Sustainable Design

Wind Power | Energy Efficient Structures| Green Buildings

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Wind Turbines located at a height

Energy Efficiency | Green Buildings and Infrastructure

We have already discussed how Energy Efficiency can be achieved in different structures. In the previous article, our main focus was on Bio-climatic architecture. Bio-climatic Architecture forms a part of the Principles of Green Building Architecture.

It is necessary to understand the relationship between Bio-climatic Architectural Design and the way in which the Wind energy is harnessed.

Wind Turbines located at a height
Wind Turbines located at a height

We have already discussed the use of Wind turbines for the generation of electricity. We will be discussing the mechanism of Wind turbines in detail.

Wind Turbines

Wind Turbine is a rotary devices which utilizes mechanical energy and converts it into electrical energy. Windmills that extract the energy from the wind and utilize the mechanical energy for cutting of lumber, pumping water etc have been used since ancient times.

Windmills came into picture in 200BC. They have first been used in Persia and then a better and practical version of the windmills has been observed in Sistan, a region between Afghanistan and Iran in the 7th century.

Later on, after the industrial revolution, the concept of using the wind power with the help of wind turbines to generate electricity was discovered.

If the mechanical energy is instead converted to electricity, the machine is called a wind generator, wind turbine, wind turbine generator (WTG), wind power unit (WPU), wind energy converter (WEC), or aerogenerator.

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Green Architecture Vs Current Architectural Techniques

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Comparison of Green Architecture with current Architectural Techniques

Any form of design, minimises environmentally destructive impacts by integrating itself with living process.

But our current system of building lacks respect of natural environment as well as for individual people and society as a whole. There is not a single building component used in current construction that can be labelled safe, earth friendly, and low embodied energy. A few materials meet one or two of their criteria, but for the most part the majority of materials fails to meet all three.

Green Architecture is not limited to one material although many materials should be avoided, but encourages the use of materials that are most appropriate for a particular place, climate and program. Green Architecture is also not a style such as post modernism, art deco or gothic.

Many people are beginning to associate certain types of organic forms with Green Architecture thus alternating those people that do not find the so called ‘Style’ appealing.

Green Architecture is a philosophy or movement and an approach to design, not merely an aesthetic exercise. If one has to be successful, Green Architecture must be appealing like classicists, modernists and practitioners of the organic movement alike.

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Rainwater Harvesting – Need of the Hour | Green Building feature

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Green Buildings – Rainwater Harvesting

When we are talking about the incorporation of various design features that would make the building green, it is not just the expensive materials that consume less energy or are less energy intensive. Earlier we discussed various Active and Passive features to be incorporated to make the building green without increasing the cost of infrastructure by purchasing expensive green materials.

Following green principles and design features that would make the building energy efficient and green also results in Sustainable Development which has become the prime need of the time.

Catching Hill Run offwater
Catching Hill Run offwater

Rainwater Harvesting is one such design feature that is to be incorporated in any kind of building; be it a commercial or residential complex.

Rainwater Harvesting is a technology in which individual building or a group of buildings collect and utilize rainwater during the rainy season. This water can be stored in storage tanks and used for non-domestic purposes.

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Passive and Active Features in Green Building Architecture | Sustainable Development

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Green Building Architecture | Sustainable Development

Green Building Architecture is not only about using expensive products that minimize the use of electrical power which in turn would save oil and contribute to sustainable development.

There are various design features that are to be incorporated while designing a green building. After designing the building block in a way which offers a comfortable living space along with reduction of power and usage of energy intensive materials; our next step would be towards outdoor planning which is also as important as the planning of the building itself.

Green Building Architecture
Green Building Architecture

Two major processes of Green Building Architecture

  1. Active Process
  2. Passive Process

Active Features

  • Use of Solar Photovoltaic Panels
  • Wind Energy
  • Wave Energy
  • Use of Solar Energy

Passive Features

  • Use of thick walls
  • High ceilings
  • Ventilators
  • Skylights
  • Coping
  • Necessity of Parapet
  • Cornices in the exterior facade

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