 172
Figure7.12: left: demolished wall’s construction waste used for roofing, right: thermocol
waste for insulation (Images provided by Mr Kakani) ...................................................... 173
Figure7.13: Cost comparison of conventional practice against the roof types in the case study
.................................................................................................................................................... 173
Figure7.14: Stone flooring ............................................................................................................... 174
Figure7.15: Cost comparison of conventional practice against the flooring material in the
case study ................................................................................................................................. 174
Figure7.16: Images showing the day lighting quality on a typical equinox season (during
field visit). ................................................................................................................................. 175
Figure7.17: Clockwise: Wind catcher outlet, external louvers to provide privacy and direct
ventilation, internal ventilation openings between kitchen and staircase, window
louvers system to open natural ventilation while controlling direct sunlight ............... 175
Figure7.18: Water bodies/lily ponds for evaporative cooling in summers .............................. 176
Figure7.19: Wind catchers and duct connecting all living spaces ............................................. 176
Figure7.20: Left: Cooling tower inlet, middle & right: Tower outlets ...................................... 177
Figure7.21: Solar water heater on terrace ..................................................................................... 178
Figure7.22: Water balance Diagram .............................................................................................. 179
Figure7.23: Left: Rain water system plumbing lines, Right: Soft scape for rainwater recharge
.................................................................................................................................................... 180
xvii
Figure7.24: Sectional image showing rainwater management .................................................. 180

Figure 7.25: Location map of the project ....................................................................................... 184
Figure 7.26: Solaris residential apartments.................................................................................. 184
Figure 7.27: Site plan of the project................................................................................................ 185
Figure 7.28: Typical Floor plans. Left: 2BHK, Right: 3BHK ....................................................... 185
Figure 7.29:Soft paving, with grass................................................................................................ 187
Figure 7.30: High SRI PCC pavement and interlocking concrete pavers ................................. 187
Figure 7.31: Autoclaved aerated concrete masonry wall for external wall .............................. 188
Figure 7.32: Roof finish in Solaris project .................................................................................... 189
Figure 7.33: Photographs showing daylight integration in a flat .............................................. 190
Figure 7.34: Photograph showing day lighting in basement parking area. ............................. 190
Figure 7.35: Water efficient features depicting water closet and faucet ................................... 191
Figure 7.36: Storm water drains ..................................................................................................... 192
Figure 7.37:Photograph of Waste water treatment plant at Solaris .......................................... 193
Figure 7.38:Treatment process of sewage treatment plant in Solaris project .......................... 193
Figure 7.39: Lux level measurement grid ..................................................................................... 194
Figure 7.40: Site Location ................................................................................................................ 199
Figure7.41: Layout Plan for Phase II.............................................................................................. 200
Figure7.42: Cluster Layout Plan ..................................................................................................... 200
Figure7.43: Plan of a Dwelling Unit .............................................................................................. 201
Figure7.44: AutoCAD drawing showing top soil collection and storage points .................... 202
Figure7.45: Rat Trap Bond (Left) and Use of Fly ash Bricks (Right) ......................................... 203
Figure7.46: Tumbler Roof - View from Inside ............................................................................. 203
Figure7.47: Section displaying construction techniques used ................................................... 204
Figure7.48: Perspective View ......................................................................................................... 205
Figure7.49: Geo Green Bio Filter .................................................................................................... 206
Figure8.1: Location of Mahindra Life Spaces - Aura................................................................... 211
Figure8.2: Site plan........................................................................................................................... 213
Figure8.3 Typical Cluster layouts .................................................................................................. 213
Figure8.4 Left: 3BHK (1050 Sq.Ft), Right: 2BHK (950 Sq.ft) ....................................................... 214
Figure8.5 during construction after construction images .......................................................... 214
Figure8.6: Cost comparison of pervious paving materials......................................................... 215
xviii
Figure8.7 Pervious paving materials 1. Parking on grass pavers 2. Grass pavers 3.

Interlocking blocks .................................................................................................................. 215
Figure8.8 Sedimentation tank and storm water drain ................................................................ 216
Figure8.9: Cost comparison between wall materials ................................................................. 217
Figure8.10: During and after construction images of AAC block walls................................... 217
Figure8.11: Flushing tank, 2. Domestic tank, 3. Multiple plumbing systems .......................... 218
Figure8.12: Images of various low flow water fixtures as seen during field visit .................. 218
Figure8.13: Life cycle cost for Renewable energy system against conventional system ........ 219
Figure8.14: Lux level measurement grid ...................................................................................... 219
Figure8.15: Site plan if university campus highlighting hostel block. ..................................... 224
Figure8.16: Tiles installed on the roof ........................................................................................... 225
Figure8.17: Aero screen louvre on the west facing wall ............................................................. 226
Figure8.18: a) sewage treats plant .................................................................................................. 227
Figure8.19: Water flow diagram of sewage treatment plant...................................................... 227
Figure8.20: water management in TU hostel. .............................................................................. 228
Figure8.21: Graphical representation of EAT system ................................................................. 229
Figure8.22: a) Inlet to AHU from tunnel. b) Earth air tunnel intake chamber. ....................... 229
Figure8.23: Schematic of installed EAT at the TU. ...................................................................... 230
Figure12.1: Green Building Initiatives in affordable housing for cold climate zones ............ 254
Figure12.2: DEWATS configuration schemes .............................................................................. 275
xix
1 Introduction
Green building initiatives for affordable housing is a study carried out to document and
evaluate, green building features integrated in existing affordable residential projects.
Information gathered through the study is useful to assess the benefits of green building
features for their adoption and replication in affordable housing projects. Appraisal
parameters for financing green building features with respect to affordable housing and
policy inputs to mainstream green features in affordable housing are being recommended.
A two pronged strategy was adopted to undertake the study. In the first phase, exhaustive
desk research was undertaken. This involved study of relevant material on the rationale of
green building concepts and its linkages with affordable housing concept covering studies
done both within India and abroad. This was followed by the second phase of field studies
mapping the initiatives in all 5 climate zones of India, covering Moderate, warm-humid,
composite, hot-dry and cold. During field visits, quantitative monitoring was performed to
test the environment performance inside the homes, as well as interviews were conducted
with user group, architect, developer, contractor to evaluate the effectiveness of green
initiatives. The study locations were Bangalore (Moderate), Chennai (Warm-humid),
Ahmedabad (Hot-dry), Delhi (Composite) and Leh (Cold). The study enabled drawing
lessons, effective evaluation of the benefits that have accrued from the implementation of
green building initiatives. For all the green features documented, affordability and
replicability analysis was carried out, which formed the basis of recommending policy
guidelines and mandatory regulations.
1
2 Aim, Objective & Methodology
2.1 Need for the study

Human Settlement Management Institute (HSMI, which is the Research & Training Wing of
HUDCO has the mission of making a significant contribution towards enhancing quality of
life through action plan, research and capacity building. HSMI achieves this through policy
research, evaluation studies, documentation and dissemination. The study on ‚Green
Buildings Initiatives for Affordable Housing‛ has been funded by HSMI. The information
gathered from case studies in the project, will serve as information base for HUDCO in its
affordable housing projects. HSMI shall disseminate learning from the study to enhance the
effectiveness of such initiatives.
2.2 Aim & Objective

The aim of assignment was to document the ‚Green Building Initiatives for Affordable
Housing‛ with objective to arrive at
 Documentation of best green building practices in residential sector.
 Derive affordability for green features for their replication in affordable housing
projects.
 Assess and appraise parameters for green building financing
 Frame policy guidelines and mandatory regulations for mainstreaming green
building initiatives in affordable housing projects.
2.3 Scope of work

Scope of work entailed country wide study covering all climate zones for data collection
from green building case studies and their analysis covering the following parameters
during field visits:
 Siting of buildings
 Climate responsiveness
 Building materials and structural systems
 Waste management system
 Energy conservation
 Carbon Footprint
 Biodiversity
 Performance of the housing other innovative initiatives.
2.3.1 Limitation
The short duration study is limited to documentation of only a few field studies in five
climatic zones in India and performance monitoring of environment parameters for a day.
Analysis of performance parameters to assess the impact of green feature on temperature,
RH, and light levels etc is complete if the impact for all seasons is captured, which requires a
study of longer duration.
3
2.4 Methodology
A two pronged strategy was adopted to undertake the study. In the first phase extensive
literature review was carried out covering green building concepts, affordable housing
concepts and case studies both within India and abroad.
The second phase comprised of field studies, mapping of green building initiatives in
residential sector was undertaken covering all climate zones. This was followed by physical
checks and verification including interactions with various stakeholders in selected
affordable projects where green initiatives were integrated.
After the physical field studies, affordability cum replicability analysis was carried out
which, formed the basis for framing policy guidelines and mandatory regulations. To
summarise the above activities, flow chart is given below:
Step 1: Literature
Review
Step 2: Mapping Green

Building Initiatives across
India
Step 4 Physical field visits,

Step 3 Sample selection for Step 6: Recommendations on
verification cum evaluation of Step 5 Affordability &
field visit representing 5 Policy Guidelines and
green initiatives in affordable Replicability Analysis
climate zones Mandatory Regulations
housing projects.
2.5 Methodology for field case study selection

2.5.1 Mapping of Green Building Initiatives in Housing and affordable
housing
India is divided into 5 climate zones. As per the National Building Code 2005, these are:
Composite, warm-humid, hot-dry, cold and temperate (or moderate). Green building
initiatives in affordable housing in all the climate zones were mapped in India. The list of
these projects is given in Annexure 1. From the housing projects, affordable housing projects
were shortlisted for selecting case studies for detailed documentation and analysis from all
climate zones. Map of India showing all five climate zones is given below.
4
Aim, Objective & Methodology
Figure2.1: Map of India showing different climatic zones. Source: National Building Code of India
2005.
2.5.2 Methodology of carrying out case studies

After the mapping process of affordable housing projects for green initiatives was
completed, a few sample case studies were selected for physical studies.
During the physical studies, performance evaluation of green initiatives was evaluated for
their replicability.
Performance was evaluated through interviews with user group (occupants),
designers/consultants/contractors. During the physical field studies monitoring of thermal
and visual comfort levels were also carried out. Documentation of projects was carried out
through collection of drawings, pictures. Energy bills were collected wherever possible.
Thus there are both qualitative and quantitative research techniques that were used to
evaluate the performance of case studies.
Qualitative tools included the following:
 Questionnaire for contractors, Architect
 Questionnaire for consultants
 Questionnaire for maintenance team
5
 Interview guide for user group

 Interview guide for developer/owner
 Interview guide for manufacturers
Quantitative tools included the following:
 Thermal comfort monitoring on site which will include monitoring of temperature
and Relative Humidity.
 Visual comfort monitoring on site which will include lux level measurements inside
the house.
 Energy bills will be collected and Energy Performance Index will be derived. This
will help in calculation of carbon footprint.
 Water consumption if monitored, data will be collected to calculate water
consumption pattern.
Besides the above tools, during the field studies green features integrated in the design of
habitat projects will be collated through drawings and photos, covering the following
parameters:
a. Sustainable site planning
b. Building materials and construction technologies
c. Energy
d. Water management
e. Waste management
2.5.3 Selection criteria of sample case studies with green features

The study samples had to be selected from each of the five climate zones. The study samples
were required to cover both housing schemes and a housing unit with green building
initiatives.
Green features based selection criteria was developed to finalize the sample field study case
studies. The projects that were finally selected for field studies, has at least minimum of 50%
of green building features mentioned below.
Table 2.1: Green building features for a residential project
Sl No Green building features

1. Siting and climate responsiveness
Orientation
Zoning
2. Energy, renewable energy & building materials
Building envelope to respond to outside climate
Roof treatment, roof garden
Shaded windows
Walls to respond to outside climate
Local materials to reduce embodied energy
Pre-fab construction technologies to reduce time and volume of construction
Natural ventilation
6
Sl No Green building features

Daylight integration
Efficient outdoor and indoor lighting by use of T5/T8 flourescent lights with compatible
energy efficient ballasts, CFL, LED etc.
Ref : http://www.ecospecifier.com.au/knowledge-green/technical-guides/technical-guide-5-
high-performance-fluorescent-lighting.aspx
Efficient fans or other heating/cooling technologies
Solar based outdoor lighting
Solar based water heating
Solar PV panels to generate electricity
3. Efficient landscape design
Pervious pavers
Sedimentation control measures in the landscape design
Use of native species
Source of landscape water
Irrigation equipment
4. Water management
Waste water treatment system
Rain water harvesting
Dual plumbing system
Efficient plumbing fixtures
5. Waste management
Segregation of waste
Resource recovery from organic waste
Resource recovery from recyclable waste
2.5.4 Selection of case studies with green features
Moderate Climate zone

In the Moderate climate zone, there were 20 residential projects found which are green
(Annexure 1), out of these 5 projects are at Habitat scale. These include:L ZED Earth, ZED
Collective, ZED Wood, Good Earth Malahar, Suvidha Retirement Village and Faculty
Housing in Bangalore. All of these comprise of more than 50% of the above green features
indicated. Further according to the unit size, affordability, cost and year of construction a
comparative analysis was carried out. Based on the available information on green features,
location, built up area, construction cost, client support, Good Earth Malhar Footprints was
selected for first case study. At individual house level, Rohan’s House designed by Architect
Chitra Vishwanath was selected for detail study.
Warm Humid Climate zone

In the Warm and Humid climate zone, there were 12 projects identified which are green and
affordable (Annexure 1), out of these 7 projects were at Habitat scale. These include:TATA
Subh Gruha in Mumbai, Govardhan Village in Thane, Auroville Earth Institute in Auroville,
Rabirashmi in Kolkata and MARG Swarnabhoomi, Happinest, VBHC Vaibhava Oragadam
in Chenani. All of these comprise of more than 50% of the above green and affordable
features indicated. Further according to the unit size, affordability, cost and year of
construction a comparative analysis was carried out. Based on the available information on
7
green features, location, built up area, construction cost, client support, VBHC, Chennai was
undertaken for detailed field study.
Cold Climate zone

Three projects were identified in cold climate in India and were documented in literature
review. Of these the once carried out by Groupe Energies Renouvelables, Environment et
Solidarités (GERES) is on housing/community level. The houses constructed are cheaper
(INR 60,000 per house this cost corresponds to year 2008 – 2010 as compared to INR 10 lakhs
for TATA eco hut). The GERES project has a holistic approach, i.e., it intends to solve
environmental, social and economic challenges faced by people living in far off places of
western Himalayan region. In this project emphasis has been given on replicability and
dissemination of features along with being sustainable without external support of NGO’s.
These characteristics of the GERES project make it an interesting case study especially which
can be replicated in inaccessible places solving both problems of housing and livelihood
shortages for people. Thus, Passive Solar Homes in Ursi village, Leh, by GERES was
selected for detailed field visit.
Hot-Dry Climate zone

There are 15 housing projects identified under literature review that are green in Hot-Dry
climate zone of India. On contacting all the developers and Architects, it was found out that
all the identified projects at Habitat scale were either still under construction or constructed
but not operational. Only one project, the developer confirmed that the project was occupied
and operational, was SAVVY Solaris in Ahmedabad, thus this was selected for detailed
field study. For individual house, Architect Surya Kakkani’s house was selected for
detailed field study.
Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme in Lonar is a Central Government
sponsored slum rehabilitation project under JNNURM. Construction for this project though
not completed, the case is documented through secondary sources, as it is a Government
project, to highlight the green features adopted in such projects.
Composite Climate zone

There are many projects in Composite climate zone at habitat level, which are undergoing
green certification; however, most of these projects are Luxurious housing projects. Based
upon the interactions with Architects/consultants/RWAs for various projects, two projects
were selected in Delhi for detail field study. These are:
 Girls Hostel in TERI University
 Mahindra Life Spaces – Aura, Gurgaon.
Both the above projects were selected after speaking with Architects, owners, TERI team
realised that these projects have features that are green, affordable and replicable.
Table below shows the final projects selected for detail field study along with their green
features with reference to Table 2.2
8
Ursi Village, Leh

(Cold climate)
Mahindra Life Space

Aura, TERI Guest House
(Composite climate)
Kakani house,
Savvy Solaris, VBHC Chennai
Ahmedabad (Hot- (Warm-humid
dry climate) climate)
Good Earth-
Malhar & Rohan’s
house (Moderate
climate)
Figure2.2: Field studies undertaken under five climate zone
9
Table 2.2: Green building features identified in selected field studies of 5 climate zones of India
Rohan and Surya
Reshmi’s VBHC Solar Passive TERI Kakkani’s
Good Earth Mahindra Solaris Savvy,
House, Oragadam, House- Ursi university House,
Green building Malhar footprints, Aura, Delhi Ahmedabad
Bangalore Chennai Village, Leh hostel block, Ahmedabad
Sl features summary Bangalore(G+1 (G+10, (G+10,
(G+1 (G+4, Group (individual Delhi (G+4, (G+2,
No group housing) apartments) apartments)
Individual housing) house) Hostel) individual
House) house)
Warm and
Climate Moderate Moderate Cold Composite Composite Hot and dry Hot and dry
Humid
1. Siting and climate
responsiveness
Orientation      -  -
Zoning -   -  -  -
2. Energy, renewable
energy & building
materials
Building envelope        
to respond to
outside climate
Roof treatment, roof   -     
garden
Shaded windows    NA    
Walls to respond to        
outside climate
Local materials to   -     
reduce embodied
energy
Pre-fab construction    NA - - - -
technologies to
reduce time and
volume of
construction
10
Rohan and Surya

House) house)
Warm and
Humid
Natural ventilation        
Daylight integration        
Efficient outdoor    NA   - 
and indoor lighting
by use of T5 lamps,
CFL, LED etc
Efficient fans or - - - NA - - - -
other
heating/cooling
technologies
Solar based outdoor - -  - - - - -
lighting
Solar based water   - -    -
heating
Solar PV panels to   - - - - - -
generate electricity
3. Efficient landscape
design
Pervious pavers  -  NA    -
Sedimentation  -  NA    -
control measures in
the landscape
design
Use of native  -    -  -
species
11
Rohan and Surya

House) house)
Warm and
Humid
Source of landscape    NA   - 
water from
recycled water
Irrigation  - - NA -  - 
equipment
4. Water management
Waste water    -    
treatment system
Rain water    -    
harvesting
Dual plumbing    NA    
system
Efficient plumbing    NA   - 
fixtures
5. Waste management
Segregation of    NA  - - 
waste
Resource recovery - - -    - 
from organic waste
Resource recovery - - -  -  - 
from recyclable
waste
12
3 Literature Review
Green affordable housing as the name suggests has two key components, i.e. affordability
and green features. Affordability for a household as discussed earlier is function of price,
area income, income of household, and size of household. Affordable housing in some
countries like Singapore means houses built and operated by public authorities like housing
department. In country like U.S. most of the affordable housing is built buy for-profit
developers and community based organization (The costs and benefits of green affordable
housing, 2005). While in developing countries like India affordable houses are built through
financial aid from government organizations or from international agencies.
3.1 Green Building Concept

Concept of Green building is again defined differently by various organisations throughout
the world. Some definitions by prominent organizations are discussed below:
1. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), India: MNRE, in its ‚Green
building movement‛ issue of Akshay Urja (Urja,2011), defined green building as one
which can function using an optimum amount of energy, consume less water,
conserve natural resources, generate less waste and create spaces for healthy and
comfortable living, as compared to conventional buildings. In other words, a green
building minimizes the demand on fossil fuel based energy and maximizes usage of
renewable energy along with the reuse and recycle of resource.
2. GRIHA (Indian green rating system), India: GRIHA has a holistic approach to green
buildings. Ideally green building should: (‚The costs and benefits of green affordable
housing.‛2005.)
a. Optimize demand for electricity, water and other natural resources (in
construction, operation and demolition),
b. Generate all its electricity on site through renewable means,
c. Cater to all its water demands through sustainable processes such as rain water
harvesting, waste water treatment and reuse.
d. Grow its own food on site and Recycle and,
e. Reuse all its waste on site and burden the environment to the minimum.
GRIHA has a strong emphasis on local context as without it sustainability definition of
sustainability is incomplete. Therefore in Indian Context GRIHA defines Green buildings as
those:
a. Designed using an integrated approach (as mentioned in NBC, Part 0),
b. Providing its users with an ‚optimal‛ level of comfort catering to local needs(as per
NBC-Part 8),
c. Using minimum resources, sourced locally (as per various IS codes and other local
materials),
d. Consuming minimum energy and water (as per ECBC and NBC), and
13
e. Generating optimum waste, processed locally (as per CPCB, and MoEF norms)
during its construction, operation and demolition (i.e., over its entire life cycle).
3. Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), India: According to IGBC -‚A green building is
one which uses less water, optimizes energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates
less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional
building.‛(IGBC, n.d.).
4. Green Business Centre (GBC), India: GBC provides a shallow definition of green
building by simply saying that green buildings are similar to other building
however, the difference lies in the approach, which revolves round a concern
extending the life span of natural resources: provide human comfort, safety and
productivity. This definition is ephemeral and does not go deeper.
5. Environmental protection agency (EPA) USA:EPA defines Green buildings as the
practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and
resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle from siting to design, construction,
operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction. This practice expands and
complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and
comfort. Green building is also known as a sustainable or high performance building (Green
Building Definition, n.d.).
6. Green Building Index (GBI), Malaysia: The GBI states that Green building is one
which focuses on increasing the efficiency of resource use – energy, water, and
materials – while reducing building impact on human health and the environment
during the building’s lifecycle, through better siting, design, construction, operation,
maintenance, and removal. Green Buildings should be designed and operated to
reduce the overall impact of the built environment on its surroundings (Green
building, n.d.)
7. Green Building Label (GBL), Taiwan: GBL has an interesting take on definition of
green building. Apart from being ecological, healthy, energy efficient, and less waste
producing, green building also has to adapt to local climate, and adjust to the
seasons on its own rather than relying on energy-consuming modern machinery
(Green building, n.d.). Taiwanese philosophy of green building also incorporates
affordability, thus green buildings also has to be cheaper (lower developmental and
operating costs) than conventional buildings.
Above definitions from different leading organization in the field vary generally on the
vision. Some are focused mainly on resource efficiency (both during construction and in
utilization phase), health issues, and impact on environment. Some have broader vision and
include impact on community, culture, and blending with natural surroundings. Benefits
from green buildings can be broadly divided into three categories, i.e. economic,
environmental and social.
3.1.1 Economic benefits

Implementing green feature increases the upfront/developmental cost of a building. This
increase in cost varies from place to place and also on number of features incorporated. In
India the increment in developmental cost is around 10 %( Kalra, Ripin and Bonner, 2012).
Report on cost and benefits of green and affordable housing in U.S. shows increase from 9%-
14
Literature Review
18% in upfront developmental cost, while the average increase in all the projects
documented in study is about 2.4%. However it has been shown that with careful planning
and making smart choices one can reduce this increase in development cost to almost
negligible (Wilson, Alex, 1999),( Wells, Walker, 2007).
When green features are embedded into the building it performs efficiently as compared to
conventional building, thus reducing operating cost. With green building comes another
important concept of life cycle cost. This concept forms a counter argument for those
claiming higher development cost of green buildings. Green building have high resource
efficiency by which operating costs are reduced thus when overall life cycle cost of a
building is considered, the savings in operating costs compensated for higher
developmental costs. It is estimated that around 10%-40% of energy can be saved during
operation4.
Along with these direct economic benefits in terms of savings in cost there are indirect
economic benefits which results from increased productivity of occupants, increase in
market demand for green product and services (‚Why build green‛, n.d.).
3.1.2 Environmental benefits

The inception of green building was to reduce environmental impact of buildings. As
buildings contribute on an average about 30% of greenhouse emissions in the world it is
imperative to reduce carbon footprint of this sector for sustainable growth in future. The
environmental benefits of green buildings have been analysed and abundant documents for
the same are available today. In brief the environmental benefits are 1) conservation and
restoration of natural resources, 2) reduced carbon emission during construction as well as
operating phase, 3) reduced resource utilization throughout life cycle (savings of more than
30% in embodied energy is expected by using affordable green materials), 4) reduced waste
emission, 5) enhancement and protection of biodiversity and ecosystem, 6) Increase air and
water quality.
3.1.3 Social benefits

Social benefits includes improved health and comfort of people, increased aesthetic qualities,
reduced strain on local infrastructure, and improved overall quality of life5.
Following is literature review carried out on affordable housing
3.2 Affordable housing- The Indian context

Task Force on Affordable Housing (set up by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty
Alleviation (MHUPA) in 2008): Affordable housing for various segments is defined by size
of the dwelling and housing affordability derived by the household income of the
population. The households division is as in Table 3.1.
15
Table 3.1: Affordable housing definition according to MHUPA, Source: Task Force on Affordable
Housing, MHUPA, 2008
Size (Carpet area) Cost EMI/Rent
EWS* 300 - 500 Sqft Not exceeding four times the not exceeding 30% of gross
gross household annual income monthly income of buyer
MIG** not exceeding 1200sq Not exceeding five times the not exceeding 40% of gross
Feet gross household annual income monthly income of buyer
 *EWS: Economically weaker section

 **MIG: Middle income group.
1. JNNURM mission directorate (2011): The definition is detailed out in followingTable 3.2.
Table 3.2: Definition of affordable housing: JNNURM directorate (2011)
Size EMI/Rent
EWS minimum 300 sqft built up area & minimum not exceeding 30-40% of gross
269 sqft (25 sq m) carpet area monthly income of buyer
LIG*** minimum 500 sqft built up area & maximum

517 sqft (48 sq m) carpet area
MIG 600-1200 sqft built up area & maximum 861

sqft (80 sq m) carpet area
***LIG: Lower income group

2. Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): According to RICS affordable urban
housing means provision of ‘adequate shelter’ on a sustained basis, ensuring security of
tenure within the means of the common urban household. RICS Practice Standard
Guidance Notes (GN 59 2010) states that ‘affordable housing is that provided to those
whose needs are not met by the open market’.
3. KPMG:KPMG Report on ‘Affordable Housing – A Key Growth Driver in the Real Estate
Sector’ (2010), defines affordable housing in terms of three main parameters, namely
income level, size of dwelling unit and affordability. Whilst the first two parameters are
independent of each other, the third is a dependent parameter that can be correlated to
income and property prices. (See Table 3.3).
4. ‘Affordable Housing –as per Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
Recently the reserve bank of India (RBI) has taken decision to relax regulations on long term
bonds by banks aimed at lending to infrastructure and affordable housing. According to the
circular DBOD.BP.BC.No.25/08.12.014/2014-15 dated 15th July 2014, RBI has acknowledged
that affordable housing is an important part of economy which needs long term financing.
The current new guideline has increased the gamut of people which are eligible for
affordable house loans. Previously only priority lending sector people were included in the
scheme. Priority lending sector consists of economically weaker and low income group, i.e.
those households whose annual family income is less than INR 1,20,000 per annum
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Literature Review
irrespective of location. The maximum cap for loan is 10 lakhs for priority lending sector.
With the new guideline house loans are extended upto INR 50 lakhs for houses of values
upto INR 65 lakhs located in the six metropolitan centres and INR 40 lakhs for houses of
values upto INR 50 lakhs in other centres for purchase/construction of dwelling unit per
family. This new guideline thus also includes the middle income groups living in various
cities across India.
Table 3.3: Affordable housing definition according to KPMG report (‘Affordable Housing – A Key
Growth Driver in the Real Estate Sector’ (2010)
Income level Size of dwelling Affordability
EWS less than INR 1.5 lakh per upto 300 sqft EMI to monthly income: 30% to
annum 40% House price to annual
income ratio: Less than 5:1
LIG INR 1.5-3 lakhs per annum 300 - 600 sqft (Task Force headed by Deepak
Parekh)
MIG INR 3-10 lakhs per annum 600 - 1200 sqft
3.3 Affordable housing - European and U.S. context

1. U.S. Department of Human and Urban development (HUD): As per US department of
HUD a household which pays more than 30 percent of their income for housing are
considered cost burdened and may have difficulty affording necessities such as food,
clothing, transportation and medical care. Thus housing which costs less than 30% of
household income is considered affordable.
2. Eurostat (Directorate-General of the European Commission):According to Eurostat’s
definition (EU-SILC, n.d.) when the total housing costs ('net' of housing allowances)
represent more than 40 % of disposable income ('net' of housing allowances), the
household is considered ‘overburdened’. Housing costs include mortgage or housing
loans interest payments for owners and rent payments for tenants. Utilities (water,
electricity, gas and heating) and any costs related to regular maintenance and
structural insurance are also included.
3.4 Affordable housing – Asia

1. Singapore: 82% of population in Singapore lives in public housing built by Housing and
Development board. Such housing are economical than privately built houses and also
maintain good quality. Singapore doesn’t have problem related to acute poverty and
being a country with high income level, affordable housing generally doesn’t mean
providing cheap housing. Apart from commonly accepted definition of affordable
housing based upon percentage of income, Singapore Centre for Applied and Policy
Economics at National University of Singapore has come up with two new indicators.
According to research by Abesinghe and Gu (Abeysinghe, Tilak and Jiaying, Gu, 2011)
affordability has two aspects: 1) accessibility and 2) long-run affordability. Accessibility
is ratio of upfront payment to available savings and house having ratio less than or equal
to one is considered accessible. While long-run affordability is ratio of total cost of
17
housing (including transaction cost) to long run income (including the current savings).
The long run affordability ratio of a house less than or equal to 0.3 is considered
affordable.
2. China: Currently affordable housing in China is mainly for lower income groups living
in urban areas (You, Jia, Wu and Han, 2011). Whilst provision like low-rental housing
and public rental housing are for poor residents with and without housing facility, new
immigrants without house and residents belonging to moderate income group. Various
incentives like subsidies in selling price, lower land prices, etc. are provided. Definition
of affordable housing has changed over course of time and has been documented in
paper by You et al.
3.5 Why green affordable housing?

It is separately shown what green building and affordable housing mean in earlier sections.
Combining merits of both is definitely going to give superior housing experience to the
people. In developed countries there is no gap between supply and demand of housing but
in country like India there is a huge gap between supply and demand. According to
Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty alleviation (MHUPA) there was estimated shortfall
of 18.8 million houses in urban India and 46.7 million units in rural India in 2012. This
shortage affects 95% of EWS and LIG group of population which lack proper finances.
Along with increasing urbanization it is projected that there will be requirement of 30
million houses by 2020 (RICS, 2010).
High urbanization and unplanned development of cities has resulted in widespread
environmental degradation in India. The Yale environmental performance index ranks India
174 out of 178 countries considered for study making India’s air one of the most unhygienic
in world. According to world health organization report more people die due to asthma in
India than anywhere else in world. With increasing demand in housing sector if right
measures are not taken then irreconcilable harm to environment is inevitable. In India where
75% of buildings which would exist in 2030 are yet to be built (India Global Building
performance Network, n.d.), with high housing demand resulting in growing construction
business the pressure on environment is massive. From the experience of developed nation
it is clear that building green buildings in first place is much better option than targeting
green renovation after the houses are built. The green affordable housing projects can thus
effectively help in reducing the growing carbon foot print of country.
Due to lack of finances and availability of housing it is estimated that around 13.9 million
household and 65.5 million people live in slums (Census report, 2011) which lacks basic
amenities, like access to water, energy, etc, for living. The living condition in slums is highly
deplorable and unhygienic. Fulfilling the housing need is not enough in Indian scenario.
Factors like hygiene; access to basic amenities like water, clean energy is also need of hour.
Green affordable housing will not only fill the gap of housing shortage but will also provide
healthy and sustainable built environment at affordable price. EWS and LIG people
generally spend high percentage of their income on energy as compared to other groups.
Green affordable housing will additionally reduce energy need in operational period
thereby reducing burden of energy expenses and will also aim at replacing older and more
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Literature Review
polluting technology with newer less polluting one. The Green affordable housing thus has
potential to solve multitude of problem the country faces today.
Most of the green building projects happening in India are expensive and thus unaffordable.
Very few housing projects which are affordable exist but are no properly documented which
create information gap and hinders dissemination of information which can make green
affordable housing success in Indian market. It is important to understand needs of housing
according to climate and come up with green features which are affordable and can be
replicated. This report thus aims at filling these gaps by documenting various affordable
green housing projects in India across different climatic zone. The report intends to highlight
green features applied in such projects, how effective they are in actual conditions and
whether they can be replicated affordably.
In the following sub section we will review some of the international and local cases on
Green affordable housing. The case studies are divided upon location, i.e. US, EU, Asia and
rest of world, as part of International case studies. The National case studies literature
review is carried out climate zone wise.
3.6 Vernacular Practices and National Case studies

Literature review for five climate zones of India has been carried out to document green
features adopted in housing across the country. Traditional passive design practices
followed in these climate zones are also covered.
3.6.1 Vernacular Practices

Table 3.4:Vernacular practices in Moderate climate.
Sl.
Features Details Images
No.
1 Agrahara  Prevalent during 1904 in the region of
Row Mysore.
Houses,  These are row houses that are built either
Mysore around a central park, wherein the central
(Satish, BK, park serves as a common gathering space
Brennan, J & for the community or the houses are aligned
Pedreschi, R linearly. Agrahara housing
2011)  The row houses have common walls, thus
reducing the cost on an additional wall
construction and also ensuring no space
wastage.
2 Entrance  Jagali is a partially raised open space,
verandah located at the entrance of the Agrahara
(Jagali) house, which is the transition space between
(Satish, BK, the road and the inside of the house.
Brennan, J &  These places are always in the shade. Serves
Pedreschi, R as a climate modifier by cutting down excess
2011) of heat from entering into the interior of the
building. View of Jagali
 Since this area remains shaded throughout,
it is used for interaction and socialising, by
19
Sl.
No.
the people.
3 Openings  Small openings are seen in the Agrahara
(Satish, BK, houses, thus preventing too much radiation
Brennan, J & from entering into the interiors and allowing
Pedreschi, R a cool temperature inside the house.
2011)  Due to the presence of such small openings,
at night, cold air can be prevented from
entering to the inside, keeping homes
warmer than outside. Minimal openings towards
the shaded space
4 Dormer  Dormer window is a type of window that
window projects out from the sloped roof surface of a
(Dormer building.
window,  It functions similar to a skylight.
n.d.)  It is a source of light and ventilation for the
above floors.
 It permits larger amount of headroom on the Dormer windows in old
top floor and allows more usable space. colonial buildings in Mysore
 Dormer windows are found in colonial
buildings in Mysore.
5 Central hall  A central hall (similar to a courtyard) is seen
(Satish, BK, in a few traditional houses, which is a
Brennan, J & multifunctional space used for working,
Pedreschi, R dining and sleeping during summer time.
2011)  It captures maximum natural daylight and
ventilation, thus preventing the use of
mechanical ventilation and artificial
lighting. Central courtyard
6 MATERIALS
a Cob walls  A cob mixture consists of soil with enough
(ICAEN; amount of clay, straw, rough sand or small
2004) stones, and water.
 Cob walls have good thermal properties that
go well with passive solar designs.
 Stabilizes indoor air temperature.
 Fire proof and can be recycled.
 This vernacular building technique doesn’t Cob wall
favour deforestation, pollution or mining,
thus proving to be environment friendly.
b Terracotta  Terracotta tiles are fireproof, lasts long and
tile requires low maintenance Terracott
(Carlye  It is an eco-friendly material and can be a tiles
Jones, 2014) recycled as well. used as
roofing
material
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Literature Review
Sl.
No.
c Red oxide  Red oxide flooring is long lasting and cost-
flooring effective.
(Suvasini  Has low maintenance and is eco-friendly.
Sridharan,  This flooring method is adopted in
2013) Bangalore and in other parts of Karnataka.
Red oxide flooring widely

used in old houses in
Bangalore
3.7 Recent Green Housing Case Studies from Bangalore -

under Moderate climate
3.7.1 ZED Earth Villa, Bangalore
ZED Earth Villa is a 25 acre development located on Yelahanka-Dodabellapur Road 30 km
from Bangalore city centre. There are 3 Villa Clusters (Gabion, Meteo, and Icon Classic) and
1 Townhouse cluster in this campus (6 villas per acre). Each cluster is unique in character,
yet in harmony with the larger campus of ZED Earth. The campus is design by architects of
BCIL with first phase competed. Environmental sustainability has been integrated to suit the
moderate climate of Bangalore and it has been certified 5 star as per SVAGRIHA Rating
system (ZED Earth Villa, n.d.).
Key features: The envelope has been designed with Thermal & Acoustic insulation reducing
internal temperature by 4 degree temperature. It is able to achieve 50% + reduction in
electric bills by using adequate day lighting, energy efficient lighting, Grundfos Pumps,
Solar Thermal with electrical back-up, and Grid Tie Solar Power systems. It maintains 100%
water positive with no Municipal & Tanker water requirement, Rain Water Harvesting and
waste water management and reuse through Tertiary Treatment Plants for homes with zero
dependence on Sewerage Board. Solid waste management is efficient through mandatory
segregation at source, Natural and vermin-composting systems for all wet waste and
scientific landfill for all clinical, chemical and other leachate waste. It has 15 years of
maintenance-free internal roads and 10 years maintenance by company. The green features
of ZED earth has been highlighted below:
1. Daylight integration in all homes with insulated windows and skylights.
2. Thermally insulated wall to maintain thermal comfort.
3. Thermally Insulated & warm flooring to help arthritis and rheumatism.
4. Energy efficient lighting that saves 80% energy bill.
5. All wastes are recovered, reused and recycled.
6. 35000 liters of rainwater harvested every year.
7. 100 % recycling and reuse of waste water.
8. 50% reduction on air conditioning units.
9. Chemical free community in internal finishes.
21
10. Solar heating and geysers save 80% on water heating requirement.
3.7.2 Zed Woods, Bangalore

ZED Woods is a low-slung set of 60 apartment homes with a ground floor and 3 upper
floors. There are 20 luxury apartments that are as good as independent homes, and have no
common walls with the next door apartment. It’s located on Yelahanka-Dodabellapur Road
30 km from Bangalore city centre. There are 3 typologies, namely, 1, 2 and 3 BHK apartment
units. The apartment is designed by architects of BCIL. Environmental sustainability has
been integrated to suit the moderate climate of Bangalore (ZED Earth Villa, n.d.).
Key features: The envelope has been designed with Thermal & Acoustic insulation reducing
internal temperature by 4 degree temperature. It is able to achieve 50% + reduction in
electric bills by using adequate day lighting, energy efficient lighting, Grundfos Pumps,
Solar Thermal with electrical back-up, and Grid Tie Solar Power systems. It maintains 100%
water positive with no Municipal & Tanker water requirement, Rain Water Harvesting and
waste water management and reuse through Tertiary Treatment Plants for homes with zero
dependence on Sewerage Board. Solid waste management is efficient through mandatory
segregation at source, Natural and vermin-composting systems for all wet waste and
scientific landfill for all clinical, chemical and other leachate waste. It has 15 years of
maintenance-free internal loads and10 years’ maintenance by company.
Source: http://www.99acres.com/zed-woods-yelahanka-bangalore-north-npxid-
r1088?gclid=CNGOl5PYtcACFVYVjgodvhUANg.
Figure3.1: ZED woods houses as seen from the garden outside
3.7.3 T Zed Homes, Bangalore

T ZED Homes is a 5 acre development located on Old Airport-Whitefield Road,
Bangalore 20km from Bangalore city centre. There are 76 Apartment homes and 15 single
family homes in this campus. The campus is design by architects of BCIL and competed in
2007. Environmental sustainability has been integrated to suit the moderate climate of
Bangalore with location coordinates as 12°57'35.6"N 77°44'37.5"E (ZED Trans Indus, n.d.),
(Architecture and Development association de solidarité international, n.d.).
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Literature Review
Key features: The total number of homes is based on the carrying capacity of the land. The
streets are designed as per systematic segregations of pedestrian and vehicular paths.
Building materials like stones, mud, filler slabs, incorporating fly ash blocks, laterite blocks ,
soil-stabilised blocks, green roof(using lightweight mulch and coir pith without soil), which
helps in controlling the temperature for thermal comfort. Rubber wood, Palm wood,
compressed coir door panels and bamboo composites have been used for interior that are
low energy in nature. Rainwater harvesting with recharge through a system of drains,
percolation pits, trenches and wells for water management. Solar water pumps are used for
drawing water from bore well. Solar water heaters have been installed for daily hot water
consumption. All wastewater (grey water) is treated, through filtration, aeration and
ozonisation to be reused for flushing and gardens eventually percolates into the open wells
for use and generation. Centralised district refrigeration system and air conditioning system
using an ammonia-based chilling unit has been provided to the campus. Intelligent lighting
systems blend motion sensors, ambient light sensors and timers for control and Compact
fluorescent lamps and light emitting diodes (LED’s) are used for common areas, cutting
power consumption by up to 80 per cent while protecting lighting efficiency. Each home
also has ‚conscience meters‛, monitoring electric watts and water consumption with meters
installed on the kitchen and bathroom taps for monitoring. Kitchen wastes are segregated
into organic /inorganic wastes. Organic waste goes to the vermin-composting pits for
gardening. Black water from the toilets and bathroom are treated in Sewage Treatment Plant
(anaerobic digester) where 70% of the biological matter is decomposed. Grey water proceeds
to a decentralised water treatment system connected to root zone treatment system which is
used for irrigation of herbs, plants and grass and percolates to shallow aquifer.
Source: http://www.zed.in/homes/completed-projects.
Figure3.2: T-zed homes as seen from front site along with the green pathway
3.7.4 PRANA, Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC)

‘Prana’, is India’s first energy efficient home office exhibit at BIEC (Bangalore
International Exhibition Centre). Spread over an area of 3000 sq. ft. ,it comprises of entrance
deck, entrance lobby, Living and Dining room, Conference Room, Bed Room and Toilet
(Bangalore open the doors to a Greener tomorrow with ‘PRANA’, 2012), (PRANA The Life
force, 2013).
Key Features: The home has been installed with Earth Air Tunnel system which works in
synergy with air monitoring sensors, thus running as per requirements to save energy.
Radiant Cooling system with cooling pipes embedded in the roof slab and floor has also
23
been integrated to maintain standard indoor temperatures. The chillers have a provision to
produce simultaneous cooling and heating and the hot water produced in parallel is used
for the toilets. The building management system of the building ensures an optimized
performance of all the technologies used. Renewable energy is captured through Solar PVs
that have been installed to provide lighting (LED lights are used) and heating for building
and through a Rain water harvesting system which collects the rain water in an
underground recharge tank. A STP has been installed where the sewage water is recycled
and used for landscaping, flushing in toilets, etc. The Construction materials used are either
locally manufactured (reducing the carbon footprint) or are recyclable -Local clay blocks,
glass inset roof tiles, unpolished kota flooring, waste glass, refurbished doors, old windows
and waste pine packaging. Toilets and kitchens have been fixed with low flow fixtures and
the furniture is made out of bamboo and other renewable materials. Low VOC paints are
used. The cost varies from Rs 200 to Rs 500 per sq. feet approximately for the construction of
conventional buildings.
Figure3.3: Prana house as viewed from front (BIEC, n.d).
3.7.5 Karnataka State Police Housing Board – Houses for Police

Personnel, Bangalore
Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation Ltd (KSPHC) in association with Pearls Mii
Home, Australia constructed two model flats made of prefabricated expanded polystyrene
panels (EPS) in November 2011. The flat is a set of a kitchen, two bedrooms, a toilet,
bathroom and hall and measures 750 sq. ft. The flats were constructed in just 15 days once
the basement was laid and have a life expectancy of 50 years. The construction cost was
about 1500 INR per square feet including the foundation since the EPS panels were imported
from Australia, but will come down to Rs.1000 once their manufacturing starts in India
(Bangalore strong and sleek houses, 2011), (Smt Mamata Varma, n.d.).
Key Features: These flats are resistant to fire, flood, wind and earthquake. They were
certified as the first platinum rated building in the government sector by IGBC. From an
architectural perspective, these homes offer a high degree of flexibility in floor plan design
and aesthetic treatment, having high reflectance roofing thus reducing heat island effect. The
unit has two tanks installed for rain water harvesting with a capacity of 1000 liters each. The
24
Literature Review
low flow fixtures in the house give a saving of 46%. The building envelope makes the unit
energy efficient as well, saving up to 42% energy. The solar panel installed produce a power
of 720 W per day and the solar water heaters produce 20 liters/person/day of hot water. All
the electric appliances in the flats are either 4 or 5 star rated. Waste segregation is also
practiced at homes. The unique fastening system used to build them reduces the usage of
adhesives and sealants, reducing exposure to toxic and volatile organic compounds. The
paints and sealants used are low VOC.
Figure3.4: Left Picture-Side View of the model unit of KSPHC housing. Right Picture – Top View
of the same
3.7.6 Development of Solar Passive Building for Silkworm Rearing,

SSTL Campus, Bangalore
This project was executed by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) in association with
Silkworm Seed Technology Laboratory –SSTL, Bangalore. The main objective of this study
was to develop and demonstrate solar passive building for silkworm rearing by utilizing
solar passive energy for maintenance of optimum condition during silkworm rearing
throughout the year for improving the quality of seed cocoon (TERI report, Manual for Solar
Passive Building, n.d.).
Figure3.5: Solar Passive Building for Silkworm Rearing, SSTL Campus, Bangalore
25
Key Features: The long façade of the house was oriented in the North-South direction as
suggested by the results of the solar-radiation analysis. External walls of the house have
been insulated with 50mm thermocol and the roof through 75mm mineral wool. The house
does not have any windows. Natural ventilators and solar chimneys were designed to
facilitate natural ventilation. Techniques like evaporative cooling, radiant heating and
cooling, and trombe walls have been integrated, each to be used for a particular season to
maintain the required indoor temperatures. In summer, when the outside temperature is
high and RH is low, evaporative cooling is used through wet khas khas pads. These pads are
fitted in the ventilators on North and West facade, which are facing the leeward side. One
fourth roof over the rearing room is flat where a roof pond has been integrated for thermal
comfort. The South wall of the rearing room has a collapsible overhang, which provides
shading during summer’s months and is removed in winters. In the summer months, the
water in plastic bags on the roof is exposed to the night sky, the sky acts as a sink and water
dissipates the heat to the sky. During the day, the water in the plastic bags is covered using
the movable insulation. In monsoons, the khas khas pads are removed and free air movement
is allowed through the vents. In winters, the trombe walls on the south façade are used for
air circulation. Trombe wall comprises of a glazing or clear polycarbonate sheet facing the
sun and a brick wall which has been painted black on the outer side for increased absorption
of radiation. A gap of 100 mm has been provided between the wall and clear polycarbonate
sheets, which acts as an air passage. The solar radiation through the glass is absorbed by the
wall, raising its external temperature as well as that of the air. The two openings that have
been provided in the wall (one at the lower level, second at a higher level) are left open
during the winter. Cool air enters through trombe wall from the lower opening, gets heated
up and flows into the room from the upper opening. The roof pond in the winter months
over chawki and rearing room is open to solar radiation during day time to keep the house
warm and in the night the water bags are covered to retain the heat using the movable
insulation.
3.7.7 ZED Collective, Bangalore

ZED Collective (72 apartments in 1.75 acres) is a residential project Off Yelahanka-
Doddaballapur Road, Bangalore by Biodiversity Conservation India Limited (BCIL). The
structure is G+3 and the apartments vary from 550 to 1481 sq. ft. The construction was
completed in November 2011 and is known to have made a sharp reduction in carbon
emission in the composite patterns of building materials employed. BCIL Zed Collective
offers mere 48 designer homes per acre when the industry norm mentions 65 - 90 homes an
acre (ZED Collective, n.d.), (ZED Trans Indus, n.d.).
Key Features: A Geo-thermal air-conditioning system is the major attractive feature of this
project which helps maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. Other green features include
terrace gardens for every apartment, ecoscaped mezzanine floor on the ground floor, low
VOC interior paints, grit plastering for external surfaces. Features contributing to making
the apartment’s energy efficient are energy efficient lighting fixtures, elevators that consume
less energy, solar water heater. Water efficiency is achieved through common water
treatment plant, dual plumbing, efficient plumbing fixtures, drip irrigation and rain water
harvesting.
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Literature Review
Figure3.6: ZED Collective
3.7.8 Summary for Moderate Climate Zone

Vernacular home in a Moderate climate is defined through a semi-open space, like the
courtyard, sloped roof with terracotta tiles, a raised entrance platform similar to a veranda
etc. Courtyard is a characteristic feature seen in the Indian vernacular architecture, which
provides sufficient light and air and acts as a good climate modifier. Veranda being a
transition space, acts as a buffer between the exterior and interior. Minimal number of
openings is incorporated, which prevents cold air from entering inside, at night.
Characteristic building materials used in construction are cob walls, red oxide flooring and
terracotta tiles for roofing, which are vernacular to this region. These elements and features
depict the traditional architectural practices in the moderate climate zone.
Affordability of green features in housing, for Moderate climate, have been analysed from
various sources like case studies, literature studies and best practices in the local context.
Literature study analyses were conducted for ZED Earth Villa, T- ZED Homes, ZED-Woods,
PRANA, ZED-Collectives, Karnataka State Police Housing Board and Development of Solar
Passive Building for Silkworm Rearing, SSTL Campus, which is all located in Bangalore.
Green features like solar PVs, energy efficient lights, rain water management, solid waste
management, solar water heaters, solar water pumps, sewage treatment plant, low VOC
paints, daylight integration, and natural ventilation and terrace gardens have been
incorporated in the above mentioned projects. Low cost construction techniques are adopted
like the use of mud blocks and compressed stabilized earth blocks, made from locally
available soil. Information was collected from various local professionals including
Architects and contractors for the best regional practices that can be classified as green
features in affordable housing.
27
3.8 Cold climate

3.8.1 Vernacular practices
Table 3.5: Vernacular practices in cold climate
Sl
No.
1 Dhajji wall  Dhajji walling system is commonly
(Chapter 2- seen in old houses of Kashmir.
Rural  It consists of a timber frame, placed in
architecture of a diagonal manner, with infill of either
Kashmir,n.d.), baked brick in cement mortar or
(Jain and Singh, unbaked brick in mud mortar.
2007).  This wall is lightweight and can Dhajji wall with brick infill
withstand major earthquakes, causing
minimal damage.
2 Taq wall  The taq construction system comprises
(Chapter 2- of thick brick masonry piers
Rural supporting wooden floor. Taq house in
architecture of  The gap created between the piers Kashmir
Kashmir,n.d.) consists of a window or brick masonry.
 This building technique is also
resistant to earthquakes.
3 Trombe walls  Trombe wall is a wall made out of
(ICAEN, 2004) concrete, masonry or adobe, with vents
or openings placed at the top and
bottom, lying in winter sun side of the
building.
 Also, consists of a glass panel fixed Process by which air heats up
towards the outer surface of the wall, through convection in a trombe
leaving an air gap in the middle. wall
 The exterior surface of the wall is
painted black to absorb maximum
solar heat.
 The air in the gap gets heated up and
enters the living spaces through the
vents by the principle of convection.
 At night, the heat stored during the
day keeps the inside warm.
 This passive solar building technique
is found in most parts of Ladakh.
4 Kath-kuni  This construction technique exists in
construction Himachal Pradesh.
(Shah, n.d.),  It’s a 2 to 3 storey house where the
(Jain and Singh, ground floor is for the cattle so that;
2007). this brings warmth to the above floors.
The above floors consists the living,
storage and kitchen spaces.
 The wall consists of an alternate course
of dry stone masonry and wood
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Literature Review
Sl
No.
without any cement mortar. Two
wooden beams are placed with a fine
gap in between, which is in filled with
stones. This traps some amount of air
which provides good insulation.
 The heavy wall keeps the house cool in
summer and warm in winter.
 Semi-open cantilevered wooden
balconies are constructed on the top Kath-kuni wall house and
floors, to capture as much as warmth construction
from outside.
 This construction technique responds
well with earthquakes, requires low
maintenance and materials can be
reused
5 Koti banal  Koti banal houses are found in

house Uttarakand and southern part of
(Rautela, Joshi, Himachal Pradesh.
Singh, Lang,  This house rests on a stone plinth in
n.d.) rectangular plan and can go up to 4 to
5 storeys.
 Wooden balconies are projected out
from the top floors to capture warmth
from outside.
 This type of building technique is Koti banal house
resistant to earthquakes.
 Wooden logs, stones and slates are
used. Small openings are provided to
prevent cold air from entering inside.
6 Site planning  Southern slopes are chosen for
(Kumar and constructing houses, as this gives more
Ashwani, 2014), solar exposure, keeps the inside warm
(Jain and Singh, and protects it from cold winds. This
2007), (Singh, results in minimal consumption of
Kumar, energy.
Settlement layout in the Upper
Mahapatra, and  The buildings are spread out in open
Himalayan region
Atreya, 2011). spaces to gain maximum solar
radiation and prevent shadow
formation.
8 Planning  Compact planning system is adopted
(Kumar and in most buildings.
Ashwani, 2014),  Floor to ceiling height is comparatively
(Jain and Singh, lesser, maintained around 8 to 9ft, to
2007), (Singh, keep the interiors warm.
Kumar,  Small openings are provided which
Mahapatra, and brings daylight, allows ventilation and
Atreya, 2011). responds well in seismic zone. No openings are provided on the
29
Sl
No.
 Sloped roofs are mostly adopted in ground floor so that the cold air
regions susceptible to rainfall and doesn’t enter
snow for proper drainage.
 The air between the roof and the attic
space behaves as a good thermal
insulator.
9 MATERIALS
a Rammed earth  Earth mixture of sand, gravel and clay
(ICAEN, 2004) is compacted to create a solid wall
known as rammed earth wall.
 Sustainable and natural building
method.
 Resistant to earthquakes.
 It has good thermal properties and is
resistant to fire.
 It is more suitable for extreme Rammed earth construction seen
conditions as it can stabilize the indoor in Leh
temperature. Hence, there is no need
of conventional method of cooling or
heating, thus saves energy.
b Wood (Rautela,  Deodar wood is widely used in cold
Joshi, Singh, climate region as it is locally available
Lang, n.d.), there.
(Shah, n.d.),  Used in the construction of beams,
(Chapter 2- roofs, truss posts, frame, doors and
Rural windows.
architecture of  Gives stability to the structure as it is Wooden house in Himachal region
Kashmir, n.d.), strong and durable.
(Jain and Singh,  Resistant to termites and insects.
2007).  Wood is commonly used in cold
climate, so that it keeps the building
warm.
 It is resistant to moisture and is a poor
conductor of heat.
c Stone (Shah.  Stone is used in the plinth and also
d.t.), (Chapter 2- seen in the Dhajji wall construction.
Rural  Dry stone masonry responds well in
architecture of seismic zone.
Kashmir),  Slate stones are laid over the wooden
(ICAEN, 2004). rafters on the roof. It protects the
structure from strong winds. Slate stone used for roofing
d Bamboo  Bamboo is a very common material
(Kati, d.t.), used for construction in north-east
(Dowerah, n.d.), region of India.
(Subhankar and  This material is highly sustainable,
Amol, n.d.), strong and durable. It is flexible,
(Singh, Kumar, lightweight and resistant to water.
Mahapatra, and  Bamboo is used for structural purpose,
Traditional Bamboo house in the
Atreya, 2011). interiors and in making furniture.
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Literature Review
Sl
No.
 It is a cost-effective material and can be north-eastern region of India.
transported to the site easily.
 Responds well in seismic regions.
 Many different species of bamboo are
grown in the north-eastern part of
India. Hence, it is extensively used for
construction purpose in this region.
 It’s a versatile material and is used for
scaffolding, furniture, fencing etc.
d1 Stilted Kutccha  Materials used are wood, bamboo and
house thatch for roof.
(Kati, d.t.),  The entire house is elevated from the
(Subhankar and ground with a stilt height of 1.50 to
Amol, n.d.), 2.00m to keep away the effects of
(Singh, Kumar, heavy rainfall or floods.
Mahapatra, and  The walls and floors are made up of 2
Atreya, 2011). to 3 layers of woven bamboo strips laid
with mud. Kutccha bamboo house elevated
 The roof is constructed by fixing from the ground (to the left).
bamboo trusses over posts, which is Mud is laid over woven bamboo
covered by thatch later. mat (to the right).
 Since bamboo is poor conductor of
heat and is resistant to water as well, it
ensures warmth within the house and
keeps away the moisture from it.
 Planning is compact, with low ceiling
height, to reduce the heat loss from the
building.
d2 High pitched  This house has double pitched roof,
roof Kutccha which gradually reduces in height
house towards the back side of the house.
(Kati, d.t.),  The plinth is made of earth, covered
(Subhankar and with mud plaster, over which bamboo
Amol, n.d.), mats are laid. This plinth is raised, to
(Singh, Kumar, act accordingly in case of floods or
Mahapatra, and rains. Traditional bamboo house in
Atreya, 2011).  Steep slopes ensure no water enters Nagaland
inside the house.
 Openings are kept minimal so that
heat is not lost from the house.
 Reflects the local cultural, historical,
environmental and regional climate.
d3 Ikra Housing,  The Ikra house or the Assam type of
Assam house is an example of a non-
(Subhankar and engineered bamboo structure which is
Amol, n.d.), highly resistant to earthquakes when
(Kakkad, compared to today’s conventional
Maulik D., and building. Assam style office building
Capt CS  Lightweight and made from locally
31
Sl
No.
Sanghvi, 2001) available bamboo, thatch, timber etc. Assam style school building
 Consists of a stone masonry up to 1m, View of Ikra reed false ceiling
just above the plinth, which is
connected to the bamboo strips using
steel angles and flats with bolts and
nails. The bamboo strips are woven
into a wooden framework and is then
plastered with cement or mud.
 This type of housing didn’t report any
intense damages during the past
earthquakes.
 Factors such as location, site planning,
size, shape and form of the building,
number and size of openings are
integrated together, such that it the
building responds well during
earthquakes.
 The seismic force in a bamboo
structure is less when compared to any
masonry system.
 Ikra, which is a type of weed grown
there locally, is used for wall infill
along with cow-dung and mud
mixture. Ikra is an insect resistant
material.
f Surkhi mortar  Surkhi comprises of lime, brick
(Dowerah, n.d.), powder, jaggery and sand.
(Singh, Kumar,  It is a type of a mortar used locally in
Mahapatra, and the north east region of India.
Atreya, 2011).  Generally, used to fix bricks and to
plaster walls.
3.8.2 GERES project, Leh

Context: Leh&Ladakh falling in western Himalayan ranges are highly inaccessible places
where temperature drops to as low as -30⁰C during winters. Harsh winters with low rainfall
leaves only 90 days for growing crops. Natural resources are also limited making livelihood
of people dependent on livestock breeding and subsistence farming. Food and fuel can be
air lifted to the region during winters but are unaffordable for the people. This scarcity of
fuel makes children and women spend two months a year on gathering dung and bushes
from pastureland. Thus life of people is such place is austere. The regions though receive
ample sunshine and have about 300 clear days in a year. The focus of this study would be
passive solar houses built by GERES during time period 2008-2009 in Ursi village (Energy
efficiency and bioclimatic architecture in India, 2009), (Stauffer, Vincent, 2004),
(Dissemination of Passive Solar Housing, n.d.).
Objective: improving quality of life through promotion of Low energy consumption house
component (a building constructed according to special design criteria aimed at minimizing
32
Literature Review
the buildings operating costs) or LEC and enhance socio-economic conditions of the local
communities.
Key features: The project supported capacity building, enhanced institutional processes and
helped in transmitting knowledge and technological innovation to the local communities
through NGO’s for creating sustainable dissemination mechanism of LEC technologies.
Three simple bioclimatic architectures were used in the project, namely, 1) Attached
greenhouse (AGH), 2) Solar wall (SW), and 3) Direct gain (DG). The project supported 126
AGHs, 247 SWs, 648 DGs installation in the region and was funded by EU, ADME, MNRE)
the project cost was about 1.9 million Euros *around INR 153 million (€1 = ₹80.53, 2014)].
Average cost of promoting and constructing house was €750 (around ₹ 60,000)
Impact of project:
 60% reduction in biomass burning as household level. €50 (₹ 4000) saving per
year per household.
 Reduced indoor air pollution and respiratory disease by 50%.
 Reduced CO2 emission (2.15MT/household/year).
 Increased room temperature from 6⁰C to 12⁰C.
 Reduction in time spent for biomass collection and dung by half.
 Increased winter income by 50% (among women).
Apart from tangible benefits in terms of money and health the project played vital role in
shifting the thinking on potential role of women in development process in the existing
traditional socio-cultural setting. The project was a success and all the features included are
replicable in other household living in same climatic conditions.
Source: http://www.geres.eu/en/energy-efficiency-and-bioclimatic-architecture-in-india#project-description.
Figure3.7: Top picture shows greenhouse been erected next to the house. Bottom picture shows one
of the affordable green home built in ladakh by GERES.
33
3.8.3 Carbon Neutral Eco-Hut, Lonavala

This is the first pilot model of Carbon Neutral Self Powered Eco-house in India which is
developed by TATA power (Tata Power inaugurates first Carbon Neutral Eco-Hut, 2013).
Key features: The Eco-hut is built with investment of 10 lakhs as compared to 35 lakhs for a
standard modern house and saving of 4.2 tonnes of CO2. The construction period was of 20
days. The lighting power is supplied through solar panels and windmills. Built-in solar
water heater and cooker make the building independent of LPG consumption. The rooms
are 5-6 degrees cooler in summers than in a standard constructed house. The Eco-hut is
rainwater dependent thus supply from municipality or other private source is not required.
The daily water need is 100 liters as compared to 400 liters for standard modern house of 600
sq. ft. The solid waste generated is degraded using vermin-composting, while the other
wastes, i.e., metal & plastics, are recycled.
Figure3.8: A completed eco-hut by Tata power
3.8.4 The Doon School, Dehradun

The project consists of head masters residence at The Doon School. The house has 73%
reduction in energy demand as compared to GRIHA benchmark. The EPI of building is 17
kWh/m2/year School (Griha Case studies, n.d.).
Key features: Sustainable site planning activities like top soil preservation, protection of
existing trees, etc., were incorporated during construction period. 15% of cement in
structural concrete was replaced by fly ash and 50% of roof tiles materials are recycled
which reduced the carbon footprint of building materials. 100% of outdoor lightings have
been installed with automatic controller and passive design technologies are used to reduce
conventional energy needs. 58% reduction in water consumption is achieved.
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Literature Review
Figure3.9: Collage of the completed green home in Doon school. Source: GRIHA case studies flyer
3.8.5 Summary for Cold Climate Zone

Traditional building techniques seen in the Cold climate are climate responsive and unique
in concept, mainly built to respond well in the seismic zone. Each region has its own
building style, like the dhajji wall and taq wall in Kashmir, trombe wall in Ladakh, kath-
khuni house in Himachal Pradesh, Koti-banal house in Uttarakhand and bamboo houses in
the north-eastern region. The common features in all these houses are that they are resistant
to earthquakes, causing minimal damages and possess solar passive design elements which
respond well with the microclimate. Planning system adopted is very compact, with sloped
roofs to combat heavy rainfall and minimal openings to prevent cold air from entering
inside. Locally available materials used for construction are mainly wood, stone, mud and
bamboo, specifically in the north eastern region. The building techniques and materials
adopted, signifies the architecture, vernacular to this region.
In the recent years, the contemporary green features adopted in the GERES project at Leh,
Carbon Neutral Eco-Hut at Lonavala and The Doon School, Dehradun are- solar wall, solar
panels, top soil preservation, protection of existing trees on site, passive design technologies,
vermin-composting and attached green house, are the green elements incorporated in these
projects. Using recycled materials and fly-ash instead of cement naturally reduced the
carbon footprint of building materials. The objective of these buildings was to make it eco-
friendly by consuming less energy and responding well with the microclimate naturally.
35
3.9 Warm and Humid Climate

Table 3.6: Vernacular practices in warm humid climate
Sl
No.
1 Courtyards  Courtyard is the most characteristic
(Tipnis; element in a Kerala vernacular home.
2012),  The courtyard is either square-ish or
(Dili, rectangular in shape, surrounded by four
A.S.,Naseer, blocks which is joined together.
and  Courtyards allow air, light and rain to
Varghese, pour in.
2009),  Acts as a good thermal regulator. Courtyard inside a traditional
(Dili,  Enables cross-ventilation in all rooms. Kerala house
A.S.,Naseer,  Generally, the courtyards are sunken so
and that the cool air is retained and settles
Varghese, down.
2010).  Creates a positive impact on the indoor
comfort conditions.
 This concept is seen in most of the Kerala
and Chettinad traditional houses.
2 Sloped roofs  Sloped roofs are adopted, as this region
(Dili, receives heavy rainfall.
A.S.,Naseer,  The four blocks surrounding the courtyard
and is covered with sloped roofs, placed at
Varghese, angle of 45 degrees.
2009),  This helps to drain off the rain water
(Dili, easily.
Sloped roof to combat rain
A.S.,Naseer,  Also, this pitched roof obstructs the
and penetration of rain water into the interior
Varghese, of the building.
2010).
3 Openings  The houses lying in the warm-humid
(Dili, region usually have large openings,
A.S.,Naseer, windows and ventilators.
and  This provision enhances the comfort inside
Varghese, the house.
2009),  Sometimes open gables (mughappu) are
(Dili, A.S., present in the roof and wooden jaali (azhi)
Naseer, and is incorporated in the external walls.
Many openings are provided for
Varghese, Warm air rises up and escapes through the
good flow of air
2010). open gable and cool air enters through
jaali wall. This again, regulates the air
movement.
 As the building houses open and semi-
open spaces, this ensures good circulation
of air constantly.
 Increases the ventilation rate which in turn
36
Literature Review
Sl
No.
removes the excess humidity from the air.
4 Planning  Planning system is more open and spread
(Dili, out.
A.S.,Naseer,  It’s more of a scattered organization of
and spaces.
Varghese,  This planning concept is utilized to enable
2009), good air circulation within the building.
(Dili,
A.S.,Naseer,
and
Varghese,
2010).
5 Verandas  Along with courtyards, always comes the
(Dili, verandah.
A.S.,Naseer,  There are two verandas present, one
and towards the periphery of the courtyard
Varghese, and the second is found surrounding the
2009), rooms, towards the outside, similar to an
Verandah along the periphery of
(Dili, exterior portico.
the courtyard
A.S.,Naseer,  Presence of two verandas enables people
and to shift their activities from one space to
Varghese, the other, according to the climate.
2010).  These deep verandas protect the internal
rooms from intense heat and rain.
6 Overhang  The sloped roof extends out till the
roof verandah.
(Dili,  This protects the internal rooms from
A.S.,Naseer, direct heat and rain.
and  Since this roof overhang shades the
Varghese, verandah, the verandah can form as an
2009), additional space for activities. Overhang roof
(Dili,
A.S.,Naseer,
and
Varghese,
2010).
7 Water  Rainwater harvesting, collection and
storage storage of water, and drainage systems
(Tipnis, have been a part of the traditional
2012) practices.
 Wells are seen in some old houses, which
were used for drinking, agriculture,
cleaning, bathing etc.
Well located outside the house
37
Sl
No.
8 Internal  The kitchen is located towards the north-
spaces east, as the wind blows from the south-
(Dili, west; hence this prevents spreading of hot
A.S.,Naseer, air to the other spaces from the kitchen.
and  The bedrooms and other spaces are
Varghese, arranged around the courtyard such that,
2010). it allows good air circulation.
Plan of a typical Kerala house
9 Site planning  The planning is done in such way, that it
(Tipnis; corresponds to the surrounding features–
2012), the backwaters, plantations, etc. creating
(Dili, harmony with it.
A.S.,Naseer,  Plan of the house is rectangular or square-
and ish, which responds back well, to the
Varghese, climate
2010).  The entrance to the building is generally
from south or east.
10 MATERIALS
a Laterite  Laterite stone is used as the building
stone material in Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and
(Shankar, Andhra Pradesh.
n.d.)  Low-cost construction material.
 It gains strength when exposed to air and
sun.
 Normally, plastered with lime mortar. Traditional home constructed out
of laterite stone
b Mangalore  Mangalore tiles are made out of laterite
tiles clay and widely used in Karnataka, Goa,
(Mangalore and Kerala.
tiles, n.d.)  Cheap, durable and eco-friendly.
 Used as a roofing material. Generally, used
over kitchen and bathroom for the smoke
to escape, as they are placed in a way such
that small air gaps are left in between. Mangalore tiles used as a roofing
 These tiles are used over sloped surfaces; material
hence it helps to drain off the rain water
easily. Appropriate material in the warm
humid zone as it is prone to heavy rainfall.
c Coconut  Coconut palms are used in construction of
palms vernacular buildings in Tamil Nadu and
(Varanasi, Kerala, as it is abundantly available in this
2011). region.
 The leaves are woven to form mats. This
material is also used to make thatch.
 Locally available, cheap, can be replaced
easily and is not labour intensive.
Coconut palm roofing
 It is sustainable and the appropriate choice
of material for warm humid climate.
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Literature Review
3.9.2 GFRG Demonstration Building, IIT Madras, Chennai

This project consists of a single two storeyed building constructed by the civil engineering
department of IIT Madras inside their campus. Researchers from IIT Madras have
developed a method of design and construction to make use of Glass Fiber Reinforced
Gypsum (GFRG) panels with the R&D support from Department of Science and Technology
(DST), India and industrial support from Rapid wall building systems, Australia. The total
built up area of the house is 1981sft holding two EWS flats (269 sft) and two LIG flats (497sft)
Building (GFRG demonstration, n.d.).
Key Features: The construction is possible at a higher speed. The demo building with two
storeys and four apartments was built in two month period. The GFRG panels reduce the
use of RCC, water, cement, steel, and sand significantly thereby reducing energy and carbon
footprint of the building. This savings in material also results in lower cost of construction.
GFRG being a light weight material reduced building’s weight contributes to in saving in
foundation. 8-10 storey buildings can be built with load bearing system without any need of
beams and columns. The demo building is targeting for EWS and LIG category households.
The cost per square foot for this project was only INR 1250.
Figure3.10: Pictures showing the completed house at IIT chennai7
3.9.3 Govardhan Eco Village (GEV), Thane, Mumbai

The philosophy behind GEV is that nature provides for all the needs of and by syncing our
lifestyle with nature, the adverse environmental impact can be completely removed. The
concept behind housing is to create aesthetical and comfortable structures for the residents
and guests, while not breaking the harmony with nature and our immediate surroundings
(Govardhan Eco village activities, n.d.).
Key features: The residential places conform to GRIHA norms and have achieved 5 star
GRIHA rating. To reduce carbon footprint 90% of all the building materials were sourced
within radius of 100 Km of site. Natural mud was used as key material for construction.
Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB) was used instead of conventional fired bricks to
reduce embodied energy of building. CSEB has embodied energy of 0.275MJ/Kg as
compared to 72.3 MJ/Kg of conventional fired bricks. The roof is sloped with double layer of
Mangalore tiles with an air gap between the two layers as insulation ensuring that the
temperature inside the room is moderate as compared to outside. To reduce dependency on
conventional fuels three alternative energy sources were used: Bio-gas, solar, and animal
39
driven prime motor. By using bio gas the community saves about 50 cylinders of LPG every
month. This accounts to net savings of about INR 56000 every month. A unique technology
of Soil Biotechnology (Symbiosis of human and agricultural waste) has been used in this
project for waste management. Integrated development planning was used for the project.
Source: http://ecovillage.org.in/our-activities.
Figure3.11: Picture at top shows a completed house. Bottom left picture shows bio-gas plant
installed in the village. Figure on bottom left shows worker constructing walls made of special
bricks
3.9.4 VBHC,Vaibhava Oragadam, Chennai

VBHC Vaibhava Oragadam constructed by VBHC in Chennai is made affordable by
implementing green features in the designs and sustainable construction technology during
the construction. The project comprises of 2BHK apartments (148 no’s) with floor area of
792sft spread over 2 acres of site (VHBC, n.d.), (VHBC, n.d.), (VHBC, n.d.).
Key features: Prefabricated aluminum form work is used to cast monolithic walls which
saves time of construction, the wastage in the formwork, plaster material because of the
smoother finish achieved for wall surfaces. These monolithic concrete structures are
designed for seismic code compliance. The construction of this housing project is completed
in 12-18 months of duration due to sustainable construction technology and management
they have used. The cost of each apartment unit is 24.5 lakhs including land and
infrastructure development. The project has been certified by IFCs Excellence in Design for
Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) Program for its green building design.
The site plan is developed with almost 70% of the area is open with more green area and less
paved area. Apartment units are designed in such a way that there is zero waste in the floor
area. Enough space has been considered between the apartment blocks and 3 bay units are
40
Literature Review
designed for providing natural daylight and free flow of air in the living spaces considering
the climate of the city. The project has dual plumbing and dual flush systems to reduce fresh
water usage. Energy efficiency and resource utilization is a key concern in the project. Solar
water heating systems have been provided for the top two floors. Recharging pits are
provided to recharge ground water using rain water collected from the project area. Solar
based LED lighting has been provided for outdoor lighting. Recycled UPVC windows,
granite kitchen platforms, composite doors are some of the features which have low
embodied energy. Solid wastes are segregated and managed efficiently on site.
3.9.5 Happinest, Chennai

‚Happinest‛ housing project developed by Mahindra life spaces is spread across 13 acres at
Avadi in Chennai. The development consists of 1200 units including 1 BHK and 2BHK, the
cost of which ranges from 10 to 20 Lakhs aiming the target income group of INR 20,000 to
40,000/- per month. The area of apartment units ranges from 396 sft to 677sft (Mahindra Life
spaces affordable housing, 2014), (Mahindra Life spaces launches Happinest, n.d.),
(Mahindra Life spaces affordable housing with Happinest, n.d.).
Innovative construction technology and hybrid foundation has been implemented for
speedy execution and make it cost effective. Considering warm humid climate of the
location, optimum window to wall ratio with louvers are provided for cross ventilation and
cellular light weight block are provided for walls to reduce the heat gain into living spaces.
The project also has sustainable features like rain water harvesting, top soil preservation,
eco-friendly building materials etc. The project has been pre certified by the Indian Green
building Council (IGBC) under their green township program.
3.9.6 Summary for Warm Humid Climate Zone

Warm humid climate is prevalent mainly towards the coastal belt, hence here; humidity
becomes a dominant factor to be taken care of, while constructing houses. Courtyard is the
characteristic element, which allows efficient light and air and behaves as a good thermal
insulator, especially seen in Kerala Vernacular houses. Planning system is scattered and
spread out, with lot of open spaces, to enable good circulation of air. Large window
openings help in good air flow. Deep verandas on the interior and exterior periphery of the
house and sloped roofs are incorporated to provide protection from rain and excess heat.
Construction materials like laterite stone, Mangalore tiles and coconut palms are used,
which are vernacular to the respective region.
Case studies and analyses were done for currently existing buildings and various
information was gathered on the affordable green features. Literature study was done on
GFRG Demonstration Building, IIT Madras, Chennai; Govardhan Eco Village, Thane,
Mumbai and VBHC, Vaibhavaragadam, Chennai. Glass Fibre Reinforced Gypsum (GFRG)
panels are used, which significantly reduced the energy and carbon footprint of the
building. Compressed stabilized earth blocks are produced from locally available mud, to
construct houses. Bio-gas, solar, and animal driven prime motor, soil biotechnology
(Symbiosis of human and agricultural waste) for waste management, natural daylight, dual
plumbing and dual flush systems, solar water heating systems, recharging pits, solar based
LED lighting and recycled UPVC windows, are other green elements incorporated, thus
reducing the cost and making it more environmentally friendly.
41
3.10 Composite climate

Table 3.7: Vernacular practices in composite climate
Sl
No
1 Aangan  Courtyard known as Aangan in the
(Courtyard) local language is one of the
(Ali, Asif, 2013), characteristic features of the houses
(Traditional found in this region.
Dwelling in  It is located at the lowest level so that
Malkaganj, n.d.), rainwater doesn’t enter into the other
(Traditional parts of the house and can drain off Courtyard house in U.P.
Dwelling in easily.
Delhi, n.d.)  It is a source for ventilation and light
and allows cool air to settle down
which spreads towards the adjoining
spaces.
 By the principle of convection, it
regulates the flow of air constantly.
2 Jaalis (Latticed  Jaali walls are extensively used in
screen) houses belonging to this climate zone.
(Ali, Asif, 2013),  It controls the air flow.
(Traditional  Allows diffused sunlight to penetrate
Dwelling in inside.
Malkaganj, n.d.).  Cuts down excess radiation and filters
the air while it enters into the interior Jaali openings
spaces.
3 Openings  Large long window openings are seen
(Ali, Asif, 2013), on the façade having low sill level.
(Traditional Generally, found lying along the south
Dwelling in west wall to capture enough heat
Malkaganj, n.d.), during winter. Allows only fresh air to
(Study of enter. Ventilators are situated at the top,
Traditional  Vents are located at a certain height, closer towards the ceiling, so that
Dwelling in close the ceiling, to let out the hot air the hot air escapes out
Jaipur, n.d.) and maintain the air circulation within
the building.
 Louvered doors and windows are
adopted, which let cool air inside by
still maintaining enough privacy.
 Openings like skylight, known as
Roshandan is situated in the ceiling,
which regulates the air flow by ‚stack
effect‛. It is the process by which
warm air inside the building rises up
and escapes from the above openings
and cool air enters from side openings
at the lower level.
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Sl
No
4 Chajja  Chajja is a shading element that is
(Ali, Asif, 2013), provided above windows or doors.
(Traditional  It protects the interior space from rain
Dwelling in water.
Delhi, n.d.),  As it covers most of the surface area, it
(Study of obstructs direct radiation from hitting
Traditional the wall by absorbing part of the heat Chajja over the window, protects
Dwelling in and therefore, slows down the the wall and openings from excess
Jaipur, n.d.) transmission of heat. heat
 Provides shade and creates a cool
atmosphere below, for the people.
5 Thick wall  Wall thickness adopted in this climate
(Ali, Asif, 2013). zone varies between 400-600 mm.
 Dressed stone masonry, brick and
mud is used in the construction of
wall.
 Thick walls have a good thermal Thick mud wall houses in
impact on the indoor air condition. Jharkhand
 Ensures a cool environment inside the
house.
6 Vegetation  Trees are planted to ensure a cool
(Study of atmosphere around.
Traditional  It acts as a buffer by obstructing the
Dwelling in heat from entering further to the
Jaipur, n.d.) inside.
 Improves the quality of air by evapo- Tree acts as a buffer between the
transpiration by adding water vapour building and the sunlight
to the air and thus, reducing the
temperature.
7 Water body  Water body was frequently included
(Ali, Asif, 2013). in most of the Mughal structures, as
one of their standard characteristic
features.
 Improves the quality of air.
 Fountains sprinkle water droplets into
Water body in Fatehpur sikhri
the atmosphere by the principle of
evaporation.
 Keeps the surroundings cool and
ensures comfort in the outer spaces.
 Water channels are incorporated
within the internal spaces of the
building, which brings down the
temperature through evaporative
cooling.
43
Sl
No
8 Verandah  Semi-open spaces are present at the
(Ali, Asif, 2013), entrance of most houses, which is
(Study of called the verandah.
Traditional  It is the transition space between the
Dwelling in outside and the interior.
Jaipur, n.d.)  Acts as a buffer and prevents excess
radiation from entering further inside.
 Keeps out the heat and rain by
Entrance verandah in an old
providing shade.
traditional Jaipur house
9 High ceilings  High ceilings are incorporated in most
(Ali, Asif, 2013), buildings.
(Traditional  This is to allow maximum comfort
Dwelling in level. Due to high ceiling, there is
Uttar Pradesh, enough space for air circulation.
n.d.)  Arches, domes and vaults were
commonly used earlier, as they absorb
less heat compared to flat roofs. High ceiling increases the comfort
 Vents are provided near the domes or level
towards the ceiling, for the warm air
to escape out easily.
10 Other climate  Houses are laced on raised platform,
responsive to prevent rain water from entering
features inside.
(Traditional  Streets are narrow, with buildings on
Dwelling in both sides, thus, creating shade and a
Uttar Pradesh, cool environment for the pedestrians. Buildings on both sides, provides
n.d.) shade to the narrow streets
11 MATERIALS
a Teak wood  Sagwan or teak wood is widely used
(Sagwan, n.d.), for construction in Delhi, Jharkhand,
(Traditional Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and U.P.
house in  It is a type of hardwood. Strong and
Jharkhand, n.d.). durable.
 Resistant to termites.
 It can withstand most climatic Wood used for structural purpose
conditions. Snowfall, heavy rains and
extreme heat does not alter its
strength.
b Lime plaster  Lime allows the building to breathe by
(‚Why use absorbing and releasing moisture,
lime‛, n.d.) thus causing no damage to the walls.
 It stabilizes the indoor environment
and makes it more comfortable.
 Long lasting and eco-friendly.
 Since its light coloured, it reflects the Buildings coated with lime plaster
heat and keeps the house cool inside. in Rajasthan
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Literature Review
Sl
No
c Adobe blocks  Adobe bricks are sun dried bricks
(Adobe brick comprising of earth, clay and straw.
technique, n.d.),  Natural material that is durable and
(ICAEN; 2004) resistant to fire.
 It water resistant. Mud brick house in Punjab
 Enables a good impact on the thermal
condition of the building.
d Sandstone  Sandstone is a very common building
(‚What is material used in the earlier days.
sandstone used  Most of the monuments in Delhi and
for‛, n.d.), Rajasthan are constructed out of
(ICAEN; 2004) different coloured sandstones.
 Durable and long lasting.
 It can withstand extreme climatic
Pink sandstone is used in Hawa
conditions.
Mahal, Jaipur
 Stone possesses thermal mass
property, which is another element of
solar passive design. Since stone is a
dense material, it is able to conduct
heat. Hence, during the day, it absorbs
the heat, stores it and slowly radiates
it during the night.
3.10.2 Aranya Homes, Indore

Aryan homes, located 6km from Indore centre, is community developed for mixed economic
group (EWS, LIG, MIG, HIG) although the design is developed primarily in consideration to
the EWS groups. Architect BV Doshi has won the Aga khan award in 1996 for this project.
The development was initiated by Indore Development Authority for a cost of Rs 71.23/m2
in the year 1989 with an objective to upgrade the existing slum area and meet the housing
needs of EWS groups. A detailed physical and socio-economic survey was conducted by the
architect to draw inferences on habitat needs and thereby deduce design requirements like
density, space etc. During the time of handover, the average monthly income was
determined to be Rs 700/month of For EWS section down payment for plot allotment was
provided at Rs 200 to Rs 400 range with a loan balance of Rs 2103 to Rs 7,748 and Rs 23.23 to
Rs.85.23 as monthly installment (Aranya Community Housing, n.d.).
Key features: The project is developed with passive features that may not require any
additional construction elements.
1. Minimum solar exposure with common walls, longer facades on north-south
orientation
2. Natural light and ventilation from north and south openings.
3. Street and community areas shading through trees and buildings to reduce urban
heat island effect.
4. Usage of local materials and labour
5. Storm water drainage
45
6. Common manholes for every 20 dwelling units to reduce cost

7. Sewer less sanitation
8. Underground cables are provided to reduce maintenance cost though initial cost was
counted to be slightly higher than providing open cables through poles.
9. Construction as per natural slopes
Figure3.12: Typical street view of Aranya homes, Indore
3.10.3 Summary for Composite Climate Zone

Composite climate is characterized by extreme climatic conditions and appropriate
traditional features have been designed for this. Courtyards are widely used to regulate the
air flow by the principle of convection. Openings are present in the form of long windows,
jaalis and ventilators (close to the ceiling), for constant air circulation and for the hot air to
escape out. Chajjas are incorporated above openings, to provide protection from rain and
intense heat. High ceiling is adopted within the interior space, to improve the thermal
comfort. Sandstone is one of most prominently used materials. As it possesses thermal mass
property, it’s more suitable in this region. Apart from this, adobe blocks are seen in some of
the vernacular homes. Some buildings are also coated with lime plaster, which helps in
reflecting the heat.
Aranya community is one of the best examples, in the Composite climate zone, for low cost
housing. Passive design features have been incorporated here, like, common walls with
minimum solar exposure, natural light and ventilation, storm water drainage, shading
through trees and buildings to reduce urban heat island effect, use of local materials and
labour, sewer less sanitation and underground cables to reduce maintenance cost. This is a
simple basic design having appropriate passive features and meeting the needs of the low-
income group.
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Literature Review
3.11 Hot & Dry climate

Table 3.8: Vernacular practices in hot dry climate
Sl
No.
1 Courtyards  Courtyards control the microclimate, as
(Tipnis, 2012), it is the main source of light and
(The ventilation.
vernacular  According to the principle of
architecture of convection, hot air rises from the
Rajasthan, courtyard, and cool air enters from the
n.d.). side through the openings. This process Courtyard within the house
regulates the air circulation constantly.
 This open space is surrounded by
verandas on all four sides. The rooms
are arranged towards the outside, along
the periphery of the verandah creating a
linear pattern. These rooms receive light
and air mainly from the central
courtyard, as they have minimal
openings to the outside.
 This concept can be adopted in any type
of building, like commercial,
institutional or industrial and not
restricted only to residential.
 Courtyards favour air, light, security,
privacy and tranquillity.
2 Johad  Johad is a rainwater storage tank mainly
(Johad, n.d.) found in Rajasthan, India.
 Its function is to collect and store water
which can be used for drinking purpose.
 Made out of mud and rubble barriers
built along a slope, to trap rainwater.
 Helps in percolation and groundwater
recharge. Rain water storage tank
 Very common in the Thar Desert.
3 Jaali  Jaali is generally a stone having
(Jali wall, n.d.) openings carved through it, in a
geometric or an ornamental pattern.
 Ensures natural ventilation and is an
alternative to the use of expensive and
non-eco-friendly air conditioning
system.
 Jaali walls favour privacy and security.
It is cost-effective as it can replace the
use of windows in a building. Jaali wall
 Filters the air which is entering, from all
the dust particles.
47
Sl
No.
 Cuts down the excess radiation that is
entering into the building, thus ensuring
thermal comfort.
4 Water bodies  Water body brings down the

temperature of the space through
evaporative cooling.
 Acts as a modifier of microclimate and
stabilizes the harsh ambient conditions
in the hot arid zone.
Water body, which helps in

cooling
5 Verandas,  By incorporating elements such as
Jharokas verandas and Jharokas (balconies)
& which provide shade during the hot dry
Chajjas period and also protection against rain
(Tipnis, in the monsoon signifies architecture
2012), (The suitable for the given region.
vernacular  Restricts excess of heat from entering
architecture of into the interior spaces of the building. Narrow streets in Rajasthan
Rajasthan,  Jharoka and Chajja cast a complete
n.d.). shadow on the streets below,
maintaining a cool atmosphere.
6 The grid  The grid planning system is applicable
system to any type of site and topography.
planning  It is more sustainable in terms of
(The economy and speed of construction.
vernacular  It is also easier to recycle materials if it
architecture of was built on a grid.
Rajasthan,
n.d.). Grid pattern seen in plan
7 Pols  The city of Ahmedabad consists of
& POLS or in other words- dense
Narrow neighbourhoods. Each pol has timber
streets framed buildings built around
(Film on the courtyards and the streets are narrow,
heritage thus enhancing the thermal comfort
pols, n.d.) within.
 The use of lime mortar and wood in the
construction makes the building more
durable and resistant to earthquakes.
 The building height is larger when Pols in Ahmedabad city
compared to the width of the street so
that the streets are shaded well enough,
creating a cool environment for the
pedestrians and for other activities on
the road.
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Literature Review
Sl
No.
8 Openings  The buildings are made up of thick
(Tipnis, 2012) walls, with very minimal openings, thus
preventing dusty air from entering onto
the inside.
 In regions where dust swirls in the
settlement, the building façade is
composed of almost blank walls with
very less openings. Minimal openings on the façade
9 Step wells  Bawdis or Baolis are wells or ponds
(Lautman, wherein the water can be accessed by
n.d.) descending a series of steps.
 Serves as storage and irrigation tanks,
mainly developed in India.
 This water was used for irrigation,
drinking, bathing and washing.
Step wells
10 Planning  All the houses are situated very close to
(The each other, leaving very minimal space
vernacular between each other.
architecture of  This indicates compact planning which
Rajasthan, ensures enough amount of shade on the
n.d.), (‚Why streets which in turn keeps the place
do houses cool.
Compact planning seen in
built in
jodhpur
Rajasthan
have thick
walls and flat
roofs?‛ n.d.).
11 Flat roof  Houses in Rajasthan are mainly found
(‚Why do having flat roofs as this region receives
houses built less rainfall so there is no need of
in Rajasthan having sloped roofs.
have thick  Flat roofs help in retaining the rainwater
walls and flat and hence, keep the interior of the house
roofs?‛ n.d.). cool.
Flat roofs used widely in
Rajasthan
12 Bhungha,  Bhungha is a traditional house found in
Gujarat the Kutch district of Gujarat.
(Mehta and  It consists of a cylindrical shaped room
Gohil, n.d.) topped with a conical roof.
 It is durable and earthquake resistant.
 Bhungha consists of thick mud walls,
which doesn’t allow too much heat to
penetrate through it into the interiors,
Traditional Bhungha in Kutch
and the roof is generally made of thatch.
region, Gujarat
 The overhang roof casts a shadow on
the wall and protects the walls from
direct sunlight.
49
Sl
No.
 The circular shape of the hut reflects
back most of the direct heat received.
 Thatch used for the roof, is a poor
conductor of heat, hence ensures
thermal comfort.
13 MATERIALS
a Stone  Stone is used in making jaali walls and
(Tipnis, other ornamental elements like friezes,
2012), architraves and cornices which are seen
(ICAEN; 2004) on the façade of the building, to reduce
the excess solar gain and ensure air
circulation.
 In the desert areas, the most common
stone used in vernacular architecture is Yellow sandstone used in
the yellow sand stone. Jaisalmer
 Stone possesses thermal mass property,
which is another element of solar
passive design. Since stone is a dense
material, it is able to conduct heat.
Hence, during the day, it absorbs the
heat, stores it and slowly radiates it
during the night.
 During summer, the sun is high. This
prevents the walls from getting heated
up, so the interior is kept cool. But
during winter, as the winter sun is low,
it allows the walls to absorb and store
enough heat, which is gradually
released to the interiors and ensures
warmth within the space.
b Adobe walls  Mud is extensively used in the hot arid
(Tipnis, 2012), zones of India. It can be mixed with cow
(ICAEN; dung, grass, straw, thatch, gravel etc. to
2004). give additional strength.
 Thick mud walls or adobe walls are
frequently used in most houses in this
region.
Adobe wall seen in a village
 They have the ability to absorb and
store the heat in the day, and transmit it
slowly, ensuring the interiors are cool
during daytime. At night, the walls
gradually transmit the heat to the
interiors, making it comfortable and
warm.
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Literature Review
Sl
No.
c Wattle and  It’s an old traditional sustainable
daub building technique using mud.
(ICAEN;  It is basically, mud mixed with ash,
2004). straw or cow dung that is plastered over
a panel of woven reed wattle, which in
turn is fixed and held between a
bamboo or timber frame structure.
 Structure is lightweight and more Construction of wattle and daub
suitable in seismic zones.
 It also has good insulation properties.
d Whitewash  The whitewashing of lime plastered
(‘What is walls is a common practice in Rajasthan
whitewash?’ as it reflects back the harsh radiation.
n.d.)  As the colour is light, it absorbs very
less amount of heat and reflects back
most of.
 It is cost-effective and environmentally Whitewashed walls in Jodhpur
friendly.
e Lime mortar  Lime allows the building to breathe by
(‚Why lime?‛ absorbing and releasing moisture, thus
n.d.) causing no damage to the walls.
 It stabilizes the indoor environment and
makes it more comfortable.
 Long lasting and eco-friendly.
 Since its light coloured, it reflects the
Blue lime plaster walls seen in
heat and keeps the house cool inside.
Jodhpur
f Thatch  Thatched roof is ideal for hot arid region
(Johnson, n.d.) as it is a good insulator.
 Since it is made up of a thick layer, it
keeps the interior cool by not allowing
any heat to penetrate through it. One of
the materials used in making thatch
(reed) does not absorb water; therefore,
this roofing material is also proven to be
Thatch roof seen in a Bhungha
water proof.
house, Gujarat
 It is a versatile and sustainable material.
3.11.2 House of Surya and Jaai Kakani, Ahmedabad

The house of Surya and Jaai Kakani located in Ahmedabad follows principles of sustainable
design to achieve comfortable living without air conditioning in the hot & dry climate of
Ahmedabad. Sustainable design principles integrated in the house includes: verandahs
terrace vegetable garden, thick walls which behave as insulation, use of lime plaster in place
of cement, recycled wood instead of aluminum or steel. Thick walls and thick roof, lime
plaster inside and outside along with a wind catcher installed on the roof to let fresh air
inside keeps the house comfortable in all seasons. Rain water is harvested for drinking.
Waste water from washing machine is used for flushing toilets and waste water from
51
Kitchen goes for gardening. The organic kitchen garden on terrace provides them with
brinjal, tomatoes, carrot and other greens (Residential Energy Efficiency, 2013).
Figure3.13: Diagram showing various systems along with wind catcher in blue
3.11.3 Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP)

Lonar, Maharashtra
IHSDP is central government sponsored slum rehabilitation under JNNURM, to provide
adequate housing, infrastructure and social amenities to slums dwellers. The plan involves a
cluster of 14 blocks of residential units around a central green space, creating medium
density neighborhoods. It is a project aiming 4-star GRIHA rating (HUDCO, 2012).
Key features: Filler slab, tumbler roofing and rat-trap were the most extensively used
construction technologies. Fly-ash bricks and pre-cast members were used. Hard paving was
optimized to increase ground water percolation. For waste water reuse bio filter technology
was employed. To achieve optimum energy performance, radiance building simulation tool
and day lighting analysis with reference to architectural design were incorporated. The
premises lighting was achieved through solar powered street lights.
3.11.4 Residence at Vadodara, Gujarat

‘Residence at Vadodara’ was built by Harmony Architects and Planners. It received the
HUDCO Design Awards 2012 (second prize) in the’ Green Buildings’ category. The project
has a vernacular architecture, a climate responsive design and an indigenous lifestyle which
makes it a sustainable/green design (HUDCO, 2012).
Key Features: The longer facade of the building has been facing in the North-South direction
making it the ideal orientation. All the horizontal surfaces have been covered through
gardens (terrace as well as on ground). Direct radiations on living spaces have been avoided
through cavity walls on extreme east and west. Other spaces have been protected by
respective buffer areas (toilets, verandahs etc.) thus minimizing heat gain during day time.
A central courtyard vents whatever little heat gain takes place. In extreme summer the
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Literature Review
house is cooler by 13°C as compared to a house of similar orientation. Local materials have
been used at various locations in the house. Earthen pans were used as fillers in RCC slab,
mud blocks were used to construct walls and locally available stones were used for openings
and arches. 95% of the materials obtained from the demolition of the old house were used
again. Bricks from the old foundation were used for the new one, Wooden frames were
reused as window frames, shelves, drawers etc., steel from the demolished slab was used in
the new slab, mosaic tiles and bamboo were reused, old glass was resized and used again
and so was the Kota stone flooring.
3.11.5 The ACC Greens Village, Bellary, Karnataka

The project is a sustainable residential campus spread over 50 acres being built for the staff
of ACC at its’ cement grinding plant at Kudithini, in Bellary, Karnataka. M/s Ashok B Lall
Architects, ABLA, Delhi are the main Architects for this project. The project focused at
creating a low ecological footprint built environment. A prototype unit was built first to
identify all the hiccups and limit them to that one unit (The Sustainable Housing Complex
for ACC, 2011).
Key Features: An afforestation programme was a major part of the project. Food
sustainability was taken into account which saw the development of a sizable farm, cattle
shed (for milk) and a fish pond. Rainwater management, harvesting and recharge were
incorporated and biomass gasification infrastructure, supplement by woody biomass from
the afforestation programme, and a bio-methanisation unit supplement by the dung from
the cattle shed were installed for energy sustainability. Semi cast latticed RCC rafters and
hollow pre-cast blocks were used as an alternative to RCC slabs. The hollow pre-cast blocks
accommodated cooling tubes for thermal management of the house. This alternative
technique saved 40% steel as compared to a conventional construction. GGBS blocks (blocks
made using ground slag from steel plant) are being used instead of concrete blocks which
are not only economical but also environmentally friendly as they use a by-product. The
doors and windows for the entire project will see the use of reclaimed timber sourced from
various reused timber merchants. The house flooring will be done entirely of pigmented
cement avoiding stone flooring, lowering embodied energy footprint as well as the cost.
Screens are provided in verandah to act as thermal barriers in summers. These screens use
Bamboo Mat Board, BMB, instead of plywood (bamboo being a fast growing grass and not
wood). A non-toxic approach is adopted for anti-termite treatment of the site by using a
neem-based solution. Quarry dust instead of sand is used in plastering, mortar and concrete.
A box trench foundation was designed, especially for the black cotton soil of this region. It is
a lean concrete mix using large stone aggregate that is filled into this trench and allowed to
cure. The technique is simple, quick and does not need any reinforcement.
53
Figure3.14: A completed and Occupied Unit of the Project
3.11.6 Summary for Hot Dry Climate Zone

Hot dry climate is prevalent in most parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and partially in north
Karnataka. Traditional elements are composed of courtyards, jaali openings in the walls,
verandas, chajjas and flat roofs. Many unique and different features have originated from
this region that is highly climate responsive. To deal with water issues, johads and step wells
were constructed to collect and store water. Water bodies are present, to cool down the
space through evaporative cooling method. Buildings are located on both sides of the
narrow street, to provide shade and a cool atmosphere for the pedestrians. Sandstone, adobe
walls, wattle and daub, lime mortar and whitewash are the different materials and building
techniques used, that respond very well with the microclimate.
Literature case studies were done on House of Surya and Jaai Kakani, Ahmedabad;
Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP), Lonar, Maharashtra;
Residence at Vadodara and The ACC Greens Village, Bellary, Karnataka. Terrace garden,
rainwater harvesting, use of lime plaster and recycled wood, solar powered street lights, bio
filter technology, fly-ash bricks and mud blocks for construction, biomass gasification
infrastructure and bio-methanisation unit are the green features incorporated in the above
mentioned projects.
3.12 International projects

3.12.1 Viva Verde, Bronx, New York, USA
The project was a result of juried competition for sustainable and affordable housing. The
competition was conceived by the local New York chapter of the American Institute for
Architects (AIA) and the City of New York Department of Housing Preservation and
Development (HPD). The project, costing USD 70 million, has LEED Gold rating. The
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Literature Review
complex steps down from a 20-story tower to three- and four-story town houses (Green
Features, n.d.).
Key features: More than 20% of material used in construction is recycled material. Over 20%
of materials were locally procured reducing transportation energy and supporting local
economy. 80% of construction and demolition waste was recycled. Rooftop garden provided
to dissipate heat and to use rain water for growing fruits and vegetables. These gardens also
reduced heat islanding effect and form place for social gathering. Motion sensors installed in
corridors and stairways to reduce energy consumption. The complex has been equipped
with 66kW rooftop solar system providing enough electricity for hallways, elevators, and
public spaces. High level of insulation is used in building’s construction with high efficiency
windows. All the apartments are provided with energy efficient appliances along with
provision for natural cross ventilation. The building is expected to perform 30% more
efficiently than a normal building.
Figure3.15: Left picture shows rooftop vegetable farming and picture on right shows building
integrated solar panel
3.12.2 Treelodge@Punggol, Singapore

Treelodge@Punggol is Housing & Development Board’s (of Singapore) first eco-friendly
project and Singapore’s first Green Mark Platinum Award Public housing project. The
project has implemented both passive design and green technology to be more resource
efficient (Sustainable Development concepts, n.d.).
Key Features: Passive design includes all the façade windows facing dominant North-
eastern winds to maximize natural lighting and ventilation. This also reduces solar radiation
gain from east-west direction. The orientation and openness of the building creates wind
tunnel through central spine of Eco-Deck. Solar panels are provided which generates
sufficient electricity to meet demand of common area services like lightings, lifts, pumps etc.
Building is provided with energy efficient LED’s for lighting purpose in staircases and car
parking area. For reducing water demand rainwater harvesting system is in place. The water
collected is used for common area washing and irrigation purpose. All households are also
55
installed with an Eco pedestal, which uses water from hand washing to flush the toilet. For
the construction purpose pre-cast technology has been used. The pre-cast technology
reduces construction time as well as construction waste. The Centralised Recyclable Refuse
Chute are used which promotes recycling by providing convenience for residents to dispose
their recyclables and also enhances the collection efficiency for waste collectors.
The project is located near to Punggol MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) and Damai LRT (Light rail
transit) thereby giving more access to public transport. Bicycle parking facility is provided to
promote their usage and decrease dependence on conventional vehicles.
Figure3.16: Top left is picture showing solar panels being integrated on roof. Top right picture
shows pre-cast technology. Middle left picture shows provision for natural lighting and
ventilation. Picture on middle shows Eco-pedestal used to reuse water. Bottom left is the picture of
centralised chute for waste collection. The cycle parking provision is shown in bottom middle
picture. Bottom left is the building picture showing white outer self-cleansing paint
3.12.3 Coldharbour Lane, U.K.

This Project is residential development in Brixton, South London, consisting of 108
apartments constructed by Skanska. The project cost was USD 20 million developed for
Notting Hill Housing and took about two years to complete. The project is energy efficient
affordable housing development based on Skanska’s ModernaHus concept. The housing
meets level 4 standard of the code for Sustainable Homes in UK (level 6 being the highest
code for zero carbon homes), (Skanska sustainability, n.d.).
Key features: Apartments are designed to consume 47% less energy than current UK
building regulation. A 50kW central biomass boiler combusting wood pellets provides for
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Literature Review
60% of development’s winter heating requirement (running at 100% for 15 hours per day). In
design stage study was done to calculate embodied carbon emission resulting from
manufacturing and transport of key materials and their associated manufacturing processes.
With such planning it was possible to reduce total embodied carbon by 25% by
incorporating 20% pulverised fuel ash. All the major construction materials were sourced
from within 200 km of the site. 94% of construction had been diverted from landfill. Around
85% of demolition material were either reused or recycle. With use of efficient water fixtures
and fitting water efficiency of about 30% was achieved as compared to typical water use in
UK.
Green roofing is provided on the top floor if buildings to provide further insulation and
extends roof’s lifespan by protecting it from withering an UV light. The site is designed to
promote car-free environment by only providing eight disabled car parking spaces in the
site and restricting residents from applying for street parking permit. 108 secure cycle
storage spaces are also provided on site. The apartments are designed to be affordable. The
government funds shared ownership scheme is implemented for the project. This scheme
allows first time buyers to purchase a share of their home at below market value. Then the
buyer can gradually buy further share of their home as and when they are able to afford to
so.
Figure3.17: Coldharbour lane building picture
3.12.4 BoKlok project, Sweden

The concept of this affordable housing was initiated in 1996. Initially targeted for single
parent or individual person now has become popular among families to. Green features
have also been added to the concept to make houses sustainable. The housing includes both
individual villa type houses as well as apartments (The Boklok project, n.d.).
Key features: The houses are compact and resource efficiently designed without leaving any
unnecessary square meter of area. Designing is done in so as to receive maximum sunlight
during the day (windows on south and west sides); this also increases passive heat gain and
reduces heating needs. Materials for construction process are carefully chosen. Wood is
mainly used for construction as it is renewable, cheap; production of it is less energy
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intensive and has low carbon emission as compared to other materials. Additionally wood is
also readily available local material in Sweden. Family houses/villas are factory built
modules whose architecture and plan is predefined and the customer has to choose from
these pre-designs. Construction in factory makes it easier to produce in bulk thereby
reducing the costs and making construction process more energy efficient. This also
increases recycling capacity of materials, almost all the unused materials in factory are
recycled which is hard task while constructing on-site. Such houses are 30% more energy
efficient than Swedish norms of standard housing. Traditional Swedish building architecture
is also kept in mid while designing houses.
Figure3.18: Three types of housing blocks available with BoKlok project
3.12.5 Green village – Lochiel Park, Australia

The project was instigated by government of South Australia in order to make South
Australia a world leader in green approach to way of life. The vision behind this project was
to make it country’s Green Village incorporating Ecological sustainable technologies. This
project is supposed to be an incubator of research, and development and education
opportunities to assist in transforming the infrastructure industry into a greener future. The
project has 106 dwellings constructed at a total cost of AUD 18 million (Lochiel Park, n.d.).
Key features: Photovoltaic cells are mandated on every roof (1kW per sq.m of habitable
floor area). Community building is also provided with solar panels. Recycle water supply
system provides for toilet flushing, cold tap washing machines, garden use and parkland
irrigation. This water system captures storm water from a 190 hectare adjacent urban
catchment which is cleaned through a wetland system and aquifer storage recovery scheme
prior to reuse in houses. Low embodied and recycled energy materials are used in reserve
and public realm infrastructure. Key materials used are fiber reinforced concrete, pavers and
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bricks which are manufactured on site using recycle waste materials and clay excavated
from nearby wetlands. Lighting systems are efficient one are supplied from solar energy.10
hectare of forest biodiversity is created besides the project. With all these green features it is
expected that the water consumption in household will reduce by 40% and energy bills will
reduce by 66%.
Source:http://www.greenwayarchitects.com.au/lochiel-park-affordable-housing/
Figure3.19: Left figure shows houses in Lochiel Park and in right the picture shows ventilation
system concept used in houses
3.12.6 Melrose Commons II: Sunflower Ways, Bronx, New york, USA
Melrose Commons II is a $12 million, 90-unit multi-family project featuring multi-level
owner apartments and second- and third floor single-story rental flats. This complex of 30,
three-story, three family homes totals 126,900 square feet of living area. The development is
specifically for first-time homebuyers. The homes were designed and financed to be
affordable for families making as little as $42,000 a year (or 80% of Area Median Income).
The incremental cost to build green was $354,990 (The costs and benefits of green affordable
housing, 2005).
Key features: Efforts to green Melrose focused on using precast concrete construction,
improving energy efficiency through a variety of measures, and selecting environmentally
preferable materials.
Low-flow shower controls, faucets and toilets were installed in bathrooms and kitchens of
all of the units to reduce water use.
The project used faced R-11batts in frame walls and ½-inch rigid expanded polystyrene
(EPS) insulation board between metal studs and exterior walls to prevent thermal bridging.
In addition, 2-inch EPS was used in the basement up to two feet below grade, with 2-inch
rigid fiberglass insulation on all exposed cellar walls. For roof insulation R-21 3.1-inch foam
board was installed as were aluminized roof coatings to reflect summer sun. Large area
double glazed low-e (Comfort E2) coated glass vinyl frame windows from a local
manufacturer were installed in rooms and public spaces to improve envelope performance
and increase natural lighting. The entire Melrose Commons II complex was constructed with
structural precast panelized concrete and brick system (Oldcastle Precast) to create a tighter
envelope. Each precast concrete-framed unit included poured concrete foundations, hollow
core floor and roof planks, weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing wall panels, interior and
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exterior steps, U-shaped channels and cornices, and sills and lintels cast into the brick inlay
exterior panels.
The project uses a single high efficiency (87+%) sealed combustion direct-vent (Burnham
Revolution) gas boiler with a 65-gallon (Bradford White) automatic storage indirect water
heater to provide heat and hot water for each building, rather than separate ones for each of
the three units per building. In addition, the project used digital programmable thermostats
and an outdoor reset control to modulate water temperatures in the radiators depending
upon outdoor temperature. Energy Star compact fluorescent lighting fixtures are used
throughout the complex.
To reduce use of virgin materials and conserve natural resources, the project used 100%
recycled content PET carpeting made from recycled plastic bottles and containers laid over
recycled rubber padding. In addition, recycled content vinyl composition tile (VCT) flooring
was used in kitchens. To minimize impacts on indoor air quality low-VOC paints were used
throughout the project as were low-VOC latex acrylic sealants throughout the interiors. In
addition, solid wood and plywood were used instead of particle board in kitchen cabinets
and countertop substrates with low-VOC lacquer finishes on the cabinets.
Figure3.20: Melrose Commons 2 houses
3.12.7 River walk Point I, Spokane, Washington, USA

Riverwalk Point-I is located in Spokane, Washington and is owned by Spokane
Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP). This low income housing project has been in service
since 2003 and now has a total of 50 low income units in five buildings. The project has
received Washington State’s first certification for Energy Star multi-family housing. It
exceeds the Green Communities standards by 28% and reduces annual CO2 emissions by 49
tons per year. The average cost per unit was $118,167 and the incremental cost to green was
$317,285 which is 5.16% of total development costs (The costs and benefits of green
affordable housing, 2005).
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Key features: Low-flow fixtures have been used throughout the project. Exterior
landscaping is made up of native and drought-resistant plantings that minimize irrigation
and maintenance needs. Rainwater is used to irrigate landscaping. The landscaping plan
also minimizes impervious surfaces, using grass in fill pavers for secondary parking areas at
a $2,700 additional cost. Water efficiency upgrades added 0.3% to total design and
construction costs.
All buildings feature high-efficiency heating and ventilation systems, good insulation.
Buildings are oriented in such a way to provide maximum day light and passive solar gain
without additional cooling loads in the summer. Four buildings have gas-fired, sealed-
combustion forced air heating while the fifth building features a geothermal heat pump.
This building also features air-to-air heat recovery ventilators for each unit. The upper floors
of another building are constructed with Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) exterior walls.
Prefabricated SIPs are load-bearing material made of rigid foam and fiber board which can
be used with or without conventional framing and have exceptional R values.
Interior lighting fixtures are efficient compact fluorescent and T-8 fluorescents that use
approximately 30% less electricity than conventional fluorescent lighting. All other units are
equipped with Energy Star appliances.
By focusing on Site work and grading the materials, the transportation cost was lowered by
approximately $1,000. An unfenced, native vegetation wildlife corridor was created which
preserved many of the original trees and much of the original vegetation. Also a job site
recycling plan, encouraged reuse and recycling of construction materials such as wood,
drywall, cardboard and metals. All concrete used for the project contains 15-25% fly ash.
This saved $1,500 over conventional concrete.
Advanced framing techniques were specified to enable better insulation of the building
envelope which also reduced the amount of lumber required to frame a building, leading to
a $12,294 savings on the project. Oriented Strand Board (OSB) was used instead of
conventional plywood for roof and wall sheathing, resulting in a $12,300 savings in
materials cost to the project. The project also utilized locally produced silica asphalt and
durable pathway pavers saved approximately $1,000.
Several indoor air quality-enhancing features were included for little or no additional cost to
the project. Low volatile organic compound (less than 20 grams of VOCs per liter) products
were used for interior and exterior paints and finishes.
Figure3.21: Riverwalk Point I houses as seen from street outside
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3.12.8 Glumslöv housing project, Sweden

This is a passive house project consisting of 35 houses ranging from one bedroom to four
bedrooms. The goal of the project was to keep the rental cost for the apartment at a
maximum of 100 €/m2 along with being well-functioning and sustainable passive houses.
The housing project is created by Skanska with Landskronahem, the project owner, a
municipal housing company, provides just such accommodation (Janson, Ulla, 2008),
(Passive Homes in Glumslöv, Sweden, n.d.).
Key features: The houses in the project are self or passive heating ones which require no
heating. The house gain warmth from the body heat of occupants, from solar gains as well as
het gains from internal appliances. The buildings are designed to be tightly sealed with 45
cm thick insulation layer. The healthy indoor environment is further enhanced by well-
designed ventilation system which has heat recovery capacity of 85%. With lack of heating
cost incurred and no need special skill for operating and maintenance, the housing can be
offered at lower rents. Landskronahem has estimated that the life cycle cost of the buildings
in Glumslöv are 25 per cent lower than normal which was achieved without any additional
costs in the construction phase.
Figure3.22: Shows front on the ground floor at Gumslöv and second picture shows a house during
construction period
3.12.9 Casa Aqua, Sao Paulo, Brazil

AQUA is the Brazilian High Environmental Quality Rating System. In February 2010, the
first version of the AQUA process for residential buildings was launched, and in April a
prototype AQUA house for low-income families was exhibited in São Paulo. With an area of
40 square meters, the prototype has various green features integrated into it (GREEN
CITIES, 2011).
Key Features: A rainwater harvesting system, consisting of a cistern and permeable soil; a
solar water heater; fiber-cellulose shingles; and soil-cement bricks which are dimensioned
and prefabricated to allow for faster assembly and do not use mortar. Such soil-cement
bricks have lower cost than standard bricks. To increase natural lighting and ventilation
inside the house, a sloped roof was designed with skylights.
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Literature Review
Environmentally friendly products were used in the interior of the house such as cement
board made from mineralized wood, which does not require finishing, and recycled Tetra
Pak packaging on some walls. Installation of dual-flush systems in toilet reduces water
usage. Fluorescent light bulbs were given for internal lighting. According to the developers,
the use of eco-efficient solutions in the construction of the house had an additional cost of
only BRL 5,000. The total construction cost for the unit was BRL 45,000.
Source: http://www.casaaqua.com.br via http://www.tuverde.com/2010/04/brasil-casa-aqua-una-edificacion-

sustentable-y-popular/fdt-500-x-454/
Figure3.23: Model of the Casa Aqua project
3.12.10 Bio Solar house, Thailand

A research team from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok has built the Thailand’s first
"bio-solar" house. The house is self-reliant which produces its own electricity, water and
cooking gas. The electrical needs of the house are completely fulfilled by solar panels.
Nothing in this eco houses goes to waste (Krikke, 2003).
Key features: Cooking gas is produced by biogas plant installed in the garden; the biogas
plant uses waste from kitchen as its feed. This biogas plant technology is newly developed
by Kasetsart University and the Department of Alternative Energy Development and
Efficiency in Thailand's Ministry of Energy. The house can harvest 80 to 100 liters of water
every day. There are three sources for water harvesting, i.e. rain, dew, and condensation
from air conditioning (AC) unit. AC unit produces about 30 liters of water every day, the
water from rain and dew being seasonal is filtered and collected in a storage tank of capacity
3600 liters. Wastewater from the kitchen, showers, carport, and washing machine is filtered
and reused for irrigation. On the roof of 180 square meter 22kW solar PV system in installed
which is capable of storing electricity for three day use. The AC unit at peak consumes 7 kW
thus the solar system generates 15 kW of additional capacity which can be used by other
appliances. The AC unit is controlled by a central unit which can adjust both temperature
and humidity in all rooms.
Between the roof and the one-foot- (30-centimeter-) thick insulation an air duct is provided
which allows the wind to ventilate the heat absorbed by the roof. The garden along the
house has several artificial mounts designed to direct the wind toward the house. The house
is designed in such a way that sun rays never enter directly at any time of the day and all the
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windows are provided with triple paned glass. With all these features the bio solar house is
14 times more efficient than a standard house. The cost of house is calculated to be about
USD 75000 not including cost of solar panels. The solar panels are imported and due to
heavy duties by government are very expensive. Without the swimming pool the cost of
house will come in the range of standard house in Thailand. It has been calculated that
additional investment cost incurred in Bio Solar houses have payback time of seven years.
Source: www.architectureweek.com.
Figure3.24: Left- Bio solar house as seen from front, Right- Detail of PV solar system installed in
house.
3.12.11 Broad Sustainable building (BSB) Co. LTD, China

BSB is a Construction Company based in China which specializes in building factory made
sky scrapers. The company has built about 30 buildings in China which are sustainable and
affordable. Although this is not a housing project but the features incorporated by this
company in its project is green and they are affordable (‚Why Sky City?‛ n.d.).
Key features: All the buildings by BSB are capable of bearing earthquakes of magnitude 9 on
Richter scale, sections of sky scrapers are prefabricated in a factory before assembling them
on site. This prefabrication is done by e ‘professional labourers’ as compared to ‘day
labourers’ in construction of conventional buildings. Thus quality of construction is
superior. The design of sections is standardized. Due to prefabrication and high worker
efficiency time period of construction is drastically cut down along with reduction in the
cost associated with it. This also helps in reducing waste specially happening during
construction period. Usually these buildings are 90% factory made with only 10% of time
spent at actual construction site.
Features like thick insulation (70% heat loss reduction from wall), four paned windows (60%
energy reduction from windows), external solar shading (30% energy savings in winter),
and fresh air heat recovery (80% energy savings in HVAC) make these buildings highly
energy efficient. BSB built buildings are generally five times more energy efficient than
conventional buildings. 100% fresh air provided through three stage filtration process makes
inside air nine times purer than outside air. The construction cost is estimated to be around
USD 1000/sqm which is quite low (about 50% lower than conventional buildings).
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3.12.12 BedZED (Beddington Zero (fossil) Emissions Development),

United Kingdom
Architect Bill Dunster, Zed Factory, is known for his habitat development designs with Cost
effective sustainable features. To name; BowZED, MMC Housing system (£1,275/m2 to
£1,550/m2), St Matthews Key Worker Flats Estate Regeneration (12 flat apartment, Total cost:
£1.5 Millions, 2005), Hockney Green Housing development (5 Terrace houses, 12 flats, Total
cost: £2Millions, 2007). BedZED (Total cost: £14.5 Millions, 2002) is one of his famous and
outstanding projects developed in Sutton, England.
Key features: The BedZED project contains 99 mixed use dwelling units and claims to be a
highly energy efficient with sustainable materials and construction technologies and cost
effective solutions. Materials were sourced from a radius of 35 mile, from natural, recycled
or reclaimed content. The annual energy and water consumptions are nearly 60% and 58%
less respectively than a local conventional habitat. The project also boosts with 60% higher
household waste recycling practices and 65% reduced car ownership. BedZED residents use
only 5.2 kWh of electricity per person per day which is 34% lower than the average resident
in Sutton, 3.4KWh of heat per person per day which is 77% less. The design is developed
with passive features like orientation along with active technologies like solar PV panels,
ventilation cowls, water and power efficient appliances all contributing to meet a nearly zero
energy design.
Figure3.25: BedZED, United Kingdom
3.12.13 Earth Sheltered Housing, Hockerton, Newark, United Kingdom

A small housing community was developed in Nottingham with earth berming and is
considered to be the UK’s first of its type. The project has remarkable features like zero
carbon emission, low or no heating requirement.
Key features: The design is composed with local materials, pre-cast concrete beam and block
roof. Passive solar design features like earth-bermed walls on north, east and west for
thermal mass and sunrooms on south sides to reduce heating requirements are integrated
with renewable technologies like wind turbines and PV panels to meet the energy
requirements. Other features like low water flow fixtures, drinking water captured from
conservatory roofs in copper pipes, Reed bed sewage systems to treat grey are provided.
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Figure3.26: Earth Sheltered Housing, Hockerton
3.12.14 Summary for International Case Studies

Thirteen international green residential buildings from various parts of the world are
studied, to comprehend the different designs and methods adopted, in defining a green and
sustainable home. Some of the buildings are given different green rating systems, depending
on the features they exhibit. For example, Viva Verde, New York, USA, is a high rise
building that has obtained the LEED gold rating, wherein, its constructed out of recycled
and locally available materials, consists of a rooftop vegetable garden and solar panels,
which is used to generate electricity. Treelodge, Punggol, Singapore is designed is such a
way that it captures maximum natural light and ventilation, possesses solar panels to
generate electricity, LEDs for energy efficient lighting and has incorporated rainwater
harvesting system.
Coldharbour lane, U.K; BoKlok project, Sweden; Green village – Lochiel Park, Australia;
Melrose Commons II: Sunflower Ways, New York, USA; Riverwalk Point, Spokane,
Washington, USA; Glumslöv housing project, Sweden; Casa Aqua, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Bio
Solar house, Thailand; BedZED (Beddington Zero (fossil) Emissions Development, U.K. and
Earth Sheltered Housing, Hockerton, Newark, U.K. are the other projects studied as they all
possess green features like solar PV panels to meet energy needs, low VOC paints, rainwater
harvesting, green roofing, low carbon emission materials, efficient lighting systems, biogas
for cooking, reuse of wastewater, provision for daylight and ventilation, low flow fixtures
and highly energy efficient sustainable materials and construction technology.
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4 Field Case studies under Moderate Climate

Zone
4.1 Good Earth Malhar Footprints

4.1.1 Site location
Good Earth Malhar Footprints is a 7.5 acres
Residential community development as part
of the 50 acres Eco village located 1.5km off
Mysore road, near Kengeri town. The
coordinate of the place is 12.88 N, 77.46 E
with an altitude of 931m above sea level. It is
located 27km from Bangalore and
experiences moderate climate as per NBC
2005 definitions.
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Figure4.1: Location of Malhar Footprints by Good Earth
4.1.2 Project Profile

A brief profile of the project has been depicted below:
 Project name : Good Earth Malhar Footprints
 Year of construction : Sep 2011 – Sep 2014
 Location & Address : Kengeri, Bangalore
 Climate (as per NBC) : Moderate
 Site area : 7.5 acres
 Architect : Good Earth
 Contractor : Good Earth
 Developer : Good Earth
 MEP Consultant : Good Earth
 Energy consultant : Good Earth
 Any energy performance certifications : No
 Total Cost of Construction : Rs. 2000/sq.ft (2014)
 Construction Cost of units : Between 25.6 to 51.3 lakhs (Excludes
land cost and profit of developer
 Total Built up Area (Sq. mts) : 17966.17 sq.m (193316 sq.ft)
 Total site area (sq. mts.) : 30351 sq.m (7.5 acres)
 No of dwelling units : 96 units
 Typology of development : Cluster homes- G+1 homes
 Dwelling density : 12.9 units/acre
 Green technologies/features incorporated : Rain water harvesting, Ground water
recharge, Waste Water Treatment and reuse, Solid waste management, Green
Construction practices, integrating craft into the design, Use of local materials,
Biodiversity and use of indigenous species in landscape, preserving top soil and
ecology.
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Case studies under Moderate Climate Zone - Good Earth Malhar Footprints
4.1.3 Details of green features in the project:

Good Earth Malhar Footprints integrates many green features as highlighted in the project
profile table. Following paragraph discusses the details of the green features, its cost,
affordability and potential to be replicable in affordable housing schemes.
Site planning & landscape

Footprints are the first phase of development at Malhar Eco village covering 7.5 acres. The
96 homes at Footprints are divided into 8 groups of 9-16 plots, each arranged around a
cluster park. 3 central parking courts are tucked away beneath neighborhood parks and
service 2-3 such cluster groups each. At the entrance of each group of clusters is a drop-off
point with some surface parking for visitors or residents with special needs, beyond which a
ramp continues down into the central parking area. Since the layout follows the natural
slope of the land, with clusters being at various levels, these parking courts do not resemble
typical basements. They are well lit and ventilated, and connected to the clusters through
landscaped courts, sometimes even at the same level. The site planning data have been
tabulated below.
Site Area (Sq.m) 7.5 acres, 30351 sq.m
Built up Area (Sqm) 17966.17
Floor Area Ratio (FAR) 0.75
The project was started in Sep 2011 with an initial planned construction budget of Rs.
1600/sq.ft which increased up to Rs. 2000/ sq.ft in 2014. The land cost was additional with
Rs.1800/sq.ft.
Tree protection
At site level all existing matured trees have been protected, before and during construction,
by careful layout of the units in the cluster. Following photographs shows the protected
trees beside the units.
Figure4.2: Tree protected on site during excavation and around the housing units
Preservation of matured trees helps to control soil erosion during construction which further
helps in maintaining comfortable microclimate without additional water demand. Protection
of existing trees is a cost effective sustainable technique with no cost requirement. However
in conventional practices, at site where trees are not protected, there will be additional cost
for permission and cutting of matured trees. Hence, protection of matured trees during and
post construction is affordable and has the potential to be replicated in affordable housing.
Top Soil preservation: Top soil for the site has been preserved before construction of the site,
which helps to acclimatize new sapling for plantation on site as against conventional cases
69
where top soil usually are not preserved. Preservation of top soil involves collection , storage
and maintenance cost of Rs. 17/cu.m as against site where top soil are not preserved with
cost for purchase of top soil cost, supply, staking and mixing of sludge, manure, sieving is
up to Rs.228/cu.m. Hence, protection of top soil during construction is affordable and has
the potential to be replicated in affordable housing.
Preserving site Levels& topography:The original levels of the site have been preserved by
minor cut and fill. Below mentioned drawings depicts the part site section with level
difference.
Figure4.3: Partial site section showing the level difference on site
The natural drainage pattern of the site was preserved which was embedded with
gravels/aggregates/stones as a feature to enhance percolation of rainwater and helps in
storm water management. It’s a cost effective feature as the infrastructure for storm water
management required will be lesser in size and capacity as against a site in conventional
practice. The cost for trenching, excavation and cut & fill is Rs.110/m which is more in
conventional practice than in Malhar’s case. Hence, protection site levels and topography
during construction is affordable and has the potential to be replicated in affordable
housing.
Service corridor planning
Figure4.4: Service corridor trench on site and plumbing service line in each housing unit
Building services like water supply, electricity etc. is placed in aggregate utility corridors. It
is a sustainable feature which helps in protection of pavements and from unnecessary
trenching. In conventional cases, services are not planned systematically and multiple
trenches damages roads and pavements. Rs. 180/running meter is the cost for trenching to
create corridors and in conventional case it costs more than aggregate corridor as multiple
70
trenching needs additional cost. The depicted image shows water supply plumbing lines
underground in the form of an aggregate corridor for utility. Hence, aggregate service
corridor planning is affordable and has the potential to be replicated in affordable housing.
Landscape paving materials:

Soft paving
Landscape soft paving includes mud concrete road and pervious pavement for pedestrian
movement to maximize percolation of rainwater in the ground and reduce heat island effect.
Materials like chappadi, hollow clay block, Cuddapah, Brick, Grass, mulching using wooden
scraps as a waste from the sawing process, are used in the landscape pavement and
softscaping. The cost of paving is Rs.295/sq.m. In conventional cases, although similar
materials are used, perviousness of site is reduced due to increase areas of impervious
paving without ground exposure. The cost is approximately Rs.350/sq.m. Hence, pervious
paving laying is affordable and has the potential to be replicated in affordable housing.
Figure4.5:Paving with mud concrete, brick and Cuddapah and sadaralli stones
Figure4.6: Mulching over the soil to avoid soil erosion and Stone paving with grassing around a
seating space
Hard paving:
In pavement areas for circulation, pedestrian and automobiles, impervious paving in the
form of mud concrete (sand replaced by mud in PCC) and vacuum dewatered flooring
(VDF) has been respectively used. Mud concrete is sustainable as it avoids sand and uses
soil from site in comparison to conventional PCC. VFD pavement, although uses sand, still it
is sustainable because it has high SRI (solar reflective index) which reduces heat island effect
71
on site and avoids flooring like tiles/paver tiles as against plain cement concrete pavement.
Mud concrete costs as much as regular concrete, Rs 6000-7000 per cu.m , with only the
added labour cost of 10% due to mixing of soil and surkhi. In case of VDF pavement, only
additional labour cost is for the base concrete with cost of 5000-6000 per cu.m. The overall
cost of mud concrete and VDF will be cheaper than plain cement concrete (which costs 4500
per cu.m.), as additional cost of flooring is avoided as against PCC pavement. Hence, mud
concrete and VDF is affordable and has the potential to be replicated in affordable housing.
Brief details on Landscape areas and materials at Malhar Footprints:
Soft scape
 Soft scape Area : 19651 sq.m (including Lawn, bushes, shrubs
and trees (Sqm))
 Names of Native species : Terminalia, Arjuna, Ficus Religiosa
 Total site area : 30351 sq.m
 Total ground coverage : 8000 Sq.m
 % pervious pavement : 87.9 %
 % impervious pavement : 12.1 %
Hard Scape
 Pervious Paved Area : 500 sq.m
 Construction/ Material : Cuddapah, Chappadi, sadaralli
 Impervious Area (sq.m) : 2700 sq.m
 Construction/ Material : Mud concrete, VDF
 Details of any local materials used : Stone, mud blocks
Building Envelope and civil works:
Building plan is rectangular in form with surface to volume ratio as 0.43 for corner plots,
0.26 for the rest. The Window to Wall ratio is 18% for corner plots and additional 25% for
others. The materials specification in the project has materials with potential green features
which have been described below.
Roof
Roof is constructed of RCC roof slab with treatment in the form of shading has been
provided using composite sheet made of GI and Onduline sheet fixed over the steel rafters.
It helps to ventilate and shade the RCC roof, lower heat transmission from sun, supports
solar hot water system and has gutter for roof top rain water harvesting. The cost of
constructing the roof treatment is Rs. 1400/sq.m where costing for individual components
are 538/sq.m for Onduline sheet, 538/sq.m for purlins and 323/sq.m for GI sheet. Double
layered roof shading (GI + Onduline) over RCC roof has been depicted below. In
conventional cases, roof treatment using brick bat coba for insulation is given which helps in
lowering heat transmission and costs Rs.540/sq.m. Hence, we can conclude that, composite
sheet made of GI and Onduline is not affordable and can’t be replicated in affordable
housing.
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Outside
Inside
Figure4.7:Cross sectional details with photographs depicting wall bracket supporting the roof and
color of the exterior surface
Walls
Exterior wall is made of CSEB (compressed stabilized earth block) and random rubble
masonry which helps in lower heat transmission and maintains lower temperature in the
interior space than outside. The wall photographs and cross sectional details have been
depicted below.
Outside
Figure4.8: Compressed Stabilized Earth Block & Random Rubble Masonry Wall
CSEB is more environmentally sustainable in comparison to conventionally used concrete

block as it has less embodied energy with 631 MJ/cu.m (source: Auroville Earth Institute) as
against 1880 MJ/cu.m for concrete block. (Source: GRIHA Volume 4, Criterion 16- Reduce
embodied energy of construction by adopting efficient technologies and/low energy
materials)The process of manufacturing for CSEB involves usage of soil from site whereas
CMU (Concrete Masonry Unit) comprises of sand & aggregate which make these units
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higher in embodied energy. The cost of CSEB block is INR16/block (size – 400 mm x 200 mm
x 100 mm) whereas concrete block costs around INR 35/block, (400 mm x 200 mm x 100
mm). The comparative table has been depicted below.
Table 4.1: Comparative analysis for CSEB and CMU
Parameters- civil CSEB CMU

U value (W/m2.K) 2.02 3.062
Specific heat capacity 0.85 0.70
(kJ/Kg.K)
Embodied Energy 631 MJ / m3 1880 MJ/m3
density 2000 kg/m3 2349 kg/m3
Recycled content Yes - site soil - 90% No recycled content usually but in some
cases fly ask is used
cost Rs. 16/block Rs. 35 /block
Rs.3789/cu.m Rs.4375/cu.m
thermal comfort Maximum reduction of (Limitation, as monitoring restricted to
/reduction of indoor indoor temp as against only green case studies. This could be
temp as against ambient ambient is 7 deg C taken up in Phase 2.)
Green Aspect Low embodied energy as High in embodied energy due to
soil is sources from site and materials like sand, aggregate and
mixed with cement for cement involved.
stabilisation. Thus, Lower Higher carbon footprint.
carbon footprint
Structural Strength 3 N/mm2 at 28 days. 4 N/mm2 at 28 days.
Constructability Requires high skilled Doesn’t requires high skilled labour for
labour for manufacturing manufacturing
Availability preferred types are Easily available
Sandy soil and clayey soil
Hence, we can conclude that, compressed stabilized earth block is affordable and can be
replicated in affordable housing.
Shade
Windows are shaded with RCC and Mangalore tile roof overhangs. Verandahs are also
shaded with Mangalore tile roof overhangs. Both the features help in reducing solar
radiation inside the house.
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Window Verandah
Figure4.9:Cross sectional drawing of window shade & schematic sketch of veranda
Passive/ low energy technologies integrated with building envelope:

Day lighting
Daylight has been integrated through windows, courtyards and skylights in stairwell. It
helps to harvests natural daylight to the interiors and avoids artificial light usage. In
conventional practice, day lighting is provided with limitation, thus interiors are more
dependent on artificial lighting and consume energy during day time. In terms of affordable
analysis, single glazed units have been used in both the cases, costing in the range of
Rs.592/sq.m. The glazing areas will be lesser in conventional case, thus cost on materials is
lower than case study scenario. However, energy consumption will be higher in
conventional case than the case study scenario. Hence we can conclude that, integration of
day lighting is affordable and replicable in affordable housing. Photographs and drawings
highlighting day lighting have been depicted below.
Roof skylight window
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Daylight through roof in parking

Cross section of roof for underground parking
Figure4.10: Cross sectional drawings of parking area and photographs showing daylight
integration in housing units
Natural Ventilation:
Natural ventilation has been integrated through window, courtyards and high wall
ventilators. No provision for air conditioning has been provided by the developer. This
strategy helps in achieving thermal comfort and reduces dependency on air conditioning
and fan. In conventional cases, natural ventilation is integrated in limitation with usage of
air conditioning. The operating cost in case study scenario will be significantly lower than
the conventional practice, thus proving to be affordable and replicable in affordable
housing. Drawings highlighting natural ventilation have been depicted below.
Figure4.11:Cross sectional elevation depicting cross ventilation in one of the units
Interior flooring Materials

Floor finishes have been executed using green materials such as clay tiles, athangudi tiles,
vitrified and ceramic tiles, etc. In conventional practices, terrazzo tiles have been used.
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Clay Tiles Red and Green

Athangudi tiles
Ceramic Tiles Vitrified tiles
Figure4.12: Interior photographs showing usage of various flooring materials
Athangudi tiles are handmade whereas vitrified, clay and ceramic tiles uses industrial
processes. The embodied energy and prices of the tiles have been compared below in a table.
Table 4.2: Embodied energy and prices of the tiles
Athangudi Ceramic Vitrified Terrazzo

Tiles Clay tiles
tiles Tiles tiles flooring
Price (Rs./sq.m) 538 237 323 592 388
Embodied energy (MJ/kg) - 6.5 12 12 1.4
Recycled content Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Embodied energy of Athangudi tiles have not been documented but can be comparable to
terrazzo tiles as the processes are similar. All the tiles have recycled content. In terms of
pricing, clay tiles and ceramic tiles are lesser whereas, Athangudi and vitrified tiles are
costlier than terrazzo tiles. Therefore, we can conclude that, clay tiles, ceramic tiles and
terrazzo flooring can be replicated in affordable housing.
Construction technologies
Vaulted roof with CSEB has been used for underground parking. In this technology, being
sustainable, no centring is needed thereby reducing cost and time used in RCC roofing for
conventional cases. The cost for CSEB roof works out at Rs.3789/cu.m as against a RCC roof
which cost Rs. 5300 – 6000/cu.m. In both the cases RCC beams and columns are used for
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support. Therefore, it can be concluded that, vaulted roof with CSEB, is affordable and
replicable in affordable housing.
A summary of green building materials used in Malhar Footprints have been highlighted
below.
Table 4.3: Summary list of green building materials used in the project
Material Application
Stabilized Earth Blocks Walls (Exterior & interior)
Rammed earth Compound Wall (Upper level)
Ashlar Masonry Lower wall (ext.) for most residents. Some residents
have all ground level.
Stabilized Mud Blocks On all upper level of homes (above sill)( Some
(twice the size of normal bricks) above GF)(Exposed bricks)
Finished walls (with stabilized mud blocks, Purpose of aesthetics – mud plaster and distemper
plastered)
Hollow clay blocks Landscaping, hedging around plant &landscapes.
Cuddapah stone Landscaping for hard surface integrated with soil
Wood Recycled teak – sill for windows (interior)
- column at balcony
- balcony/shading structure
- window frames
- indoor staircase
Terracotta floor tiles Indoor outdoor flooring (some houses)
Bangalore stone (Sadaralli) Landscaping, hard surface, compound wall
Mud Concrete Paving (soil + cement + aggregate)
Athangudi tiles, Clay tiles, Ceramic tiles Interior flooring materials
Mud concrete, chappadi, hollow clay block, Landscape paving
Cuddapah, Brick, Grass, Mulching
Building services
Building services has been integrated in the complex to enhance the sustainable quotient.
Plumbing and electrical systems have been detailed out as under.
Water demand and source:
Total project water demand of the community is 31.75MLYwith total building water
demand @ 27 MLY (excluding drinking water). The required water is procured from ground
water @12.7 MLY, Filtered Rainwater @ 5.3 MLY and recycled Water @ 21 MLY (million
liters per year) of availability from the respective sources.
Water efficient fixtures
Water efficient low flow rate plumbing and sanitary fixtures has been used such as shower
dual flush Water Closet with 3/6 - litres/flush as against 9 litres/flush used in conventional
cases. The low flow water closet consumes 75% water less than conventional system. The
cost of low flow fixture is approximately 23% costlier than a conventional water closet.
However, on studying the water consumption pattern for one year, in a house of 4 members,
annual water consumption using efficient fixtures will be 19710 litres as against 78840 litres
for conventional water closet. In a scenario, say, water tankers of 6000 litres capacity each,
are used to meet flushing water demand. Then 3 tankers would have been supplied for
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using efficient water closet and 13 tankers for using conventional water closet thus saving
75% on cost for water tankers.
Figure4.13: Water efficient features depicting water closet and faucet
Comparative analysis for cost affordability

Table 4.4: Comparative analysis
Water Closet with 3/6 Conventional Water Closet

Parameters - water management
litre/flush dual flush of 14 litre/flush
Cost/unit (Rs.) 6500 5000
Cost comparison (%) 23% more -
Annual Water consumption for 4 19710 78840
member family (litres)
Water demand (%) 75 % less -
Water saving through tankers supply
Water tanker capacity for each 6000 litres
supply (litres)
Cost of each tanker (Rs.) Rs. 750/-
Total tanker required to meet the 3 no. 13 no.
water demand
Total cost of supplying water 2250/- 9750/-
through tanker (Rs.)
Cost paid for tanker 75 % less -
Water required through tanker 75 % less -
Therefore we can conclude that, even though water efficient fixtures cost 23%higher but it
can save 75% on water demand and cost with it and payback can be realised in less than 1
year. Thus, dual flush 3/6 water closet can be affordable and replicable in affordable
housing.
Irrigation:
Irrigation system such as micro sprinkler & drip irrigation has been used in the landscape as
depicted below in the photograph. In conventional cases, flooding method is used for
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irrigation. Micro irrigation and drip irrigation are highly efficient (0.85) with 41% less water
demand and cost compared to less efficient (0.5) flooding system, preserving water resource.
Initial cost of drip irrigation is around Rs.70000/acres where as its negligible for flooding
system.
Figure4.14: Drip irrigation and micro spray irrigation in the landscape
However, after computing the water consumption for both the scenarios, initial investment,
the payback for drip irrigation can be realised in less than one year. Hence, drip irrigation, is
affordable and can be replicable in affordable housing.
Rain water harvesting system
The total roof area of 8000 sq.m harvests 5.9 Million liters of water annually from rainwater
out of which 5.3 MLY is useful. Each house has the potential to harvest rainwater and re use.
The size of rain water harvesting tank is 175000 liters for the community. Percolation pits
along with soft drainage channels (gravel embedded) has been integrated in the ground for
efficient recharge of rainwater. Rain water from landscape surfaces is used for recharging
through percolation pits. Rain water from roof tops is used for drinking & cooking by
storing in the rain water harvesting tank.
Roof water harvesting Cross sectional drawings of roof

Figure4.15:Rainwater harvesting integration in the housing units
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Figure4.16:Surface rainwater capture & Soft drains with recharge pits on site
Components of rainwater harvesting system and its cost:

Type of rainwater harvesting system: Roof top harvesting with storage tank, site features for
percolation to recharge ground water. The rainwater harvesting system comprises of
following components:
Figure4.17: Schematic sketch of rainwater harvesting network on site
 Catchment surface: the collection surface from which rainfall runs off
 Gutters and down pipes channel water from the roof to the tank
 Screens, first-flush system and filter components which remove debris and dust from
the captured rainwater before it goes to the tank
 Storage tanks
 Delivery system: gravity-fed or pumped to the end use
 Treatment/purification: filters and other methods
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In Malhar footprints, following components with respective cost are available:

Table 4.5: Components and its costs
Component Cost
Storage tank for rainwater Rs.20, 00,000
Roof gutter system Rs. 9, 00,000
Plumbing system Rs. 12,00,000
Sand & gravel filtration system for each housing Rs. 5000/- is included in the above
unit cost
Total Cost Rs.41,00,000/-
Unit level initial investment cost Rs.42000
Annual maintenance cost Rs.1000
Roof water, from rain, is channelled through pipes, passed through a series of filters (sand &
gravel) and collected in the water tank. This process has been explained above. The
maintenance of rain water harvesting system is very minimal where only twice a year,
cleaning is required for the sand filter which costs Rs. 500 each time i.e. Rs. 1000/annum.
Following is the flow diagram of rainwater captured in Malhar Footprints:
Roof top rain water harvesting
8000 sq.m roof of Roof debris

rainwater
houses screener
water pumped to storage water tank Sand filtration

house for cooking
5.3 million litres system
and drinking
Ground water percolation
rainwater site surface ground recharge aquifer
water pumped to
house for bath and Storage tank borewell pump
general ablution
Figure4.18: Flow diagram of rainwater captured in Malhar Footprints
Sewage Treatment plant:

DEWATS (Decentralized Waste Water Treatment System) sewage treatment plant with dual
plumbing for recycled water has been designed for the community. It has the capacity to
treat waste water of 10,000 liters/day. The treated water is used for flushing and irrigation.
The cross sectional details for the DEWATS have been depicted below.
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Figure4.19:Cross sectional drawings of Waste water treatment plant – DEWATS
The cost of DEWATS system is Rs.29, 00,000. On unit level, the total cost on a shared basis,
will be Rs.30200/unit. The treatment process of DEWATS system has been depicted below:
Figure4.20: treatment process of DEWATS system Malhar Footprints
Water balance chart

Water balance for the project has been depicted below.
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Figure4.21: Water balance chart for Malhar
Sustainable and Affordability Analysis for Water Management at Malhar

Footprints:
An analysis was conducted for the sustainability and affordability for the water
management system at Malhar Footprints. This has been explained in a tabular format
below. A calculation was conducted for water demand and supply from various sources.
This calculation takes into account the annual water demand from residents and irrigation,
and supply of water from rain, recycled water and ground water.
Table 4.6: Calculation for water demand and supply from various resources
total water demand (litres) 87000 daily

total water demand (litres) 31755000 yearly
water from rain (litres) 5300000 yearly
water from recycled water(litres) 21000000 yearly
water from ground water (litres) 12700000 yearly
each water tanker supply (litres) 6000 each tank
Cost of each tanker (Rupees) in bulk supply 500 Rs/tanker
Initial investment cost of each component for water supply such as rainwater harvesting, DEWATS
system, ground water installation was taken into account.
Cost of each component cost (Rupees)
Installation cost of Rain water harvesting 4100000
Installation cost of DEWATS 2900000
Installation cost of ground water installation with break up below 180000
bore well drilling cost with casing 40000
Pump and electrical cable 120000
electrical panel and wiring 20000
total cost initial investment- (A) (Rupees) 7180000
Maintenance cost of each of the above components, for ten years, were taken into consideration as
depicted below:
maintenance cost for 10 years cost (Rupees) Period Cost for Ten Years Rupees)
cost of Rain water harvesting 1200 per annum 12000
cost of DEWATS 66000 Per annum 6,60,000
electrical Consumption/day of 22000 per month 2640000
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ground water installation

maintenance cost per year 10000 per annum 100000
total maintenance cost (B) 2752000
Grand total A + B Rs. 10592000
Therefore, the total cost of water supply, including initial investment and maintenance cost,
will be equal to Rs. 10592000/- .
In order to verify, whether the above water management system will be affordable or not, a
hypothetical scenario was compared where the project is fully dependent on water supplied
through tankers and doesn’t used rain water or treated waste water for routine usage. This
scenario has been explained below in the table.
Table 4.7: Cost of water supply
Each water tanker capacity 6000 each tank

Cost of each tanker 500 Rs/tanker
No. of tankers required 5293 per year
Total cost (Rupees) 2646250 per year
Total Cost for 10 years (Rupees) Rs. 26462500
Therefore, the total cost of water supply, from water tanker for a period of 10 years, will be
equal to Rs. 26462500/- .
The above analysis demonstrated that, the water management system employed at Malhar
Footprints is cheaper than water supplied through water-tankers. The water management
system with rainwater harvesting, DEWATS system, ground water installation saves up to
60% as against water supplied through tanker for a period of 10 years.
Renewable Energy Technologies
Renewable energy, as a source, is available at Malhar, in the form of solar hot water. As a
sustainable feature, hot water from solar hot water system is available without electricity,
thereby saving energy and conserve fossil fuels. The cost of solar hot water system is
usually, Rs. 35000 for 200 litres capacity. In conventional cases, electric geysers are used
which cost up to Rs. 10,000/-for 25 litres capacity and completely dependent on grid power.
Figure4.22:Solar Hot Water & Solar Photovoltaic panels integrated on roof top
An affordable analysis was conducted, taking into account 200 liters solar hot water system
comparing with 3 units of 25L capacity electric geyser for a single residence at Malhar. After
analysis it was observed that, payback for solar hot water is possible in less than 1 year.
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Hence, it’s concluded that, solar hot water system is affordable and replicable in affordable
housing.
Electrical
The 7.5 acres campus has a Total Connected Load (kW) of 739 kVA with source of power
from grid only. Energy efficient lamps such as 15W CFL, 15W FTL, 6W LED in internal and
150W Metal halide for external lighting have been used. No artificial cooling or air
conditioning has been used or provision been made. 8 numbers of 24 HP motors have been
used for all utilities. Passive technologies like day lighting (day lighting) and natural
ventilation have been integrated to reduce utility/operating cost. A DG of 125 kVA capacities
has been installed in the campus. Tariff rate per unit of electricity from grid supply is Rs. 4-
6/unit. Details of energy consumption, energy generation from DG are not available as the
community is occupied recently with metering being done recently.
Internal lighting:
In Malhar, energy efficient lighting has been designed with lamp types like 15W CFL, 15W
FTL, 6W LED for internal lighting has been used. The mentioned lamps are efficient in
nature which have longer life, better lumen output and consumes less energy than a normal
60W incandescent bulb. Contents of mercury in CFL and FTL should be taken care while
disposal, which is not present in incandescent bulb. A comparison between 15W CFL, 40W
FTL, 60 W incandescent bulb and 7W LED has been highlighted below. It’s observed that, in
an operational span of 5 years, the total investment will be highest and same for both CFL
and incandescent lamp with FTL being the least followed by LED. Hence we can conclude
that, in terms of environment sustainability and cost factor, LED has the potential to be
replicated in affordable housing. The Details are given below in the table.
Table 4.8: Comparative analysis for Compact fluorescent lamp, Tube light and incandescent lamps
Parameters - lighting - CFL Tube light - incandescent

LED 7 W
systems - 15W 40W (T8) bulb 60 W
total watt 18 48 60 7
luminous efficacy 25 30 7 70-90
Operational 78840 210240 219000 30660

energy in a year
(kWh)
Post usage waste contains contains not toxic to Not toxic to environment
management mercury that is mercury that is environment
hazardous to hazardous to
environment environment
Green Aspect lowest in highest in Recyclable, no mercury,
energy energy reduces night sky
consumption consumption illumination ; less
maintenance
life of fixture 10,000 7,000 750 24000
(hours)
total days of life 833 583 63 2000
Cost(Rs/unit) 200 40 15 350
total investments 438 125 438 320
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Parameters - lighting - CFL Tube light - incandescent

LED 7 W
systems - 15W 40W (T8) bulb 60 W
in 5 years(Rs.)
Availability yes Yes Yes YES
Table 4.9: Comparison of metal halide & mercury vapour lamp sodium vapour and led lamp for
external lighting
Metal Mercury Sodium
LED
Halide Vapour Vapour
Lamp Wattage (watt) 150 250 150 90
Ballast Wattage (watt) 18 45 22 3
Total Fixture Wattage (watt) 168 295 172 93
Lamp Cost (rupees) 550 275 250 15000
Ballast Cost (rupees) 600 750 600 0
(Lamp + Ballast) Housing Cost (rupees) 1900 1500 1750 0
Lamp Hours 8000 2000 5000 24000
Total Fixture Cost (rupees) 3050 2525 2600 15000
Considering equal lamp life -Total Final Cost (rupees) 3050 10100 4160 15000
Average operation per hour 10 10 10 10
Luminous Efficacy (Lm /watt) 80-110 40-60 80-100 90-
120
Annual Operational hour 3650 3650 3650 3650
Annual Units Consumption (kWh) 613.2 1076.75 627.8 339.45
Energy Cost (rupees) 8 8 8 8
Total Annual Energy Cost (rupees) 4906 8614 5022 2716
Summary for outdoor efficient lighting

From the above analysis we can conclude that,
1. Since the capital cost and energy cost of metal halide is much less than Mercury
vapours, it is both affordable, energy efficient and replicable in affordable housing
project. In simple payback terms, it will be zero years.
2. Since the capital cost and energy cost of metal halide is marginally less than sodium
vapour lamp it is both affordable, energy efficient and replicable in affordable
housing project. In simple payback terms, it will be 9.5 years.
3. In comparison to Metal Halide, capital expenditure of LED is higher but consumes
lesser energy. Uniformity and better vision is the advantage of LED in comparison
with metal halide In terms of simple payback; LED will have 2.67 years in
comparison to Metal halide.
Solid Waste Management

Solid waste management at Malhar has been systematically achieved through segregation of
dry and wet waste. Dry waste is sent to the dump yard for systematic recycling by BBMP
(Bangalore Municipality). Wet waste is managed at unit level by using potable composter
that converts waste into manure/compost for garden use. The above process reduces
environmental pollution arising from waste. The portable composter used, is a product from
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Daily Dump, called Kambha 3 Tiered Small, costing approximately Rs.990/unit and ideal for a
family of two. The additional cost of buying manure and its transportation is also avoided,
making it affordable to replicate.
Performance monitoring
The qualitative analysis has been performed by studying instantaneous thermal and visual
performance of the project along with occupant’s experience. Since the habitat design do not
have typical or repetitive layout designs of dwelling units, 3 of the 96 units which are close
to most of the remaining layout’s design were selected for instantaneous measurements i.e.
B2, E12 and C4 units. Whilst, the chosen units have their exposed surfaces to the worst
orientations which means, the readings taken can be considered as from typical worst cases.
Occupant’s experiences have been collected from units H13 and A6 as part of the qualitative
analysis.
Measurements were taken between 15:00 to 16:30 Hrs on 22nd of August 2014. Sky condition
was partially cloudy with illuminance range varying between 10000 to 18000 lux. DF
(Daylight Factor) is calculated based on the outdoor simultaneous illuminance levels. Since
there was no wind movement observed during the visit no air velocity was measured.
However day lighting and thermal conditions are registered.
Methodology:
Instantaneous indoor day lighting measurements were taken at a height of 700mm with ‘Lux
meter’ at a grid level of approx. 2000 mm X 2000 mm. Instantaneous thermal conditions
were measured with ‘Anemometer’ at various points indoor and immediate outdoor. For
Unit B2, a 24 hours reading was taken with ‘Thermo hydro meter’. In addition surface
temperatures of the main building fabric i.e. roof, walls, floor, were measured with ‘Thermal
gun’. Following are the images of the instruments used for field studies.
Lux meter Anemometer
Thermo hygrometer Thermal gun
Figure4.23: Different instruments used in study.
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Unit B2
Unit B2 is one of the typical layouts with 2290 Sq.ft built-up area. The duplex type is
exposed to its west and east while south and north are shared with common walls of the
neighboring units. Therefore openings are on both east and west with a skylight in living
space staircase. All the windows are provided with clear glass and shaded with horizontal
projections. Skylight material is a polycarbonate sheet, allowing diffused natural light. West
orientation is exposed to more open space against to east which is towards the cluster’s
court space. Flooring is provided with Athangudi tiles in bedrooms and Jaisalmer marble in
living and kitchen spaces. Reflective factor of surfaces are considered as: Roof: 0.7, Wall: 0.6,
Floor: 0.3.
Instantaneous measurements information:
Floor Plans of B2 Unit:
Figure4.24:Floor plans and photographs of Unit B2
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200 lux 345 lux

335 lux
265 lux
141 lux
106 lux
390 lux
171 lux
9000-11000 lux
Figure4.25: Monitoring positions for the day light.
Monitoring positions for daylight have been depicted below in the house.
Day lighting
Average Lux Daylight Recommended Compliance remarks
Space type
level measured Factor (DF) % DF by NBC 2005 for NBC 2005
Living/Dining (GF) 171 1.71 0.625 Yes
Bedroom (GF) 265 2.65 0.625 Yes
Bedroom (FF) 335 3.35 0.625 Yes
Bedroom 2 (FF) 345 3.45 0.625 Yes
Living 2 (FF) 603 6.03 0.625 Yes
Kitchen 200 2 2.5 No
Observation
The daylight quality of the house is acceptable in all living spaces exceeding the average
daylight factor recommended by NBC 2005 except kitchen. Quality of the daylight is due to
large windows with clear glass and high lintel height. Average window areas are 3.2sq.m
varying from 1.1 to 5.2 sq.m. The window sizes vary with largest windows of 2.4m x 2.15m
to 1.2m x 0. 9m and window heights vary from 1.2 and 2.15m which contributes to high
daylight in the internal spaces. Window to wall ratio for houses are approximately 25%.
Monitoring positions for surface and dry bulb temperature have been depicted below in the house
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Surface temp: East Wall

Outdoor -30.8°C, Indoor -
Indoor temp:
30.0°C, RH:60%
Indoor temp:
30.0°C, RH:60%
Surface temp: West Wall

Outdoor -30.8°C, Indoor -
Figure4.26: Monitoring positions for the temperature and relative humidity.
Thermal
Surface temperature
Inner Surface Outer Surface
Surface Type
temperature (C) temperature (C)
Roof 28.6 -
East wall 28.4 30.8
West wall 28.4 30.8
North wall 28.4 Common wall
South wall 28.4 Common wall
Summary
As per the analysis, the visual comfort inside the house is satisfactory with illuminance
levels above the NBC recommended. Kitchen though is slightly less than required; most of
the area is filled with enough day lighting that the user may not need to put on any artificial
lighting. The thermal comfort is also in the range of NBC (National Building Code). As per
NBC the achieved thermal values are still within the comfortable range. However, not much
variation was found between indoor and outdoor conditions.
Unit E12
Unit E12 is a 2 bedroom studio type with of 1250 Sq.ft built-up area. The layout consist an
open courtyard and open surfaces towards north, south and west while east side shares
common wall with neighbouring unit. All the passages and living space are connected to
courtyard directly which are semi closed. All the windows are provided with clear glass and
shaded with horizontal projections. Flooring is provided with Jaisalmer marble in Living,
dining and kitchen areas and Athangudi tiles bedrooms. Reflective factor of surfaces are
considered as: Roof: 0.7, Wall: 0.6, Floor: 0.3.
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Instantaneous measurements information:
Floor Plans of E12 unit:
Figure4.27: Floor plans and photographs of Unit E12
Day lighting
Average Lux level Daylight NBC

Space type
measured Factor (DF) % Recommended DF
Dining/kitchen (GF) 493 2.7 2.5
Bedroom (GF) 304 1.7 0.625
Bedroom (FF) 330 1.8 0.625
Bedroom 2 (FF) 274 1.5 0.625
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Surface temperature
Inner Surface Outer Surface

Surface Type
temperature (C) temperature (C)
Roof 27.8
East wall 27.1 Common wall
West wall 27.1 30.8
North wall 27.8 30.8
South wall 27.8 32
Both visual and thermal comforts in the residential unit are acceptable as per NBC. Day
lighting is available in plenty.
Unit C4
Unit C4 is another typical layout, close to most other layout types. The layout consists of an
open courtyard with a total built-up area of 2000 Sq.ft. All the windows are provided with
clear glass and shaded with horizontal projections. Flooring is provided with Jaisalmer
marble in Living, dining and kitchen areas and vitrified tiles in bedrooms. Reflective factor
of surfaces are considered as: Roof: 0.7, Wall: 0.6, Floor: 0.3.
Figure4.28:Floor plans and photographs of Unit C4
Monitoring positions for daylight have been depicted below in the house.
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104 lux 149 lux 700 lux 330 lux
368 lux
209 lux
193 lux
Outdoor Lux
level 7000 lux
Figure4.29: Monitoring positions for the day light.
Observation
The daylight quality of the house is acceptable in all living spaces exceeding the average
daylight factor recommended by NBC 2005 except kitchen. Quality of the daylight is due to
large windows with clear glass and high lintel height. Average window areas are 2.3 sq.m
varying from 0.6 to 4.2 sq.m. The window sizes vary with largest windows of 2.0m x 2.1m to
1.0m x 0. 6m and window heights vary from 1.0 and 2.1 m which contributes to high
daylight in the internal spaces. Window to wall ratio for houses are approximately 25%.
Day lighting
Average Lux level Daylight Factor (DF) NBC Recommended

Space type
measured % DF
Living (GF) 192 2.7 0.625
Kitchen (GF) 148 2.1 2.5
Bedroom (GF) 330 4.7 0.625
Family room 209 2.9 0.625
Study 368 5.2 1.9
Bedroom 1 329 4.7 0.625
Bedroom 2 330 4.7 0.625
Monitoring positions for surface and dry bulb temperature have been depicted below in the house.
94
Surface temp: Floor: 28.6 °C

Roof: 29.5°C, Indoor - 28.6°C
Indoor temp:
30.4°C,
Outdoor
West Wall
Outdoor
East Wall
Indoor
Temperatur Indoor temp:
e/RH 30.5°C,
29.4°C/64.3
%
Figure4.30: Monitoring positions for the temperature and relative humidity.
Surface temperature
Surface Type Inner Surface temperature (C) Outer Surface temperature (C)
Roof 28.6
East wall 33 30
West wall 38 42
North wall 27.8 30.8
South wall 27.8 32
Summary
The thermal performance measurements were taken in the worst exposed room, i.e.
bedroom in southwest. During the measurement it is observed that for certain period of
time the west wall is being exposed to sun at low incident angle hence considered to have
resulted in higher internal temperatures. Whilst the large openings on west and east sides
with clear glass added up heat gains. As per the architect these residence designs are
intended to get shaded through landscape features in few months. Day lighting available is
observed to be plenty during daytimes.
A data logging was conducted for one of the houses to analyses the internal temperature
with respect to the ambient temperature. It was observed that, the room temperature was
varying between 27 to 29 deg C as against ambient air temperature of 23 to 36 deg C. The
relative humidity varied between 73 – 74% making it thermally comfortable for the
occupant.
95
Figure4.31: Comparison of internal and ambient temperature profile at Malhar Footprints
4.1.4 Summary of on-field interviews

Developer: Malhar Footprints has been developed by Good-earth Eco – Developments (P)
Ltd. at Kengeri. The developer has been working in the field of sustainable design and
building for the past 25 years and envisioned to create sustainable housing solutions which
can compete in the mainstream. Footprints, designed as a G+1 cluster homes, is developed
with a total cost of Rs.1600/sq.ft (2011) to Rs.2000/sq.ft (2014) without seeking financial
support from anybody. In order to develop as an affordable green housing, land cost,
location from city, material availability; green features and its cost were taken into
consideration. The unit cost of sale price was adjusted in the range of 55-90 lakhs. Operation
and maintenance is beneficial in maintaining the characters by overcoming challenges of
building services and providing one stop solution for home owners.
Architects: The architect provided all the data pertaining to area statements, construction
details for site planning, landscaping, and civil works required for analysis. Architects had
the challenge of integrating the green features along with the vernacular character of the
cluster housing. Green features like pervious paving, rainwater harvesting, sun shade, and
roofing have been aesthetically integrated by overcoming labour and pricing issues.
Contractor: Malhar Footprints was executed through labour contract method where
multiple groups were working with 5-10 members in each team. It was a challenge to find
skilled labour for executing green features on site.
User group: Two families, both house owners, were interviewed who are working with
private organisations. The cost of the house was in the range of 72 to 94 Lakhs, which was
affordable, spatially well arranged, thermally and visually comfortable, easy to maintain and
socially acceptable. Waste recycling is done at municipality level and wet waste composted
at unit level. The cost and affordability for green features with the pricing are acceptable for
the users.
96
4.1.5 Summary from the case study

Table 4.10: Summary of the Green Features along with cost and affordability analysis for Good Earth Malhar Project
Green Feature in Case study Conventional Features

Whether Replicability
Sl
Affordabl in Affordable
no. Details Cost Green Rationale Details Cost
e Yes/No housing
(Y/N)
Sustainable site planning
1 Tree None Controls Y Trees are usually additional cost for tree Y
protection microclimate and soil cut. cutting and permissions
erosion if protected (not available)
2 Soil Helps in saving cost of Preserves the natural Y No soil Purchase of top soil cost. Y
preservatio bringing top soil from a top soil and natural preservation. Cost Cost for supply, staking
n nursery post construction. biome. of new soil to be and mixing of sludge,
Collection , storage and bought. manure, sieving is
maintenance cost of top soil Rs.228/cu.m
is Rs. 17/cu.m
3 Preserving No additional cost helps in Preserves natural Y No Protection of Rs. 110/cu.m for trenching Y
Contours & saving on additional topography site Levels. Cut and fill and additional cut and fills
topography infrastructure for storm features like process by excavation. Sizing of storm
water management. Rs. drainage pattern and contractor needs water management is more
110/cu.m. Sizing of storm helps in storm water additional cost as cut and fill cost and gets
water management is less as management. more water from run off to
it follows contour and gets handle.
less water from run off.
4 Service Rs. 180/running meter for Protection of Y Service corridor Rs. 180/running meter for Y
corridor trenching. Combining of pavements and from planning from trenching. Cost is more
planning services reduces the cost on unnecessary multiple direction than Malhar case as
services lines. And its trenching & service corridors. multiple trenching needs
97

Sl
e Yes/No housing
(Y/N)
maintenance. Hence more additional cost
economical than
conventional.
Landscape paving materials
5 Mud Cost of sand is avoided in Avoids sand and Y Pedestrian paths of Rs.4480/cu.m for supply Y
concrete making roads and site soil uses soil from site. PCC and laying PCC.
Roads for is used as a replacement Since this road finish
pedestrian is lighter in color,
hence helps in
reducing heat island.
6 Pervious Rs. 295/sq.mts. Controls Heat Island Y impervious paving cost is higher than pervious Y
paving using effect and enhances paving due to high quantity
local stones percolation of Storm of materials. Rs. 350/sq.mts.
and grass water & run off
control, recharges
ground water.
7 Mulching Wood scrap waste Protects soil from Y Grassing of soil is no additional cost Y
generated from carpentry erosion and reduces done.
work used for mulching. evaporation of water
from soil
Passive Solar Features
98

Sl
e Yes/No housing
(Y/N)
17 Compresse Rs 16/unit Low embodied y CMU Rs 30/block, Y
d Stabilised energy as soil is
Earth block sources from site and
masonry mixed with cement
Wall for stabilisation
19 Plastering 30/sft (323/sq.m) None, due to exposed Plastering of wall - 30/sft (323/sq.m) Y
of wall - CSEB
20 Painting 15/sft (162/sq.m) None, due to exposed Painting 15/sft (162/sq.m) Y
CSEB
21 Double Rs. 50/sq.ft for Onduline Ventilates and shade N RCC Roof slab + RCC- Rs. 5300 – 6000/cu.m N
layered sheet (538/sq.m) the RCC roof, low Brick bat coba + 540/sq.m
roof (GI heat transmission
+Onduline) Rs. 50/sq.ft (538/sq.m) for from sun, supports
over RCC purlins Rs. 30/sq.ft solar hot water
roof (323/sq.m) for GI sheet system and has
gutter for roof top
rain water harvesting
Rs. 5300 – 6000/cu.m for
RCC
22 Shaded RCC- Rs. 5300 – 6000/cu.m Cut down solar Y Shading of RCC- Rs. 5300 – 6000/cu.m Y
windows for laying of shades radiation to the windows
&veranda interior space and
minimizes heating
99

Sl
e Yes/No housing
(Y/N)
23 Day Rs. 55/sq.ft of Harvests natural Y Day lighting is Rs. 55/sq.ft of glazing Y
lighting glazing(592/sq.m) used in daylight to the provided with (592/sq.m) used in the
through the windows interiors and avoid limitation windows. Cost of glazing
windows , artificial light usage may be lower as the
veranda , window areas will
stairwell comparatively lesser
roof
skylights in
parking
24 Natural No cost involved Reduces dependence Y Natural ventilation No cost involved Y
Ventilation on AC and fan and is provided with
through keeps indoor air limitation and
windows quality at healthy equivalent cases
and levels have may have AC
ventilator installed.
Green materials in interior finish
26 Athangudi Rs.50/sq.ft (538/sq.m) Low embodied N terrazzo flooring Rs. 388 /sq.m N
tiles energy
28 Clay tiles 22/sq.ft (237/sq.m) Low embodied Y terrazzo flooring Rs. 388 /sq.m Y
energy
29 Vitrified 55 /sq.ft (592/sq.m) Recycled content N terrazzo flooring Rs. 388 /sq.m N
tiles
30 Ceramic 30/sq.ft (323/sq.m) Low embodied Y terrazzo flooring Rs. 388 /sq.m Y
tiles energy and recycling
100

Sl
e Yes/No housing
(Y/N)
Water Management
31 Rainwater Tank – Rs.20,00,000 for Water recycling and Y Rainwater harvesting Tank – Rs.20,00,000 for Y
harvesting 175000 litres tank capacity, usage of rainwater in with Roof harvesting 175000 litres tank
with Roof for 96 families domestic demand and Site features. capacity
harvesting Roof gutter- Rs. 9,00,000, for and landscape This feature is Roof gutter- Rs. Y
and Site 96 families irrigation. Reduces mandatory in 9,00,000
features Plumbing- Rs. 12,00,000, for dependency on Bangalore. Hence Plumbing- Rs. Y
96 families municipal water for also used in 12,00,000
non-potable use. conventional cases
32 Waste Rs. 29,00,000.00 for 10,000 Waste water Y Directly connected to Y
water litres capacity for 96 families recycling and reuse the municipal
treatment drainage
plant -
DEWATS
33 Water Cost of the fixture is Rs.3500 High water saving in Y conventional fixtures cost of the fixture is Y. Payback is
efficient for low flow faucets and building water Rs.1750 for less than 1
fixtures Rs.6500 for dual flush 3/6 demand due to low conventional faucets year for
lp/flush water closets flow efficient and Rs.5000 for Single efficient
fixtures, thus flush 9lp/flush water fixtures
conserving the water closets
resource
34 Irrigation cost of a sprinkler system Low flow irrigation Y Pipes are used Y
with depends on no. of sprinkler equipment with high
sprinkler heads/pendants which costs efficiency helps in
and drip around Rs.460 each water saving in
landscaping, , thus
101

Sl
e Yes/No housing
(Y/N)
conserving the water
resource
38 Solar Hot Rs. 20000/100 litres (Venus Hot water without Y Solar Hot Water Rs. 20000/100 litres Y
Water solar hot water) electricity is available systems are available (Venus solar hot
thereby saving in conventional water)
energy homes
Construction technologies
40 CSEB Block Rs 16/unit (size to be No centring is Y RCC roof RCC- Rs. 5300 – Y
vault for specifies)+additional cost of needed thereby 6000/cu.m + 540/sq.m
parking RCC beams reducing cost and
time
Energy
43 15W CFL 200 - 250 Reduces energy Y CFL 200 - 250 Y
44 15W FTL 200 - 250 consumption Y CFL 200 - 250 Y
45 6W LED 400 Reduces energy Y CFL 200 - 250 Y
consumption
46 150W MH 1900 Mercury Vapour 1500 n
102
Case studies under Moderate Climate Zone - Rohan and Reshmy’s House
4.2 Field Study of Rohan and Reshmy’s House, Bangalore

4.2.1 Introduction
The House of Rohan & Reshmy is located in Mariyanapallya, Bangalore. The residence is a
two storey (G+1) load bearing construction. The front view and floor plans of the house are
presented in Figure4.32&Figure4.33. Green and affordability concepts implemented in the
house are described in detail in the following sections. Table 4.11presents an overview of the
project details.
Figure4.32. Front view of Rohan & Reshmy’s house

Table 4.11: Overview of the Rohan &Reshmy’s house
Details about the project

Climate (as per NBC) Moderate
Location Mariyanapallya ,Bangalore (13°03’ N, 77°36’E)
Site Area 158Sqm
Built-up Area 125 Sqm
FSI 0.8
Type of Project Individual (3BHK)
No. of Units 1
Density 26 families/Acre if developed as individual
plots
Distance from City ~15 KM
Year of Occupancy 2013
Construction Period 10 Months
Architect Chitra Vishwanath
Contractor Ranganath
Level of Mechanisation Low
Skill level of Labour High
103

Total Cost of Construction Rs. 2300/Sft
Total Life Cycle Cost (50 years) Rs. 4100/Sft
Total Carbon Foot Print ~22Kgs of CO2 Equivalent/Sqm/Year
Green features/ alternative construction Rain water harvesting, Reed system for water
technologies incorporated treatment, Compressed earth blocks (CEB),
masonry, Jack arch roofs, Local materials, Solar
water heater, Solar photovoltaic cells, Energy
efficient lighting fixtures and water efficient
plumbing fixtures
4.2.2 Details of green and affordable features
Alternate Construction Techniques & Materials

The materials and techniques used for construction of the house are majorly alternative and
locally sourced thus lowering the overall cost and embodied energy of the house. Details of
the house construction are discussed in the following sections.
Wall
The Compressed Earth Stabilized Blocks (CESB) used for the house is manufactured using
soil from the same site. The CESB is beneficial due to its uniform building component sizes,
usage of local materials and reduction in transportation. Because of uniform surface texture
and skilled work, the masonry of the CESB does not require any plastering or painting, thus
resulting in material and cost savings.
Figure4.33: Floor plans of the house
104
Roof
The roofing of the entire house is of pre-cast jack arched type. Though the construction of
the roof is labour intensive, this technique is highly cost-effective. The adoption of this
technique helps the users save out on a lot of construction material (concrete and steel) and
in turn money. The profile of the jack arch roof gives lateral or transverse strength to the
panels for distributing the load through compressive forces. The strength of a jack arch roof
is comparable to the conventional RCC roof due to its structure. Jack arch roof has low
embodied energy as compared to the RCC roof because its quantity of cement/ cement per
unit volume of the roof. It consists 40% less steel-however; the overall energy content is
determined by the embodied energy of the brick tiles used in the roof construction. The roof
has better thermal performance because of reduced thermal gains possible with the brick
tiles used in it. Details of jack arch roof and an image of ceiling inside the house are
provided inFigure4.34.
Figure4.34: Details of Jack arch roof construction
Lintel
An interesting technique used in the project is U-shaped mud blocks to make the lintels.
Instead of providing a continuous lintel, the architects of the house came up with this cost-
effective technique which not only saves material but also helps to impart a uniform look to
the walls. Hollow mud-blocks were placed where the windows were to be made and were
filled with steel and concrete. The technique saves a significant amount of concrete and steel
and results in cost effective and less energy intensive. Figure4.35provide images of U-
shaped mud blocks and view of a lintel inside the house.
Figure4.35: Hollow Mud-Block used for Lintel construction
105
Doors & Windows

Doors used in the construction except the main door are flush doors. These doors are less
expensive but durable. Terracotta Jalis were used near the first floor utility area instead of a
steel grill. This results in reduction of the overall costs and embodied energy of the building.
Flooring & Other Materials
In bedrooms of the house, clay tiles were used for flooring, which contributes to the overall
low embodied energy and costs of the building. Kota stone has been used for kitchen
platforms & granite for cupboards. These local materials result in lower embodied energy.
Component wise embodied energy and costs of major items are compared with the
conventional construction and the details are tabulated in Table 4.12 & Table 4.13.
Figure4.36&Figure4.37illustrates the comparison of cost per unit and the embodied energy
per unit of different components of envelope discussed above.
Figure4.36: Cost comparison of alternative low-cost materials with conventional materials
Figure4.37: Energy comparison of alternative low-energy materials with conventional materials
106
4.2.3 Component wise embodied energy of the building and the possible savings
Table 4.12:Component wise embodied energy of the building and the possible savings when compared to conventional construction
Embodied Embodied
Total EE of Description Total EE of Reducti
S. Building Description of Total energy Total energy
Unit component of the Unit component on in
No Component the material Quantity (MJ per Quantity (MJ per
(MJ) material (MJ) EE (%)
unit) unit)
Rohan & Reshmy’s House Conventional House
1 Foundation Stone Masonry 53.1 cum 1376 73060 Stone 53.1 cum 1376 73060 0
Masonry
2 Plinth RCC 18.8 sqm 830 15628 RCC 18.8 sqm 830 15628 0
3 Beams RCC 17.3 sqm 830 14382 RCC 17.3 sqm 830 14382 0
4 Walls Soil-Cement 64.1 cum 728 46678 Burnt Clay 64.1 cum 2141 137238 66
Block Masonry Brick Masonry
(7%cement)
5 Roof RCC flat roof 41.1 sqm 730 30001 R C C Flat 193.6 sqm 730 141318 18
Jack Arched Roof 152.5 sqm 560 85394 Roof
6 Flooring Clay Tiles 42.0 sqm 121 5070 Terrazo 81.8 sqm 92.7 7582 -61
Vitrified Tiles 39.8 sqm 180 7158 Flooring
7 Lintel R C C filled in U- 5.7 sqm 830 4698 RCC 18.8 sqm 830 15628 70
Blocks
8 Window RCC 14.5 sqm 730 10552 RCC 14.5 sqm 730 10552 0
shades-chajja
9 Doors Teak door 0.1 cum 2250 194 Flush Doors 17.6 sqm 482 8483 9
Flush Doors 15.6 sqm 482 7519
10 RCC Staircase 5.6 sqm 830 4641 RCC Staircase 5.6 sqm 830 4641 0
Total Embodied Energy (MJ) 304975 Total Embodied Energy (MJ) 428513 29
Total Embodied Energy (GJ/ 100Sqm) 244 Total Embodied Energy (GJ/ 100Sqm) 342
107
4.2.4 Component wise costs of the building and the possible savings
Table 4.13: Component wise costs of the building and the possible savings when compared to conventional construction
Total Total Estimate

Building Total Total Cost
S. No Description Unit Description Quantit Unit Cost (in d savings
Component Quantity (in Rs)
y Rs) (% )
Rohan & Reshmy’s House Conventional House
1 Site Works Excavation, termite & - - 33,111 Excavation, termite & - - 33,111 0
water proofing and water proofing and
filling filling
2 Foundation Stone Masonry 53.1 cum 1,96,998 Stone Masonry 53.1 cum 1,96,998 0
3 Plinth RCC 3.8 cum 52,452 RCC 3.8 cum 52,452 0
4 Beams RCC 4.0 cum 35,614 RCC 4.0 cum 35,614 0
5 Lintel U-block lintel 80.9 rm 29,275 RCC 80.9 rm 52,452 44
6 Walls Stabilised mud blocks- 320.6 sqm 3,73,768 Burnt Clay Brick- 8" 320.6 sqm 4,48,522 17
9"thick and 4"thick thick and 4" thick
7 Plastering Cement, Mud plastering 760.3 sqm 1,62,898 Cement Plastering 760.3 sqm 2,45,588 34
8 Roof RCC flat Roof 4.1 cum 36,304 RCC 29.0 cum 4,13,075 12
Jack Arch Roof 152.5 sqm 3,27,627
9 Flooring Vitrified & clay tiles 98.5 sqm 99,812 Terrazo Flooring 98.5 sqm 38,226 -161
10 Windows Glazing & Shutters with 18.2 sqm 1,88,084 Glazing & Shutters 18.2 sqm 1,88,084 0
grill with grill
11 Window shade Chajja & Loft 14.5 sqm 14,004 Chajja & Loft 14.5 sqm 14,004 0
12 Doors Flush doors 26.3 sqm 1,42,916 Flush Doors 26.3 sqm 1,42,916 0
13 Staircase Folded Plate RCC 0.6 cum 7,411 Folded Plate RCC 0.6 cum 7,411 0
Staircase Staircase
14 Hand rail Teak Wood 9.2 rm 11,762 Teak Wood 9.2 rm 11,762 0
15 Cupboards Granite slabs (Part of 32.6 sqm 2,69,560 Granite slabs (Part of 32.6 sqm 2,69,560 0
civil structure) civil structure)
108
Total Total Estimate

Building Total Total Cost
S. No Description Unit Description Quantit Unit Cost (in d savings
Component Quantity (in Rs)
y Rs) (% )
16 Painting Only internal 546.2 Sqm 97,106 Both External & 1100.0 sqm 1,94,213 50
Internal
17 Additional Skylight (civil works) 4.1 sqm 23,487 Nil - - 0 0
features
18 Services Excluding energy - - 3,01,084 Excluding energy - - 3,01,084 0
(electrical) efficient fixtures efficient fixtures
19 Services Excluding rainwater - - 1,89,408 Excluding rainwater - - 1,89,408 0
(plumbing) components components
20 Water Efficient Domestic & sanitary - - 1,03,630 Conventional - - 64,769 -60
Fixtures
21 Rain water RW filter, Sump tank - - 94,600 RW filter, Sump tank - - 94,600 0
harvesting construction (10K L construction (10K L
system capacity),water level capacity),water level
controller, pipes controller, pipes
22 Waste water Reed Bed System - - 81,433 Nil - - 0 -
treatment system
23 Energy efficient LEDs & CFLs - - 24,610 Conventional - - 6,153 -300
lighting fixtures (Incandescent & FTL)
24 Solar Hot water Solar Thermal System - - 38,000 Nil - - 0 -
system (125 Lts)
25 Photovoltaic 1.25 kWp Capacity - - 2,18,500 Nil - - 0 -
Panels (including inverter,
batteries, cabling etc..,)
Total Cost (Rs) 31,53,455 Total Cost (Rs) 30,00,000 -5
Total Cost (Rs/Sft) 2,345 Total Cost (Rs/Sft) 2,230
109
Energy Management
Passive Design
The architecture of the house construction incorporates a few passive elements. A skylight
above the stairs lights up the staircase and the common room on the first floor. A good
number of ventilators in every room keep the spaces well-circulated. Windows and
ventilators integrated with the roof ensure naturally lit and thermally comfortable spaces,
thus reducing the load on artificial lighting and ventilation. The mud bricks keep the
interiors very cool and the ventilators ensure fresh air, thus lowering the need of switching
on fans also. Figure4.38provides the images of skylight and roof level ventilators provided
inside the house.
Figure4.38: Skylight atrium and the ventilators below the roof
Energy efficiency
Energy check is kept on the house not just through the various energy efficient lighting
fixtures used in the house. Majority of the energy is sourced from the alternative sources like
solar PV and solar thermal systems. Only CFLs and LED lights have been used in the
entire house. Although the initial cost of these fixtures is quite high the operational energy
consumption is comparable. The house’s dependency on the external grid power is only
7kWh/Sqm/annum out of the total consumption of the house 28 kWh/Sqm/annum, whereas
the total energy consumption of a conventional house in Bangalore could be
85kWh/Sqm/annum.
Solar Photovoltaic Cells
Solar PV system of capacity 1.25 kWp integrated with power conditioning unit (PCU) has
been placed on the roof which meet the energy requirements of the house. The PV cells
produce energy and store them in batteries for use. The house meets its requirement from
this renewable source till the battery level is above 20%. When it drops below 20%, the house
draws electricity from the grid. When and if the grid fails, the house uses 20% reserve of the
solar batteries. Currently, 44% of the house’s annual energy demand is met by the Solar PV
and 28% is met by the grid power.
110
Solar Water Heater

A solar water heater with a capacity of 200 litres is installed on the roof suffices the hot
water requirement of the house. Although there is a geyser of 2kW capacity (25 Lts), it is
used very seldom in the house.
Figure4.39: Solar PV cells and Solar water heater
Solar hot water feature reduces the load on one of the most energy consuming devices in the
house. About 28% of annual energy used for hot water is saved due to this renewable energy
feature installed in the house. Thus, a minimal grid power along with the solar power
generated from Solar PV and the energy used for hot water through solar thermal systems
make the house energy efficient. Figure4.40provides the details of energy balance in the
house.
Figure4.40: Energy balance in the Rohan &Reshmy’s house
Water Management
Rainwater Harvesting System
Rain water is the primary source of water for the residents of this house. An 8000 litre
underground sump tank receives the rain water that is directed from the roof to it through
a charcoal bed for filtration (Figure4.41). Another 2000 litre tank catches all the run off from
111
the paved surface around the house which is used for car washing and landscaping. The un-
built area of the site was made paved with the sole purpose of catching the rain water.
Figure4.41: Details of Rain water filtration system
Water Treatment and Re-use

The house employs a simple and effective water treatment system. The water from the bath,
washing machine and basins go to a reed bed system planted on the terrace. The system is
a 5 chambered set of reed beds which ensure a high degree treatment. The treated water is
then used for flushing. Detail of the system is illustrated inFigure4.42.
Figure4.42: Details of Rain water filtration system
Efficient Plumbing
The plumbing fixtures installed in the house are low flow fixtures. The water demand of
house especially for plumbing and sanitary fixtures is almost 40% lower than the
conventional. Though the initial investment for these fixtures, rain water harvesting system
and the reed bed system is little high, it benefits in terms of operational cost savings with
less dependency on the fresh water.
More than 70% of the water used in the house is the filtered rain water which reduces its
dependency on the fresh/municipal water. Another sustainable practice is that there is no
ground water used in the house to minimise the pressure on natural resources. Details of the
water balance in the house are illustrated inFigure4.43.
112
Figure4.43: Water balance in the Rohan &Reshmy’s house
Performance Monitoring
Indoor environmental parameters that indicate occupant comfort conditions (both thermal
and visual) inside house were monitored during the month of September. Thermo hydro
data loggers, Infrared laser gun and a lux meter were used to monitor these parameters for a
24-hr occupied period.
Thermal Comfort
It is apparent that the materials used for construction of the house result in lower heat gains
inside the space. Table 4.14&Figure4.44 presents thermal comfort parameters observed
inside the house. One of the major parameters that were resulted due to massive wall is
lower Mean radiant temperature (MRT). Lower air temperatures and MRT were observed
on the ground floor due to shading by the surrounding buildings and the orientation. This
parameter is expected to reduce further during winter and might cause much cooler
environment inside the spaces.
113
Figure4.44: Indoor thermal comfort conditions observed in Rohan &Reshmy’s house

Table 4.14:Indoor thermal comfort parameters observed during the study period
Avg. Air Ag. Relative Mean Radiant

Floor Space
Temperature(°C) Humidity (%) Temperature
First Master Bed 25.8 67.8 25.3
Floor Family Room 25.4 67.7 -
Ground Guest Bed 25 71.3 24.6
Floor Children Bed 25.6 66.3 -
Visual Comfort
Daylight levels (with no artificial lights on) were observed around 3 PM during the study
period. The sky condition was partly cloudy. It was interesting to notice that lower daylight
levels were present on the ground floor compared to first floor. Higher daylight levels near
the stair case and the family room were due to the skylight designed above the staircase.
This feature results in minimal usage of artificial lighting during the daytime.
Table 4.15: Average daylight levels observed during the study period
Floor Space Avg. Daylight Level (Lux)

Ground Floor Drawing Room 50
Dining Room 30
Kitchen 25
Stair Case 300
Guest Bed Room 45
First Floor Family Room 600
Master Bed Room 165
Children's Bed Room 100
Life Cycle Analysis

It was observed in the earlier sections that the initial investment for Rohan & Reshmy’s
house was about 5% higher to make it energy efficient. The total embodied energy of the
Rohan and Reshmy’s house was assessed as 244 GJ/100Sqm built up area where as the
conventional load bearing construction would be 342 GJ/100 Sqm built up area. The initial
114
cost of construction of Rohan & Reshmy’s house was estimated as Rs. 2345/ sft built up area
where as the conventional house would be Rs. 2230/ sft built up area.
Greenness and affordability of the case was analysed by calculating Carbon footprint and
Operational and Maintenance (O&M) Costs during the building life time. These figures were
compared with the conventional building using the data compiledTable 4.16&Figure4.45.
The buildings life time was assumed as 50 years.
Carbon Foot Print

To calculate total energy footprint and resultant carbon footprint of the building both initial
energy of the structure (embodied energy) and the operational energy (electricity used)
during its life time were considered. The operational energy taken from the grid of Rohan
and Reshmy’s house was significantly low as observed in section 4.2.4.1; this is because of
the energy efficient and renewable energy features implemented in the house. Embodied
energies of solar PV and solar thermal system for hot water systems used in the house were
derived from the earlier studies. Energy that was spent on transporting materials to site,
handling the construction equipment and preparation of materials was neglected in the
analysis. Operational energy was considered from the actual data available in the electricity
bills. Assuming all these energies in terms of electricity (kWh), carbon footprint (Table 4.16)
was calculated for Indian conditions. The carbon footprint of Rohan & Reshmy’s house was
estimated as 22kgs of CO2 Equivalent /Sqm built up area/year and the conventional house
used for comparison would be 98kgs of CO2 Equivalent /Sqm built up area/year.
Table 4.16:Energy and Carbon footprint of Rohan’s house & conventional house
Rohan & Reshmy's Conventional

House House
Total Embodied Civil structure 84715 119031
Energy (kWh) Solar PV (1.25 kWp) 10500 0
Solar Water Heater (200Lts) 4854 0
Total Operational Energy taken from grid in 50 years Life 43750 531250
time (kWh))
Total Energy footprint in 50 years life time (kWh) 143819 650281
Total Carbon footprint in 50 years life time (Tons of CO2 136 614
Equivalent)
Cost Analysis
Similar to energy calculations, both the initial construction cost and operational costs in
terms of repairs and electricity & water consumed by the building during the entire life cycle
of 50 years assumed. The initial costs of both the Rohan & Reshmy’s house and
Conventional house were comparable where the costs of previous one was slightly higher
due to additional energy efficient and water efficient features implemented in the house. The
operational energy and water costs were taken from the actual data taken from the
electricity and water bills. Energy and water consumption of Rohan & Reshmy’s house and
its dependency on the grid and external supply was significantly low as discussed in
sections 4.2.4.1 and 4.2.4.2 The Operational & Maintenance costs for repairs were estimated
115
based on the construction costs using factors available in the literature. Cost of electricity
was assumed as Rs 5.3/kWh and for water as Rs. 100 per 1000lts. The escalation rate for all
the three costs (O&M, Energy & Water) was assumed to be 2% (fixed) every year. This
analysis doesn’t include the appreciation / depreciation costs and taxes on the built up
property. Table 4.17presents the costs of studied case and the conventional case based on
these assumptions. The analysis also presents that the payback for Rohan & Reshmy’s house
and it can be noticed that the higher initial cost spent on the building pays back in 2.5 years.
From both the cost and energy foot print analyses it was observed that the studied case
(Rohan & Reshmy’s house) has about 78% lower carbon foot print and about 50% affordable
compared to conventional case. The carbon footprint of Rohan &Reshmy’s house was
observed as 1.1 Tons of CO2/ Sqm built up area where as for the conventional house it was
4.9 Tons of CO2/ Sqm built up area. The initial and O&M costs of Rohan & Reshmy’s house
in its entire life cycle was observed as 4102 Rs/Sft of built up area where as for a
conventional house it was 8300 Rs/sft. Figure4.45presents the incremental energy and costs
plotted for 50 years of life time.
Figure4.45: Greenness and Affordability of Rohan & Reshmy’s house in comparison with
conventional case
Table 4.17: Initial & O&M costs of Rohan’s house & conventional house
Rohan & Reshmy's

Conventional House
House
Total Initial Building 25,92,682 28,34,479
Costs (Rs) Energy Efficient Features (like 2,79,663 6,153
SPV, Eff. Lighting & SWH)
Water Efficient Features (Like 2,81,110 94,600

STP, eff. Fixtures)
Total Operational & Maintenance Costs Including 23,63,539 82,27,977

purchase of Electricity & Water for 50 years (Rs)
116
Rohan & Reshmy's

Conventional House
House
Total Life cycle Costs for 50 years (Rs) 55,16,994 1,11,63,208
Total cycle Costs for 50 years (Rs/Sft) 4,102 8,300
Table 4.18 presents the summary of major building components that may be replicable along
with their costs. Table 4.19 presents various green features summarised from literature, case
studies and best practices in the warm- humid climatic region.
Summary of Field Interviews

Feedback from the occupants, contractors and architects was collected and documented,
along with a few observations that were made on site during the field visit.
It was observed that the owners of the house have gone for this kind of construction due to
their concern for environment. The house is well connected to all the basic amenities. It was
noted that because of the light coloured surfaces which were purposely made in the kitchen
more daylight is present. There were a few stains and odour in the WCs until the weeds are
fully grown in the reed bed system.
Thermally it becomes very cool in summers but little uncomfortable in winters because of
the massive CSEB masonry, during when they occupy the bedrooms on the upper floor
where more solar access is available. Ceiling fans are used majorly in summers. Ventilation
of the house is good because of the ventilators provided at the appropriate locations inside
the house. Overall the occupants are highly satisfied with all the green features that are part
of the project.
The contractor of the project is a skilled and trained particularly to handle this type of
projects. Due to high quality of construction there was no maintenance or repair during first
year of the occupancy except a minor service works. About 30-35% of the cost of
construction was spent for labour due to their high skill level. The fees of architect for
developing such designs are in general high, however overall cost of construction including
labour and consultancy fees is comparable to the conventional construction. In this case, the
user was charged about 7% to the cost of construction where in a conventional case it would
be 2-5%.
117
4.2.5 Summary from the case study

Table 4.18: Summary of replicable green & affordable features from the case study

Replicability
Sl Whether
in Affordable
no. Details Cost Green Rationale Affordable Details Cost
housing
Yes/No
1 9‛ thick Rs. 1160/- per Sqm Wall Low embodied energy as soil Y Burnt clay brick Rs 1400/- per Y
Cement Soil Area is sources from site and masonry Sqm Wall
Stabilised Brick mixed with cement for area,
Masonry stabilisation
2 Jack Arched Rs. 2150/- per Sqm Roof Low Embodied Energy due to Y R. C C Roof Rs. 2470/- per Y
Roof Area less amount of steel and Sqm Roof
concrete used area
3 Vitrified Rs. 560/- per Sqm Floor High Embodied Energy, no N Terrazo Flooring Rs. 388/- per N
Flooring area recycled content Sqm Floor
Area
4 Clay Tiles Rs. 898/- per Sqm Floor Higher Embodied Energy, no N Terrazo Flooring Rs. 388/- per N
area recycled content Sqm Floor
Area
5 U- Block Rs. 363/-per running Low Embodied Energy due to Y R C C Lintel Rs. 720/- per Y
Lintels meter less amount of steel and running
concrete used meter
6 Rain Water Rs. 94,600/- Results in less dependency on Y - - Y
Harvesting the conventional water
System sources
7 Reed Bed Rs. 81,430/- Results in less dependency on Y - Y
system the conventional water
sources
118

Replicability
Sl Whether
in Affordable
housing
Yes/No
8 Water Efficient Cost of the fixture is Results in less dependency on Y Cost of the fixture is Rs.1750 for Y
Fixtures Rs.3500/- for low flow the conventional water conventional faucets and Rs.5000 for
faucets and Rs.6500 for sources Single flush 9 lp/flush water closets
dual flush 3/6 lp/flush
water closets
9 LEDs Rs. 400/- per Fixture Results in less dependency on N CFLs Rs. 200-250/- per fixture Y
the conventional energy
sources
10 Solar thermal Rs. 38,000/- Results in less dependency on Y - Y
hot water the conventional energy
system sources
11 Solar PV Rs. 2,80,000/- Results in less dependency on N - Y
the conventional energy
sources
Conclusion and summary for Moderate Climate Zone

Affordability of green features in housing, for Moderate climate, have been analysed from various sources like case studies, literature studies
and best practices in the local context. Study and analysis were conducted for Rohan and Reshmy’s house at individual house level and Malhar
Footprints at Habitat level, both located in Bangalore. Literature study analyses were conducted for ZED Earth Villa, T- ZED Homes, ZED-
Woods, PRANA, ZED-Collectives which were all located in Bangalore. Information was collected from various local professionals including
Architects and contractors for the best regional practices that can be classified as green features in affordable housing. Following table
summarizes the green features which are affordable in moderate climate to be replicated at housing level.
119
4.3 Field study of waste management practiced at T ZED

homes, Whitefield, Bangalore
T ZED Homes is being occupied since 2007. Solid waste management started from 2008.
Solid Waste management system at T ZED home is managed by the Residential Association,
which constitutes of both tenants and owners, occupying 85 homes in the campus. It has a
green building committee which takes care of the overall green life style of the campus.
Every resident is briefed about the waste management system when they newly occupy and
routinely for maximising the success of the plan. The waste generated on site are being
collected by waste management team and handed over to third party organisations,
depending upon the category of waste. The various organisations working with the resident
association are Eco Maridi, Samarthanam Parisara, BBMP and software firms.
Type of waste generated at the T ZED campus is as follows:
a) Garden Waste, b) Kitchen waste, c) Paper and card boards, d) Plastic, metal &
tetrapak, e) Unbroken glass bottles, f) Newspaper, g) Hygiene waste, h) Construction
waste, i) E- waste, General wastes
These wastes are collected in different collection bins as shown in the Figure 4.46
Figure 4.46: Various Collection Bags/ containers used for handling different wastes
120
Case studies under Moderate Climate Zone - Waste management practiced at T ZED homes, Whitefield, Bangalore
Following paragraph elaborates the process of waste management of the type of waste
highlighted above
4.3.1 Garden Waste

The garden waste is collected every day, which constitutes green, dry leaves, coconut scraps
etc..,. The green and dry leaves are shredded & ground and used for making compost in the
back yard. In the composting process, cow-dung is mixed monthly once and microbes (from
daily dump) are mixed every 15 days with the ground leaves. Composting (Figure 2) is
completed in 1.5 months and used as manure in the kitchen gardens (Figure 3). Excess
manure is sold to outsiders at Rs.10/kg. Vegetables from the kitchen garden are sold to
residents at a nominal cost. The money collected through selling of manure and vegetables is
used for maintenance. Coconut scrap is reused in the garden as mulch and substrate layer in
private gardens.
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.47: (a) Stage wise process for composting ; (b). Bins Provided for Leaf composter
121
(a)
(b)
Figure 4.48: (a) Organic Kitchen Gardens maintained in the project ; (b). Coconut waste used as
mulching and substrate
4.3.2 Kitchen waste

Kitchen waste is collected daily from the residents. It is collected in a stainless steel container
with a lid, without any plastic or paper lining. The kitchen waste is fed to bio digesters
(Figure 4.49) designed by Malhem Co. The bio digester releases bio gas for small cooking by
facility management. The compost is used for gardening.
122
Case studies under Moderate Climate Zone - Waste management practiced at T ZED homes, Whitefield, Bangalore
Figure 4.49: Bio digester plant
4.3.3 Paper, card boards, plastic , metal, tetrapak, newspaper,

Unbroken Glass bottles
Paper, card boards, plastic, metal, tetrapak (Figure 4.50) are collected every Tuesday and
Saturday whereas newspaper is collected every Tuesday and unbroken glass bottles on
Mondays. Paper and cardboard is collected in white gunny bag whereas plastic, metal and
tetrapak are collected in light blue gunny bag and newspaper in brown gunny bags. The
collected paper, card boards, plastic, metal, tetrapak, newspaper is handed over to an NGO
named Samarthanam Parisara. The NGO recycles the collected waste by selling to different
organisation such as paper, card board and newspaper is given to ITC, tetrapak is sent to
Mumbai and plastic carry/packing bags are given to KK Plastics for road building.
Unbroken glass bottles are also collected by the same NGO. Every week 250 kg of waste,
constituting card boards, plastic, metals and tetrapaks are generated from 85 homes.
Figure 4.50: Paper & Plastic collected from a household
4.3.4 Hygiene waste

Hygiene waste consists of bio medical wastes arising out of daily usage and they are
collected on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They are collected in three different ways –
yellow bags for dressing and similar typology, blue bags for used plastic materials and
123
puncture proof cans for needles and sharp objects. The above mentioned bio medical wastes
are collected by Eco Maridi, a waste management firm for hygiene wastes.
4.3.5 Construction waste

Construction wastes are like PVC pipes are generated from daily maintenance works. The
papers are collected to be handed over to Samarthanam and plastic pipes are reused for
fencing
4.3.6 E wastes
E waste consisting of batteries, laptops, UPS and similar electrical and electronic items are
collected and taken by the residents to their respective offices where recycling of E waste are
done. This system is on temporary basis and an onsite system is under formulation to be
implemented soon.
4.3.7 General waste

There are categories of waste, which can’t be categories above, like coconut shells, large or
hard bones, high cellulose items, etc are being collected by BBMP on 3 days a week.
4.4 Limitation and challenges

There are limitation and challenges being faced by the resident associate in the waste
management process which is highlighted below
1. There are some categories of waste which are categorised as general waste which cannot
be recycled. Therefore, it is handed over to BBMP for landfill. A work plan is being
formulated to reduce the general waste.
2. Newspapers are not handed over to Samarthanam all the time. Sometimes the maid
servants usually collect them to sell it in the local markets for monetary benefits.
3. There are scenarios when bio digester stops working. In such cases, the kitchen waste is
mixed with the dry & wet leaves for composting.
4.5 Summary sheet for Waste management system:

Garden
Kitche Paper, Card Unbroke
Type of waste & News Hygiene General
n board, n glass
waste constructio paper waste waste
Waste Plastic Metal bottle
n waste
Primary T ZED T ZED Samarthana Samarthan ECO Samartha BBMP
collector m am Maridi nam
Recycler T ZED T ZED ITC & KK ITC Eco Maridi - -
Plastics
Collectio All days All Twice in a Once in a Thrice a Once in a Thrice a
n days days week week week week week
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4.6 Summary of Green Features for Moderate Climate Zone

Table 4.19:Summary of Green Features for Moderate Climate Zone
Literature studies & traditional
Green features Case studies Best regional practices
practices
Siting and climate responsiveness
Orientation Longer walls orienting towards North and south side
Zoning Shading Verandas and living spaces on critical orientations, courtyards
Energy, renewable energy & building materials
Roof treatment, roof garden Green roof using organic materials, Shaded roof, double roofs. Hollow clay blocks, Insulated roofs, RCC
filler slab, terracotta tiles with reflective tiles.
Shaded windows Shaded windows
Walls to respond to outside Stone, fly ash block, Thermal insulation Compressed stabilised earth block AAC blocks, Hollow concrete blocks,
climate in walls and flooring (CSEB) Hollow clay blocks, Stone masonry
Local materials to reduce Laterite blocks, Rubber wood, Palm Flooring materials like terrazzo, Cuddapah Stones, Slates, IPS(oxide
embodied energy wood, compressed coir door panels ceramic tiles, Attangudi, clay tiles flooring)
and bamboo composites, Cob walls,
red oxide flooring
Construction technologies to common walls for reduction in CSEB vaulted roof, Jack Arch roof Precast sandwiched walls, Beams,
reduce time and volume of materials columns, Shading devices, slabs, RCC
construction door window frames
Natural ventilation Through windows and high wall ventilators, small windows
Daylight integration Through windows and skylight, Through windows and light wells in Clerestory lighting, floor level opening,
dormer windows staircase full height windows,
Efficient outdoor and indoor CFL and LED lights in interior, Metal Fluorescent tube lights (T8 & T5), 5W
lighting by use of T5 lamps, halide lamps in the landscape CFLs, 2W LEDs
CFL, LED etc
Efficient fans or other 35W Ceiling Fans, Evaporative coolers for summer
heating/cooling technologies
Solar based outdoor lighting Outdoor light connected to Grid tied - Stand-alone LED street lights powered on
solar power system Solar PV
125
Literature studies & traditional

Green features Case studies Best regional practices
practices
Solar based water heating Solar hot water system for individual house
Solar PV panels to generate Solar heating and geysers, Solar water pumps, heating through solar PV energy generation
electricity
Efficient landscape design
Pervious pavers Pervious paving using grass and stones like Sadaralli, Cuddapah, chappadi, bricks haven used alteration with grass and
Sedimentation control Soft drainage using aggregates filters, wood scrap and grass mulching
measures in the landscape
design
Use of native species Terminalia, Arjuna, Ficus, Religiosa
Source of landscape water Treated water from STP
from recycled water
Irrigation equipment Sprinkler and drip irrigation Drip irrigation using earthen pots
Water management
Waste water treatment Tertiary Treatment Plants for 100% DEWATS system
system recycling of waste water, (grey water)
is treated through root zone treatment
Rain water harvesting Rain water harvesting and recharging Roof harvesting for domestic use,
through drains, percolation pits, rainwater storage tank and site feature
trenches and wells design for ground water recharging
Dual plumbing system Multiple plumbing line for fresh water, treated water and rain water
Efficient plumbing fixtures Low flow plumbing fixtures, faucets Low flow dual flush cisterns for water Energy efficient motors, dry toilets,
with aerator, water level controllers, closet
pressure regulating devices
Waste management
Segregation of waste mandatory waste segregation, dry and Waste segregation of dry and organic
wet waste segregation of kitchen waste
Resource recovery from Natural and vermicomposting systems Potable composting of organic waste
organic waste for wet waste
Resource recovery from All waste recycled and reused
recyclable waste
126
5 Field Case study under Warm and Humid

Climate zone - VBHC Vaibhava, Chennai
5.1 Introduction
VBHC Vaibhava Housing project developed by Value Budgeted Housing Corporation
(VBHC) at Oragadam in Chennai was constructed in an affordable green manner, by
implementing green design and construction technologies. The project (Figure5.1) comprises
of 2BHK apartments (148 nos) with floor area of 792sft each, spread over 2 acres of site.
(Figure5.2) The project has been certified by IFCs Excellence in Design for Greater
Efficiencies (EDGE) Program for its green building design. Table 5.1presents overview of the
project.
Figure5.1: A view from courtyard of the VBHC Housing

Table 5.1: Overview of the VBHC’s Vaibhava
Climate (as per NBC) Warm& Humid
Location Oragadam, Chennai (12°45’N, 80° E)
Site Area 8417 Sqm
Built-up Area 10952 Sqm (Each apartment unit 74 Sqm)
FSI 1.3
Type of Project 2BHK Apartment (Stilt + 4 floors)
No. of Units 148
Total saleable cost ~Rs. 26 Lakhs per unit
127

Density 73 families/Acre
Distance from City ~50 KM
Year of Occupancy 2013
Construction Period 18 Months
Architect Inform Architects
Contractor VBHC
Level of Mechanisation High
Skill level of Labour Medium
Total Cost of Construction ~Rs. 1400/Sft
Total Life Cycle Cost (50 ~Rs. 4550/Sft
years)
Total Carbon Foot Print ~115Kgs of CO2 Equivalent/Sqm/Year
Green features/ alternative Rain water harvesting, DEWATS with syphon for water treatment,
construction technologies reinforced concrete walls, Solar water heater, SPV- LED street
incorporated Lighting, Energy efficient fixtures and water efficient plumbing
fixtures
5.2 Details of Green and Affordable Features

5.2.1 Construction Technology & Management
Mechanization of construction, in terms of on-site assembly, replicable and consistent
production of building components have contributed for control on time lines and overall
costs of the project. Prefabricated aluminium form work was used to cast reinforced concrete
walls and reduce the wastage and reworks and thus result in a better quality of construction.
The construction of this housing project was completed in 18 months of duration due to
various alternative construction technologies implemented on site. These monolithic
concrete shear walls constructed in this project also meet the seismic code compliance
requirements for Chennai.
Based on the preliminary data received from the developer, an analysis was carried out to
see the affordability of this technology while replicating multiple numbers of apartment
units. Although the initial investment on aluminium formwork is high, its reusability
(number of times it can be used) is significantly high compared to a conventional wooden
formwork. The labour cost is also almost half of the cost it takes for a conventional
construction. The most important parameter is the time of construction using this
technology that makes the construction 10 times faster than a conventional construction.
Table 5.2presents the comparison of various aspects of construction between Reinforced
Concrete (RC) wall and a conventional concrete masonry frames structure.
128
Case study under Warm and Humid Climate zone - VBHC Vaibhava, Chennai
Figure5.2: Site Plan and typical unit plans of VBHC Housing in Chennai
Table 5.2: Comparison of R C Wall and Conventional construction
Parameters for Single unit R C Wall Concrete Block Wall

Quantity of Concrete (Sqm) 80 10
Rate (Rs/ Unit) 7,425 (150mm thick) 12,375 (200mm thick)
Quantity of Bricks (Sqm) 0 70
Rate (Rs/Unit) 0 2520
Total Material Cost (Rs) 5,94,000 3,00,150
Formwork Cost (Rs) 70,00,000 20,00,000
Reuse of Formwork 350 6
Labour Cost (Rs/Sqm Wall) 60 140
Total Wall Area (Sqm) 80 80
Total Labour Cost (Rs) 4,800 11,200
Time of Construction (Days) 6 60
The formwork was sufficient for constructing each apartment unit at a time. It was observed
in this analysis that the cost of total construction becomes equal at 115th repetition and
affordable thereafter. Figure5.3presents the comparison of cost of construction between RC
129
wall and conventional construction as the number of reuse of formwork increases.

Figure5.4presents the pictures taken during the construction of R C Wall.
Figure5.3: Cost Comparison between R C Wall and Conventional wall
Figure5.4: Construction of Reinforced Concrete (R C) wall
5.2.2 Building Design
Site Planning
The site plan is developed with almost 70% of the area as pervious with more green area and
less paved area. Enough space has been considered between the apartment blocks which
enables mutual shading and free air movement thus reducing the heat gains. Precast
concrete slabs used for compound wall (Figure5.5) save time during the construction and so
the labour cost. Intermediate columns holding these slabs require less foundation compared
to a conventional brick wall.
130
Figure5.5: Precast concrete slabs used for compound wall
Space Utilisation & Passive Design

Spaces inside the house were designed to comply with the minimum bye law requirement
(bed room size, 3m X2.8m) of the city for an effective use of floor space. Simple three bay
units were designed for natural daylight and free flow of air in the living spaces, considering
the climate of the city. Full height windows (floor to lintel) in the living and bedrooms also
enhance the ventilation requirement given in the bye law (20% of the Floor area). Similarly,
the corridor widths were also kept to the minimum of bye-law requirement valuing the real
estate cost and make the project affordable. These windows, having a clear glazing and
optimised shading spread a natural and glare free lighting inside the living spacesFigure5.6.
presents the images taken inside the house without any artificial light. Ventilators provided
above the main door in the living room aids cross ventilation for improved thermal comfort.
Figure5.6: View of Kitchen and Kids Bedroom
5.2.3 Alternate Construction Materials and Technologies
Walls & Roofs

The reinforced concrete walls (150 mm thick) casted on site gives a smoother finish and
results in saving of plaster material due to smoother finish achieved for wall surfaces. M20
grade ready mix concrete (RMC) and Fe 500 TMT steel reinforcement were used for
constructing the R C wall. These straight walls are simple with less overlaps. Window
131
shading has been integrated with the wall design and the remaining part on the wall is used
as wardrobe from the interior.
Doors & Windows

Simple and minimum grill design has been used for windows (Figure5.7) to reduce the
project cost. Recycled UPVC door/ window framed clear glazing have been used which may
contribute to reduce the overall energy footprint of the building. Composite doors have been
used to reduce the overall energy footprint and cost of the project.
Other Materials
There are other key features like granite kitchen platforms and its fixing using simple L-
brackets and a groove in the peripheral wall make the building cost effective. Granite being
a local material results in lower embodied energy. Kota stone has been used for stair cases
Figure5.7: Typical Window Grill design and Kitchen platform detail
Component wise embodied energy and costs of major items are compared with the
conventional construction and the details are tabulated inTable 5.3 & Table 5.4.
132
Table 5.3: Component wise embodied energy of the building and the possible savings when compared to conventional construction
Embodie Total Embodie Total

Descriptio Quantit d Energy Embodied Quant d Energy Embodied
S. Building Unit Description Unit Reduction
n y (MJ/ Energy ity (MJ/ Energy
No Component in EE (%)
Unit) (MJ) Unit) (MJ)
V B H C Vaibhava Conventional
1 Scaffolding/ Aluminium 184 cum 515700 4,74,44,400 Wood 2300 cum 20 46,000 -103040
formworks
2 Foundation& RCC 2486218 kgs 1.1 41,74,839 RCC 248621 kgs 1.1 41,74,839 0
plinth 8
3 Columns & RCC 1042008 kgs 1.1 31,46,209 RCC 104200 kgs 1.1 31,46,209 0
beams 8
4 Walls RCC 11840 Sqm 2150 2,54,56,000 Solid concrete 10656 Sqm 1360 1,44,92,160 -76
blocks
5 Plastering No Plaster 23680 Sqm - 0 Cement 23680 Sqm 30 7,10,400 100
6 Roof RCC 1896240 kgs 1.1 27,65,864 RCC 189624 kgs 1.1 27,65,864 0
0
7 Flooring Ceramic 27100 Sqm 180 48,78,000 Terrazo 27100 Sqm 92.7 25,12,170 -94
8 Windows UPVC 917 nos 2980 27,32,720 Aluminium 917.02 nos 6000 55,02,120 50
9 Doors Flush 1776 sqm 482 8,56,032 Flush 1776 sqm 482 8,56,032 0
10 Staircase RCC 672552 kgs 1.1 12,59,807 RCC 672552 kgs 1.1 12,59,807 0
Total Embodied Energy (MJ) 9,27,13,871 Total Embodied Energy (MJ) 3,54,65,601 -158
Total Embodied Energy (GJ/100Sqm built up area) 843 Total Embodied Energy (GJ/100Sqm built up area) 323
133
Table 5.4: Component wise Costs of the building and the possible savings when compared to conventional construction
Description of the Total Total Cost Description of the Total Cost

S. Building Unit Estimated
material Quantity (in Rs ) material (in Rs )
No Component Savings (%)
1 Site works Cut & fill, Termite 2,54,383 Cut & fill, Termite 2,54,383 0
proofing, Trenching for proofing, Trenching for
foundation foundation
2 Scaffolding/ Aluminium Formworks 46,051 Sqm 40,90,887 Wooden Formworks 2,86,36,208 86
formworks (used for constructing (used for constructing
every 350 units) every 6 units)
3 Foundation& plinth RCC 1,036 cum 57,99,296 RCC 57,99,296 0
4 Columns & beams RCC 434 cum 39,48,392 RCC 39,48,392 0
5 Walls Reinforced Concrete 11,840 Sqm 4,70,95,300 Cement concrete block 2,35,47,650 -100
(RC) Wall Masonry
6 Painting Painting works 63,100 Sqm 62,21,597 Painting works 62,21,597 0
7 Roof RCC 790 cum 45,15,220 RCC 45,15,220 0
8 Flooring Ceramic & Vitrified Tile 27,100 Sqm 1,15,72,002 Terrazo 1,05,14,800 -10
9 Windows uPVC framed 917 nos 69,95,938 Aluminium framed 34,97,969 -100
10 Doors Flush doors 888 nos 55,55,394 Flush doors 55,55,394 0
11 Staircase RCC 280 cum 17,76,413 RCC 17,76,413 0
12 Railing Steel 957 rm 7,79,940 Steel 7,79,940 0
13 Waterproofing Waterproofing works 5,096 Sqm 17,85,270 Waterproofing works 17,85,270 0
14 Building services - Excluding efficient 1,00,12,936 Excluding efficient 1,00,12,936 0
electrical fixtures fixtures
15 Building services- Excluding efficient 95,75,006 Excluding efficient 95,75,006 0
Plumbing fixtures fixtures
16 Water Efficient Low flow faucets, 24,24,788 Conventional 15,15,492 -60
Fixtures showers & WCs
17 Rain water Gutters, pipes, storage 20,79,722 Nil 0 -
harvesting system tank work, purification
134
Description of the Total Total Cost Description of the Total Cost

S. Building Unit Estimated
material Quantity (in Rs ) material (in Rs )
No Component Savings (%)
system
18 Waste water DEWATS System (9000 12,00,000 Nil 0 -

treatment system LPD)
19 Energy efficient CFLs 7,32,000 Incandescent 1,83,000 -300
lighting features
20 Energy efficient fans Energy efficient fans 14,80,000 Conventional 8,88,000 -67
21 Solar Hot water Solar Flat plate collector 13,32,000 Nil 0 -
system (7500LPD)
22 Solar PV- LED Street 14 W LED luminaires 2,00,000 150 W Sodium Vapour 82,000 -144
Lighting (20 Nos) (20 No.s)
23 Labour Cost At Rs 60/Sqm 7,10,400 At Rs 140/Sqm 16,57,600 57
24 Miscellaneous Lump sum amount 10,00,000 Lump sum amount 10,00,000 0
Total Cost (in Rs) 13,11,36,882 Total Cost (in Rs) 12,17,46,566 -8%
135
5.2.4 Energy Management

Energy efficiency and resource utilisation is a key concern in the project. Each apartment is
connected to fixed load of 3kW, which prevents from the wastage of electricity in the entire
housing. Electrical sockets are inbuilt in the R C wall based on the requirement and doesn’t
allow any additional plug points to capture the more loads.
Efficient Efficiency
Artificial lighting design has been done very optimally, for a uniform lighting distribution.
Provision is given for fixing CFLs and energy efficient ceiling fans.
Renewable Energy Integration

Solar water heating systems have been provided for the top two floors. Stand-alone solar
based LED lighting (Figure5.8) has been provided for outdoor lighting which makes the site
lighting efficient and reduces the overall dependency on the grid electricity. The Initial
Investment of the solar based LED Street light is almost double to the cost of conventional
sodium vapour street light. However, since the PV generated the sufficient power to light up
the LED luminaire, it pays back the cost within 3 years duration.
Figure5.8: Stand-alone solar based LED street lighting
All these features are resulting in total energy consumption of 84 kWh/Sqm/annum which is
about 16% lower than the conventional house in Chennai’s climate.
Solar Hot water System

Solar hot water system that is sufficient to supply for the top two floors was proposed to
install on site. This system reduces almost half of the energy that goes for hot water in this
project. Overall about 10kWh/Sqm/year estimated savings would be possible with this
system. This makes the project energy efficient upto 74kWh/Sqm/year, whereas the energy
consumption of a conventional house in Chennai would be 100kWh/Sqm/year.
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Case study under Warm and Humid Climate zone
5.2.5 Water Management

Since the water table is very high and no external supply connected to the site, an innovative
water management system has been implemented in this project. Rain water collected from
the roof tops and the paved areas within the site have been collected in well through the
peripheral swales (Figure5.9). The rain water gets filtered before entering to the well and
adds up to the natural ground water that is already available due to high water table. 22% of
the total building water requirement is met by the rain water and reduces its dependency on
the natural resources.
Figure5.9: Peripheral swales and the open well-constructed on site to collect the rain water.
Waste Water Treatment

The project has dual plumbing and dual flush sanitary systems to reduce fresh water usage.
Waste water generated from bathrooms and washing machines are connected an efficient
water treatment system, which apparently consumes less energy. This system has a
vertically positioned tube with a funnel shaped bottom element, inside the tube a natural
self-purification effect from the effluent takes place during the continuous swirling moment
without affecting the quality of water. Figure5.10presents the water balance taken place on
site; the entire system results in saving about 15% of fresh water requirement by treating and
reusing it.
Figure5.10: Dual plumbing and dual flush toilets installed in the project
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Figure5.11: Water Balance for VBHC Housing
5.2.6 Performance Monitoring

Indoor environmental parameters that indicate occupant comfort conditions (thermal and
comfort) inside house were monitored during the month of September. Thermo hygro data
loggers and surface temperature probes were used to measure these parameters
instantaneously.
Thermal Comfort
It would be interesting to measure the indoor environmental conditions as a result of
complete concrete envelope in hot and humid conditions of Chennai. One of the major
parameters that would result due to higher heat capacity of the concrete wall is lower Mean
radiant temperature (MRT). Measurements were carried in a bedroom of a typical apartment
unit when the windows were closed. Lower MRT (29.15°C) was observed while the
corresponding indoor air temperature and relative humidity were 29.6°C and 58%
respectively. The ambient conditions during the measured period were 33.5°C and 59%.
Thus there was a reduction of about 4°C in air temperature present with R C wall in the
envelope.
5.2.7 Life Cycle Analysis

It was observed in the earlier sections that the initial investment for VBHC Vaibhava was
about 8% higher. The total embodied energy of the VBHC Vaibhava was assessed as 847
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GJ/100Sqm built up area where as the conventional framed construction with cement
concrete block masonry would be 326 GJ/100 Sqm built up area.
Greenness and affordability of the case was analysed by calculating Carbon footprint and
Operational and Maintenance (O&M) Costs during the building life time. These figures were
compared with the conventional building using the data compiled in Table 5.5. The
buildings life time was assumed as 50 years.
Carbon Foot Print

To calculate total energy footprint and resultant carbon footprint of the building both initial
energy of the structure (embodied energy) and the operational energy (electricity used)
during its life time were considered. The operational energy taken from the grid of VBHC
Vaibhava was low as observed in section 5.2.4; this is because of the energy efficient and
renewable energy features implemented in the project. Embodied energy of solar thermal
system for hot water systems used in the project was derived from the earlier studies.
Energy that was spent on transporting materials to site, handling the construction
equipment and preparation of materials was neglected in the analysis. Also the recyclability
aspect of aluminium formwork in case of VBHC was not into taken account. Since the
energy saved by Solar PV based LED street light is very minimal, it was not accounted in the
calculations. Operational energy was considered from the actual data available in the
electricity bills. Assuming all these energies in terms of electricity (kWh), carbon footprint
(Table 5.5) was calculated for Indian conditions. The carbon footprint of VBHC Vaibhava
was estimated as 115kgs of CO2 Equivalent /Sqm built up area/year and the conventional
house used for comparison would be 112kgs of CO2 Equivalent /Sqm built up area/year.
Table 5.5:Energy and Carbon footprint of VBHC Vaibhava & conventional house
Conventional
VBHC Vaibhava
House
Total Embodied Civil structure 2,57,53,853 98,51,555
Energy (kWh) Solar Water Heater (7500Lts) 1,82,041 0
Total Operational Energy taken from grid in 50 years Life 4,05,22,400 5,47,60,000
time (kWh))
Total Energy footprint in 50 years (kWh) 6,64,58,294 6,46,11,555
Total Carbon footprint in 50 years (Tons of CO2 62,737 90,993
Equivalent)
Cost Analysis
Similar to energy calculations, both the initial construction cost and operational costs in
terms of repairs and electricity & water consumed by the building during the entire life cycle
of 50 years assumed. The initial costs of both the VBHC Vaibhava and Conventional house
were comparable where the costs of earlier was slightly higher due to additional energy
efficient and water efficient features implemented in the house. The operational energy and
water costs were taken from the actual data taken from the electricity and water bills.
Energy and water consumption of VBHC Vaibhava and its dependency on the grid and
external supply was low as discussed in sections 5.2.4& 5.2.5. The Operational
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&Maintenance costs for repairs were estimated based on the construction costs using factors
available in the literature. Cost of electricity was assumed as Rs 5.3/kWh and for water as Rs.
100 per 1000lts. The escalation rate for all the three costs (O&M, Energy & Water) was
assumed to be 2% (fixed) every year. This analysis doesn’t include the appreciation /
depreciation costs and taxes on the built up property. Table 5.6 presents the costs of studied
case and the conventional case based on these assumptions. The analysis also presents that
the payback for VBHC Vaibhava and it can be noticed that the higher initial cost spent on
the building pays back in 2 years.
From both the cost and energy foot print analyses it was observed that there was not much
difference in carbon foot print of studied case (VBHC Vaibhava) and the conventional case.
About 33% affordable compared to conventional case. The total carbon footprint was
observed as 6 Tons of CO2/ Sqm built up area for both VBHC Vaibhava and the conventional
case. The initial and O&M costs of VBHC Vaibhava in its entire life cycle was observed as
4950 Rs/Sft of built up area where as for a conventional house it was 7450 Rs/sft.
Figure5.12presents the incremental energy and costs plotted for 50 years of life time.
Figure5.12: Greenness and Affordability of VBHC Vaibhava in comparison with conventional case
Table 5.6: Initial & O&M costs of VBHC Vaibhava & conventional house
VBHC Vaibhava Conventional House

Total Initial Building 13,11,36,882 12,17,46,566
Costs (Rs) Energy Efficient Features (like Eff. 3,74,400 11,53,000
Lighting & SWH)
Water Efficient Features (Like 57,04,510 15,15,492
STP, Eff. Fixtures)
Total Operational & Maintenance Costs Including 44,67,95,003 75,34,04,487
purchase of Electricity & Water for 50 years (Rs)
Total Life Cycle Costs for 50 years (Rs) 58,40,10,796 87,78,19,545
Total Life Cycle Costs for 50 years Rs/Sft) 4,954 7,446
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Table 5.6 presents the summary of major building components that may be replicable along
with their costs. Table 5.7 presents various green features summarised from literature, case
studies and best practices in the warm- humid climatic region.
5.2.8 Summary of Field Interviews

Feedback from the occupants, contractors and architects was collected and documented,
along with a few observations that were made on site during the field visit.
It was observed that many the occupants belong to income group of 6-7 Lakh per annum
and the cost they bought from the developer was affordable (Rs. 2,200 per Sft). However,
most of the users have taken loan for a period of 15-20 years to buy these apartments. It was
also noted from the users that the quality of construction is very good and they are satisfied
for the money they have spent. Adequate daylight and natural ventilation is present because
of the well-designed apartment units. Minimal air conditioning is required except for a few
months, especially in upper floors of the apartment. The users are also impressed with the
green features like waste water treatment and solid waste management. This also
encourages occupants to become more alert in educating others.
The developer of the project has a skilled project management team, who used some
advanced project monitoring tools to finish the project in a shorter time compared to a
conventional construction. Although the direct cost (materials & procurement) is high in this
project, the indirect costs (labour) are very less. The cost that is required for maintenance
and repairs is very minimal because of the high quality of construction. In general it is a
conception of general public that the indoor conditions become hotter in complete concrete
construction. However, during the field visit it was observed that there was a temperature
reduction inside the house that makes the occupant thermally comfortable.
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5.2.9 Summary of the case study

Table 5.7: Summary of replicable green & affordable features from the case study
Green Feature in Case study Conventional Features Replicabilit

Sl Whether y in
no. Details Cost Green Rationale Affordabl Details Cost Affordable
e Yes/No housing
1 6‛ Reinforced concrete ~Rs 3980/- per High embodied energy Y Cement concrete ~Rs 1980/- per Y
wall Sqm wall area block masonry Sqm wall area
2 Vitrified Flooring Rs. 430/- per High Embodied Energy, no N Terrazo Flooring Rs. 388/- per N
Sqm Floor Area recycled content Sqm Floor
Area
3 Window Frames & ~ Rs 7600/- per Recycled content, low embodied Aluminium Frame ~ Rs 3800/- Y
Simple Grill Design window energy per window
4 Rain Water Harvesting Rs. 20,80,000/- Results in less dependency on the Y - - Y
System conventional water sources
5 DEWATS with Syphon Rs. 12,00, 000/- Results in less dependency on the Y - Y
conventional water sources
6 Water Efficient Fixtures Rs.3500/- for low Results in less dependency on the Y Cost of the fixture is Rs.1750 for Y
flow faucets conventional water sources conventional faucets and Rs.5000 for
Rs.6500 for dual Single flush 9 lp/flush water closets
flush (3/6 )
7 LEDs Rs. 400/- per Results in less dependency on the N CFLs Rs. 200-250/- per fixture Y
Fixture conventional energy sources
8 Solar thermal hot water Rs. 15,00,000/- Results in less dependency on the Y - Y
system conventional energy sources
9 Solar Based LED Street Rs. 2,00,000/- Results in less dependency on the Y - Y
Lights conventional energy sources
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5.3 Summary of warm and humid climatic zone

Table 5.8: Summary of Green features identified in warm and humid climatic zone
Green features Literature studies Case studies Best regional practices
Zoning Single bay units, Courtyards, Shaded Verandas and living spaces on critical orientations
Roof treatment, roof garden Hollow terracotta blocks, Ferro cement slabs Roof shading, Insulated roofs, RCC with
Filler Slabs, Madras Terrace with clay tiles, reflective tiles, Roof trellis
Shaded windows Shaded windows
Walls to respond to outside climate Terracotta jalis, self-shaded walls, AAC blocks, Hollow concrete
blocks, Hollow clay blocks
Local materials to reduce embodied Laterite blocks, Compressed coir door panels Flooring materials like terrazzo, Granite, IPS(oxide flooring)
energy and bamboo composites, FalG Blocks ceramic tiles, red mud clay tiles
Construction technologies to reduce Funicular shells, adobe vaults, Jack Arch R C Wall Const. Precast RCC door window
time and volume of construction roof frames
Natural ventilation Through full height windows, ventilators above doors/ windows, below roofs
Daylight integration Through windows and skylights Through windows and light Clerestory lighting, floor level
wells opening, full height windows,
Efficient outdoor and indoor lighting CFL Fluorescent tube lights (T8 &
by use of T5 lamps, CFL, LED etc T5), 5W CFLs, 2W LEDs
Efficient fans or other heating/cooling 35W Ceiling Fans
technologies
Solar based outdoor lighting Stand-alone LED solar street
lights
Solar based water heating Solar hot water system
Solar PV panels to generate electricity
Source of landscape water from Treated water from STP
recycled water
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6 Field Case study under Cold Climate zone -

Passive solar houses, Ursi Village (Ladakh)
6.1 Project Profile

 Project name : Passive Solar Houses, Ursi Village
 Year of construction : 2008 – 2010
 Location : Ursi village, Ladakh, J&K
 Coordinates : 34.216⁰ N, 76.894⁰ E
 Climate (as per NBC) : Cold
 Architect :Groupe Energies Renouvelables,
Environment et Solidarités (GERES)
 Contractor : Many local contractors
 Developer : GERES, ECOSPHERE, LEDeG, LEHO,
LNP & SECMOL
 MEP : Not applicable
 Energy consultant : Not applicable
 Total Cost of Construction : Rs. 833/sq.ft
 Total Built up Area for one house(Sq. mts) : 15.6
 Total site area (sq. mts.) : Whole of the village
 No of dwelling units : 15 units (Single ground floor homes)
 Cost of each house : INR 1.4 lakhs (2008-2010)
 Green technologies/features incorporated : Ground water recharge, Green
Construction practices, solar passive architectural design, and Integrating craft into
the design, use of local materials, Biodiversity and use of indigenous species in
landscape, preserving and ecology.
6.2 Background
Ladakh lies between altitudes of 2800 to 4600 meters above the sea level. The climatic
conditions are pretty severe with temperatures dropping below -20⁰C during the winter
season. The winter seasons are long and cold climate persists for six months in a year.
Villages are cut-off from the cities during winter for about four to eight months and with
highly dispersed population and difficult terrain many villages are not connected to central
electricity grid. Ursi village approximately 150 Km from Leh is also cut-off from central
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electricity grid and has been recently connected via road. With almost negligible
employment opportunities villagers rely on livestock breeding and subsistence farming.
Army activities and tourism offers them temporary job opportunity. In Ursi village a
household earns approximately INR 40,000 -50,000 (based upon interviews with villagers) in
a year.
Traditional houses are poorly insulated and room temperature falls below -10 (GERES, 2011)
in winters. The living conditions become harsh with such adverse conditions. The heating is
dependent on traditional heaters, bukhari, which burns locally available biomass. Such
heaters generate lots of noxious gases which are trapped inside house. The Passive solar
houses (PSH) which are energy efficient and maintain high inside room temperature are
highly desired in such locations. With PSH people can live in comfortable and healthy
conditions even without access to modern technology.
Figure6.1: Ursi village.
6.3 Passive solar house design

There are three main design of PSH(Clottes, 2012), i.e. Direct gain (DG), Solar wall (SW), and
Attached green house (AGH). All the PSH are southward oriented with or without any tilt
depending upon the usage of building. Constructing windows on east and west walls is not
recommended as it would increase solar gain during summer and thus increasing
temperatures inside when actually not needed. Figure 6.2 below shows different PSH
designs.
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Case study under Cold Climate zone - Passive solar houses, Ursi Village (Ladakh)
Figure6.2: a) A direct gain house, b) House with Solar wall, c) Attached green house to the house,
d) Inside of a green house.
In all the three designs the modification are made to southern wall. Rest walls and roof
construction is same in all the three designs. Standard sizes65 of various components are:
 Standard room size: 3.66m x 4.27m x 2.44m (width x length x height) (12ft x 14ft x8 ft)
 Standard window size (for DG): 1.83m x 3.05m (6ft x 10ft)
 Standard window size (for AGH): 1.52m x 2.44m (5ft x 8ft)
 Standard window size (for SW): 4.27m x 2.44m (14ft x 8ft)
Note that window size changes with the room size to allow appropriate heat gain. General
plan of a typical PSH is shown in figure 6.2. Figure 6.2a also shows typical wall, roof and
foundation construction.
The three sides of house are constructed with double walls separated by insulation. The
outside wall is for structural purpose and inside wall is for storing heat. Outside wall are
generally made of mud bricks, rammed earth or cement brick depending upon availability
and owners buying capacity. Inside wall is generally made from mud or cement bricks.
Commonly used insulation materials for roof and walls are Yakzes, a locally available
wild shrub, saw dust and hay. EPS is also recommended but due to its high cost it is
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generally avoided. Table 6.1 gives details of the insulation materials which are
recommended and are mostly locally resourced.
Figure6.3: Typical plan and elevation of PSH. Picture scanned from GERES booklet.
A typical roof section consists of wooden beams arranged perpendicular the wooden stick
followed by layer of cardboard. After the layer of cardboard, insulation is placed and its
thickness depends upon the type of insulation used. The final outer layer consists of mud.
The roof is water proofed by various techniques like having layer of plastic before the layer
of mud or mixing markalak clay with mud. Layer of wooden beam and sticks which is the
inside layer of wall is shown inFigure6.3.
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Figure6.4: Typical roof construction from inside the house.

Table 6.1: Recommended insulation materials for PSH
Section Insulation material Comments

Roof EPS, 3-4 inches Expensive
Glass wool, 3-4 inches Expensive and not available locally
peat bill, 6 inches Not recommended for wet rooms like kitchen and
bathroom
Saw dust, 6 inches Not recommended for wet rooms like kitchen and
bathroom. Low embodied energy material and usually a
waste product.
Yakzes, 6 inches It is locally available wild shrub. Recommended for all
rooms. As naturally grows, embodied energy is zero.
Wall EPS (thermocol), 2 inches
Glass wool, 2 inches
foam mattress, 2 inches
Saw dust, 4-6 inches
peat bill, 4-6 inches
Hay, 4-6 inches Natural product with no energy required for production,
thus zero embodied energy.
Straw, 4-6 inches
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Section Insulation material Comments

Floor 1 foot of Saw dust +layer of
stone and fine gravel (4 inch in
total)+mud bricks (4 inch
thick)+sawdust bags and
wooden stick layer + 4 inches
of mud
Windo EPS, 1 inch+ 6mm plywood
w 19mm wooden plank+6mm
plywood
1-2 inches thick dung or straw When no wood is available
plaster
Figure6.5: Sun dried bricks being made on site.
Saw dust being

Used as insulation
Between two layers
Of wall
Figure6.6: A cut through section of wall showing saw dust used as insulation material.
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6.3.1 Direct Gain (DG) houses

The DG houses are double walled insulated buildings with south wall having double
glazed window to trap solar energy during day time (see Figure6.7).
Figure6.7: DG house surveyed in the study.
Figure6.8: Concept of DG house. Picture scanned from GERES booklet
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Table 6.2: Advantages and disadvantages of DG type houses
Advantage Disadvantage
 Cheap  Not efficient on cloudy
 Exterior aesthetics in alignment with local traditional weather.
architecture.
 Applicable from south-20⁰E to south-20⁰W.
6.3.2 Solar Wall (SW)

The concept of SW is to store energy during day time in the building walls with materials
which have properties to store it. Such walls are thick and facing south. Good construction
material for such walls in cement brick, burn or mud brick, rammed earth or hollow cement
brick filled with cement or mud. Wall made from concrete block is most effective as it has
high heat storing capacity. The walls are plastered and painted black from outside to
increase solar heat absorption. Finally outside surface is covered with double glazed glass
and vents are provided on the wall. The sun heat is trapped in between glazed surface and
wall. Part of heat is stored in air which forms natural convection loop, warm air naturally
goes inside the room and cold air comes out through lower vent as depicted in Figure6.9.
Rest of the heat is stored in the wall itself which then releases it inside the house during
night time. The air between glazing and wall also behaves as insulation during night period.
The recommended thickness of SW is 8 inches to 1 foot.
Figure6.9: Principle working of solar wall. Picture scanned from GERES booklet
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Figure6.10: a) House with SW, b) Inside of the SW house.

Table 6.3: Advantages and disadvantages of SW
Advantages Disadvantages
 24 hours warmed,  Expensive,
 Efficient even after one or two cloudy  Strange aesthetic looks,
day,  Room may be considered dark,
 Applicable from south-20⁰E to south-  Less efficient if thickness of wall exceeds one foot
20⁰W. (30 cm).
6.3.3 Attached Green House (AGH):

AGH is single glazed room attached to southern wall of the house (see Figure6.11) and acts
as a solar energy collector during winter day time to warm-up adjacent rooms during day
and night. During day time heat is transferred through radiation via double glazed window
of southern room and via convection by opening the shutters of double glazed windows and
doors. At night time the heat stored, in the floor of AGH and partition wall of AGH and
room, during day time is released inside the room. The AGH room thus acts similarly in
principle to SW. Though glass is best suited material for constructing AGH but due to low
income levels it is unaffordable for Ursi people. The cheaper and affordable alternative is
UV resistant polythene sheet
Table 6.4: Advantages and disadvantages of AGH.
Advantages Disadvantages
 Suitable for renovation,  Investment and maintenance cost,
 Additional space,  Space required.
 Applicable from south-30⁰E to south-30⁰W.
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Figure6.11: Shape of AGH with minimum and maximum advised orientation angle
6.4 Water and waste management

People in Ursi village don’t have water or waste water service lines. All their water demands
are met by melted glaciers flowing downstream through their village. Toilets are usually
two storeyed where the lower storey is storage. Every time the toilet is used the waste is
collected in the storey below it and mud is pored over. After a year (or less depending upon
size of family) the compost generated is emptied from the waste collection room and used as
manure on the fields.
Figure6.12: Schematic showing how the waste is recycled in the house.
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Figure6.13: Plan for PSH and toilet.
6.5 On-site monitoring for Indoor Environmental conditions

On site monitoring was done on 18th September at 1 pm. During monitoring inside and
outside air temperature, inside relative humidity, and inside lux level were measured. The
monitored data is shown in
Table 6.5: instantaneous monitoring results
Parameters DG SW AGH
Inside temperature (⁰C) 23.4 19.9 21.1
Inside lux (Middle of room) 350 210 160
Outside temperature(⁰C) 17.9 17.9 17.9
Relative Humidity inside (%) 26 20 20
6.6 Energy performance of PSH

Three PSH houses (DG, SW, & AGH) in Spiti were monitored1 from 1 January 2009 to 11
April 2009. During monitoring temperature were measured inside and outside the houses.
The results are shown in Table 6.6. The SW house is the warmest one among the three
designs with minimum average inside temperature of 7⁰C when outside minimum
temperature is -14.4⁰C. SW is about 21.4⁰C warmer and on average PSH are 20.8⁰C warmer.
Analysis of all the data shows that minimum average temperature in a PSH never goes
below 4.8⁰C-5⁰C.
Table 6.6: Average temperature measured for three types of PSH design during winter period of
2008/2009 in Spiti.
DG room(⁰C) SW room(⁰C) AGH room(⁰C) Outside(⁰C)

Average temperature for the full 7.2 9.6 7.12 -8.13
period
Maximum temperature for the full 11.57 12.97 11.2 0.87
period
Average of the minimum 3.7 7 3.83 -14.4
temperature
Source: Monitoring data provided by LEDeG.
1 Monitoring done by GERES and dataset were obtained via LEDeG.
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Thus SW is the most efficient design of all. Recently another monitoring was done on SW
houses. In this monitoring, temperatures at different depth of SW were measured during a
winter day. The building has typical construction as shown in Figure6.7 with a difference in
insulation. Roof insulation used in this building is 5 inches of sawdust. The wall was
constructed with single layer of mud blocks with 2 inches of EPS as insulation. The results
are shown in. It is seen that heat is stored in SW during day time and is dissipated slowly
inside the room during night period. The time lag observed to be eight hours. The same
house was modelled on a thermal performance measurement tool and simulation was
performed for a year. 70% of energy saving was observed in SW house as compared to
conventional local house. The results of these simulations are shown in Table 6.8.
Table 6.7: Annual fuel savings in PSH as compared to conventional house
Consumption (Kg/house/winter) Total

Wood Dung Bush biomass
Conventional house 613.06 673.82 336.81 1623.69
PSH 351.9 176.86 13 541.76
Fuel saved (Kg) 261.16 496.96 323.81 1081.93
Fuel saved (%) 42.60% 73.75% 96.14% 66.63%
Source: Monitoring data provided by LEDeG.
200000
Energy (kWh/winter/house)
150000
100000
50000
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Time (years)
Conventional house PSH
Figure6.14: Lifetime energy consumption in conventional house vs PSH
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Figure6.15: Thermal performance evaluation of SW done on 12/01/2011. Source: Clottes Franck

(December 2012). L.E.C. Integration Design Manual. GERES
Table 6.8: Energy simulation results for PSH and conventional house.
Energy consumption, Tin=15⁰C (kWh/year/m2)

Standard building 341
PSH (SW technology) 101
Energy Savings 70.4%
Source: Clottes Franck (December 2012). L.E.C. Integration Design Manual. GERES
6.7 Costing of PSH

The Table 6.9 shows costs of various components used in PSH’s. The total cost of building a
PSH 12 ft wide and 14 ft long comes around 1.4 lakhs, including labour cost. Per square feet
cost comes around INR 830. Usually even this rate is expensive for people without proper
livelihood. The GERES together with their local partners have come up with a model where
they supply main PSH elements, like DG or SW wall material, windows, and insulation for
walls. This reduces the cost to about half, i.e. INR 70,000 (in 2008). The prices are further
reduced if the construction materials are locally available. Further in every village GERES
157
and LEDeG along with other local partners have trained some of the locals from the village
in construction technology of PSH. The community along with this, trained people help each
other in constructing PSH in villages. This also brings down the labour cost.
Table 6.9: Costing of different components of a PSH. Price includes labour cost and material costs.
p Cost Comments
Passive solar windows (DG) Rs 2154/Sq.m Supplied by NGO, not available locally
Passive solar wall (SW) Rs 1922/Sq.m "
An 8 foot-width AGH (including 25,000 "
timber frame and renovating inner
south wall)
An 8 foot-width AGH (with local 15,000 to 20,000 "
twigs and without renovating inner
south wall)
Insulating one wall (double wall Rs 220/Sq.m Done usually by Yakzes or sawdust
technique)
Insulating three walls (double wall Rs 640/Sq.m "
technique: 4 inch sawdust + 1ft
brick)
Roof insulation (6inch yakzes after Rs 160/Sq.m Yakzes is locally available shrub, thus
compression) usually free of cost. As it grows naturally
the embodied energy is zero
Floor insulation (2 options: poly Rs 160/Sq.m Locally available, free of cost.
bags with sawdust or trekking mats)
Sun-dried mud block 0 Made onsite using local mud and without
use of any machinery
Waste management (toilet waste) 0 The toilet waste is mixed with mud and
used as manure on fields.
The cost saved from fuel savings is about INR 4000 per household per year, which is about
10% of the household income. Traditionally the houses are built using mud bricks and
locally available wood and stone.
6.8 Payback time

To calculate payback time PSH with SW technique is chosen. Reason being 1) it is the most
costly technique; 2) High quantity of manufactured material is required as compared to
other two techniques.
For calculating energy payback time, the energy savings data from Table 6.10 is used. The
difference between a traditional house and a house with SW is the use of double wall
construction with Yakzes or sawdust as insulation. The SW is made from concrete blocks
and covered fully with double glazed units. The double wall is made with mud blocks from
locally available mud and no machines are used for making them. Thus they are considered
energy neutral. Yakzes is locally grown shrub and sawdust is a waste by product and thus
the insulation materials are energy neutral as well. Embodied energy is mostly in the
concrete wall and double glazed glasses. The embodied energy of SW house calculated is
10.4 GJ (see Annexure 7). This is then compared with energy savings from the fuel used for
space heating to get energy payback time.
158
For the cost payback time the cost of building SW is taken as rest of the building is
constructed from locally available free material, i.e. mud from the area where the house is
constructed, wood again from the land of owner, stone form same area. Cost of insulating
walls and roof are included in the analysis. The cost of material and construction as
mentioned in Table 6.9 is used for the analysis. The cost saving is from lower fuel
consumption for heating in winters (see Annexure 7).
Table 6.10: Cost and Energy payback time for PSH (with SW technique)
Payback Period (Year)

Cost payback time 10.5
Energy payback time 0.55
6.9 Summary of field interviews

Investment in PSH is initially higher than a regular house. People were earlier sceptical
about the performance of the PSH and also their look was not like traditional houses.
Therefore the NGOs set up couple of experimental houses in different village so that people
could experience the benefits of the PSHs. This strategy was success and people who were
happy with performance agreed to build PSG with the help of NGOs. Now people from
various villages are requesting LEDeG (one of the key NGO which is still active in building
PSH) to build more PSH for them. But unfortunately due to limited funds the PSH cannot
be built simultaneously in all the villages. Priority of for LEDeG is far off remote villages.
With PSH people almost stopped using bukhari (traditional space heating technology) during
the day time. At night time also due to better insulation the use of fuel for heating has
reduced. This has resulted in big saving in terms of cost of fuel and time saved which
otherwise went in collection of fuel. The PSH are very comfortable even at night and at sub-
zero temperatures. People have in terms of better health in winters. Living in regular houses
illness like cold, cough, and joint pain were common in winters but in PSH these have
disappeared. The smoke produced inside the house by burning fuel has also reduced
drastically. Children can study properly in winters and money saved from fuel can be
invested in paying school fees of children as well as buying more rations. In winters it is
impossible to get involve in income generating activities but in comfortable environment
provided by PSH it is now possible, thus the income level of the household has increased as
well.
The energy payback time is about half a year for PSH. The cost payback calculated using
direct money savings from fuel is 10.5 years. If increase income parameter is also added then
the cost payback reduces to about 5 years. Other benefit like improved health together with
monetary benefits certainly outweighs initial investments. All the materials accept glass
used for construction are green.
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6.10 Affordability and green rationale analysis of PSH

Table 6.11: Affordability and green rationale analysis of PSH

Replicability in
Sl Whether Affordable
no. Details Cost Green Rationale Affordable Details Cost housing
Yes/No (Y/N)
1 Tree - - - - -
protection
2 Soil - - - - -
preservation

3 DG wall Rs 2154/m2 Traps heat during the Y Concrete Rs 30/block, mud blocks Y
day time. blocks/Mud usually free if procured
blocks. from same site or
locally.
4 Solar wall Rs 1922/m2 Stores heat during day Y Concrete Rs 30/block, mud blocks Y
time and dissipates in blocks/Mud usually free if procured
night blocks. from same site or
locally.
5 AGH RS 25000 for 8’-width Traps heat during day Y Concrete Rs 30/block, mud blocks Y
and dissipates to blocks/Mud usually free if procured
adjacent room during blocks. from same site or
night. locally.
6 Insulation in Rs 100/m2 Reduces heat loss Y No insulation - Y
walls and roof
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Replicability in
Sl Whether Affordable
no. Details Cost Green Rationale Affordable Details Cost housing
Yes/No (Y/N)
Local sustainable materials
7 Yakzes Rs 100/m2 Locally available shrub
which has good
insulating properties.
8 Double Generally made by the Made on-site from sun Y Sun dried Made on-site from sun Y
layered mud owner himself using dried mud brick with mud brick dried mud brick with
wall local mud, thus is free mud from the site itself. mud from the site itself.
It has good heat storing It has good heat storing
capacity capacity
9 Markalak clay Cost free and available Locally available shrub Y - - Y
locally. Has water which has good
proofing property and insulating properties.
also act as binder in
mud brick.
Waste Management
10 Traditional - The human waste is Y Traditional - Y (Some
toilets mixed with mud and toilets improvising
then used as manure required)
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6.11 Summary of cold climate

Table 6.12: Cold climate zone summary
Green features Literature studies Case studies Other regional practices
Zoning -
Roof treatment, roof garden Wooden roof with thick insulation and water proofing. Concrete blocks, Insulated roofs.
Shaded windows Minimal shading for preventing rain & gable roof
Walls to respond to outside Trombe wall, dhajji wall, Taq wall Sun dried mud block with Yakzes of Bamboo construction, rammed
climate saw dust insulation, Trombe wall, earth construction
Direct gain, Attached green house.
Local materials to reduce Timber wood, deodar wood, bamboo, Yakzes, Markalak clay, mud, saw dust, Recycled tiles for roof.
embodied energy saw dust, mud, stone stone, rammed earth
Construction technologies to -
reduce time and volume of
construction
Natural ventilation Through windows.
Daylight integration Through windows
Efficient outdoor and indoor CFL lights in interior
lighting by use of T5 lamps,
CFL, LED etc
Efficient fans or other -
heating/cooling technologies
Solar based outdoor lighting -
Solar based water heating Solar hot water system for individual - Solar hot water system for
house individual house
Solar PV panels to generate Solar heating and geysers, Solar water - Solar heating and geysers, Solar
electricity pumps, heating through solar PV energy water pumps, heating through solar
generation PV energy generation
162
Case study under Cold Climate zone
Green features Literature studies Case studies Other regional practices

Pervious pavers -
Sedimentation control measures -
in the landscape design
Use of native species Yakzes
Source of landscape water from -
recycled water
Irrigation equipment -
Water management
Waste water treatment system Tertiary Treatment Plants for 100% Waste water mixed with mud and
recycling of waste water, (grey water) is human waste to generate manure.
treated through root zone treatment
Rain water harvesting Rain water harvesting and recharging
through drains, percolation pits, trenches
and wells
Dual plumbing system -
Efficient plumbing fixtures Low flow plumbing fixtures, faucets with - Energy efficient motors, dry toilets,
aerator, water level controllers, pressure
regulating devices
Waste management
Segregation of waste - Waste segregation of dry and organic -
waste
163
7 Field Case studies under Hot and Dry Climate

zone
7.1 Mr Surya Kakani’s House, Ahmedabad

7.1.1 Site location
Mr Kakani’s house, located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is a renovated house of 1950s. The
duplex was furbished in 2010 to triplex house for 2-4 people. The architect and owner of the
house are same.
Figure7.1: Location of Mr Surya Kakani’s house

 Project name : Surya Kakani’s House
 Construction : 1950s
 Renovated : 2010
 Climate (as per NBC) : Hot & Dry
 Location : Ahmedabad
 Coordinates : 23.0, 72.5 (Aprox)
165
 Site area : 210 Sq.mt (2260 sq.ft)

 Total Built up Area (Sq. mts) : 264 Sq.mt (2841 sq.ft)
 Architect : Mr Surya Kakani
 Total Cost for Renovation : Rs. 10,56,000
 Skilled level of labour : High
 No of Units : 1 (Triplex house)
 Green technologies/features incorporated : Façade treatment – with respect to

orientation, Rain water harvesting, Ground water recharge, Waste Water Treatment
and reuse, Green Construction practices, Use of local materials, Biodiversity and use
of indigenous species in landscape, preserving existing ecology, Naturally daylight
and ventilated, wind catcher system
Figure7.2: Green features layout
166
Case studies under Hot and Dry Climate zone - Mr Surya Kakani’s House, Ahmedabad
7.1.3 Project Brief

The house was chosen for case study based on its passive features and reduced energy
consumption. The occupants live in comfortable indoor environmental conditions without
any air-conditioning.
Old walls retained Demolished walls Newly added walls
Figure7.3: Floor Plans (Left: Ground Floor, Right: First Floor)
The house is a semidetached duplex building sharing the south wall with neighbours. North
and East sides are exposed to open areas and are shaded with trees while west side is semi
open with neighbourhood at close by distance. The building was initially duplex which was
converted to triplex by adding a library room above the first floor.
Figure7.4: Outdoor and indoor view of Mr Kakani’s house
167
The below case study description entails only about the renovated/reconstructed/newly
incorporated features. No old construction’s features like the thick walls are analysed under
cost or green rationales.
Renovation and Re-construction

Mr and Mrs Kakani owned an existing home in 2000 which they renovated in the year 2010.
The house was initially built in 1950s which is still under good condition. Initially the
architect’s idea was to raze the structure and re-built a new one. However, realizing the
potential features of the existing building’s profile like the thermal walls (thick walls) etc
and huge construction waste that will come out by tearing the building down, it was later
decided to renovate instead. The first green step of the house has begun here by reducing
and saving carbon emissions and cost respectively.
Figure7.5: Before, during and after renovation of the house respectively
Tree protection, landscape and bio-diversity

Existing trees were retained after owning the property. Further, native species plantation
and vegetable garden on terrace are other ecological considerations under landscape. As per
the occupant they experience good bio-diversity in the vicinity.
Various plantation species of the landscape that includes native species are:
Champa, Bougenvila, Paras, Juee, Chameli, Malti, Madhumalti, Kailashpati, Sitashok, Mogra,
Brahmi, Nagarvel (paan), Madhunashini, Morpankh, Kaurav-pandav(krishnakamal), Water lilies,
Kadipatta, Lemongrass, Tulsi, Damro, Amba haldi, Borsali, Parijat, Charoli, Madhukamini, Thor,
Sontak, Desi gulab, Seasonal vegetables
168
Figure7.6: Top left: old house, Top right: During renovation, Below Left: After renovation, below
right: Vegetable garden on terrace
The existing plantation before construction is retained while additional vegetation like
terrace garden is built. The below images explain the bio diversity found within the vicinity
of the house.
Figure7.7: Bio-diversity found in the vicinity (Images provided by Mr Kakani)
Pervious paving
The soft scape of the site is 64.Sq.m which includes trees, bushes, shrubs, terrace garden and
lily ponds, while the hardscape consist pervious paved area built with Nimaj stone (kota
cousin, leftover waste stone) and terracotta lime brick (from waste brick) pavers used in 2
169
mm gap for water percolation. Cost of local stone is Rs 300/sq.m and brick paver is
Rs80/sq.m. The material has very low embodied energy which contains construction waste
and is acquired locally. There is no bonding material used between bricks/stones.
Figure7.8: Nimaj stone and waste brick paved pervious surfaces
Alternative Energy efficient materials

All the building materials used in the project are transported locally, i.e. within Gujarat or
Rajasthan. Most of the materials acquired are either traditional or recycled, thereby reducing
the embodied energy to maximum.
Walls
Most of the existing walls were retained to avoid construction waste and further
requirement of new materials. All the existing and new walls were built with bricks and
finished with lime plaster. The external wall finish is made of ‘Lapti+lime jikki’ and
internal wall with ‘lime jikki’.
The building is a load bearing structure with wall thickness of 350mm. This thickness
performs as a thermal mass. In Ahmedabad the climate is constantly hot for longer period of
a year and has large temperature swings between day and night. Thermal mass effect can
actually be detrimental in such conditions. The huge mass of the existing house helps in
thermal lag and thereby reduces the need for additional thermal insulation.
The wall finishes are treated with lime plaster containing marble waste which has good
thermal resistance and washable gloss finish. The material is locally available and also has
very low embodied energy. The cost of lime plastering is very economical against
conventional cement plastering. As per the occupant’s experience and architect’s
explanation, lime plaster is found to be helpful in controlling the surface temperatures and is
very easy to maintain.
170
Table 7.1: Cost comparison of surface finishing material
Project Case Conventional Case

Embodied Embodied
Material Cost Material Cost
energy energy
Surkhi Lime Rs 350/sq.m 91 MJ/sq.m
plaster Cement
mortar + 485/sq.m 32 MJ/Sq.m
Jikki Lime Rs162/sq.m
paints
plaster
Figure7.9: Images showing internal wall thickness and wall finishes with lime plaster
Surkhi Lime plastering process

Wall plastering with lime mixed with Surkhi is done by mixing molasses, lime, fenugreek
and commiphora as a mix. The ingredient of the plaster (one mixer load) has been tabulated
below:
Table 7.2: Lime plaster ingredients
Ingredients Proportions Preparation of individual components

Lime Lime: River sand: Surkhi = 6 : 8: 7 proportion
River sand
Surkhi
Jute fibre 5 gms/mixer load
Molasses 1 litre/mixer load 15 litres Molasses + 200 litres water
Fenugreek – 1 litre/mixer load Summer : 200 litres water+200 gms fenugreek+100

Commiphora mix grams commiphora
Winter : 200 litres water+200 gms fenugreek+200
grams commiphora
The plaster is applied in similar manner to conventional cement mortar application: The mix
is thrown to wet wall with the help of trowel. A wooden planer is used to spread the plaster
for coarse finish of 6mm thickness. After plastering, 24hours is given for setting, following
which curing should begin (water to be sprayed thrice a day in summer, twice in winter
over a jute cover on plaster (not directly). The curing should be carried out for a minimum
171
period of 3 days. The application of the second coat should not be earlier than 4 days after
the first coat is applied. Second plaster coat- same mix as in first coat (patra finish) jute not to
be used. Line and level to be checked and finalized in this coat. Roughen surface lightly to
prepare the base for the final cost.
Roof
The existing RCC roof of the house has been retained which was further treated with roof
garden above it. The image below shows various sectional details of the green roof. Green
roofs are known for heat resistance, therefore stabilises the indoor temperature underneath
and improves thermal comfort.
Figure7.10: Roof section for terrace garden
Library room was built above the first floor which has a roof area of 37 Sq.mt. this area is
being used as rainwater catchment. The roof is built of RCC and an additional layer of brick
waste (from demolished walls debris), sand and waste thermocol for insulation has been
added. The exterior roof finish is treated with a white reflective coating to reduce the heat
gains through radiation.
Figure7.11: Left: Terrace garden roof image Right: Insulated roof during construction (Image
provided by Mr Kakani)
172
In conventional practise RCC roof is provided usually without any additional layer of
thermal insulation. However currently many practises use brick bat coba or puff as
insulation in addition to RCC slab. Cost analysis of the current project case is hence
compared with these two materials. In the case study, cost for the insulated roof (waste
brick, lime, sand, waste thermocol) is calculated to be economical by Rs.500/sq.m, in
comparison to a roof with brick bat combat and china mosaic which costs around Rs
540/Sq.m or puff insulation of Rs 2250/Sq.mt
Figure7.12: left: demolished wall’s construction waste used for roofing, right: thermocol waste for
insulation (Images provided by Mr Kakani)
Figure7.13: Cost comparison of conventional practice against the roof types in the case study
Roof insulation is required for hot and dry regions to control the solar heat gains. The
analysis explains that terrace garden roof is a very economical solution for climatic
performance in comparison to the brick bat coba or puff. Based on the observation made by
TERI team during the field visit, the insulated roof (brick waste + thermocol waste) is not
performing as predicted because of poor performance of the reflective coating. This can be
rectified by adding an additional layer with reflective tiles.
173
Flooring
Initially the existing building had a terrazzo flooring which was renovated with 40mm thick
Nimaj stone. The material is a natural stone with low embodied energy and is available
locally.
Figure7.14: Stone flooring
The material is however not cost effective at Rs 645/Sq.m against a low cost conventional
material like terrazzo flooring at Rs 388/Sq.mt. Vitrified tiles usage is the most conventional
practise in the region which costs Rs 560/Sq.mt.
Figure7.15: Cost comparison of conventional practice against the flooring material in the case study
Door &Windows:
Doors and Windows along with the frames are made up of recycled old teakwood which is
available locally. Glass is provided only for the north windows while the remaining
windows are fitted with louvers system for diffused day lighting and reduce solar heat
gains. Although the material is expensive, it has recycled content and is locally available.
The material application is therefore a green practise however is not economical.
Passive Design Features

The renovated design house has been optimized with improved natural ventilation and day
lighting strategies. North light is used for library space while east and west windows are
174
provided with louvers to control the direct light and control glare while allowing natural
ventilation.
Figure7.16: Images showing the day lighting quality on a typical equinox season (during field
visit).
Design of cross ventilation in the house is observed to be an outstanding feature in all living
spaces. The cooling tower is a supporting element to enhance the ventilation performance
during discomfort hours.
Figure7.17: Clockwise: Wind catcher outlet, external louvers to provide privacy and direct
ventilation, internal ventilation openings between kitchen and staircase, window louvers system
to open natural ventilation while controlling direct sunlight
175
The building envelope with thermal mass of 350mm thick walls and insulated roofs helps in
controlling the indoor thermal conditions. Water bodies (lily ponds) provided on east and
north sides help in evaporative cooling during dry summer period. As per the occupant’s
interview, no artificial lights are required during daytime all year round. No air
conditioning is installed. Ceiling fans are used for 8 months in a year during discomfort
hours.
Figure7.18: Water bodies/lily ponds for evaporative cooling in summers
Wind catcher/Cooling tower
Figure7.19: Wind catchers and duct connecting all living spaces
One of the notable features in the residence is the cooling tower which was designed to
reach all the living spaces at ceiling level. The system provides the additional cooling
required in the house when the ambient conditions are extremely hot. The tower acts as a
wind catcher receiving fresh and cold air to living spaces during summer nights and works
176
in reverse direction with stack effect by removing hot air from living spaces during summer
day times. In winter the tower is mostly closed from usage.
Figure7.20: Left: Cooling tower inlet, middle & right: Tower outlets
Usually the cooling towers are applied with downdraft system for evaporation. Since in the
recent years Ahmedabad is experiencing higher humidity range in monsoon season, the
occupants explain that they do not intend to use any downdraft system which would
increase humidity range. Despite to the usage of evaporative system, the cooling tower is
however able to enhance the air changes in the house.
Energy Consumption
Wind Catcher
The entire house benefits from natural day lighting and ventilation. No artificial lighting is
observed to be in usage during day time for an entire year. As per the climate zone, high
amount of energy for cooling and heating would be required to meet comfort standards.
Wind catcher is highly effective in this aspect by adding ventilation rate with less or no
additional energy. However peak temperatures and stuffiness is not met completely by
wind catcher and hence mechanical ceiling fans are being used to overcome the stuffiness
during extreme ambient conditions.
The house is therefore able to save a high amount of energy annually by having wind
catcher as an alternative system for cooling. Cost effectiveness of the cooling towers is
understood by comparing with a conventional cooling system. Dessert coolers are more
appropriate for hot and dry regions which are economical than air conditioners to
conventionally cool a living space. Therefore the comparative analysis is performed for wind
catcher against dessert coolers.
Various assumptions were made for analysis: As per the occupant’s usage, cooling
requirement is assumed to be for 7 months in a year (Hottest period), 14 hours/day for 6
days and 24 hours for one day in a week (Total of 3488 hours in a year). Cost variation of
equipment, maintenance, energy bills in 50 years are not considered in the analysis. In green
case, ceiling fans are considered for energy consumption. Therefore the equipment and
energy costs of ceiling fans have also been considered in this case. As per HVAC consultant
177
the house requires 8000 cfm cooling. With this consideration, the size of the wind catcher has
been designed for a capacity of 450 Cu.m.
Table 7.3: Cost comparison of wind capture and desert cooler
Dessert cooler (Conventional

Wind catcher (Green Case)
Case)
Initial cost (Construction cost for 450 cfm (4 coolers of 0.24kw to meet
capacity tower + 4 ceiling fans) cooling load)
30,000 + 8,000 57,663
(approximate) annual energy 1,004 3,448

consumption (kwh)
(approximate) energy consumption 2,91,317 9,99,903
in 50 years (kwh)
Total (approximate) cost in 50 years (Including ceiling fans usage) 12,88,220

INR 3,21,317
The analysis clearly shows that the initial cost of the conventional case is costlier by 47%
than the green case. Nearly 70% of operational energy can be saved annually with wind
catcher and ceiling fans against conventional dessert coolers. Hence the system is identified
to be economical and simultaneously sustainable.
Solar Water Heater

Hot water system is required in Ahmedabad during winter and monsoon seasons i.e. 5
months in a year. Water heating in Mr. Kakani’s house is supported by solar energy with 200
litres capacity.
Figure7.21: Solar water heater on terrace
In a conventional practise water heating geysers are typically used. The energy consumption
and cost saving by having Solar Water Heating system against conventional geysers has
been performed.
178
It is assumed that two geysers units would be required for two bathrooms to meet the hot
water demand in the green case. Each of with 20 litre capacity would cost Rs 10,000
approximately.
Table 7.4: Cost comparison for solar water heater and electric geyser
Solar Water Electric Geyser

Heater (2no.s)
(Green case) (Conventional Case)
Initial cost (INR) 35,000 20,000
Unit cost in 50 years with 4 replacements (INR) 1,40,000 1,60,000
Energy Consumption per year (Kwh) 0 2,470
Energy Consumption in 50 years (Kwh) 0 1,23,540
Total Investment in 50 years (INR) 1,75,000 3,06,010
Although the initial investment of renewable energy system is 75% higher than conventional
system, in lifetime the latter is expensive by 12%. In additional, electricity of 426 units would
be required annually by the geysers which would cost Rs 2470/year.
Water Management
Water balance
Total water demand for the house is 600 lt/day in which 20 lt/day is consumed by drinking
and cooking. This water is acquired from rain water collected in a tank of 15000 litres
capacity. Excess rainwater is percolated for ground water recharge. The building also uses
municipal water supply in bathrooms, washing machine and terrace gardening. Water from
washing machine is collected to a tank beneath it and then diverted to a 300 litre tank on
terrace which is then used for flushing purpose. Waste water from bathroom and kitchen
sinks is used for irrigation and percolation.
Figure7.22: Water balance Diagram
179
Rain Water Management

Rainwater is harvested for drinking and cooking which is collected in a tank of 15000 litre
capacity. Excess quantity is diverted to ground water recharge pits through soft scape in
courtyard and site corridor. The first two showers are left to wash away dust and unwanted
particles from catchment area. The catchment area is cleaned before the water is collected
into the tank. The total cost of the storage tanks is Rs. 90,000 (approx.) and plumbing of
Rs.9,000 for 15000 litres storage tank.
Figure7.23: Left: Rain water system plumbing lines, Right: Soft scape for rainwater recharge
Figure7.24: Sectional image showing rainwater management
180
7.1.5 Instantaneous Performance Measurements

Instantaneous measurements were taken for few main living spaces during the field.
Thermal and day lighting measurements were taken with the help of globe meter and lux
meter respectively.
Ambient conditions at the time of measurement:
Time: 11:45, Date: 20/09/2014
Sky Condition: Clear & sunny
Surface Reflectivity: Roof: 0.7, Walls: 0.5, Floor: 0.3
Table 7.5: Day lighting performance Measured
Room Avg Lux DF Measured NBC Recommended DF

Living Room 350 4.0% 0.625
Kitchen 200 3.1% 2.5
Bedroom 1 250 4.0% 0.625
Bedroom 2 345 4.1% 0.625
Table 7.6: Thermal performance Measured
MRT (0C) DBT (0C) RH (%)

Outdoor 33 58
Ground Floor 29 29 66
First Floor 29 30 62
Second Floor 30 30 63
7.1.6 Summary of data collection and interview during field visit

As per the interviews, observation during field visit, the architect who himself is an
occupant of the house has experimented various technologies for cost effective approach
towards a sustainable performance of the house. The cost spent for renovation was
considered as very economical and the design that helps them stay comfortably without the
need of conventional cooling has reduced their maintenance costs further. The occupants
who are currently using the rainwater for domestic consumption, intends to extend the
usage for landscaping in future.
The house has majorly benefitted from reducing wastage by using the existing or debris of
old elements demolished. Maintenance of finishes is also convenient and easy due to the
long life and washable feature of the lime plaster. Nimaj stone is used with textured/rough
finish to reduce the stress on knees while walking or standing. The practise can be replicated
in most new constructions as well where the waste materials can be acquired from nearby
sources. The materials are majorly supplied from local or nearby regions. The construction
technologies would require highly skilled masons and labour which is very scarcely
available now. These skills existed in past when most vernacular buildings were built which
are highly energy efficient and environmental friendly. However, modernization is
overpowering these skills and the architect urges to harness this strength before its existence
fades out completely.
181
7.1.7 Case study summary

Table 7.7: Case study summary

Replicability
Whether
Sl in
Affordable
no. Details Cost Green Rationale Details Cost Affordable
Yes/No
housing
(Y/N)
1 Protecting existing No cost Preserves bio diversity and Y Y
vegetation and bio ecological values
diversity
2 Pervious paving Rs 194/sq.m Controls Heat Island effect Y Concrete pavers, Rs 500/Sq.mt Y
with Nimaj Stone, and enhances percolation of impervious paving
pavers Storm water & run off
With waste brick control, recharges ground
water.
3 Wall finishes using Rs 350/sq.m (surkhi Low embodied energy, Y Internal cement Rs. 485/- per Sqm Y
basecoat surkhi or lime plaster) Recycled material, Long life, plastering with
jikki lime plaster Rs162/sq.m (jikki Low thermal conductivity, Plastic/matt paint
lime plaster) Local material, Low finish
maintenance
4 Terrace garden roof Rs. 409 Sq.mt + RCC Thermal control, vegetation Y Brick Bat Coba Rs. 540 Sq.mt + Y
cost growth, RCC cost
5 Insulated roof with Rs. 500 Sq.mt + RCC Thermal control, reuse Y Brick Bat Coba Rs. 540 Sq.mt + Y
waste thermocol and cost material RCC cost
brick
6 Nimaj stone flooring Rs.645/sq.m Natural stone Y Terrazzo Flooring Rs 388/Sq.mt Y
Low embodied energy Vitrified Flooring Rs 560/Sq.mt
Locally Available
182

Replicability
Whether
Sl in
Affordable
no. Details Cost Green Rationale Details Cost Affordable
Yes/No
housing
(Y/N)
7 Solar hot water Rs. 35,000 Energy saved and carbon Y Electric Geysers (25 Rs 20,000 Y
system emissions reduced. Saving in litres capacity per
longterm. 6 years payback bathroom)
time
8 Recycled teak wood Rs 8608 /Sq.mt Low embodied energy and N Normal wood Rs 6456/Sq.mt N
for interiors and recycled content
door window
schedules
9 Rain Water Rs 2,00,000 (approx.) Ground water recharge and N No system - N
Harvesting re use
183
7.2 Field study of Savvy Solaris

7.2.1 Site location
Solaris project located at Motera neighbourhood of Ahmadabad is a residential community
development in 11235 sq.m. It is a green building applied for IGBC rating. The coordinate of
the place is 23.1N, 72.5E with an altitude of 30m above sea. level. It is located close to the
railway station, 3km from airport and 8km from city Centre. Ahmedabad experiences hot
and dry climate as per NBC 2005.
Figure 7.25: Location map of the project
Figure 7.26: Solaris residential apartments
184
Case studies under Hot and Dry Climate zone - Savvy Solaris
Figure 7.27: Site plan of the project
Figure 7.28: Typical Floor plans. Left: 2BHK, Right: 3BHK
7.2.2 Project Profile:

 Project name : Savvy Solaris
 Year of construction : 2013
 Location & Address : Motera, Ahmedabad
185
 Coordinates : N23.1, E72.5

 Climate (as per NBC) : Hot & Dry
 Site area : 11235 sq.m
 Architect : Mr Apoorva Amin
 Developer : Savvy
 MEP : Spectral & Trans Energy
 Any energy performance certifications : Constructed in compliance to IGBC,
however not applied for final certification
 Total Cost of Construction : Aprox Rs 40 lakhs
(purchase cost of a 2BHK)
 Typology of building : High rise apartments
 Floors : 10 & 11
 Total Built up Area (Sq. mts) : 2943 sq.m
 No of dwelling units : 348 Units
 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) : 0.26
 Type of Units (with quantity) : 2bhk: 170, 3BHK:178
 Built-up area of each unit type : 2BHK: , 3BHK:
 Dwelling density : 125.63 /acre
 Green technologies/features incorporated : Rain water harvesting, Ground water
recharge, Waste Water Treatment and reuse, Solid waste management, Green
Construction practices, integrating craft into the design, Use of local materials,
Biodiversity and use of indigenous species in landscape, preserving top soil and
ecology.

Top Soil preservation: Top soil for the site has been preserved prior to construction of the
Solaris project, which helps in growth of new sapling for plantation on site as against
conventional sites where top soil is not preserved. Preserving top soil involves collection,
storage and maintenance cost of Rs. 17/cu.m. In conventional sites, the cost for purchase of
top soil involves supply, staking and mixing of sludge, manure, sieving accounting to
Rs.228/cu.m. Hence, protection of top soil during construction is affordable and has the
potential to be replicated in affordable housing.
186
Landscape paving materials:

Soft paving
Landscape soft paving is executed using grass, or mulching, to maximise ground water
percolation. The cost of paving is Rs.4/sq.m. In conventional cases, perviousness of site is
reduced due to increase areas of impervious paving without ground exposure. The cost is
approximately Rs.350/sq.m. Hence, pervious paving laying is affordable and has the
potential to be replicated in affordable housing.
Figure 7.29:Soft paving, with grass
Hard paving:
In pavement areas for circulation, pedestrian and automobiles; impervious paving in the
form of concrete pavers and PCC flooring with high SRI finish are provided. Concrete
pavers help in water percolation through joint and control storm water management and
ground water recharge. In both the type of flooring system, high SRI finish reduces heat
island around the building. In conventional scenarios, hard paved area has less percolation
capacity and low SRI finish. Hence, heat island effect would be high and storm water control
will be minimal. In both the scenarios, case study & conventional case, cost will be similar in
the range of Rs. 300-350/sq.m. Therefore it will be beneficial, environmentally, to replicate
concrete pavers and PCC in affordable housing.
Figure 7.30: High SRI PCC pavement and interlocking concrete pavers
187
Building Envelope and civil works:

Building plan is rectangular in form. The Window to Wall ratio is less 20%. The green
materials used in Solaris have been described below.
Walls
All external and internal walls are made of AAC block masonry which helps in lower heat
transmission and maintains lower temperature in the interior space than outside. The wall
photographs have been depicted below.
Figure 7.31: Autoclaved aerated concrete masonry wall for external wall
AAC is more environmentally sustainable in comparison to conventionally used concrete

block as it has less embodied energy with 197 MJ/sq.m (source: auroville earth institute) as
against 235 MJ/sq.m for concrete block. (Source: GRIHA Volume 4, Criterion 16- Reduce
embodied energy of construction by adopting efficient technologies and/low energy
materials)
Table 7.8: Comparative analysis for AAC and CMU
Parameters- civil AAC CMU

U value (W/m .K) 2 0.576 3.062
Specific heat capacity 0.22 0.70
(kJ/Kg.K)
Embodied Energy for 197 MJ / m3 235 MJ/m3
wall with plaster
density 600 kg/m3 2349 kg/m3
Recycled content Yes - site soil - 90% No recycled content usually but in some
cases fly ask is used
cost Rs 3000/cu.m Rs.4375/cu.m
thermal comfort Maximum reduction of (Limitation, as monitoring restricted to
/reduction of indoor indoor temp as against only green case studies. This could be
temp as against ambient ambient is …. deg C taken up in Phase 2.)
Green Aspect Low embodied energy, High in embodied energy due to
insulated materials to materials like sand, aggregate and
reduce indoor temperature, cement involved.
60% fly ash content Higher carbon footprint.
Structural Strength 5.6 N/mm2 4 N/mm2

Constructability Easy Easy
Availability Easily available Easily available
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Hence, we can conclude that, autoclaved aerated concrete block is affordable and can be
Roof
The roof of the project is provided with high reflective china mosaic finish which is helping
to reflect back the radiation het gains.
Figure 7.32: Roof finish in Solaris project
The cost information is unavailable. However as per the occupant’s interview on ground
floor the roof is performing better in terms of heat control. Since the material is available as a
recycled item it has very low embodied energy. The material is also effective with low
maintenance and longer life against conventional practice of reflective paint finish or
concrete tiles.
Passive/ low energy technologies integrated with building envelope

Day lighting
Daylight has been integrated through windows and light wells. It helps to harvest daylight
to the interiors and avoids artificial light usage. In conventional practice, day lighting is
provided with limitation, thus interiors are more dependent on artificial lighting and
consume energy during day time. In terms of affordable analysis, single glazed units have
been used in both the cases, costing in the range of Rs.600/sq.m. The glazing areas will be
lesser in conventional case, thus cost on materials is lower than the current project.
However, energy consumption will be higher in conventional case than the current project.
Hence we can conclude than, integration of day lighting is affordable and replicable in
affordable housing. Photographs highlighting day lighting have been depicted below.
189
Figure 7.33: Photographs showing daylight integration in a flat
Figure 7.34: Photograph showing day lighting in basement parking area.
Natural Ventilation
Natural ventilation has been integrated through window and light well. No provision for air
conditioning has been provided by the developer. This strategy helps in achieving thermal
comfort and reduces dependency on air conditioning and fan. In conventional cases, natural
ventilation is integrated in limitation with usage of air conditioning. The operating cost in
case study scenario will be significantly lower than the conventional practice, thus proving
to be affordable and replicable in affordable housing.
Interior flooring Materials
Floor finishes have been executed using green materials such as vitrified and ceramic tiles,
etc. In conventional practices, vitrified tiles are majorly used. Vitrified and ceramic tiles use
industrial processes with recycled content. The embodied energy and prices of the tiles have
been compared in the table below.
Table 7.9: Comparison of energy and prices of the tiles
Tiles Ceramic Tiles Vitrified tiles Terrazzo flooring

Price (Rs./sq.m) 323 560 388
Embodied energy (MJ/kg) 12 12 1.4
Recycled content Yes Yes Yes
190
Ceramic tiles are cost effective than vitrified tiles. Therefore, ceramic tiles can be replicated
in affordable housing. However terrazzo flooring could be further economical and
simultaneously highly environmental friendly.
Building services
Building services has been integrated in the complex to enhance the sustainable quotient.
Plumbing and electrical systems have been detailed out as under.
Water source
The water for Solaris project is supplied from ground water and municipality. Water is
reused from rainwater and treated waste water. The reuse of water ensures, minimum
dependency on ground water or municipal supply or water tankers, preserving water
resource.
Water efficient fixtures
Water efficient low flow rate plumbing and sanitary fixtures has been used such as dual
flush Water Closet with 3/6 - litres/flush and kitchen faucet as against 9 litres/flush used in
conventional cases. The low flow water closet consumes 75% water less than conventional
system. The cost of low flow fixture is approximately 23% costlier than a conventional water
closet
Figure 7.35: Water efficient features depicting water closet and faucet
7.2.4 Comparative analysis for cost affordability

Solaris Conventional
Parameters - water Water Closet with Water Closet
management 3/6 litre/flush dual Faucet with 9 Faucet
flush litre/flush
Cost/unit (Rs.) 6500 3500 5000 1750
Water demand (%) 75 % less
Therefore we can conclude that, even though water efficient fixtures cost 23%higher but it
can save 75% on water demand and cost with it and payback can be realised in less than 1
year. Thus, dual flush 3/6 water closet and water efficiency faucets can be affordable and
replicable in affordable housing.
191
Rain water harvesting system

The total roof area of 2800 sq.m and impervious paved areas across the site acts as catchment
areas and harvests rainwater annually for reuse in building. Rain water from landscape
surfaces is used for recharging through percolation pits.
Figure 7.36: Storm water drains
Following is the flow diagram of rainwater harvesting:

Roof top rain water harvesting
2808 sq.m roof Roof debris storage water

rainwater
area screener tanks
Ground water percolation
ground
rainwater site surface aquifer
recharge
Sewage Treatment plant:

Waste water treatment has been installed at Solaris. The typology of this STP is Moving Bed
Bio Reactor – MBBR which has a treatment capacity of 210 KLD with a total investment of Rs
35,00,000 and efficiency of 92-98% which will be used for toilet flushing and landscape
irrigation.
192
Figure 7.37:Photograph of Waste water treatment plant at Solaris
Figure 7.38:Treatment process of sewage treatment plant in Solaris project
The system is easy to install and operate. In the case study the system is fixed in basement
floors and thereby saving area on ground level for other activities. However in case of
193
conventional STP it has to be arranged on ground level usually which needs excavation and
masonry construction.
Artificial Lighting
The street lighting provided with LED while the common corridors are provided with CFL
and parking with T5 lamps.

Instantaneous measurements were taken in the living spaces during the field. Thermal and
day lighting measurements were taken with the help of globe meter and lux meter
respectively.
Time: 17:00, Date: 16/09/2014, Sky Condition: Clear without sun
Floor: 5th,
Other: Shaded by adjacent tower during measurement
Floor: 11th (Top most floor)
Figure 7.39: Lux level measurement grid

Table 7.10:Day lighting performance Measured

Living Room 3500.0 10.0 0.625
Kitchen 300 0.9 2.5
Bedroom 1 2000.0 5.7 0.625
Bedroom 2 1700 4.9 0.625

Outdoor 31.2 32.5 64
Living Room 30.9 30.8 61
194
The building envelop is helpful to reduce the indoor temperatures however the MRT is very
low due to huge amount of lighting penetration. Since the field measurements were taken in
an unoccupied flat, it is assumed that MRT gains would become low by having blinds and
curtains. However the lighting levels may not be affected except the kitchen space.

As per the interview of Savvy developers, the project attempted for IGBC green certification
with all clauses considered. However final certification was not applied since the properties
were sold by then. The developer attempts for green designs in all of their projects.
Orientation, zoning, shading, thermal envelope are some of the basic features that would be
followed in all of their projects including Solaris.
The maintenance of the property is handled by the developer and so far has not experienced
any issues with the green features they have integrated.
As per an occupant the project is at affordable price for their income, whose monthly gross
income is 1 lakh. The occupants need to use air conditioning in extreme seasons for 2-3
months. Remaining seasons is found to be comfortable with natural ventilation along with
conventional ceiling fans. Day lighting is plenty and comfortable. The occupants do not
experience any issue with the waste water treatments or reuse of the treated water. Due to
the recommendations for low energy electric fixtures, the energy savings is effective.
195

Green Feature in Case study Conventional Features Whether

Replicability
maintenance
Sl Whether Information in
Green cost of green
no. Details Cost Affordable Remarks Source of Details Cost Affordable
Rationale features are
(Y/N) cost housing
high?
1 Top soil
Helps in Preserves Y Cost is lesser No soil Purchase of N Y
preservation
saving cost the natural than preservation. top soil cost.
of bringing top soil and conventional Cost of new Cost for
top soil from natural soil to be supply,
a nursery biome. bought. staking and
post mixing of
construction. sludge,
Collection , manure,
storage and sieving is
maintenance Rs.228/cu.m
cost of top
soil is Rs.
17/cu.m
Impervious
paving
2 High SRI 1200/sq.m reduces heat N cost is concrete Rs.350/sq.m N N
concrete island higher than inter-locking
pavement conventional blocks
3 Concrete 1200/sq.m reduces heat N cost is N N
Pavers island higher than
conventional
196

Replicability
maintenance
Green cost of green
(Y/N) cost housing
high?
pervious
paving
4 Grass lawns 3.85/sq.m reduces heat Y Cost is lesser concrete Rs.350/sq.m N Y
island and than inter-locking
reduces conventional blocks
evaporation,
helps in
percolation
5 AAC block 3000/Cu.m insulated Y Cost is lesser Concrete Rs.4375/Cu.m N Y
block and than blocks
helps in conventional
thermal
comfort
6 High SRI Rs. 880 per Heat Y same cost Concrete Rs.880 per N Y
roof tiles sqm reflective tiles sqm
and recycled
content
Green materials in interior finish
7 ceramic tiles Rs 323/ sqm recycled Y ceramic tiles Rs 323/ sqm N Y
content and
low
embodied
energy
8 vitrified Rs 560/ Sqm recycled Y vitrified tiles Rs 560/ Sqm N Y
tiles content
Water Management
197

Replicability
maintenance
Green cost of green
(Y/N) cost housing
high?
9 RWH Helps in Y cost is RWH Pit Rs. 30000/pit N Y
ground equivalent
water
recharge
10 STP Rs.35,00,000 Reuses in Y cost is STP Rs 40,00,000 N Y
for 210KLD irrigation equivalent for 650 KLD
litres/day and flushing (Mahindra
treatment Aura)
capacity
198
Case studies under Hot and Dry Climate zone - Lonar
7.3 Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme,

Lonar
7.3.1 Introduction
Lonar is located in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra. With the Lonar crater (created
about 50,000 years ago), the place has great archaeological, ecological, scientific and
mythological value. The crater hosts a 400 acre huge lake and various ancient temples. To
conserve the Lonar crater and develop the town, Municipal Council, Lonar proposed to
relocate the slums developed around the Lonar salt lake to Durga Tekdi (1.5km from the
crater). Hence, IHSDP, Lonar was planned. An area of 20 hectares has been allotted to this
project. IHSDP Phase-II is central-government sponsored slum rehabilitation under
JNNURM. The project is being implemented with the aim of providing an eco-sensitive
rehabilitation solution and thus will be seeking a 4-star GRIHA Rating.
7.3.2 Site location

The IHSDP Lonar Phase – II is targeting two slums situated in a 100 m periphery of
Daityasudhan Mandir and Nimbi Barav which are Archaeological monuments and need to
be preserved. Buldana is located at 19.98°N 76.51°E. It has an average elevation of 639 m
(2,096 ft).
Figure 7.40: Site Location
199
7.3.3 Project profile

 Project name : IHSDP, Lonar
 Year of construction : On going
 Location & Address : Buldhana District, Lonar, Maharashtra
 Climate (as per NBC) : Hot and Dry
 Consultant : Shunya Consultants
 Site area : ~ 24.24 acres
 Energy consultant : TERI
 Any energy performance certifications : Undergoing GRIHA 4 Star Rating
 Total Cost of Construction : 1634.5 lakhs
 No. of dwelling units : 606
 Cost of construction per unit : RS. 1,32,800/-
 Type of Units (with quantity) : G+1 unit with two flats on the ground
floor and one on the first floor
 Built-up area of each unit type : 25 m2
 Density : 25 units per acre
 Green technologies/features incorporated : Ground water recharge, Waste Water
Treatment and reuse, Green Construction practices, Use of local materials,
Biodiversity and use of indigenous species in landscape, preservation top soil.
7.3.4 Layout plan, dwelling unit plan and section for Phase – II
Figure7.41: Layout Plan for Phase II

Figure7.42: Cluster Layout Plan
200
Figure7.43: Plan of a Dwelling Unit
Sustainable Site Planning.

The plan involves building houses in clusters in a symmetrical pattern. A cluster of 14 blocks
of residential units will be built around a central green space that could be utilized for
utilities and services, creating medium density neighbourhoods. The housing blocks (G+1)
will be built along the natural site contours, minimizing the cutting and trenching cost.
Plantation
Majority of the plants are indigenous species requiring low maintenance and water once
planted. A list of the plantations on the site has been given below:
Table 7.13: Plantations on Site
Plants Value and Character No. in each court

Mussanda Pink Bold flowers all year through 1
Tabernaem White swastika flowers used in puja, flowers 2
Ontana (Tagar) throughout the year
Hibiscus Provides for the typical and common red single 2
Snowflakes jaswand used in puja
Plumeria Alba Deciduous in Nature with strong branching 2
and Rubra (deci) character when leaves are shed, provides for
white flowers or red ones for puja.
Krishna tulus Black tulas with high medicinal and 4
purificational values used as bed planting
Gavti chaha Profusely spreading herb with medicinal
values. Can grow well on waste water from
homes.
Vekhanda Grass Long grass like herb which forms neat clumps 6
and acts as a strong mosquito repellent and also
adds to the freshness of surrounding air.
201
Plants Value and Character No. in each court

Large tree for Varies with each cluster to give an identity to List of trees:
parking area cluster entrance, mostly evergreen trees used 1. Bakul mimusops elengii
for shade. All being native species (bankul)
2. Alianthus excels
(maharukh, mahaneem)
3. Putranjiva roxiburghii
(putranjive)
4. Alstonia Scholaris
(saptaparni)
5. Ficus infectoria (pilkhan)
6. Manilkara hexendra
(khirni)
7. Acacia auriculiformis
(earpod wattle)
8. Kigelia Pinnata (sausage
tree)
9. Azadiracta Indica (neem)
10. Senna siamea (kassod)
Top Soil Conservation

The excavated top soil is stored to be used later. The following drawing shows top soil
collection and storage points on the site.
Figure7.44: AutoCAD drawing showing top soil collection and storage points
Paving
Pervious paving surfaces have been optimised to ensure water percolation into the ground
so as to facilitate ground water recharge.
202
Passive Architectural Features

Since orientation was not in control at master plan level, each facade has been treated for its
orientation.
Natural ventilation through windows will be used to achieve comfortable temperatures
inside the house.
Building Envelope
Wall
Rat trap bond using fly ash bricks has been used for walls of the units. This not only
reduces material consumption but also gives improved U-value, lower embodied energy
and higher thermal insulation. Walls of the house have the following configuration:
230 mm brick wall with 15 mm plaster on both the faces
The overall U value of the wall assembly: 0.35 Btu/h/ft2/0F2
Figure7.45: Rat Trap Bond (Left) and Use of Fly ash Bricks (Right)
Roof
Tumbler roofing is being given to the units. Burnt clayed conical tumblers are placed in
arch on the roof. All the groves and gaps are finished by sticking broken glazed tiles over
the surface. Tumbler roof serves as a great insulator keeping the heat and cold out resulting
in a temperature difference of about 7-8 degrees* between the external and internal
environment. They are very light in weight (135 kg/sq.m) and have a very low construction
time (3 days*). It needs no under-structure and has a load bearing capacity of up to 1
tone/sq. m.
Figure7.46: Tumbler Roof - View from Inside
2 TERI Report
203
The test results of thermo physical properties of roof clay pots are not available so a different
methodology was used to establish the heat transfer coefficient (U-value) of roof. Onsite
measurements for roof’s external and internal surface temperatures were taken using
appropriate instruments. A computer model of the building was developed and the same
was validated with the measured data for different U-values of roof. Thus, the overall U
value of the roof assembly was calculated to be 1.0 W/m2/deg K*.
Glass
Single glass is used in the units. The specifications being:
U Value: 6.0 Btu/h/ft2/F*
Effective shading coefficient: 0.61*
Doors and windows
Precast frame (light weight) will be used for interior doors and windows. The door panels
are to be made of any durable composite wood product.
Plaster/masonry
PPC with at least 30% fly ash has been recommended for use.
Flooring
Flooring is to be done with Shahabad stone in rough finish.
Partitions/built-in cup board
Locally available natural stone or composite wood product is to be used.
Figure7.47: Section displaying construction techniques used
Day lighting
Radiance Simulation tool was used to carry out the daylight analysis of the proposed
building. The simulation model was prepared as per the architectural drawings received.
For the calculation of the daylight area, only living areas were considered, i.e., Bedroom,
Alcove and hall only.
The result obtained from the analysis was:
Total living area of the building = 54.37m2
Total daylight area = 54.37m2i.e. (100% of living spaces daylit)
204
Shading
Based on TERI’s analysis, it was recommended to provide for horizontal shades of at least 30
cm to cut glare and direct heat gain.
Figure7.48: Perspective View
Energy Efficient Lighting

The lighting in the units will be energy efficient.
Table 7.14: Energy efficient Fixtures and Lighting Levels
Floor Room/ Room Dimension Luminaire

Remarks
Level Area (L*W) used
Sample Bed room 2.6mX2.5m 18W CFL Lighting Power Density (LPD) meets
Floor ECBC requirements
Hall 2.5mx3.45 m 18W CFL Lighting Power Density (LPD) meets
ECBC requirements
Services
Water Management
Water Efficient Fixtures
Water efficient fixtures will be installed in the units. A brief summary of the water fixtures
used in the project has been given below:
Table 7.15: Water efficient Fixtures
S. No. Fixture/Faucet Design case flow rate

1 Water closet (solid) in lpf 2(residences);
2 Water closet (liquid) in lpf 1.5(residences);
3 Lavatory Faucets in lpm 7.5
4 Kitchen tap in lpm 7.5
The installation of these fixtures will result in a reduction of 62% (as calculated) in water
demand.
Waste Water Treatment
205
Geo green Bio filter is used for treatment of black water (sewage). It is appropriately
positioned to draw the waste water from the dwelling units using gravity only. The treated
wastewater is proposed to be used for irrigation of adjacent agricultural fields and for cattle
washing of the slum dwellers.
Figure7.49: Geo Green Bio Filter
Rain Water Harvesting

The project being low cost, rain water harvesting has been found to be not feasible.
Additionally, the site being a hilly area, storing of the rain water would require high
maintenance increasing maintenance cost.
Energy
Solar Energy
Installation and usage of solar water heaters and photovoltaic cells was also found to be not
feasible economically for the project and hence will not be used.
Predicted Energy Performance Index
For calculating EPI, the energy consumed due to lighting and cooling is used along with the
area:
Area of the each residential unit : 25 Sqm.
Annual lighting energy consumption : 295.6 kWh/yr
Area Annual cooling energy consumption: 584 kWh/yr
Total energy consumption : 879.6 kWh/yr
Energy Performance Index (EPI) of a single slum house : 35 kWh/yr/sqm
Energy Performance Index (EPI) of slum housing complex: 35 kWh/yr/sqm
(It is to be noted that EPI of slum housing complex will remain same as that of single slum house due
to the fact the area of all the 607 slum houses is same along with the lighting and cooling load (kW).
The GRIHA benchmark for a residential project in hot and dry climate zone is 100
kWh/sqm/year. Thus, the EPI of the dwelling unit meets the GRIHA Criterion.
Outdoor Lighting
The following recommendations have been made for outdoor lighting:
 Programmable timer to control all outdoor lighting circuits.
 Pole height >5m: use high pressure sodium vapor lamp with efficacy of 90 lm/watt
206
 Pole height 3-5m: use T-5 with efficacy of 75 lm/watt

 Pole height 1-3 m: Use CFL with electronic chokes having overall efficacy more than
50 lm/watt
Solid Waste Management
No waste management system has been planned. The waste will be collected individually
and handed over to the municipality.
7.3.6 Summary Table

Table 7.16: Summary Table
1. Site  Cluster layout with central green space
 Construction along natural site contour – reduced cutting and trenching
cost
 Plantation – indigenous species
 Top soil preservation
 Optimized pervious paving
 Programmable timers to control outdoor lighting
 Energy efficient outdoor lighting fixtures
2. Building  Walls: rat trap bond with fly ash bricks
Level  Roof: Tumbler roof
 Doors & Windows: Precast frame
 Plaster/masonry: at least 30% fly ash
 Built in cupboard/partition: locally available natural stone or composite
wood product
 Daylight: 100% daylit
 Water efficient fixtures: 62% water demand reduction (calculated)
 Waste water treatment: Geo Green Bio filters - treated water for irrigation,
cattle washing
 EPI: 35 kWh/yr/sqm
207
7.4 Summary of hot & Dry Climate zone

Table 7.17: Summary of hot & Dry Climate
Green features Literature studies& traditional Practices Case studies Best regional practices
Street Design Shaded streets, narrow width,
Roof treatment, roof garden Tumbler roofing, filler slab, terrace gardens, flat roof, white Reflective tiles, Vegetated Reflective tiles, flat roof,
wash roofs/terrace gardens, Vegetated roofs/terrace
Insulation gardens, insulation
Shaded windows Shaded windows, jallis
Walls to respond to outside Rat trap wall, cavity walls on east & west wall, bhungha High thermal mass, AAC Cavity walls, Earth
climate circular wall, blocks, structures, thermal mass,
hollow blocks, AAC blocks
Local materials to reduce Fly ash bricks, Semi cast latticed RCC rafters and hollow pre- Lime, Jikki, AAC blocks, Lime, adobe, thatch, mud
embodied energy cast blocks, GGBS blocks, reclaimed timber, oxide flooring, Nimaj stone blocks
Bamboo Mat Board, quarry dust, stone, adobe, Wattle and
daub
Lime, thatch
Construction technologies to Pre cast members, mud blocks, local stones, demolition Recycled materials - Precast members
reduce time and volume of wastes, kota stones brick waste, thermocol
construction waste
Natural ventilation Through north and south windows, high ceiling for air circulation, water bodies for moisture
Daylight integration Through windows and skylight Through windows and Clerestory lighting, floor
light louvers level opening, indirect
lighting
Efficient outdoor and indoor CFL, T5 for indoor Fluorescent tube lights (T8 &
lighting by use of T5 lamps, lighting, LED for outdoor T5), 5W CFLs, 2W LEDs
CFL, LED etc lighting
208
Case studies under Hot and Dry Climate zone
Efficient fans or other 35W Ceiling Fans, Evaporative coolers for summer Wind catchers, Ceiling Evaporative coolers
heating/cooling technologies fans
Solar based outdoor lighting solar power street light - Stand-alone LED street lights
powered on Solar PV
Renewable Energy Biomass gasification, bio methanation,
Pervious pavers Lower hard paving
Sedimentation control Soft drainage using aggregates filters, mulching
measures in the landscape
design
Use of native species Tree plantation around habitat
Source of landscape water Waste water from bathrooms and kitchen
from recycled water
Irrigation equipment Drip irrigation, sprinklers
Water body Water bodies to improve humidity levels in dry season
Water management
Waste water treatment system MBBR system DEWATS
Rain water harvesting Rainwater harvesting, stepped wells, Ground recharge, Collection pits for reuse
Efficient plumbing fixtures Low flow plumbing fixtures, faucets with aerator, water level controllers, pressure Energy efficient motors, dry
regulating devices toilets,
Waste management
Segregation of waste mandatory waste segregation, dry and wet waste segregation of kitchen
Resource recovery from
organic waste
Resource recovery from All waste recycled and reused
recyclable waste
209
Case study under Composite climate zone- Mahindra Life Spaces - Aura
8 Field Case studies under Composite Climate

zone
8.1 Case Study Report for Mahindra Life Spaces - Aura

8.1.1 Site location
Aura is a new project which is attempting for IGBC gold certificate built in 17.6 acres of land.
At the time of case study the project is at ready to occupy stage. The project is located in
Gurgaon, Haryana. The site is located near Dwaraka Express and is only 6km away from
main town. Gurgaon experiences Composite climate as per NBC.
Figure8.1: Location of Mahindra Life Spaces - Aura
8.1.2 Project Profile:

 Project name : Mahindra Life Spaces - Aura
 Construction : 2014
 Location : Gurgaon, Haryana
211
 Climate (as per NBC) : Composite

 Coordinates : 28.5, 77.0
 Architect : RK Associates
 Contractor :GS Developers & RSB Infrastructure Ltd
 Developer :Mahindra Life space Developers Ltd
 MEP :Kumar Endicon & Kanwar Kishan Pvt
Ltd
 Site area : 17.6 acres (71,000 Sq.mt)
 Total Built up Area (Sq. mts) : 26,200 Sq.m (2,82,014.4 Sq.ft)
 Total Cost of Construction : Rs. 290 Crores
 No of dwelling units : 895 units
 Typology of development : High rise apartments
 Floors : 14
 Dwelling Density : 50 Residential units/Acre
 Type of Units (with area) : 2BHK (950 Sq.ft)
2BHK+Study (1150, 1275 Sq.ft)
3BHK (1350, 1550 Sq.ft)
3BHK+Servant (1875, 1900, 1960, 1985
Sq.ft)
4BHK+Servant (2300 & 2330 Sq.ft)
Green Features at Site Level:

Rainwater Harvesting for Ground water recharge, Water Treatment & Reuse, Waste
Segregation, Preservation of existing resources– Exiting Trees, Contours, Top Soil
Landscaping – Draught Tolerant Species, Native Species, Soft scapes, Low Embodied
Energy & Local Materials Usage, Efficient Plumbing System, Storm Water Runoff control,
LED and T5 lamps for outdoors and common spaces respectively.
Green Features at Building Level:

Passive Designing – Natural Lighting, Sun responsive – Self shadowing layout, Shading of
lower floor clusters by high rise structures, Solar Water Heating, Efficient Water Fixtures
212
Figure8.2: Site plan
Figure8.3 Typical Cluster layouts
213
Figure8.4 Left: 3BHK (1050 Sq.Ft), Right: 2BHK (950 Sq.ft)
There are totally 11 towers each of around 14 floors height. The apartments are planned in
such a way that each flat would openings on at least 3 sides to maximize natural ventilation
and day lighting. There are 5 different types of unit types to meet the financial and spatial
needs of people. The project has saved 80% of site area for open spaces by going high-rise.
Open spaces are considered for landscaping, parking and other communal facilities.
Amenities are nearby along the city centre.
8.1.3 Site planning and Landscape

Top soil of the site has been preserved during construction which is later used for
landscaping. 35 trees were protected during construction and native species are preferred
for landscaping on post construction phase. Preserving top soil involves collection, storage
and maintenance cost of Rs. 17/cu.m. In conventional sites, the cost for purchase of top soil
involves supply, staking and mixing of sludge, manure, sieving accounting to Rs.228/cu.m.
Hence, protection of top soil during construction is affordable and has the potential to be
Figure8.5 during construction after construction images
214
8.1.4 Alternative Materials
Pervious Paving - Grass Pavers

Pervious pavements are provided for a large area in site for water percolation towards
ground water recharge and reduce Urban Heat Island. The paving is provided with
vehicular load bearing capacity. With this the parking is provided across the site and no
extra space or construction is afforded. Interlocking blocks are also provided for pedestrian
pavements areas, allowing water percolation. Both the materials not only reduce Urban Heat
Island effect but also reduce water flooding and wastage. Although conventionally,
interlocking blocks have same properties grass pavers are more effective. Pervious paving is
highly important for environmental protection.
Figure8.6: Cost comparison of pervious paving materials
Figure8.7 Pervious paving materials 1. Parking on grass pavers 2. Grass pavers 3. Interlocking
blocks
215
Storm water channel

High SRI concrete drain channels are used across the site to divert storm water towards rain
water harvesting pits. The feature reduces the storm water flooding on impervious areas like
asphalt road for vehicular movement. The shape of the material shall be helpful in managing
excess water flooding during monsoon seasons. Delhi and Gurgaon usually experiences
heavy rainfalls during monsoon season.
Figure8.8 Sedimentation tank and storm water drain
Building Fabric – AAC Blocks for walls

All the external walls of the project are provided with AAC block as prime material. The
total cost of wall is Rs 5295/Cu.mt and U value 0.56. AAC block is the prime material for
thermal performance in the project. The material is certified by ISI, GRIHA and IGBC for its
effectiveness as a green material. The material is light weighted and thereby reducing
transportation efforts and structural load, does not require special labour skills and hence
easy for construction, fire resistant and thermally good insulator and hence preferred for
composite climates. Also, the material has recycled content and has lower embodied energy
of 197MJ/Sq.m against 235 MJ/sq.m for concrete block which is conventionally used.
Table 8.1: Layers of external wall
Layers Material Thickness U Value

Outer Layer External air film 5.9
Layer 1 External water Repellent Paint 0.03-0.07
Layer 2 External cement mortar 1 0.5
Layer 3 Low density Fly ash Block 9 0.1
Layer 4 Internal cement mortar 0.6 8.3
Layer 5 Internal gypsum plaster 0.5 8.2
Inner Layer Plastic Paint 0.03-0.07 0.0
Cost of AAC blocks is usually economical as compared to its equivalent conventional

materials like Brick or concrete blocks. Nearly 15-20% of construction cost can be reduced
with this material.
216
Figure8.9: Cost comparison between wall materials
Figure8.10: During and after construction images of AAC block walls
8.1.5 Water and Waste Management
Water balance
The project gets its main water sourced from local municipality which is used for domestic
and bathrooms. The used water is transported to a conventional Sewage Treatment Plant of
650 KLD capacity, located within the site. The treated water is then used for flushing, car
washing, cleaning roads, pavements and landscaping. Excess generated water is diverted to
municipal sewer. Rainwater is used only for ground water recharge. Since the land here is
having ground water scarcity issue, the developer does not prefer to use ground water.
Below charts demonstrates the water balance chart for the project.
Table 8.2: Water balance chart
Total Water Demand 6,00,000 KLD

Fresh Water - Municipality 4,26,900 KLD
Waste Water generated to STP 5,13,630 KLD
Treated Water 4,34,000 KLD
Reused Water after treatment 1,73,080 KLD
217
Figure8.11: Flushing tank, 2. Domestic tank, 3. Multiple plumbing systems
Low flow water fixtures

Multiline plumbing system has been used in the project for fresh and recycled water usage
and fire system. Low flow fixtures are used in all the bathrooms and kitchens to reduce the
consumption. With this nearly 35% of water is being saved against a conventional practise of
having normal water flow fixtures.
Figure8.12: Images of various low flow water fixtures as seen during field visit
Flow Consumption Saving

Low flow Approximate Quantity
Manufacturer rate against conventional
fixtures used Cost (individual) (no)
(LPM) type (%)
Showers Jaquar 8 4900 2046 33.33
WC Jaquar 6&3 6500 4802 0
Wash basin Jaquar 8 2800 2180 33.33
Kitchen Faucet Jaquar 2.5 3300 895 62.5
Toilet taps Jaquar 8 2800 2908 33.3
Other Jaquar 2.5 NA 2180 33.33
Although the fixtures are expensive than normal water fixtures, saving of water is an
important criteria especially in urban scenario. Since the buildings are not occupied and no
water bill information is available, it is difficult to analyse the water savings through these
low flow fixtures against conventional practise. However it is hypothetically assumed that
water savings and subsequent water/energy bills savings would be higher than conventional
systems in long term. The cost of conventional STP installed in the project is 70 lakh rupees
for 650 KLD capacity.
218
Solar Water Heating system

Hot water system is supplied for all the kitchens through Solar Water Heater system
provided in the terraces of all towers. The system has 60,000lt capacity, installed for a cost of
1 Crore aprox.
In conventional case electric water heaters are generally used. Considering one electric
heater of 10 Litre capacity for each house (895 houses) with 2kw capacity, used during
winter months (120 days) only for one hour a day, would consume 214800 kWh of energy
annually. Although the initial cost of the system would cost only 58 lakhs, adding the energy
bills for each year the payback period would be within 4 years. After the 4 th year it is huge
saving each year. In 15years (assuming as life time) nearly 69% of cost would be saved by
having renewable energy against a conventional system.
Figure8.13: Life cycle cost for Renewable energy system against conventional system

Instantaneous measurements were taken for few main living spaces during the field.
Thermal and day lighting measurements were taken with the help of globe meter and lux
meter respectively.
Time: 17:00, Date: 16/09/2014, Sky Condition: Clear without sun
Floor: 5th, other: Shaded by adjacent tower during measurement
Figure8.14: Lux level measurement grid
219
Table 8.3:Day lighting performance Measured

Living Room 350.0 8.0 0.625
Kitchen 180 4.1 2.5
Bedroom 1 220.0 5.0 0.625
Bedroom 2 180 4.1 0.625
Bedroom 3 200 4.5 0.625

Outdoor 32 58.5
Living Room 31.4 31.4 59
Bedroom 31.4 31.3 62.5

Since the project is not yet occupied already, most perceptions are considered based on
observations made during field visit and interviews by the developer. During the field visit
it was observed that some phase of the construction as already completed and is at ready to
occupy stage, some phase of the project is under construction. This was taken as an
advantage to observe the ‘during’ and ‘after’ construction aspects of the project.
As per the developer, the design has been developed with an intention to have maximum
open areas, vegetation and communal features for good social sustainability. The building is
attempting for IGBC gold certification. The location is well connected to all basic needs and
transportation. Due to the closely arranged high rise structures, self-shading is an advantage
during summer months. The AAC block is preferred for external walls due to its thermal
performance. Since 3 sides of each dwelling unit are open and windows are provided with
ample sizes on all the sides, cross ventilation is very effective during summer and monsoon
seasons. Day lighting is observed to be ample and predicted to meet the minimum standards
in all seasons.
The construction and technology used in the project are mostly simple which may not
require any skilled labour. Due to effective planning the construction time span for
construction was short and easier as per the developer’s opinion.
220


Replicability in
Sl Whether
Affordable
housing
Yes/No (Y/N)
1 Top soil & No additional cost involved Preserves natural Y No Protection of Cutting and Y
contour for contour preservation, topography site features Levels. Cut and trenching– Rs
preservation Storage and maintenance of like drainage pattern and fill process to be 110/Cu.mt
top soil preservation = helps in storm water done Purchase of
Rs17/Cu.mt management top soil – Rs
228/Cu.mt
2 AAC wall Rs 3000/Cu.m Faster construction, Less Y Concrete blocks Rs 4375/Cu.m Y
embodied energy, Bricks Rs 3828/Cu.m
Thermal insulation
3 Ceramic Rs 880/Sq.mt Recycled content N Vitrified Flooring Rs. 560/ Sq.mt Y
4 Rain Water Rs. 40,00,000/- Ground water recharge Y - - Y

Harvesting
System (pits +
plumbing)
5 STP Rs. 70,00,000/- Results in less Y - Y
dependency on the
conventional water
sources
6 Water Efficient Cost of the fixture is Results in less Y Cost of the fixture is Rs.1750 for Y
Fixtures Rs.3500/- for low flow dependency on the conventional faucets and Rs.5000
faucets and Rs.6500 for dual conventional water for Single flush 9 lp/flush water
flush 3/6 lp/flush water sources closets
closets
221

Replicability in
Sl Whether
Affordable
housing
Yes/No (Y/N)
7 LEDs Rs. 400/- per Fixture Results in less N CFLs Rs. 200-250/- per fixture Y
dependency on the
conventional energy
sources
8 Solar hot water Rs. 1,00,00,000 Results in less Y Electric Geysers Rs 2,04,60,000 Y
system (60,000 lt dependency on the (25 litres capacity
capacity in total conventional energy per bathroom)
sources
9 grass pavers with Rs 350/Sq.mt Reduces heat island and Y Heat Island Rs 400/Sq.mt Y
concrete helps in water percolation Effect is less
controlled
222
8.2 Field Case Study - TERI University Hostel

 Project name : TERI university hostel
 Year of construction : Sep 2007 – Sep 2008
 Location & Address : New Delhi
 Climate (as per NBC) :Composite
 Architect : Sanjay Mohe
 Contractor : Confoss Constructor
 Developer : Confoss
 MEP : Confoss
 Energy consultant : Airtron consultant
 Total Cost of Construction : Rs. 1690/sq.ft (2008)
 Total Built up Area (Sq. mts) : 1220 sq.m (13131.97 sq.ft)
 Total site area (sq. mts.) : 8153.6 sq.m
 No of dwelling units : 35 (G+4 storey)
 Type of Units (with quantity) : Hostel dorms
 Green technologies/features incorporated : Orientation, Reflective finish roof, STP,
RWH, Material reuse from site, local materials, Passive design features, Earth Air
Tunnel

The hostel in the campus is designed for girls studying in TERI University. The hostel
consists of 30 rooms out of which 18 rooms are of double occupancy and remaining with
single occupancy. The hostel is G+ 4 storey with a total height of 20m approximately. The
orientation is appropriate with the longer façade directed towards N-S axis. The building is
linear in design with a double loaded corridor in the central E-W axis. All rooms are well lit
and ventilated. The details of site planning have been depicted in the following paragraph:
 Total Site Area (Sq.m) : 8153.60 Sq.m
 Total Built up Area (Sq.m) : 8390 Sq.m
 Built up Area of hostel (Sq.m) : 1220 Sq.m
 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) : 1.00
223
Figure8.15: Site plan if university campus highlighting hostel block.
Brief details on Landscape areas

 Building site area (not including office) : 1965 sq.m
 Building footprint area :265 sq.m
 Net building site area :1700 sq.m
 Hard paved area :697 sq.m
 Soft paved area : 1003 sq.m
 % of soft paved area : 59%
 % of hard paved area : 41%
Building Envelope and civil works

Building plan is rectangular in form with north and south facades having maximum
exposure. The materials specification in the project has materials with potential green
features which have been described below.
Envelope
Roof
Roof is RCC with brick bat coba with outside layer of white tiles. The details of
construction is shown in table below. The green features are highlighted in green. The white
tiles have high reflective index thereby reduces amount of heat absorbed by the roof. The
following figure shows the tiles installed on the roof. The cost of construction of roof is INR
2356.5/sq.m.
Table 8.6: Table showing cost of construction of roof
Material Thickness Net U

Roof Price
Description (mm) value
Layer 1 (Outside White tiles 18 323 INR/sqm 2.27
layer)
224
Case study under Composite climate zone - TERI University Hostel
Material Thickness Net U

Roof Price
Description (mm) value
Layer 2 Mortar 20 323 INR/sqm
Layer 3 Brick bat coba 125 540 INR/sqm
Layer 4 RCC 150 5300-6000
INR/cu.m
Layer 5 Plaster 6 323 INR/sqm
In office building of the university vermiculite insulation is used which is a green material
available locally. This insulation is used in west facing wall only. Cost of 75 mm thick
vermiculite is INR 85/sq. ft. Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral used as insulation,
as it increases the resistance value of construction and also makes the structure more fire
proof than with fabric insulations. It can also be added to plaster mixers to make them more
light weight, fire proof and insulating.
(Source: SURYA Min Chem, sister concern of Surya Plant)
Figure8.16: Tiles installed on the roof
Wall
The detailed construction of wall is presented in table below:
Table 8.7: Wall construction
Thickness Net U value

Wall Material Description Price
(mm) (W/m2.K)
Layer 1 (Outside Outside Sandstone Dry 10 - 0.525
layer) cladding
Layer 2 Brickwork 230 4300
INR/Cu.m
Layer 3 PUF board 50 2300
INR/sq.m
Layer 4 Brickwork 115 4300
INR/Cu.m
Layer 5 mortar 8 323 INR/sqm
Layer 6 Plasters inside with white - 323 INR/sqm
225
emulsion paint
The outside sandstone dry cladding is the green features as it is procured locally. Aero screen
louvres are provided on western wall to reduce solar gain inside the building.
Figure8.17: Aero screen louvre on the west facing wall
Green building services features:

This system exists for whole of the campus including the hostel. The rain water harvested is
used for ground water recharge and excess surface water is used for future use.
Solar water heater
Solar water heater (SWH) is installed at the rooftop and provides for the daily hot water
needs of hostel. The system can generate 2500 litres of hot water every day. However
according to number of occupants the actual hot water needed is lower than this. The actual
energy needed to heat water is calculated according to the occupants. The initial investment
cost required for installing conventional geysers in calculated assuming capacity required to
be equal to that of installed SWH.
Energy efficient lighting
Energy efficient CFL are used along with day light integration which has reduced the
lighting power density (LPD) to 1W/Sq.ft from required 1.3 W/sq.ft.
Sewage treatment plant
Sewage treatment plant (STP) is installed at the basement of the building. The sewage
generated by the hostel is treated using biological process using combination of micro-
organisms and bio media filters. Such technique is efficient and requires less area. The STP
system is provided by Enzotech and investment cost is 25 lakhs. The plant has capacity to
226
treat 25000 litres of waste water every day. The raw water tank is of capacity 20,000 litre.
10,000 litres of treated water can be stored. It is estimated that hostel at full occupancy
generates 8000 litres of waste water. The operation cost is INR 1,80,000 per annum and
maintenance cost is INR 20,000 per annum.
Figure8.18: a) sewage treats plant
Figure8.19: Water flow diagram of sewage treatment plant.
227
Water management
Figure8.20: water management in TU hostel.
Low flow water fixtures are used which saves 25% of water consumption resulting in annual
savings of about INR 65000.
Earth Air tunnel
The ambient air temperature varies throughout the day and the year, while the soil
temperature at depth of 4 m remains constant. The steady temperature maintained at this
depth is equal to average annual temperature of the place. For Delhi this is about 25⁰C. The
system has been sized for an air flow rate of 4500 lps. Two sets of tunnels are provided with
common AHU system & supply and distribution system. The two tunnels systems are
independent and have capacity of 2250 lps each.
228
Figure8.21: Graphical representation of EAT system
Air is drawn through the intake which is above the ground and enters buried pipes through
a plenum. Each tunnel has three tunnels made up of concrete and with diameter of 450mm.
The air passes through AHU unit to hostel block via suitable ducting.
During summer, hot air (at around 39-41⁰C) is taken in and cooled in the tunnel to about 28-
30⁰C. While in winters when outside temperature is around 7⁰C, the tunnels warm up the air
to temperatures of 21⁰C. During monsoon cooling coil is used to dehumidify the humid air.
The initial simulations done with EAT system has shown energy reduction for cooling by
50% as compared to conventional cooling system. This technology is still in nascent stage
and needs further advancement to be more economic and effective. The maintenance cost
mainly comes for AHU which is around INR 60,000/year.
Figure8.22: a) Inlet to AHU from tunnel. b) Earth air tunnel intake chamber.
229
Figure8.23: Schematic of installed EAT at the TU.
8.2.3 Onsite monitoring

Onsite monitoring was done in a hostel room facing south and on the top floor of the
building. The monitoring was done at 3 pm and the weather condition was cloudy.
Parameters room
Inside temperature (⁰C) 29.2
Inside lux (Middle of room) 200
Outside temperature(⁰C) 34
Relative Humidity (%) inside 59.6
8.2.4 Summary
The passive design implemented in the building keeps it cooler and saves energy. Use of
local material also helps in reducing the cost. Being a college hostel the occupants are single
students and no family lives in the hostel.
As per occupant interview the room maintains comfortable temperatures throughout the
year and in summers fans are needed all the time. EAT system is effective but condensation
problems exists which needs to be solved. Although a green feature the EAT is not
affordable. The STP system produces treated water which is used for gardening but the
treated water produced is not enough for irrigating all the green landscape (as per interview
with maintenance people)
230


Replicabili
Whether
Sl ty in
Affordab
no. Details Cost (INR) Green Rationale Details Cost Affordable
le Yes/No
housing
(Y/N)
1 Tree None Controls Y Trees are usually additional cost for tree Y
protection microclimate and soil cut. cutting and permissions
erosion if protected (not available)
2 Soil Helps in saving cost of Preserves the natural Y No soil purchase of top soil cost. Y
preservation
bringing top soil from a top soil and natural preservation. Cost Cost for supply, staking
nursery post construction. biome. of new soil to be and mixing of sludge,
Collection , storage and bought. manure, sieving is
maintenance cost of top soil is Rs.228/cu.m
Rs. 17/cu.m
3 Preserving No additional cost helps in Preserves natural Y No Protection of Rs. 110/cu.m for trenching Y
Contours & saving on additional topography site Levels. Cut and and additional cut and fills
topography infrastructure for storm water features like fill process by excavation. Sizing of storm
management. Rs. 110/cu.m. drainage pattern and contractor needs water management is more
Sizing of storm water helps in storm water additional cost as cut and fill cost and gets
management is less as it management. more water from run off to
follows contour and gets less handle.
water from run off.
4 Pervious 250-300/sq.m Controls Heat Island Y impervious Cost is higher than Y
paving using effect and enhances paving pervious paving due to
local stones percolation of Storm high quantity of materials.
and grass water & run off Rs. 300-350/sq.mts.
control, recharges
231

Replicabili
Whether
Sl ty in
Affordab
le Yes/No
housing
(Y/N)
ground water.
5 Shaded Rs. 60/sq.ft of Cut down solar Y Shading of RCC- Rs. 5500 – 6200/cu.m Y
windows glazing(600/sq.m) used in the radiation to the windows or Rs. 60/sq.ft of
windows interior space and glazing(600/sq.m) used in
minimizes heating the windows
6 Day N/A Harvests daylight to Y Day lighting is N/A Y
lighting the interiors and provided with
through avoid artificial light limitation
windows , usage
stairwell
roof
7 Natural No cost involved Reduces dependence Y Natural No cost involved Y
Ventilation on AC and fan and ventilation is
through keeps indoor air provided with
windows quality at healthy limitation and
and levels equivalent cases
ventilator may have AC
installed.
Green materials
8 Sandstone Natural material with Plastered wall Rs 30/sq.ft Y
low embodied
energy and locally
available
Water Management
9 Rainwater Rs.84300 part cost for the pond Water recycling and neutral Rain water may similar Y
harvesting (120000L capacity) usage of rainwater in not installed
232

Replicabili
Whether
Sl ty in
Affordab
le Yes/No
housing
(Y/N)
with Roof landscape irrigation.
harvesting Reduces dependency
and Site on municipal water
features for non-potable use.
9 Waste 2500000 (for 25000 L capacity) Waste water Y Y
water recycling and reuse
treatment
plant - STP
10 Water Cost of the fixture is Rs.3500 High water saving in Y conventional Cost of the fixture is Y. Payback
efficient for low flow faucets and building water fixtures Rs.1750 for conventional is less than
fixtures Rs.6500 for dual flush 3/6 demand due to low faucets and Rs.5000 for 1 year for
lp/flush water closets flow efficient Single flush 9 lp/flush efficient
fixtures, thus water closets fixtures
conserving the water
resource
11 Solar Hot Cost not available Hot water without - Solar Hot Water Rs. 20000/100 litres (Venus Y
Water electricity is available systems are solar hot water)
thereby saving available in
energy conventional
homes
Energy
12 15W CFL 200 - 250 Reduces energy Y FTL 40 Y
consumption
13 Earth air 1 crore Reduced energy N Conventional Air N/A Y
tunnel consumption conditioning
233
8.3 Summary of Composite Climate zone

Table 8.9: Summary of Composite Climate
Street Design Shaded streets
Roof treatment, roof garden Reflective tiles, Roof garden, Hollow clay blocks, Insulated
Thermal insulation roofs, RCC with reflective tiles.
Shaded windows in summer Shaded windows, jallis Shaded in summer, Sun penetration in winters
Walls to respond to outside climate Thick walls, Insulation, Reflective finishes – AAC blocks, Hollow concrete
Stone cladding, AAC blocks etc. blocks, Hollow clay blocks, Stone
masonry
Local materials to reduce embodied Local materials, teak wood, lime plaster, AAC blocks Lime, adobe, AAC blocks, Stone
energy adobe blocks, sand stones
Construction technologies to reduce AAC blocks, Grass pavers Precast sandwiched walls, Beams,
time and volume of construction blocks for outdoor parking columns, Shading devices, slabs
Natural ventilation Through north and south windows, high ceiling for air circulation
Daylight integration Through windows and skylight Clerestory lighting, floor level
opening, full height windows,
Efficient outdoor and indoor LED lamps outdoors, T5 lamps Fluorescent tube lights (T8 & T5),
lighting by use of T5 lamps, CFL, in common corridors 5W CFLs, 2W LEDs
LED etc
Efficient fans or other 35W Ceiling Fans, Evaporative coolers for Earth Air Tunnel Cooling Towers, Solar chimneys
heating/cooling technologies summer
Solar based outdoor lighting Outdoor light connected to Grid tied solar LED Street lights Stand-alone LED street lights
power system powered on Solar PV
234
Case studies under Composite climate zone
Solar PV panels to generate Solar PV Panels generated electricity used in Solar PV Panels generated
electricity common areas lighting. electricity used in common areas
lighting.
Pervious pavers Grass pavers concrete and interlocking blocks
Sedimentation control measures in Soft drainage using aggregates filters,

the landscape design mulching
Use of native species Tree plantation around habitat
Source of landscape water Treated water from STP
Irrigation equipment Drip irrigation, efficient sprinklers
Water body Water body
Water management
Waste water treatment system Conventional STP with 650KLD
capacity
Rain water harvesting Storm water drainage Groundwater recharge and re-use
Efficient plumbing fixtures Low flow plumbing fixtures, faucets with Low flow fixtures Energy efficient motors, dry
aerator, water level controllers, pressure toilets, low flow fixtures
regulating devices
Waste management
Segregation of waste mandatory waste segregation, dry and wet waste segregation of kitchen
Resource recovery from organic
waste
Resource recovery from recyclable All waste recycled and reused
waste
235
9 Policy Guidelines to promote Green

Affordable Housing
This section proposes policy guidelines for Neighbourhood/Habitat level as well as a few
minimum required mandatory regulations for Habitat scale, which could be considered by
State Governments and Centre Government.
Policy guidelines and minimum mandatory regulations for housing unit level are also
proposed for consideration by municipalities/State Governments/Centre Government.
It is important that for mainstreaming green features in affordable housing sector, that the
States / developing agencies should prioritise policy goals for integration of green initiatives
and sign an agreement to achieve the chosen goals with a time line with the Central
Government or the funding agency. It is also very pertinent to note that the green initiatives
require enormous technical support and skill up-gradation to enable steady supply of
quality /skilled labour in large numbers and Government’s support in enabling the training
and skill up gradation would be a major trigger to scale up the green building movement. It
is also proposed that minimum 2 out of 6 policy guidelines should be enacted between the
year 2014 – 2017 and the remaining within 2022.
For eg. STATE A may choose Item No 2 & 3, which needs to be mandated by revising the
Existing Building Codes, introducing the Item in the State Schedule of Rates.
9.1 Policy guidelines for Neighbourhood / Habitat Level

Table 9.1: Policy guidelines for Neighbourhood / Habitat Level
Cost implication to
S. Assessment/Appraisal
Policy Goal Policy Guidelines implement/ Life
No. Parameter
cycle cost
1. Healthy local Preserve existing trees Case studies show this No incremental cost
micro climate Plan along the helps in sedimentation to implement
by respecting contours control, microclimate and
the site’s nature Design as per solar enhanced biodiversity.
path and predominant
wind direction.
Master plan to
integrate existing site
features.
2 Improve site Pervious pavement in Helps in rain water Cost of pervious
porosity pedestrian areas of harvesting and reduction of pavers Rs.295/m2 in
landscape heat island effect. comparison to
Pervious flooring concrete pavers
(pavements) for which is Rs.350/m2.
parking areas (surface Cost of pervious
parking) concrete pavers that
can take vehicular
load is Rs.
400/sq.mts.
237
Cost implication to
Policy Goal Policy Guidelines implement/ Life
No. Parameter
cycle cost
3. Conserve Energy Efficient Street Reduces electricity bills and Life Cycle Cost
Energy Promote Lighting carbon footprint. Analysis show
Renewable Solar based outdoor payback period is
Energy street lighting. within 3 years
alternates
4. Conserve Water Source of landscape Reduces dependence of Cost of STP is comes
water from recycled water from external sources to be Rs.30,000/unit
treated water being and is cost effective. for a development
generated on site or of 96 units in 7.5
rain water harvested. acres of
Use of efficient development.
irrigation equipment In another
like drip or sprinklers. development it
Use of treated water caused only Rs.
for flushing in toilets. 8000/unit, where
total number of
units are 148 in the
development.
5 Enable Solid Provide separate Reduces waste Minimal cost
Waste bins for waste management at
Management segregation. municipality level.
Allocate space for
storage and Helps maintain cleaner
disposal. cities
Resource
recovery from Resource recovery from
organic waste on waste.
site.
9.2 Mandatory Regulations for integration of Green

building features in Affordable Housing
a) A must for all publicly owned or funded by public agencies
b) For all affordable housing developments which seek incentives/concessions or
quickening procedures for project approvals and permits under Green
Affordable Housing
Table 9.2: Mandatory regulations to support the above set policy guidelines at the Neighbourhood/
Habitat Level
Cost implication to
S. Mandatory Assessment/Appraisal
Policy Goal implement/ Life cycle
No. Regulation Parameter
cost
1. Healthy local 1.1. Top soil The case study analysis Rs.17/cubic mt for top
micro climate preservation if shows it is more economical soil preservation, to
by respecting nutrient rich to store top soil than to buy purchase nutrient rich
the site’s nature 1.2. Rain water rich soil from nursery post soil Rs.228/cubic mt.
238
Policy Guidelines to promote Green Affordable Housing
Cost implication to
S. Mandatory Assessment/Appraisal
Policy Goal implement/ Life cycle
No. Regulation Parameter
cost
harvesting construction landscape.
along with Cost for rain water
storm water Use of native species harvesting and storm
management supports biodiversity of a water management is
1.3. Use of native locality, after maturity trees Rs.5000-
species consume no water. 10000/dwelling.
vegetation in No additional cost for
landscape. using native species.
2 Improve site Minimum 10% of Helps in rain water Cost of pervious pavers
porosity the open to sky harvesting and reduction of Rs.295/m2 in
space (space not heat island effect. comparison to concrete
occupied by pavers which is
building footprint) Rs.350/m2.
to be porous.
3. Conserve Use of energy Reduces electricity bills and Considering lamp life
Energy efficient outdoor carbon footprint. and efficiency Metal
Promote lighting. (Example Halide lamps are more
Renewable Metal Halide) affordable than
Energy commonly used
alternates sodium vapour lamps.
Cost of one fixture Rs.
1900, in comparison to
Sodium Vapour which
is Rs. 1750/fixture.
4. Conserve Installation of waste Case study analysis
Water water treatment show, Less than 1% of
plant on site total project cost.
Rs.7500-8500/dwelling
unit in a group housing
project.
5 Enable Solid Management of Reduces waste management Minimal or no
Waste organic/kitchen at municipality level. additional cost.
Management waste on site. Helps maintain cleaner cities
Resource recovery from
waste.
Table 9.3: Recommendations / policy guidelines for House unit Level
S. Assessment/Appraisal Cost implication to

Policy Goal Policy Guidelines
No. Parameter implement/ Life cycle cost
1. Optimize Orient the Reduces dependence on No incremental cost to
building design buildings to artificial mechanical implement
with respect to maximise thermal devices which consume
climate and site comfort and high electricity.
conditions natural lighting.
2. Use alternate Use of Low embodied energy In certain cases initial cost
efficient precast/prefab Less construction time of alternate technologies is
construction structural low. In case of Prefab
technologies members. technologies, the system
239
S. Assessment/Appraisal Cost implication to

Policy Goal Policy Guidelines
No. Parameter implement/ Life cycle cost
Use of becomes economical with
technologies that more number of dwelling
consume less time units.
like RCC wall
construction.
Use of
technologies that
use less material
like Jack Arched
Roof
3. Conserve Use of efficient LCCA show savings after One CFL (15W) costs
Energy lighting fixtures 1st year, pay back is within Rs.200, one incandescent
Promote and lamps and 1 year. lamp (60W) costs Rs.15/.
Energy ceiling fans inside
Conservation the house. Meet
Building Code ECBC mandatory
requirement.
Use of local LCCA shows Solar water Investment of Average
materials as they heating systems are more Rs.35000/200Lts
have low economical for climates capacity/unit.
embodied energy. which need hot water
Installation of shower. Pay back is within
Solar Thermal Hot 3 years.
Water System
4. Conserve Efficient water Life cycle cost analysis Initial cost per fixture could
Water fixtures like dual show huge potential of be 30% higher. Example,
flush Water water and capitol saving. conventional W/C is
Closets, low flow Annual 75% water Rs.5000, while dual flush
faucets saving/family. W/C is Rs. 6500/.
Cost of reusing water after

Rain water on site treatment is Rs.
harvesting and 7500-Rs.8500/dwelling in
waste water group housing. The cost of
treatment to be reuse of rain water is
reused for higher – case study shows
flushing in Rs.14000-Rs.42000/dwelling
bathrooms. depending upon the
density.
5 Enable Solid Waste segregation
Waste at individual
Management house level.
240
Table 9.4: Mandatory regulations for House unit Level
Cost implication
Policy Goal Policy Guidelines to implement/ Life
No. Parameter
cycle cost
1. Optimize Follow at least 50% of Reduces dependence on No incremental
building design solar passive artificial mechanical devices cost to implement
with respect to architectural design which consume high
climate and site strategies electricity.
conditions recommended for
climate zone.
2. Conserve Top floor terrace/roof Case studies show Green Green roof cost is
Energy to be either roof, insulated roof and Rs. 409/sq.mts in
Promote insulated/high reflected roof help in comparison to
Energy reflective maintaining comfortable brick coba which is
Conservation finish/shaded/green indoor conditions and Rs.540/sq.mts.
Building Code roof reduce fluctuations. Green roof is 25%
more economical.
3 Conserve Water Efficient water fixtures
like dual flush Water
Closets, low flow
faucets
9.3 Green Building Initiatives in the State of Karnataka

Zonal plans, building bye laws, Schedule of Rates used in Karnataka were reviewed to
assess the penetration of green building features in the State of Karnataka.
Green initiatives integrated in the Revised Master Plan for Bangalore are described below.
9.3.1 Revised Master Plan 2015, BANGALORE, 2007, Volume –

III(ZONING OF LANDUSE AND REGULATIONS)
Rain water harvesting: Provision of Rain Water Harvesting is mandatory for all plots which
are more than 240 sq.m in extent. A 5 % rebate on the property tax is offered for residential
property and 2 % for non-residential buildings for the first 5 years, when rain water
harvesting is made as an integral part of the building constructed.
Solar energy: Solar lighting and solar water heating is recommended for all new
development/constructions. If the solar lighting and solar water heating is adopted, then
refundable security deposit on fulfilling the conditions shall be returned along with 2 %
interest.
Tree Planting: Planting of minimum one tree is mandatory for a site measuring more than
2400 sq.ft. and minimum of 2 trees for a site measuring more than 4000 sq ft. The concerned
authorities shall ensure that the trees are planted before approval of building plan and tax
shall be accessed only after confirming the existence of trees in the site in question. The trees
shall be planted only in the rear set back area.
241
Redevelopment Scheme:
Following regulations shall apply for all redevelopment schemes taken up by Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board/BDA/BBMP/KHB within the local planning area of Bangalore:
Redevelopment schemes (including slums) may be allowed in the following Land uses:
Residential (Main), Residential (Mixed), Commercial (Central), Commercial (Business),
Industrial (General) & Industrial (Hi-tech).
• Maximum plot coverage is allowable up to 60%.
• Maximum FAR is allowable up to 3.
• In case of Layout/Group housing, minimum of 10 % of area for Park and 5% of area for
C.A shall be reserved and maintained by the respective authorities.
Subdivision regulations
RESIDENTIAL - Parks / Open spaces and Playgrounds: Parks / Open spaces and
Playgrounds shall not be less than 15 % of the total land area. This shall be relinquished to
the Authority (free of cost and free of encumbrance) and if required, the authority may
handover the area for maintenance to the resident’s welfare association. If the land is not
maintained up to the satisfaction of the authority, it shall be resumed back by the authority.
Regulations for Residential Development Plan:
1. 10 % of the land shall be reserved for Park & Open space. The open space (park) shall be
relinquished to the authority free of cost and the same may be allowed to be maintained by
the local residents association (registered), if the Authority so desires.
Regulation for Integrated Township
10% of the total area shall be reserved for parks & open space. It shall be handed over to the
authority free of cost & shall be maintained by the developer to the satisfaction of the
authority.
9.3.2 Electronic - City Industrial Township Area Bangalore, Building

Byelaws-2013-2015 (ELCITA)
Following are the green initiatives integrated in the building bye laws:
Lighting and ventilation requirements
a) Natural ventilation:
Rooms shall have, for admission of light and air, one or more openings, such as windows
and ventilators, opening directly to the external air or into an open veranda. Doors are not
counted towards the area of openings in walls for lighting and ventilation purposes.
b) Artificial ventilation:
Where the light and ventilation requirements are not met through daylight and natural
ventilation, the same shall be ensured through artificial lighting and mechanical ventilation,
as per Part VIII Building Service section I, Lighting and ventilation of National Building
Code of India brought out by the Indian Standards Institution. The provisions contained in
242
the latest version of the Code shall be made use of at the time of enforcement of the bye-
laws.
c) Area of openings:
Minimum aggregate area of openings excluding doors shall not be less than 1/6th of the
floor area in the case of residential buildings. In the case of other public buildings like
business houses, educational buildings, offices, institutional and hospital buildings, the
minimum aggregate area of openings shall be not less than 1/5th of the floor area. The area
of openings shall be increased by 25% in the case of kitchen. No portion of a room shall be
assumed to be lighted if it is more than 7.5 m from the opening. In case of bath rooms and
water closets, minimum area of window or ventilator shall be 0.9 sq. m. with one side being
not less than 0.3 m.
Facilities at the construction premises
Temporary lavatories shall be provided for the use of workers within the construction
premises where the floor area is more than 250 Sq.m.
Facilities for physically handicapped persons – All buildings (except individual residences)
shall be designed and constructed to provide facilities to the physically handicapped
persons as prescribed in the Schedule IV of these bye-laws.
Rain water harvesting:
a) Provision of Rain Water Harvesting is mandatory for all plots which are more than
240 sq.m in extent. For plots less than 240 sq.m in extent, provision shall be made for
ground water recharge.
b) The Rain Water Harvesting structures shall have a minimum total capacity as
detailed in Schedule V.
c) Provided that the Authority may approve the Rain Water Harvesting structures of
specifications different from those in Schedule V, subject to the minimum capacity of
Rain Water Harvesting being ensured in each case.
d) The owner of every building mentioned in the Schedule V shall ensure that the Rain
Water Harvesting structure is maintained in good repair for storage of water for non-
potable purposes or recharge of groundwater at all times.
e) The Authority may impose a levy of not exceeding Rs. 1000/- per annum for every
100 sq. m of built up area for the failure of the owner of any building mentioned in
the byelaw 3.4.7 to provide or to maintain Rain Water Harvesting structures as
required under these byelaws.
Solar energy:
Solar lighting and solar water heating is mandatory for all new development/constructions
as per Table 10 for different categories of buildings. If Solar Lighting and Solar Water
heating are adopted, then refundable security deposit on fulfilling the conditions shall be
returned along with 2% interest.
Tree planting:
Planting of minimum two trees is mandatory for residential sites measuring more than 500
Sq.m and minimum four trees for Public & Semi-public / commercial / Industrial sites
measuring more than 1000 Sq.m. The trees shall be planted only in the rear / side setback
243
area. The Authority shall ensure that trees are planted at the time of giving occupancy
Certificate.
Construction practices and safety
The various construction activities like; demolition, excavation, blasting, actual construction
from foundation level upto completion shall be in accordance with Part VII Construction
Practices and Safety of the National Building Code of India. The safety measures to be
adopted during the various construction operations, including storage of materials on the
construction site and Corporation / public land shall be in accordance with Part VII
Construction Practices and Safety of the National Building Code of India.
9.3.3 Schedule of Rate for Karnataka State

The schedule of Rates were checked for Karnataka, and it was found out that are no specific
green building features integrated in the Schedule of Rate.
244
10 Conclusions
Literature review and detailed case studies helped in identifying and assessing the impact of
green building features incorporated in various climate zones of India since traditional times
to modern current practices.
The impact of some of the green building features were analysed through on site monitoring
of environmental parameters like air temperature, Relative Humidity, light level, surface
temperature. Electricity bills and water bills were collected in a few case studies where
available, to assess the Energy Performance Index and Water consumption in comparison to
conventional buildings, without any green building feature.
The affordability and replicability analysis was carried out by comparing the thermal
performance and embodied energy of green building feature in comparison to conventional
features.
Affordability analysis was carried out by undertaking Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) to
find out the payback period and overall savings expected by incorporating green features on
the overall life cycle of the dwelling unit.
A summary of green features for 5 climate zones that are affordable and replicable in
affordable housing projects is collated below.
245
10.1 Summary of green features for 5 climate zones

Table 10.1: Summary of green features for 5 climate zones
Green Climate Zones of India
Sl. No. Building
Moderate Warm-humid Cold Hot-dry Composite
Feature
1. Orientation Longer façade oriented towards North and South direction.
and Siting of
buildings
2. Climate Small windows, courtyard Larger openings, shaded Small Small openings on East Small openings on East
responsiveness planning, daylight windows and verandas, openings, /West and large openings /West and large openings
integration, natural courtyards, daylight solar heat on North/South, shading, on North/South, thermal
ventilation. integration, natural gains from thermal mass, Integration mass, cooling towers,
ventilation concepts of cooling towers, water earth air tunnels,
like bodies, evaporative evaporative cooling,
Trombe cooling. South windows to allow
wall, green winter sun come inside
house, the living spaces.
daylight.
3. Building Roof treatment Roof treatment Insulated Roof treatment Roof treatment
materials & shaded/insulate/reflective, shaded/insulate/reflective, envelope shaded/insulate/reflective, shaded/insulate/reflective,
Structural use of local materials like shaded windows, jalis, comprising shaded windows, jalis, shaded windows, jalis,
systems Stabilized Earth Blocks, hollow blocks for walls, of walls Use of local materials like Use of local materials like
Laterite blocks. use of local materials. and roof, Fly ash bricks, lime, stone, stone, stabilized earth
New construction locally stabilized earth blocks, blocks, AAC blocks.
technologies like available AAC blocks.
Reinforced Concrete materials
Walls which need no like stone,
plastering. bamboo,
stabilized
earth
246
Conclusions
Green Climate Zones of India

Sl. No. Building
Moderate Warm-humid Cold Hot-dry Composite
Feature
blocks.
4. Sustainable Pervious pavement, top soil conservation, tree preservation, protection of contours, rain water harvesting, use of native species
site planning in landscape to enhance the local biodiversity.
5. Energy Use of CFL, LED lamps inside the dwelling, use of efficient outdoor lighting by use of efficient lamps like Metal Hallide and
efficiency LED, use of efficient ceiling fans.
5. Water Use of efficient fixtures inside the building, efficient design of landscape, use of harvested rain water for landscape and
management building domestic use, treat waste water and reuse in landscape and toilet flushing.
7. Renewable Integration of solar water heating panels and outdoor solar lighting.
energy
integration
8. Waste Segregation of solid waste, storage of segregated waste, resource recovery from waste like compost from wet kitchen waste.
management
247
11 Way Forward
Green building initiatives in affordable housing has huge potential in India. The current
study helped in initiating the dialogue with a few stakeholders; however, due to limitation
of time, the research was limited to only a few field studies in 5 cities of India.
It is intended to take forward the documentation and field analysis to other regions of the
country falling in the spectrum of 5 climate zones. For example, under cold climate, the
present study covered Kashmir, however, North East part of India falling under cold climate
was only covered through literature review. Physical checks and field studies in that part of
the country were not carried out due to limitation of time. Similarly under Warm-humid
climate, one of the cities in South India was covered; however Eastern part of India was not
covered. Thus, it is important to extend this research to all regions of India, so as to bring
forward the local materials and regional aspects of green buildings in affordable housing
projects. This will help the Government in issuing guidelines that can be followed by the
various regions for seeding green initiatives in majority of the Govt supported programmes
and projects.
Secondly due to limitation of time, performance monitoring of environment parameters to
assess the impact of green features on temperature, RH, light levels was carried out only for
one day. The current monitoring reflects the performance; however, the analysis is complete
by monitoring one full year of environment performance, such that impact of all seasons is
captured. For example, a Mud house may be very comfortable in summers, however, may or
may not be so comfortable in winters. Thus it is important to take forward the current study
into a second phase of a detailed study further for an extended period.
Thirdly, monitoring the cost aspects is an ongoing process and will vary from Region to
Region and time to time. This can be taken up progressively across Cities/towns to qualify
for affordability and also to introduce in all the State SORs certain items which are green and
affordable. Only on such introduction in the State SOR, these elements and features could
become part of a contracting document ensuring a step towards on site implementation.
Fourthly, the Development Control Norms (DCRs) of the States can also be improved upon
to modify the set back requirements conforming to ECBC norms for adequate lighting and
ventilation and also to improve more on site percolation of water.
249
12 Annexures
Annexure 1
The below list of green housing has been collected through discussions with senior
colleagues in TERI, practicing architects and from the database of GRIHA and IGBC rating
systems. From the rated projects the below mentioned list comprises only those projects
which are already operational and certified. However, from the database of GRIHA and
IGBC certified projects it is found out that further to the below list, under GRIHA there are
about 170 GRIHA Pre Certified homes, and under IGBC there are about 198 Pre-certified
IGBC homes in the country.
Table 12.1: List of Affordable Housing Projects with Green Features in Warm-Humid Climate
Zone
Sl.
Building Typology Location Architect Source
No
1 GFRG House Chennai IIT Madras http://www.businesswirein
Demonstration dia.com/news/news-
Building details/iit-madras-unveils-
%E2%80%98gfrg-
demonstration-building-
showcase-its-rapid-
aff/35575
2 Visala House Trivandru Shailaja & Sajan http://www.newindianexpr
m ess.com/cities/thiruvananth
apuram/article1338279.ece
3 TATA Subh Griha Housing Mumbai HOK, Toronto http://www.tatavaluehome
s.com/shubh-griha-
vasind/index.php
4 Marg Housing Chennai http://www.margswarnabh
Swarnabhoomi oomi.com/about-green-
building.php
5 VBHC Vaibhava Housing Chennai VBHC http://articles.economictime
s.indiatimes.com/2012-06-
12/news/32194922_1_afford
able-homes-budget-
housing-jerry-rao
6 Hiranandini Palace Housing Chennai, Hiranandini
Gardens Mumbai
7 Govardhan Village Housing Thane Chitra
Viswanath
8 The wall house House Auroville Anupama http://www.indian-
Kundoo architects.com/en/anupama
-kundoo/projects-
3/wall_house-29254
9 Chandrashila House Kerala http://archnet.org/sites/6776
Budget House /publications/2400
10 Auroville Earth Housing Auroville Satprem Maini
Institute
251
Vikas Apartments Housing Auroville Satprem Maini Energy efficient buildings

in India by
Ms.MiliMajumdar
11 Rabirashmi Housing Calcutta Bengal DCl http://www.downtoearth.or
g.in/content/kolkata-
highrises-get-rooftop-solar-
panels
12 Net Zero energy Housing Florida, Planet green http://inhabitat.com/florida
town homes USA group -eco-village-will-be-the-
first-affordable-net-zero-
townhome-development-
in-the-us/
13 Barnes family House New Kimberlake http://www.ecobuildingpul
house Orleans, se.com/prefab-
USA design/aiadesign--all-the-
right-moves.aspx
14 Pou del Merli Housing Martorell, http://tzb.fsv.cvut.cz/project
settlement Spain s/resset/files/resset-
spain.pdf
15 Punggoal Eco town Housing Singapore http://edition.cnn.com/2012
/09/02/world/asia/singapore
-punggol-eco-town/
Table 12.2: Green Building Initiatives for Affordable Housing: Moderate Climate Case studies
Sl. Name of the Siting of

Architect typology RESOURCE
No. building Building
1 Zed earth Villa Residence http://www.grihaindia.org/i Bangalore
ndex.php?option=com_fabri
k&view=list&listid=3&Itemi
d=0&resetfilters=0
2 Par Xpress Residential NHB Pune
3 BCIL ZED Woods Residential NHB Bangalore
4 BCIL ZED Residential NHB Bangalore

Collective
5 Ganga Skies Residential NHB Pune
6 Suvidha – Ar Jaisim Jaisim fountainhead Bangalore

Retirement Village
7 Rohan Ashima Mind Pune
Space
8 Rohan Ashima Mind Bangalore
Space
9 Faculty Housing Mind Bangalore
Space
252
Annexures
Sl. Name of the Siting of

Architect typology RESOURCE
No. building Building
10 Residence for Mary By Ar House Energy efficient building in Bangalore
Mathew Mathewan India, Ms. Mili Majumdar
d Ghosh
11 Good Earth Malhar housing http://www.goodearthhom Kengeri,
Terraces es.net/Terraces.html Bangalore
12 laterite house of Anup Naik House http://www.prismma.in/arc Townsend,
Indradev Babu hitect-bangalore-2/, Yelahanka,
http://www.thealternative.i North Bangalore
n/lifestyle/bangalores-
greenest-homes-the-red-
laterite-house-of-indradev-
babu/
13 House of Subbu Chitra house http://www.thealternative.i Classic
Hegde Viswanath n/lifestyle/bangalores- Orchards,
greenest-homes-how-mud- Bannerghatta
bricks-helped-the-hegdes- Road
go-sustainable/
14 Kanavi residence Chitra house http://www.thealternative.i HSR Layout,
Vishwanat n/lifestyle/bangalores- Bangalore
h and greenest-homes-
Deepak hombelaku-abode-of-the-
Godhi kanavis/
15 Five Seasons House house http://www.thealternative.i RT Nagar,
n/lifestyle/bangalores- Bangalore
greenest-homes-dutts-five-
seasons-house-home-
seasons/
16 Ashok Kamath's house http://www.thealternative.i Yelahanka New
Residence n/lifestyle/bangalores- town, Bangalore
greenest-homes-ashok-
kamath-2/
17 Ganapathy home Natasha house http://www.thealternative.i Good Earth,
and Jeeth n/lifestyle/bangalores- Kengeri,
Iype greenest-homes-living-on- Bangalore
good-earth-at-the-
ganapathy-home/
18 Muthiah home house http://www.thealternative.i Classic
n/lifestyle/bangalores- Orchards,
greenest-homes-it-is-allsun- Bannerghatta
and-earth-at-the-muthiah- Road
home/
19 ZED Earth BCIL Villas and http://www.zed.in/bangalor Dodabellapur
Townhouses e/zed-earth Road, Bangalore
20 Sandhya House http://www.thealternative.i 3rd cross, phase

Subbaramaiah n/lifestyle/bangalores- 4, Dollor
Residence greenest-homes-made- Colony, JP
lovingly-by-hand/ Nagar
253
Below are some rated housing projects, out of these which are affordable in nature will be
identified in the next step.
Figure12.1: Green Building Initiatives in affordable housing for cold climate zones
SN Name Architect Typology Location Resource

1 Tata power N/A Individual Lonawala
Carbon Neutral http://www.tatapower.co
Eco-Hut in India m/media-
at Walwhan corner/pressrelease-
Garden 2013/press-release-08-
july-2013.aspx
2 GERES project N/A Individual Ladakh http://www.geres.eu/en/
energy-efficiency-and-
bioclimatic-architecture-
in-india
3 The Hill Haven Ankita Individual Saattal
Mittal (Uttarakhand)
Table 12.3: Green Building Initiatives in affordable housing for Hot & Dry climate zones
SN Name of the building Architect Typology RESOURCE Location
1 Rajsamadhiyala House BPS Architects Single Buildotech Rajkot

house Magazine
2 Solar passive hostel Vinod Gupta Housing Energy Jodhpur

efficient
buildings in
India by Ms.
Mili
Majumdar
3 Integrated Housing and Slum Shunya Housing HUDCO Lonar
Development Programme Phase Consultants Design
- II awards 2012
Table 12.4: Case study of Composite Climate
Name of
Sl. typolo
the Architect RESOURCE Location
No. gy
building
1 IGNCA, Sanjay http://www.sanjayprakash.co.in/ignc New Delhi
Matighar Prakash a.html
2 Habitat Ashok B Housin http://www.ashoklallarchitects.com/ New Delhi
Housing Lall g projects/housing.htm#habitat
3 NHPC Ashok B Housin http://www.ashoklallarchitects.com/ New Delhi

Group Lall g projects/housing.htm#habitat
housing,
Noida
4 Bidani Reside http://arvindkrishan.com/?p=590 Faridabad,
254
Annexures
Name of
Sl. typolo
the Architect RESOURCE Location
No. gy
building
House nce Delhi
5 Redevelop Ashok B Reside TERI publication Delhi
ment of Lall ntial
property
at civil
lines
6 Bamboo Wonder Nagpur
Housing grass
Prototype-
Nagpur
India
7 Juanapur Anil lall http://www.worldhabitatawards.org Delhi
slum /winners-and-finalists/project-
settlement details.cfm?lang=00&theProjectID=1
scheme 27
8 Avani Hyderabad
residence
9 Mud Chitra Reside http://biomesolutions.blogspot.in/20 Hyderabad
house Vishwanath nce 10/11/mud-house-in-jubilee-hills-
hyderabad.html
10 Chimes Mindspace residen http://www.legendindia.co.in/chime Hyderabad
Legend tial s.html
11 City of Mindspace Reside
dreams ntial
row
housing
12 Monama Reside http://www.cpas- Hyderabad
House nce egypt.com/pdf/MarianAzmyNessim/
Ms.c/3%20%20Chapter%205-6.pdf
13 National Vinod Reside Delhi
Media Gupta ntial
Centre Co-
operative
Housing
Scheme
14 Residence Anant Man, Reside TERI publication Panchakul
of Siddhartha nce
Anirudh wig
and
Madhu
15 Residence Sanjay Reside TERI publication Delhi
of Sudha Prakash nce
and Atam
Kumar
255
Table 12.5: Case study of Composite Climate which are rated
Sl. No. Name of the building Place Source

1 YEIDA affordable housing Noida, Delhi
2 Govardhan Ecovillage Thane, Maharashtra
3 5 masters residences, Doon School Dehradun GRIHA 4 star
4 Common wealth Games Village Delhi GRIHA 2 star
5 Sahara Lucknow Lucknow
6 Sahara Nagpur Nagpur
7 Lotus Zing Noida, UP IGBC LEED green homes
8 Lotus Panache Noida, UP IGBC LEED green homes
9 Lotus Boulevard Noida, UP IGBC LEED green homes
Case study of Composite Climate which are rated
S. No. Name of the building Place Source
10 Lotus 300 Noida, UP IGBC LEED green homes
11 Greenopolis Gurgaon
12 Spire South Gurgaon
13 Spirewoods Gurgaon
256
Annexure 2
Questionnaire filled during field visits
Questionnaire for the User Group
Sl.
Basic Information
No.
1 Name
2 Age
3 Male/Female
4 Occupation
5 Highest education in the family
6 Additional details any
Occupancy Information
1 Unit Type
2 Single/Duplex/Triplex
3 No of occupants
4 No of families living
Financial Information
1 Income Source
2 Occupation type Govt Private Business
3 Identifying the Income group (to be EWS LIG MIG
filled by TERI)
4 Number of people earning (at unit
level)
5 Net monthly/annual income (at unit
level)
6 House occupancy type Owned Rented/Leased On Loan
If Owned
a. Purchased price
b. Purchased year
c. Current value
d. Idea of selling
If Rented
e. Monthly Rental
f. Deposit/advance paid
If on Loan
g. Monthly Interest
h. Value of mortgage
i. Source
j. Time period
7 Maintenance fee
User Group Interview

1. Does your monthly income match to your monthly expenses
257
2. Do you consider your house is at affordable range? Reasons.

3. What is the preferred price range that you would call as affordable:
4. Is the space/area sufficient:
5. Is the area/space worth for its cost (owned/rent/loan):
6. Reasons behind in acquiring the property at this particular housing project (one or
multiple options can be selected):
a. Affordable:
b. Sustainable/green in nature:
c. Location:
d. Any other reasons:
7. Is the housing located well (considering public or private transportation, facilities,
amenities, hospital, schools etc)
8. Are all living spaces thermally comfortable?
a. Effectiveness of solar passive features if integrated eg: PDEC system:
b. Effectiveness of any active technology features if integrated eg: Chilled beams
etc:
c. How many AC rooms:
d. How often AC is required/used:
e. How often ceiling fan is required/used:
f. Is the home comfortable throughout the day? If not when?
g. Is the home comfortable in all seasons? If not when?
9. Are all living spaces visually comfortable?
a. Daylight sufficiency:
b. Artificial lighting quality:
10. Indoor Air Quality
a. If IAQ is good:
b. Is your home naturally well ventilated?
11. Any there any health issues in family like dust allergies etc caused by poor IAQ,
headaches etc caused by glare, Vitamin D deficiency or any bone alignment issues
(typically caused due to improper exposure to day lighting)(identify if any of these
diseases are hereditary):
12. How comfortable the Water and Waste recycling methods/practices are at
a. Unit level:
b. Community level:
13. Issue:
258
Annexures
a. Green features:
b. Maintenance of green features:
c. General maintenance:
d. Water availability:
e. Communal/social:
f. Any other:
Questionnaire for the Developer

Sl. No. Basic Information
1 Name
2 Designation
3 Company/organization
4 Address
5 Mobile
6 Email
7 Project/Development name
8 Location
9 Target group EWS LIG MIG
Interview questions
1. History of your company/organizations in providing Affordable housing
2. Your definition of
a. Affordability:
b. Green building:
c. Green affordability:
d. Specific green features designed for affordable housing:
3. From when ‘sustainability’ is considered along with the ‘affordability’ concept.
4. Preferred locations/regions/cities for affordable housing development
5. Project Details
a. Total built up area and floor unit area:
b. No. of Units:
c. Type of units(eg: Duplex, triplex, MIG, LIG, mixed etc):
6. Considerations taken in account while proposing the affordable housing
development
7. What parameters are preferred while selecting the land for the development
a. Govt
b. Private
c. NGO
259
d. Other
8. Budget
a. Initially planned budget:
b. Finally arrived budget:
c. How is the cost difference adjusted:
d. Technologies used to make the project affordable:
e. What is the extra budget allocated for green features in the project:
f. Total budget of the project
g. Price of individual unit sold at
i. EWS: LIG: MIG:
h. Rent of individual unit:
ii. EWS: LIG: MIG:
9. What benefits would account to a developer for going to an affordable &/or green
project instead a conventional development
10. Timelines of the project:
11. Information on demand of affordable housing projects and are these easily sold out
12. Targeted results/objectives of the development
13. Project operation /maintenance
a. Being handled
b. Handed to the community
c. Handed to third party
Reasons:
14. Financial benefits from Government
a. Land subsidy
b. Incentives (eg. stamp duty exemption)
c. Tax benefits
d. FSI (floor space index) Relaxation
e. Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) benefits
f. Other (please specify)
15. Financial bodies support
a. Project Finance
b. Project Finance on lower rate of interest
c. Any other Incentives/ Subsidies
260
Annexures
d. Tax benefits
e. Others (please specify)
16. Green Affordability:
a. For going green concept
i. Benefits
ii. Challenges
b. For going affordable concept
i. Benefits
ii. Challenges
c. Legal issues faced any:
d. Operational/maintenance challenges:
i. Benefits:
ii. Challenges:
iii. Issues:
17. Experiences/lessons to be carried to future projects:
Questionnaire for the Architect

Sl.
Construction Details: Site Planning/ Landscaping
No.
1 Site Area (Sqm)
2 Built up Area (Sqm)
3 Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
4 Landscape Soft scape Soft Area including Lawn,
Details bushes, shrubs and trees (Sqm)
Names of Native species

Hard Scape Pervious Paved Area (Sqm)
Construction/ Material
Cost of pervious pavement
Impervious Area (sqm)
Construction/ Material
Cost of impervious pavement
5 Details of any local materials used

for landscaping and irrigation
(including drawings and photos)
6 Source of landscape water and
approximate quantity
261
Sl.
Construction Details: Civil works
No.
1 Building Plan Form (please tick) H- Shape L-Shape
Rectangular Square
Circular Irregular
2 Surface to Volume Ratio
3 Window to Wall ratio (Approx)
4 Envelope Details Roof along with cost

(Thermal, Recycled Wall along with cost
content, Embodied Window & Frames and cost
Energy) with drawings Window Grill specs and cost
Window shades and cost
Door materials & Frames along with
cost
Floor details and cost
Staircase and cost
Staircase railing and cost
5 Details/ List of any local materials/ construction technology used
(with drawings)
1 Cost rate for local materials/construction technology
2 Details of any passive/ low energy cooling technologies
integrated with building envelope (with drawings)
3 Cost of passive technologies integrated
4 BOQ or quantification of green building design features
Questionnaire for the Contractors

Basic Information about the project
1 Name of the Building
2 Year of Construction
3 Location & Address
4 Contract Type Landscape,
Civil, MEP
5 Total Cost of Construction
6 Total Built up Area (Sq. mts)
7 Total site area (sq. mts.)
8 Cost/ Sq. mts
1. BOQ for green features installed in the project along with rates (please fill on the empty
page side).
262
Annexures
2. Green features installed by the contractor.

3. Challenges if any faced during implementation of green features
4. Would you be willing to replicate the green features in other residential projects based
upon the current project experience?
5. Cost of labour for installation of green design features
6. In case of Pre Fab technologies, what is the impact on construction cost and time.
7. Did you quote higher or lower during tendering time, knowing the project is green and
affordable.
8. Profit margins expected by the contractors
Questionnaire for the MEP consultants

Sl.
Building Services: Plumbing
No.
1 Total project water demand
(Lts/day)
2 Total Building Water Demand
excluding drinking water(lts)
3 Sources of Water Source Quantity (lts per year)
Ground water
Municipal (from water bills)
Filtered Rainwater
Recycled Water
4 Details of Water Efficiency Flow rate of the plumbing Shower heads
and sanitary fixtures (LPF or Faucets
LPM) Water Closet
5 Details of Irrigation Efficiency Type of Irrigation System Flooding
(please tick) Sprinkler
Drip
Irrigation
Any other
6 Details of Rain water harvesting Roof Area (sqm)
system Size of rain water tank (lts)
263
Sl.
Building Services: Plumbing
No.
Recharge System details/
Construction details
7 Details of Water Treatment & Capacity (lts)
recycling system System details/ construction
details
8 Details of Drinking water system
9 Any other water saving features
(with drawings)
10 Cost of waste water treatment
system
11 Cost of installation of rain water
harvesting system
12 Water bills -
Sl.
Building Services: Electrical
No.
1 Total Connected Load (kW)
2 Source of Power Source Capacity (kW)
Grid
Solar Photovoltaic (SPV)
Any other
3 Details of Fixture Star rating/ No.s
Electrical Efficiency
Efficiency Lighting FTL
(including LED
outdoor lighting) Incandescent
Sodium Vapour
Any other (please
mention)
Cooling Ceiling Fans
Desert Coolers
Window AC
Split AC
Packaged AC
VRF
FCUs
Any other (please
mention)
Water Heating Geyser
Solar Water Heater
Any other (please
264
Annexures
Sl.
Building Services: Electrical
No.
mention)
Ventilation Exhaust
Any other (please
mention)
Pumps/ Motors
4 Details of Energy consumption Annual Electricity
consumption (kWh)
Energy Performance
Index(EPI)
5 Monthly electricity bills (12
months)
6 Details of any passive/ low
energy lighting technologies
(with drawings and costing)
7 Details of any passive/ low
energy cooling technologies
(with drawings and costing)
Questionnaire for the Operation & Maintenance

Sl.
Waste Management
No.
1 Total Waste Generated (Approx in Kgs)
2 Total Waste Recycled (in Kgs)
3 Details of Waste Management System (with Dry

drawings) Wet
Sl. Energy
No.
1 Electricity bills and annual energy consumption from
various sources including back up
2 Tariff rate per unit of electricity and per unit for other
sources
3 Maintenance of green/energy efficient features, any
issues, limitations, recommendations along with
maintenance cost
Sl.
Water
No.
1 Water consumption with break up if possible
265
Sl.
Water
No.
2 Rain water harvesting system maintenance experience
and recommendations if any
3 Waste water treatment maintenance plan and cost
Questionnaire for the Manufacturers

Resource utilization of green features
After green features have been listed and identified in case studies this data sheet will be sent to
product manufacturer
Source of
Quantity of Embodied Percentage
Manufact raw
Raw material raw material energy of of recycled
Product uring site material
required for required per product material in
supplied of final (site of raw
final product unit of final (if final
product material
product available) product
extraction
Environme We have environmental management system in place (ISO 14000 or Yes/No

ntal other formal process):
awareness/
certificates
Our product has/have environmental certificate/certificates (if yes Yes/No
please mention what certifications are obtained):
Note: If product itself is a raw material please mention N/A at relevant places
266
Annexure 3
Manufacturers of Green products, materials& systems from various case studies
Following table lists down the name of manufacturer of materials used in case studies.
Table 12.6: Manufacturer of materials used in case studies
Sl Manufacturer/supplier
Material Application Manufacturer/supplier contact Recycled content
No name
1 Stabilized Earth Walls (Ext &int) Good earth Good earth Red mud from
Blocks aluminium
manufacturing as 2%
2 Rammed earth Compound Wall (Upper half) Good earth Good earth On site soil
3 Random Rubble Compound Wall (Lower half) Local vendors NA
Masonry – Sadaralli
stone
4 Ashlar Masonry- 1. Plinth & sill level (most Local vendors NA
Sadaralli stone residential units). Complete
ground level (Few residential
units).
2. Shear wall
5 Stabilized Mud Above sill level (For most Good earth Good earth Red mud from
Blocks residential units) aluminium
manufacturing
6 Finished walls (with Applied for some residential Good earth Good earth Red mud from
stabilized mud units in random for architectural aluminium
blocks + cement aesthetics manufacturing in
plastering) CSEB
7 Hollow clay blocks Curbing -
8 Cuddapah stone Pervious landscaping Local vendors NA -
9 Wood - Indoor stairs Parvathi Timber & Ply Jithesh Patil-9741822265
267
No name
- Door/Window frames Parvathi Timber & Ply Jithesh Patil-9741822265 Recycled wood
(Recycled Teak)
-balcony/shading structure - Parvathi Timber & Ply Jithesh Patil-9741822265 Recycled wood
Rafters and Columns (Recycled
Teak)
- Flush doors (Recycled Teak) Parvathi Timber & Ply Jithesh Patil-9741822265 Recycled wood
10 Terracotta tiles Indoor flooring (for some PrashaliConmats (P) Ltd Venaktesh-9448379553 clay
residential units), Pathways and
pervious areas
11 Jaisalmer marble Indoor flooring (most residential MaheshwarImpex Rishab-8050065000 -
units)
12 Athangudi Tiles Indoor flooring (most residential Sri Ganapathi tile Works Ayyappan-09443403382 -
units)
13 Distemper paint Interior walls (preferred instead Thottathil Traders Deepu-8050536776 -
of No/Low VOC paints)
14 Iron Grill for windows, GI sheet Sri Menhi Traders 9845124127 no
between RCC slab and Onduline
sheet, hand railing (not recycled)
15 Sadarhalli stone Landscaping elements, pervious Meccano Granites Krishnamurthy-9341252580 no
areas, compound wall
16 Mud Concrete Paving (Mud + Cement + SKS Enterprises Sandeep-8880175827 Site soil
Aggregate) (Mud instead of
sand)
17 RCC Roof
18 Onduline Outermost layer of roof for heat OFIC Building Materials Kiran-9342182229 No
reflection, solar panel fixing India Pvt Ltd
provision and water proofing
19 Polycarbonate sheet Skylight OFIC Building Materials Kiran-9342182229 no
India Pvt Ltd
268
Annexures
No name
20 Clear glass All windows Varna Glass Vijay Kumar-9535066687 Mostly contains
recycled materials
21 Autoclaved Aerated Walls (Ext & int) Kansal Building Solutions Mr. Ashwani Aggarwal Minimum 60% flyash
Concrete Blocks Pvt. Ltd. 509/5, Anand Mai Marg, Govind
Puri, New Delhi - 110019
011-26212028, 26436009, 26466666,
+91-8130793001
FAX:011-26212028
Email-ID(s):[email protected]
22 Concrete Pavers Landscape NITCO Mr. Pawan Talwar, Director -
Jindal Trust Building 1/8B, Asaf
Ali Road, New Delhi-110002
Contact Number(s)-011-24633686
FAX-011-24633687
Email-
ID(s):[email protected]
Table 12.7: Details of Manufacturer for Green Building Systems
Sl No Application Manufacturer/supplier name Manufacturer/supplier contact

1 Building components Manufacturer/supplier name Manufacturer/supplier contact
2 Plumbing fixtures white closet of Parry ware or equivalent No. 797, 12th Main, 1st Cross, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar,
make Bengaluru – 560008 Tel: 91-80-25213368/32968735,
Fax: 91-80-41207706.
3 Irrigation fixtures (spray and SS irrigation systems- local in Kengeri
drip)
4 Rain water harvesting Good earth have designed and installed. Good-earth Eco – Developments(P) Ltd., Boulevard 15, Good earth
Local pipes were bought Orchard, Doddabelle Road, Kengeri, Bangalore – 60, Office +91 80
28485120/ 28485121
5 Dewats Consortium for DEWATS Dissemination CDD Society | Bangalore Survey No.205 (Opp. Beedi Workers
(CDD) Society Colony), Kommaghatta Road, Bandemath
269
Sl No Application Manufacturer/supplier name Manufacturer/supplier contact

Kengeri Satellite Town, Bangalore 560 060, Karnataka, India., +91-
(0)80-28486700 +91 8064532829, +91-(0)80-28482144
[email protected]
6 Solar hot water system Tata BP Solar Tata Power Solar Systems Limited, 78, Electronics City, Phase I ,
Hosur Road
Bangalore - 560 100 India, Tel: 91 80 6777 2000, 3000
7 Indoor lighting Only specification mentioned for clients to -
buy any brand
8 Outdoor lighting Havells Havells India Ltd 5th Floor, The Estate, # 121, Dickenson Road,
Bangalore 560042 Email : [email protected], Tel:080-
49075000, Fax-No:080-25582663
9 Stand-alone solar P V based Avni Energy Solutions Pvt. Ltd. # 39/5, 8th Cross, Govardhan garden,
LED street lighting Opp Delhi Public School, JC Industrial Area,
Near Kanakapura Road Metro,Bangalore - 560 062
Phone :91-80-26860337
Fax : 91-80-26860556
Email : [email protected]
270
Annexure 4
BASIC Technical data on Compressed Stabilised Earth Block
PROPERTIES SYMBOL UNIT CLASS A CLASS B
28 day dry compressive strength (+20% after 1 σ d 28 MPa 5 -7 2-5
year)
28 day wet compressive strength (after 24 σ w 28 MPa 2-3 1-2
hours immersion)
28 day dry tensile strength (on a core) τ 28 MPa 1-2 0.5 - 1
28 day dry bending strength β 28 MPa 1-2 0.5 - 1
28 day dry shear strength S 28 MPa 1-2 0.5 - 1
Poisson’s ratio µ - 0.15 - 0.35 0.35 - 0.50
Young’s Modulus E MPa 700 - 1000 -
Apparent bulk density γ Kg/m3 1900-2200 1700-2000
Coefficient of thermal expansion - mm/mºC 0.010-0.015 -
Swell after saturation (24 hours immersion) - mm/m 0.5 - 1 1-2
Shrinkage (due to natural air drying) - mm/m 0.2 - 1 1-2
Permeability mm/sec 1.10-5 -
Total water absorption - % 5 - 10 10 - 20
weight
Specific heat C KJ/Kg ~ 0.85 0.65 - 0.85
Coefficient of conductivity λ W/mºC 0.46 – 0.81 0.81 – 0.93
Damping coefficient m % 5 - 10 10 - 30
Lag time (for 40 cm thick wall) d h 10 - 12 5 - 10
Coefficient of acoustic attenuation (for 40 cm - dB 50 40
thick wall at 500 Hz)
Fire resistance * - - Good Average
Flammability * - - Poor Average
Sources: http://www.earth-auroville.com/compressed_stabilised_earth_block_en.php
BIS code details:

The performance specification of CSEB are based on BIS code IS 1725 -1982 and tested in
accordance with IS 3495 – 199,
Source: Final Report on Low Cost Housing Using Stabilised Mud Blocks
Soil suitability and stabilization for CSEB

Sources: http://www.earth-auroville.com/compressed_stabilised_earth_block_en.php
Not every soil is suitable for earth construction and CSEB in particular. But with some
knowledge and experience many soils can be used for producing CSEB. Topsoil and organic
soils must not be used. Identifying the properties of a soil is essential to perform, at the end,
good quality products. Some simple sensitive analysis can be performed after a short
training. Cement stabilisation will be better for sandy soils. Lime stabilisation will be better
suited for clayey soils.
Good soil for compressed stabilised earth blocks
The selection of a stabilizer will depend upon the soil quality and the project requirements.
Cement will be preferable for sandy soils and to achieve quickly a higher strength. Lime will
271
be rather used for very clayey soil, but will take a longer time to harden and to give strong
blocks.
Soil for cement stabilisation: it is more Gravel = 15% Sand = Silt = 15% Clay = 20%
sandy than clayey 50%
Soil for lime stabilisation: it is more Gravel = 15% Sand = Silt = 20% Clay = 35%
clayey than sandy 30%
The average stabilizer proportion is rather low:

Minimum Average Maximum
Cement stabilisation 3% 5% No technical maximum
Lime stabilisation 2% 6% 10%
These low percentages are part of the cost effectiveness of CSEB.
272
Annexure 5
Soil suitability for pervious pavement, percolation and recharging:
Sources: Manual on artificial recharge of ground water, Government of India, Ministry of
Water Resources, Central Ground Water Board, September 2007
Hydrological Soil Groups: There are four soil groups that are used in determining the
hydrological soil cover complexes, which are used in a method for estimating the runoff
from rainfall. A generalised soil found in India giving the broad classification of all the
major soils in India is shown below:
Soil
Description
Group
A Soils having high infiltration rates even when thoroughly wetted and consisting
chiefly of deep, well to excessively drained sands or gravels. These soils have a high
rate of water transmission.
B Soils having moderate infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted and consisting
chiefly of moderately deep to deep, moderately well to well drained soils with
moderately fine to moderately coarse textures. These soils have a moderate rate of
water transmission.
C Soils having slow infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted and consisting chiefly of
moderately deep to deep, moderately well to well drained soils with moderately fine
to moderately coarse textures. These soils have a moderate rate of water
transmission.
D Soils having very slow infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted and consisting
chiefly of clay soils with a high swelling potential, soils with a permanent high water
table, soils with a clay pan or clay layer at or near the surface, and shallow soils over
nearly impervious material.
The classification is broad but the groups can be divided into sub-groups whenever such a
refinement is justified. The infiltration rates and permeability of soils in different groups are
shown in below. In these tables, infiltration rate is the rate at which water enters the soil at
the surface and which is controlled by surface conditions and permeability rate is the rate at
which water moves in the soil, which is controlled by the nature and characteristics of soil
horizons.
Infiltration Rates
Rates / hr
Sl.no Class Remarks
Inches millimeter
1 Very low Below 0.1 Below 2.5 Highly clayey soils
2 Low 0.1 - 0.5 2.5 - 12.5 Shallow soils, clay soils, soils low in
organic matter
3 Medium 0.5 - 1.0 12.5 - 25.0 Sandy loams, silt loams
4 high Above 1.0 Above 25.0 Deep sands, well aggregated soils
273
Conclusion
It can be concluded from above data that, pervious paving can be recommended on any soil
but design might vary based on the permeability of the soil. Pervious paving with objective
of high percolation and recharging are preferred in deep sands, well aggregated soils, sandy
loams & silt loams which has medium to high permeability of water.
274
Annexure 6
Comparison between Planted Gravel Filter & Anaerobic Baffled Reactor
DEWATS stands for ‚Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems‛. DEWATS represents a
technical approach rather than merely a technology package. DEWATS applications are
designed to be low-maintenance: most important parts of the system work without technical
energy inputs and cannot be switched off intentionally. DEWATS applications provide state-
of-the-art technology at affordable prices because all of the materials used for construction
are locally available.
Typical DEWATS combine the following technical treatment steps in a modular manner:
• primary treatment – in sedimentation ponds, settlers, septic tanks or bio digester
• secondary treatment – in anaerobic baffled reactors, anaerobic filters or anaerobic and
facultative pond systems
• secondary aerobic/facultative treatment – in horizontal gravel filters
• post-treatment – in aerobic polishing ponds
Following figure highlights DEWATS configuration schemes as mentioned above
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Figure12.2: DEWATS configuration schemes
In reference to the above image, we can observe that, anaerobic baffled reactor and planted
gravel filter occur in subsequent stages, 2 & 3, respectively designed for two different
processes. The design of DEWATS system varies depending upon the requirement
• volume of wastewater
• quality of wastewater
• local temperature
• underground conditions
275
• land availability
• costs
• legal effluent requirements
• cultural acceptance and social conditions
• final handling of the effluent (discharge or reuse)
A comparative scenario has been presented below, between the Dewats system at Malhar
Footprints & another DEWATS system which uses Planted Gravel Filter in the tertiary stage
as highlighted below. Treatment capacity of 10000 litres/day has been considered for both
the cases. The comparison of treatment processes has been described below:
DEWATS Type 1 DEWATS Type 2
Sta DEWATS with Planted Gravel Filter DEWATS with Vortex
ges
1
As observed from, stage 3, in both the case are different, where forced aeration has replaced
planted gravel filter.
Parameter Planted gravel filter (in Using Anaerobic baffled reactor (in
third stage) Malhar footprints in 2nd stage)
Capacity of treatment 10000 litres/day 10000 litres/day
Manufacturer CDD Society-BORDA CDD Society-BORDA-CSR
Treatment process All stages are similar All stages are similar except stage 3,
except stage 3, where PGF where Forced aeration using
276
Annexures

Parameter Planted gravel filter (in Using Anaerobic baffled reactor (in
third stage) Malhar footprints in 2nd stage)
has been used pumps has been used
Modules Settler, ABR+AF, PGF Settler, ABR+AF, Vortex
Pros and cons  Larger area  Compact area
 No energy  Energy is required
 Odourless  Odourless
Initial cost of investment (Materials INR 11,39,526 (Settler, INR 5,20,000 (Settler, ABR+AF)+
for construction + labour charges) ABR+AF, PGF) +) + INR INR 2,00,000 ( Vortex )+ INR 30,000
5,00,000 (Filtration + UV (Plumbing Accessories) + INR
tube) + INR 7,00,000 5,00,000(Filtration + UV tube) + INR
(Pumping + Accessories) 7,00,000 (Pumping + Accessories)+
+Consultancy cost Consultancy Cost
Total cost of investment including Rs. 25,00,000 Rs. 29,00,000/-
consultancy cost
Annual cost of Desludging Settlers Rs. 5000 Rs. 5000
Annual cost of Desludging Rs. 5000 Rs. 5000
ABR+AF
Annual Cost of Maintenance of Rs. 10000 INR 5000
PGF(For PGF, cleaning/replacing
filter materials, andFor Vortex,
pump maintenance)
Annual cost of Electricity 0 INR 3000
Annual cost of Human Resource 0 INR 48,000
(Salary of Operator)
Total maintenance cost for 1 year INR 20,000 INR 66,000
Total cost for 10 year INR 27,00,000 INR 35,60,000
Conclusion: Hence it’s concluded that, the DEWATS system type in Malhar Footprints is
higher in cost than the DEWATS type 1
General advantages of DEWATS technology:
 Provides treatment for domestic and industrial wastewater
 Low initial investment costs as no imported materials or components are needed
 Efficient treatment for daily wastewater flows of up to 1000m3
 Modular design of all components
 Tolerant towards inflow fluctuations
 Reliable and long-lasting construction design
 Low maintenance costs
277
Annexure 7
Embodied energy calculations
Total
Specific
Embodied
Components embodied energy Comments
energy for
[1,2,3,4]
house (KWh)
Concrete blocks 0.153 kWh/Kg 1332.36 Standard wall size: 17'*9' 11";
actual window cut out: 4'6"x4'9"
Double glazed 4.167 kWh/Kg 1341.567 Glass area: 17 feet*9feet 11 inch
windows
Cement Plaster 555.56 kWh/m3 220.94 1" plaster
Mud wall 0.1 MJ/ton 1.05 double layered mud wall 20"
thick
Total 2895.917
Energy savings calculations

Savings (Kg/House/year) Calorific value
Fuel Energy savings (kWh/year)
[5] (kWh/kg) [6,7]
Wood 261.16 5.3 1384.148
Dung 496.96 4.3 2136.928
Bush 323.81 4.07 1317.9067
Total 4838.9827
Energy Payback time = (Embodied energy of building)/ (Energy savings per year)
= 2895.917/4838.9827
= 0.59 years
278
Glossary
CFL - Compact Fluorescent Lamp
EPI – Energy Performance index
GRIHA – Green rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment
IHSDP – Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme
JNNURM - Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
NBC – National Building Code
TERI – The Energy and Resources institute
U-Value - Heat Transfer Coefficient
Athangudi tiles: Athangudi tiles are basically cement tiles like mosaic, but unlike the
machine pressed and produced mosaics; they are handmade over glass surfaces.
Attached greenhouse (AGH): one of the PSH design wherein attached green house is
constructed next to the room which is required to be kept warm. AGH traps the heat during
the day time and dissipates it during night time to the adjacent room.
Bukhari: Traditional heating technology used by Ladakhi people.
Carbon Foot print is the sum of all emissions of CO2 which are induced by burning fossil
fuels, normally for supporting human activities. It is expressed in equivalent tons of carbon
dioxide (CO2).
Compressed Stabilised Earth Blocks (CSEB) Masonry units made by compressing soil mix
manually or mechanically operated press. A stabiliser (usually Cement) is required to
increase the compressive strength and water resistance of the block. The proportion of
Cement would vary from 5-10%, which makes the material cost effective and low energy.
Daylight Factor: The ration between the illuminance in an indoor space to its light in
immediate outdoor space. It is generally mentioned in percentage.
DEWATS with Syphon is a decentralised waste water treatment system which consist a
vertically positioned tube with a funnel shaped bottom element. Sewage after passing
through various chambers for anaerobic treatment goes into the tube, where a natural self-
purification effect from the effluent takes place during the continuous swirling moment
without affecting the quality of water. This system requires much less energy compared to a
complete mechanical treatment system.
Direct Gain (DG): One of the PSH designs wherein southward facing room is covered with
double glazing glass. The double glazed glass traps in heat which is stored in south wall and
is later used to keep room warm during night time.
Dual Flush Toilet is a type of flush toilet that uses two buttons to flush different levels of
water of different usages of toilet. It has an ability of saving water by using only limited
amount of water for flushing as required.
Dual Plumbing System is a system of plumbing installation, which is used to supply both
potable and recycled water in a building. Under this system, two completely separate water
279
piping systems are used to deliver water to the user. This system prevents mixing of the two
water supplies, since recycled water is usually not used for human consumption.
Earth air tunnel (EAT): An innovative technology air conditioning technology which uses
stable earth temperature of the place to maintain comfortable air temperatures during both
summers and winters. This technology is at infant stage and requires additional support
system for air treatment (mainly to control humidity of air).
Embodied energy: Embodied energy is the amount of energy consumed to extract, refine,
process, transport and fabricate a material. It is often measured from cradle to (factory) gate,
or cradle to site (of use). Likewise, embodied carbon footprint is the amount of carbon (CO2
or CO2e emission) to produce a material.
Jikki: Jikki is a lime and marble ground dust mixed to get a fine paste. It has very low
embodied energy. The availability of marble is high in Rajasthan and Gujarat regions.
Lapti: It is a less viscous finish layer of Jikki.
LED Lamps: An LED lamp is a light-emitting diode (LED) product that is assembled into a
lamp (or light bulb) for use in lighting fixtures.
Lighting power density (LPD): LPD is a lighting power requirement defined for a particular
space to maintain appropriate visibility.
luminous efficacy: It is the ration of luminous flux (lamp lumen output) to the power
consumed by the lamp, expressed in unit lumen/watt
Lux: It is the unit of light illuminance
Markalak clay: Locally available clay which acts as binder in the sun dried block as well as is
water resistant thus helps in water proofing the roof.
Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT) is uniform temperature of an imaginary enclosure that
characterises the behaviour of radiant heat transfer between the human body and enclosure.
It is represented as the average temperature of the surrounding surface elements, each
weighted by the solid angle it subtends at the measurement point (human body).
Mud concrete: Plain cement concrete made from soil/clay, cement and aggregate (soil
replaces the sand in PCC)
Mulch: It is a protective layer of a material that is spread on top of the soil for stabilization
by using grass, hay, straw, wood chips etc.
Nimaj Stone: It is a local stone available in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The material is
low in embodied energy if transported locally and has high thermal capacity.
Onduline sheet: ONDULINE® sheets are manufactured by impregnating organic cellulose
fibres with bitumen under high temperature and pressure. The sheets are pre pigmented
with special purpose resins. The impregnation of colour into the sheets is done using
patented techniques that enable the sheets to retain their colour over a longer period of time
even under harsh conditions. The patented manufacturing process ensures uniform bitumen
penetration into the sheets providing an excellent dimensional stability to the product and
thereby preventing delamination.
280
Glossary
Passive solar house (PSH): These are passively designed houses engineered by NGO GERES
to be installed in cold climate regions of India. There are three main designs of PSH, i.e.,
direct gain (DG), attached greenhouse (AGH), solar wall (SW).
Power Conditioning Unit (PCU) is a setup that provides conditioned voltage to support
electricity load that comes from an energy source. It typically consists Maximum Power
Point Tracking (MPPT) charge controller and a bi- directional inverter to supply continuous
power to the dedicated local load with the power load coming wither from the solar array,
battery bank or grid in that order of preference.
Precast Jack Arch Roof Is a roofing system constructed with pre cast panels made with burnt
clay tiles places on pre-cast concrete beams. The panels serve as a lost formwork for the
finished roof, after concrete is laid over them. Usually these panels are casted before and
transported/ lifted to site for roof construction. This type of construction doesn’t need a
plaster or paint; used 40% less steel as reinforcement, thus become cost effective and low
energy.
Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) is concrete that is manufactured in a factory or batching plant
according to the concrete design, then delivered to a work site by truck mounted in-transit
mixtures. This is a customised concrete product which gives a large flexibility in concrete
mixing that reduces the onsite work.
Reed System is a waste water treatment system; sewage is passed horizontally through a
bed of soil or gravel media where reed species are grown. The roots of the plants create
conditions for existence of dense bacteria settlement on roots that decomposes/ breaks the
solid particles, absorbs toxic concentrations in waste water to a large extent. This is a cost
effective and low energy technique where there is no mechanisation required, except
pumping of grey water.
Reinforced Concrete Wall is a cast in-situ reinforced concrete shear wall; usually present is
high rise construction, satisfies the code compliance in earth quake prone areas. These shear
walls are the main vertical structural element with a dual role of resisting both gravity and
lateral loads. This system doesn’t require or requires minimal intermediate columns and
beams that make the construction uniform looking. Structural modifications are very
minimal in this type of construction. It makes the construction to complete much faster but
requires more mechanisation.
Solar wall (SW): One of the PSH designs wherein southward facing room is covered with
double glazing glass. The double glazed glass traps the heat in the room making it warmer
during the day time. This design is only effective during the day time.
Specific heat capacity: It is the amount of heat that will be absorbed by the material before
the ‘steady state’ condition is reached. It is the product of the mass of the material and
specific heat.
Surkhi: Surkhi is a burnt red brick waste, used as a substitute for sand for concrete and
mortar, and has almost the same function as of sand but it also imparts some strength and
hydraulicity. Surkhi makes cement mortars and concretes more water proof, more resistant
to alkalies and to salt solutions than those in which no surkhi is used
Swale is a storm drainage channel with required slope to channelize and collect the rain
water at a collection point or a recharge well.
281
U-value: It is the thermal transmission through unit area of the given building unit divided
by the temperature difference between the air or other fluid on either side of the building
unit in ‘steady state’ conditions. It is reciprocal of total thermal resistance. Its unit is W/
(m2K). This is correct
VDF-vacuum dewatered flooring: The Vacuum Dewatered Flooring or VDF Flooring is a
system for laying high quality concrete floors where the key is Dewatering of Concrete by
Vacuum Process wherein surplus water from the concrete is removed immediately after
placing and vibration, thereby reducing the water: cement ratio to the optimum level.
Wind catcher: A very traditional technology used in arid regions. These are similar to
Passive Downdraft Evaporative Cooling systems used in Iran, Egypt etc. The technology is
now resumed in many modern and contemporary constructions as an alternative to air
conditioning. The cooling tower does not have evaporative system. It helps in catching cool
air/wind above building level and supplies to living spaces. When outside temperatures are
high it acts as a stack by removing hot air.
Yakzes: A shrub which grows locally in Ladakh and has insulating properties.
282
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Traditional Dwelling in Delhi. http://www.archinomy.com/.
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About Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd. (HUDCO) & Human Settlement Management Institute (HSMI)
Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd. (HUDCO) a premier techno-financing company was set up in 1970 by the Government of
India to accelerate the pace of housing and urban development in the country. Apart from the financing operations, HUDCO offers consultancy
services, promotes research and studies and help propagate use of local building materials, cost-effective and innovative construction
technologies. A Public Sector Company, under the Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA), HUDCO has been a key
partner with the Government in building assets for the Nation. In its operations, HUDCO lays a considerable emphasis on the housing need of
the 'deprived' i.e Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low-Income Groups (LIG).
Human Settlement Management Institute (HSMI) established in 1985 as Research and Training Wing in the Housing and Urban Development
Corporation (HUDCO) for providing training support to professionals and to serve as a forum for interaction of administrators, professionals,
researchers and other engaged with the issues and day to day practice of human settlement development has taken the lead in addressing
capacity, knowledge-building and R&D deficits in four focus areas: Sustainable Habitat; Affordable Housing; Urban Poverty, Slums &
Livelihoods and; Project Development Management. While strengthening the borrowing agencies through training, HSMI helps in generating
viable projects to improve HUDCO’s lending operations directly as well as indirectly. This gives the institute a rare twin character of an R&T
Wing for internal capacity building, while also operating as a sector specialist institute. Through its capacity building research and
documentation activities, HSMI strives to fulfil the role of a facilitator for healthy debate on key issues in the habitat sector, act as catalyst to
stimulate innovative policy operations and implementation strategies and facilitate the participation of all in the dream of achieving sustainable
habitat. It currently supports a range of capacity and knowledge initiatives in the areas.
About The Energy and Research Institute (TERI)

Sustainable Building Science: Overview
One of the prime areas of activity within the Energy Environment Technology division is adoption of efficient and environment-friendly
technologies in new and existing buildings. The activities of this area focus primarily on energy and resource use optimization in existing
buildings and design of energy efficient sustainable habitats.
The Centre for Research on Sustainable Building Science (CRSBS) comprising architects , planners, engineers , environmental specialists,
specialised in urban and rural planning, low energy architecture and electro-mechanical systems, water and waste management and
renewable energy systems has been offering environmental design solutions for habitat and buildings of various complexities and functions for
nearly two decades. The group also undertakes LEED facilitation for buildings.
The Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) cell, also comprising professionals from the above-mentioned fields is actively
involved in facilitation of green rating for buildings under the GRIHA framework. Inputs from CRSBS feed into the processes undertaken at
GRIHA cell. The different services offered by the Sustainable Building Science (CRSBS and GRIHA) are as follows:
Environmental design consultancy
Specialised environmental design consultancy and building performance analysis are conducted. A wide range of computations and simulation
tools including DOE2, TRNSYS, ECOTECT, RADIANCE, FLOVENT, AGI32, LUMEN DESIGNER, BLAST, Phoenics, RETScreen are used to
assess the environmental and cost impact of the design decisions.
LEED and GRIHA facilitation
The team has experience in technically facilitating LEED accreditation [LEED India for New Construction (LEED India NC) and LEED India for
Core and Shell (LEED India CS)] for buildings. The group also assists and administers GRIHA, an indigenous green building rating system for
buildings, developed at TERI. GRIHA has now been now endorsed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, as
the national building rating system for India.
Energy audits and energy management programs
Energy conservation studies for a large number of buildings are conducted. There exists a vast experience in conducting energy audits and
evaluating a whole range of building upgrade options including envelope retrofit and system retrofit or changes in operational patterns. In
addition to establishing operating efficiency of electrical, HVAC, lighting and thermal systems, recommendations to improve upon the same by
suitable retrofit measures or by refinement of operational practices are also offered. The group also has expertise in development of energy
management programs for service industries like hotels and the corporate sector.
Capacity building
Capacity building for architects, building developers and service engineers on issues such as energy efficiency in building envelopes and
systems has been undertaken. Over 1000 architects, developers and engineers in the area of green buildings, energy efficiency and
sustainability aspects of built environment have been trained through training programmes, refresher courses, seminars and workshops.
www.hudco.org

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Final Report

Green Building Initiatives for

© The Energy and Resources Institute 2014

Suggested format for citation

T E R I. 20th October, 2014

For more information

Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd.

3.7.7 ZED Collective, Bangalore .................................................................................... 26

3.12.12 BedZED (Beddington Zero (fossil) Emissions Development), United

5.2.6 Performance Monitoring ..................................................................................... 138

7.3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 199

Annexure 3 ........................................................................................................................... 267

Figure3.14: A completed and Occupied Unit of the Project ......................................................... 54

Figure6.13: Plan for PSH and toilet. .............................................................................................. 155

Figure7.24: Sectional image showing rainwater management .................................................. 180

Figure8.7 Pervious paving materials 1. Parking on grass pavers 2. Grass pavers 3.

2 Aim, Objective & Methodology

2.1 Need for the study

2.2 Aim & Objective

2.3 Scope of work

Step 2: Mapping Green

Step 4 Physical field visits,

2.5 Methodology for field case study selection

2.5.2 Methodology of carrying out case studies

 Interview guide for user group

2.5.3 Selection criteria of sample case studies with green features

Sl No Green building features

Sl No Green building features

2.5.4 Selection of case studies with green features

Moderate Climate zone

Warm Humid Climate zone

Cold Climate zone

Hot-Dry Climate zone

Composite Climate zone

Ursi Village, Leh

Mahindra Life Space

Figure2.2: Field studies undertaken under five climate zone

Rohan and Surya

Rohan and Surya

3.1 Green Building Concept

3.1.1 Economic benefits

3.1.2 Environmental benefits

3.1.3 Social benefits

3.2 Affordable housing- The Indian context

Size (Carpet area) Cost EMI/Rent

 *EWS: Economically weaker section

LIG*** minimum 500 sqft built up area & maximum

MIG 600-1200 sqft built up area & maximum 861

***LIG: Lower income group

Income level Size of dwelling Affordability

3.3 Affordable housing - European and U.S. context

3.4 Affordable housing – Asia

3.5 Why green affordable housing?

3.6 Vernacular Practices and National Case studies

3.6.1 Vernacular Practices

Red oxide flooring widely

3.7 Recent Green Housing Case Studies from Bangalore -

3.7.2 Zed Woods, Bangalore

Figure3.1: ZED woods houses as seen from the garden outside