Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

Green Building rating Systems

GREEN BUILDING RATING SYSTEM

Green building rating brings together a host of sustainable practices and solutions to reduce the
environmental impacts. Green building design provides an integrated approach considering life cycle
impacts of the resources used.

BREEAM (Building Research, Establishment, Environmental Assessment Method)

Introduction

Green building certification is provided through a variety of initiatives. Some our available globally,
while others are exclusively available in specific countries. Not all programs or appropriate for all
structures or tasks. To evaluate what is ideal for the project, the design team will need to thoroughly
evaluate each programme.

Some popular Green building certifications are

BREEAM

Green Star

GRIHA

LEED

Environmental assessment method (BREEAM) of the building research establishment (BRE) was
originally established in the United Kingdom in 1990.

Design, specification, construction and operation of buildings are governed by a set of best practice
standards for environmental performance.

• Standard categories for development (offices, retail developments, education, buildings, and
health care buildings) are benchmarked by BREEAM, while non-standard buildings are assessed
using a customised scheme.

• It can be used for new construction or renovation project, and global programs are available for
development beyond UK.

• It gives clients, project team members and facility management, peace of mind that their project
is following the needed standard of environmental professional standards.

• It can be used to attract potential buyers or tenants as marketing strategy (BRE group 2021)

The BREEAM rating system is globally renowned indicator of buildings sustainability.

A total of 594011 buildings have been BREEAM certified, with another 231 3475 on the waiting list.

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 1

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

While many of this are in the United Kingdom , there are currently more than 89 nations where they can
be found. With variations for new structures, existing buildings, rehabilitation projects, and big
developments, the BREEAM standards can be applied to wide range of building types and regions. On a
scale of Pass, good, very good, excellent and outstanding, these projects or evaluated, scored and certified
(BRE group 2016)

Rating and scoring

The total performance of a new building projects evaluated using BREEAM is based on the number of
factors.

• The BREEAM rating system establishes benchmark.

• The BREEAM minimum requirements

• The weightings for the environmental components

• Issues and awards in the BREEAM evaluate

BREEAM Ratings and Scorings

BREEAM Rating Score (in%)

Outstanding >85
Excellent >70
Very Good >55
Good >45
Pass >30
Unclassified <30

In this regard, each BREEAM rating level generally equates to the following results

Outstanding : only 1% of new non-domestic buildings in the UK are in the top 1%

Excellent : best 10% of new nondomestic buildings in the UK

Very good : top 25% of new non-domestic structures in the UK

Good: the top half of new nondomestic buildings in the UK

Pass: the topmost 75% of new nondomestic buildings in the UK

Unclassified BREEAM reading indicates non-compliance with BREEAM in terms of meeting either the
BREEAM minimum performance standards for major environmental concerns or the total minimum score
essential for Official BREEAMA accreditation ( BREEAM 2021)

The BREEAM assessment method is supported by a global network of over 2600 independent BREEAM
assessors who are all properly qualified and certified.

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 2

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

This method adds to the belief that BREEAM-rated buildings are truly as sustainable as they promised to
be and that the highest scoring structures or some of the outstanding models of sustainable innovation and
construction in the UK and around the world ( BRE group 2016)

BREEAM criteria

Trained evaluators carryout BREEAM assessment which are scored using nine criteria scoring system

1. Energy

2. Land use and ecology

3. Water

4. Health and well-being

5. Pollution

6. transport

7. Materials

8. Waste

9. Management

Conclusion

• Environmental, weighting are an important part of any project environmental evaluation

procedure since they allow you to define and rank the relate you impact of various environmental
issues.

• BREEAM employs a specific weighing method that is generated from a combination of

consensus-based weightings an expert rating.

• The results of this activity are then used to calculate the respective importance of each of the
BREEAM environmental components and their impact on overall BREEAM score( BREEAM
2021)

Weightings of BREEAM criteria

Environmental Section Weightings (%)

Management 12
Health and well-being 15
Energy 19
Transport 8
Water 6
Material 12.5
Waste 7.5
Land use and Ecology 10

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 3

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

Pollution 10
Total 100
Innovation (additional) 10

• The weightings for each of the nine environmental areas included in the BREEAM, new
construction scheme or shown in the table above. Each criterion is given a score, which is then
multiplied by a weighting.

• There are minimal requirements to be met, with expectations, provided for special breakthroughs.
Unclassified, pass, good, very good, excellent or outstanding are the BREAM grades that derive
from the overall score.

• Each category concentrates on the main important issues, such as carbon, reduction, low impact,
design, climate change mitigation, environmental value, and biodiversity preservation. (BRE
group 2021) ( NBS 2016)

Green Star

Introduction

• Authentication of Green development, construction and operation of buildings and community

development is provided by the Green star certification programme.

• The Green building Council of Australia introduced Green star in 2003 and it is Australia’s only
fool, accredited and independent system of environmental sustainability grading.

Green star is a program that is strives to improve the built environment by

• Reducing climate changes impact

• Preserving and conserving our planets, natural environment

• Creating sustainable solution for buildings, fit outs and societies

• Contributing to market expansion and sustainable economy, increasing our health and quality of
life

(certified energy, 2021) ( Green, building Council of Australia, 2020)

Green star is a trademark for a certification programme

• Green store employs a rigorous, transparent and impartial assessment, procedure, and projects
that achieve certification cat display the green star certification trademark openly.

• Only projects that have been certified by Green star or eligible for a green star rating.

• Projects that pretend to satisfy Green star standards, but are not certified maybe accused of
“greenwashing” which is a trademark violation.

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 4

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

Green Star Rating System

Stars Remark
1 Minimum Practice
2 Average Practice
3 Good Practice
4 Best Practice
5 Autralian Excellence
6 World Leadership

How does it work?

Green star, evaluate a project’s sustainability features using valuation metrics. Each category contains
several issues related to a certain sustainable impact, which are referred to as credits.

• Each of these activities is a criteria, and eat credits addresses an initiative that improved or as the
potential to improve a project sustainability performance.

• By altering the number of points offered , credits are evaluated in respect to one another.

• Each credits specifies a specific result that a project must achieve.

• A project will be rewarded with the appropriate points available if the outcome is verified to have
been fulfilled.

• After all credits have been evaluated, the overall number of points earned is evaluated to the
number of points available in the rating system, and a verified rating is given.

• The term certification refers to projects that have shown that they have met a certain level of
sustainability.

• The rating expresses the project sustainability characteristics in ways that are widely recognised
and accepted.

• Green Star rating system is based on six star rating system (Green building Council of Australia,
2020)

Conclusion

• About 26% less energy is used in this buildings, then in typical commercial one.

• Emission or reduced by 33% according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Improving the respiratory health of building occupants with improved ventilation system.

• Creating a healthier and safer living environment through the use of non-toxic materials.

• Making a space more inviting and hospitable by allowing abundant source of daylight into the
space.

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 5

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

• Producing 62% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than the national average for commercial
building in Australia

• The comparison the average Australian construction project recycles only 58% of its waste.

• Reducing the consumption of portable water by 51%.

GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habited Assessment)

Introduction

The Sanskrit term GRIHA means abode. Human dwelling (buildings.) have a variety of
interaction with nature.

They use resource in the form of energy water resource and other elements throughout their life
span from development to the operation to deconstruction and generate waste either typically in the form
of waste materials or indirectly as emission from energy generation.

• GRIHA aims to keep structures, energy, usage, waste output and general environmental effects to
a minimum based on national accepted norms and standards.(GRIHA Council 2021)

• The Green rating for integrated habitat assessment (GRIHA) council is a non-profit organisation
established by the energy and resources Institute (TERI) I am the Ministry of new and renewable
energy(MNRE) of the government of India to encourage and administrate green buildings in
India.

• GRIHA was approved as the national rating system for green buildings in India by the Ministry of
new and renewable energy (MNRE) in 2007.

• GRIHA measures a buildings and environmental performance across its lifespan, using statistical
and quality to criteria’s, resulting in a clear Stannetts for green buildings and green environment
(Globalabc 2021)

Rating structures of GRIHA

• The above mentioned table shows the rating structure of GRIHA, this structure is followed while
rating a building.

• It has 10 sections and an additional sessions(innovation) all the sections have different criterion as
mention in the table table and the maximum points are allotted to each section.

• If a building receives a score of 25 to 40, it will be given one Star 41 to 55 two stars, 56 to 70
three, stars, 71 to 85 four stars and above 86 five stars as illustrated below.

GRIHA V 2019 Rating GRIHA Rating

Thresholds
25-40 1 Star
41-55 2 Star
56-70 3 Star

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 6

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

71.85 4 Star
86 or more 5 Star
Conclusion

This system will benefit the entire community by reducing GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions, limiting
energy usage and relieving stress on environmental assets.

The following are some of the advantages of green design to a building, owner, user and society as a
whole:

• Lower energy usage, while maintaining the same degree of comfort

• Reduce deforestation, habitat damage and biodiversity loss as well as soil erosion

• Pollution of the air and water is reduced (with direct health benefits)

• Water use is reduced

• Due to recycling and reuse, waste generation is kept to a minimum

• Pollution load are reduced

• User productivity has increased

• Illustration in marketability of green buildings have improved

Rating System

Sl No. Section Criterion Criterion Name Maximu

No. m Points
1 Green Infrastructure 5
1 Sustainable site Planning 2 Low Impact Design 5
3 Design to mitigate UHIE 2
4 Air and soil pollution control 1
2 Construction Management 5 Topsoil Preservation 1
6 Construction Management Practices 2
7 Energy Optimization 12
3 Energy Efficiency 8 Renewable Energy Utilization 5
9 Low ODP and GWP material 1
10 Visual comfort 4
4 Occupant Comfort 11 Thermal and Acoustic comfort 2
12 Maintaining good IQA 6
13 Water Demand reduction 3
14 Wastewater treatment 3
5 Waste Management
15 Rainwater Management 5
16 Water quality and self-sufficient 5
17 Waste management – post occupancy 4
6 Solid waste management
18 Organic waste treatment on-site 2

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 7

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

19 Utilization of alternative materials in 5

building
Sustainable building 20 Reduction in GWP through life cycle 5
7
materials assessment
21 Alternative materials for external site 2
development
8 Life cycle costing 22 Life cycle cost analysis 5
23 Safety and sanitation for construction 1
workers
9 Socio-economic strategies 24 Universal accessibility 2
25 Dedicated facilities for service staff 2
26 Positive social impact 3
27 Commissioning for final rating 7
Performance metering and
10 28 Smart metering and monitoring 0
monitoring
29 Operation and maintenance protocol 0
Total points 100
11 Innovation 30 innovation 5

LEED (Leadership In Energy And Environmental Design)

Introduction

The most extensively used green building rating system in the world is LEED.

• LEED is a framework for helpful extremely efficient and cost-effective, green building that is
applicable to practically all building types.

• LEED certification is a worldwide recognised mark of excellence and leadership in the field of
sustainability.

• LEED is applicable to all type of buildings and phases of construction including new
construction, interior fit, maintenance and repair and core and shell (USGBC 2021)

The United States Green building Council (USGBC) develop the leadership in energy and environmental
design (LEED) Green building rating system which provides a set of standards for ecological sustainable
building, design, construction and management. LEED has expanded to include nearly 14000 projects in
the United States and 30 countries comprising 1.062 million square feet (99 km²,) of construction, space
since its establishment in 1998. (environment and ecology, 2021)

LEED certification

LEED ‘s versatility allows any project or building type to pursue certification from commercial
buildings to residents to cathedrals to schools.

• The LEED grading system has been modified by the USGBC so that new development interiors
residential structure residences localities, and even entire city’s and communities can receive
certification.

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 8

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

• Buildings are essential about people which is me LEED certified structures indicate the public
health and well-being were prioritised throughout construction (USGBC 2021)

• Platinum, gold, silver and certified or the 4LEED certification level.

• All projects must meet statutory criteria and then choose from hundred available credit points to
reach the targeted certification rank regardless of certification level.

• The LEED platinum level certification is the highest award which the LEED certified level
certification is the most basic

• Apart from hundred credit point it has six additional points for innovation and four additional
points for regional priority which makes a total of 110 credit points (Emerald Built Environments
2021)

The above mentioned figure shows certification points

• Certified, 42-49 points

• Silver, 50-59 points

• Gold, 60 -79 points

• Platinum 80 points and above

LEED certification demonstrates that a building has gone above and beyond to guarantee that it is built
and operated in the most environmentally friendly manner possible. To gain LEP certification project
team members must follow to requirements and credits across nine building excellence measurement
ranging from integrated operations to building materials to indoor air quality in order to receive points
indicated in the grading system (USGBS 2021)

Benefits of LEED certified buildings

• Spaces in LEED buildings have been demonstrated to have superior indoor air quality, then other
offices due to their unique Green HVAC system is fitted in anti microbial allergy friendly filters.

• It might reduce the amount of sickly taken by the stuff through of the year resulting in higher
productivity level.

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 9

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

• Air quality related illnesses can be decreased by up to 50% in spaces that have been modified to
meet LEED requirements.

• LEED certified buildings, according to studies can help companies recruit and retain skilled
people.

• Further, more LEED certified offices have a high level of employee engagement which reduce
staff turnover. This is notably evident among Millennials who have been found to value working
for environmentally conscious companies.

• If the company is trying to go Green LEED office space can help company achieve those goals.
The building or more eco-friendly and they will fit nicely with the long-term sustainability
strategy.

• Buildings that our LEED, accredited use less, water and power the bottom time will benefit from
decreased utility, usage

• Recycling and composting programs are common in LEED buildings, allowing trash to be
recycled and composted.

• This can help companies save a lot of money on garbage removal. Companies may even obtain
refund from the sale of recycle products in some situations.

Conclusion

• Energy, saving and other resource conservation strategies deduce building sector is environmental
effect while lowering total cost of ownership.

• On other hand, a green certification validates that the structure was constructed in sustainable
way

• Property developers can certify their properties to draw clients and organisation in general can
certify their buildings to boost public reputation.

• The construction industry accounts for 40% of worldwide energy consumption and emissions
and green construction be significantly minimise its impact on the environment.

• Businesses benefit from green buildings as well: they have cheaper ownership cost and better
internal environment, which improves human performance and will being.

Green Design

Green design, also known as sustainable design or eco-design, refers to the practice of creating products,
buildings, and systems that minimize their negative impact on the environment and prioritize the
conservation of natural resources. The goal of green design is to promote ecological balance, energy
efficiency, and reduced waste throughout the entire life cycle of a product or project.

Green building design keeps check on full life-cycle impacts of the resource did make up the structure.

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 10

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

Bio climatic design takes into account local climate and environmental condition to help achieve thermal
and visual comfort inside and make the best possible use of solar /wind energy.

• Focus on renewable resources right from the start

• Use of satellite through solar panels and photovoltaic cells

• Using green roof and rain gardens to reduce rainwater run-off

• Using packed gravel instead of all asphalt or concrete to enhance replenishment of groundwater

• Use high-efficiency windows and insulation in walls, ceilings and floors

• Used trees in front of windows to produce shed in the summer and maximise solar rays during
winter.

Principles of Sustainable Development in Building Design

1. Optimise site potential

Sustainable building design begins with selecting the site in which to build it on. This means researching
the surrounding environment, and how the location and landscaping of your building-to-be might affect
local ecosystems, energy use and so on.

The WBDG (Whole Building Design Guide) Sustainable Committee also suggests that the site of the
sustainable building should look to reduce, control and/or treat storm-water runoff, and where possible,
support the natural habit in the landscape design.

2. Optimise energy use

In a world where climate change is a hot topic at the forefront of news outlets and government policy, a
building’s energy and resource use and the operational efficiency has become all the more important.

It’s important for sustainable buildings to find ways to reduce their energy load, and at the same time
increase their energy efficiency and maximise the use of renewable energy. As climate change policy
continues to evolve, more and more buildings are beginning to navigate turns operating at net-zero, as a
pledge to significantly reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.

3. Protect and conserve water

The construction of a building can drastically reduce the ecological and hydrological function of the land
in which it’s built upon, and so a sustainable building should look to minimise this and reduce those
impacts.

It’s also important to, where possible, use water efficiently, such as reusing or recycling water for on-site
use. Sewage treatments must also be planned, as these can have environmental and financial costs too.

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 11

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

4. Optimise building space and material use

It’s estimated the world’s population will continue to grow to more than 9 billion by 2050. As a result,
demand for natural resources will also increase, which is why it is of utmost importance that a sustainable
building is designed using sustainable building materials, to help minimise the environmental impacts
such as resource depletion and toxicity.

This poses numerous benefits to all parties involved. For example, sustainable materials not only improve
the lifecycle of the building, but they also reduce the impact on human health and contribute to improved
occupant safety.

5. Enhance indoor environmental quality

Indoor environmental quality also has a significant impact on the health of a building’s occupants, as well
as their comfort and level of productivity.

Sustainable buildings maximise the use of daylight, and implement appropriate ventilation and moisture
control. It’s also important to optimise acoustic performance of the building, and give occupants control
over lighting and temperature systems.

6. Optimise operational and maintenance practices

The ongoing operation and maintenance of a sustainable building focuses on reducing the impact of the
building on the land. Here, it’s important to recruit and train maintenance personnel who are equipped to
operate an increasingly sophisticated building.

It’s also important to track the process of any sustainability initiatives you have implemented, such as
reduction in energy and water use, and so on.

Characteristics of Sustainable Buildings

1. Energy efficiency: Sustainable buildings are designed to minimize energy consumption by

incorporating energy-efficient features such as high-performance insulation, energy-efficient windows,
LED lighting, and energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

2. Renewable energy sources: They often incorporate renewable energy technologies such as solar
panels, wind turbines, or geothermal systems to generate clean energy on-site and reduce reliance
on fossil fuels.

3. Water efficiency: Sustainable buildings aim to reduce water consumption through water-efficient
fixtures, rainwater harvesting systems, and the use of recycled or reclaimed water for non-potable
purposes like irrigation and flushing.

4. Materials and resources: Sustainable buildings use eco-friendly and locally sourced materials that
have a lower environmental impact during production and transportation. They also focus on
reducing waste during construction and demolition by promoting recycling and reuse.

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 12

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

5. Indoor air quality: Special attention is given to indoor air quality to ensure the well-being and health of
occupants. Sustainable buildings often use low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) materials,
efficient ventilation systems, and proper humidity control to maintain a healthy indoor environment.

6. Passive design: Sustainable buildings incorporate passive design principles to optimize natural
lighting, ventilation, and heating/cooling. This reduces the reliance on mechanical systems and
decreases energy consumption.

7. Green landscaping: Sustainable buildings often include green spaces, green roofs, or vertical gardens
to enhance biodiversity, provide thermal insulation, and reduce the heat island effect in urban areas.

8. Life-cycle assessment: Sustainability is considered throughout the entire life cycle of the building, from
design and construction to operation and eventual demolition. A life-cycle approach helps assess the long-
term environmental impact of the building.

9. Waste reduction: Sustainable buildings aim to minimize waste generation during construction and
operation. Strategies like recycling, waste separation, and responsible waste disposal are employed to
reduce their environmental footprint.

10. Certifications and standards: Many sustainable buildings pursue green building certifications such as
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or BREEAM (Building Research
Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) to showcase their commitment to sustainability
and receive recognition for their efforts.

Sustainably managed Materials

• Green building design keeps a close check on the full life-cycle impact of the resource that make
up the structure. Selecting what materials to use is usually part of the designing stage as well to
ensure sustainability in the following years such as:

• Rapidly renewable plant materials like bamboo and straw

• Lumber from force certified to be sustainably managed

• Dimension, stone or natural stone or rock that has been selected and fabricated

• Recycle stone, iron, metal and other products that are non-toxic, reusable, renewable and/or
recyclable

• Use building materials from local source to minimise energy use due to their transportation

• Along with materials, sustainability in the construction process can also include act, such as
employing local, so that opportunities and greater well-being are forested in the local community.

Ferrock alternative to cement from waste

• Approximately 95% of Ferrock is made from recycled materials such as waste, steel, dust and
silica from ground up glass

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 13

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

• The steel dust up on reaction with carbon dioxide produces iron carbonate, which one solidifies
into solid rock as ferrock.

• One of the unique quality of Ferrock is that it absorbs more carbon dioxide a highly toxic gas,
then ir creates.

• Ferrock is five times stronger then typical Portland cement.

Timber crete

A blend of Sawmill waste, cement, sand, Binders and a non-toxic deflocculating additive which is cured
using solar renewable energy to a unique building block.

Glass crete

Glass crete safely, remove concrete, mortar and other cement type materials and other architectural
tempered and plate glass surfaces.

This product is specially designed to clean up toughest, construction, cleanup projects.

Plastic waste and Ideal Building Material

• Plastic, a strong, durable, waterproof, lightweight easy to mould and recyclable all key properties
for use an ideal, environmental friendly construction materials.

• Some plastic can be reused

• Some plastics can we use just as they are by shedding into flakes , melt, solidify and reuse

• All polymers or technologically 100 percent recyclable. Some of them have the perfect cradle to
grave life-cycle. They Can we used again and again to produce the same goods.

Plastic to fuel

Plastic waste could be processed into new materials under different application, such as shredding used as
filter for asphalt or pyrolysis, decomposed through heating to produce petrol. The Japanese company
blend Corp, sales of portable machine to convert plastic waste into fuel into simple, affordable way to
plastic pipes.

Integrated Lifecycle design of Materials and Structures

• Integrated life cycle design is an important tool for sustainable civil engineering.

• It aims to concretise the multiple requirements of functionality, economy, resistance, aesthetics

and ecology into technical specifications and further into designs of materials and structures.

• The extended design must also include multiple calculation methods in which calculations of life
cycle monetary economy are added to those of life-cycle natural economy - in other words
ecology.

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 14

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

• Safety and mechanical serviceability are guaranteed by traditional mechanical design with
statistical and dynamics methods.

• Controlled technical serviceability throug

throughout
hout the target service life is guaranteed by durability
design.

• Health is protected by methods of building physics, including hygrothermal physical and

chemical methods.

• Design for recycling is a special area with its own considerations and methods.

• The selection of final solutions between alternative structural ideas, materials and products can
be done by applying the methods of multiple requirements decision
decision-making.

• Modular product and performance systematics can be applied at several of the design
desi phases.

• Sustainability must always be treated according to the life cycle principle - in other words with
the application of life cycle methodology to design, manufacture, construction, maintenance, and
the management of building projects, companies aand
nd other organisations in building.

Principles of integrated life cycle design

Sustainability is related to ecology and economy. The ecological aspects include the quantitative goals
regarding the consumption of non-renewable
renewable natural resources, the production
ction of pollutants into air,
soil and water and the qualitative goals regarding noncalculative effects like biodiversity and noise.
Ecology can be interpreted as the economy of the nature. The term gives us a quite concrete starting point
for the application
ion of this aspect to materials and structural engineering and it can be concretised in the
life cycle methodology in design, manufacturing, construction and management.

Through the principle of sustainability, resistance design will be expanded into durability
durab design to
include time as a new dimension in the design calculations. Health aspects are generally related to the
control of moisture and thermal conditions and to special subjects like hazardous emissions from

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 15

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

materials. Design for recycling is an iimportant tool for saving natural non-renewable
renewable resources and for
reducing the environmental impact.

General framework and design process

Analysis of the actual requirements, interpretation of the requirements into technical performance
specifications of structures,
ructures, creation of alternative structural solutions, life cycle analysis and preliminary
optimisation of the alternatives, selection of the optimal solution between the alternatives, and finally the
detailed design of the selected structural system

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 16

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

Methods of the integrated life cycle design

The conceptual, creative design phase plays a decisive role in the effective exploitation of the potential
benefits of integrated design. At that stage, the design works on a system level. Modular systematics
greatly help rational design, because the technical systems typically comprise different parts, here called
modules, each with different requirements as to e.g. durability and service life.

For life cycle design the analysis and design has expanded to two economical levels: monetary economy
and ecology, which means the economy of nature.

• Life cycle expenses are calculated at present value or in yearly costs by deducting the expenses of
manufacture, construction, maintenance, repair, changes, modernisation, reuse, recycling and
disposal.

• Monetary expenses are treated as usual in current value calculations. Those relating to nature are
the use of non-renewable natural resources, the emission of pollutants into air, water or soil, and
global warming.

These impacts dictate the environmental profiles of the structural and building service systems. The
environmental impact profile generally includes the consumption of globally and locally critical raw
materials like energy and water and the production of C02, CO, S02, NO,, dust, solid wastes and noise.

The aim is to limit and minimise natural expenses below the allowed values. Some ecological impacts,
like noise and reduction of biodiversity, cannot be calculated, but must be considered separately during
the decision-making process.

The active reduction of wastes in construction and renovation is possible through designing for selective
dismantling in renovation and for recycling of new structural systems, components and materials.

Modular systematics in design

Modular product systematics is firmly tied to the performance systematics of the building. For example,
the main performance requirements of floors can be classified as follows:

1. Mechanical requirements, including

• static load bearing capacity,

• serviceability behaviour: deflection limits, cracking limits and damping of vibrations

2. Physical requirements, including

• air tightness

• acoustics: airborne sound insulation, impact sound insulation, emission

• moisture tightness (in wet parts of the floor)

• thermal insulation between cold and warm spaces

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 17

 Green Buildings – 21CV485: Module 4

• fire resistance and fire insulation

3. Flexible compatibility with connecting structures and installations

• partitions

• services: piping, wiring, heating and ventilation installations

4. Other requirements: buildability, changeability during use, easy demolition, reuse, recycling and
wasting.

Recycling aspects in design

The consumption of building materials can be considerably limited with effective recycling and use of by-
products like blast furnace slag, fly ash and recycled concrete. The components of the environmental
profile of the basic materials already include the recycling efficiency, which means the environmental
expenses in recycling. It is important to realise that the recycling possibilities of building components,
modules and even technical systems must be reconsidered in connection with design. The higher the
hierarchical level of recycling, the higher also the ecological and economical efficiency of recycling.

Department of Civil Engineering, CIT Page 18