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In Green Homes*, R.K. Gautham, an architect, turns the reader’s attention to what is happening backstage while modern high-tech cities are being developed.
Over the past 50 years, we have cut 50 billion trees, converted 5 billion sq.miles of tropical forests into human habitation, built 50,000 giga tons of fossil fuels, generated 5,000 billion tonnes of solid waste, decimated 3 million wildlife species, tossed 500 billion tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere, mined 2000 billion tonnes of metal and created 100 billion tonnes of plastic and other non-biodegradable produce across the globe, resulting in rises in global temperature and puncturing the ozone layer, thereby causing an 8 per cent increase in the average annual dose of biologically harmful UV radiation. The figures clearly show how insensitive we have been to Mother Nature.
The construction industry is a major contributor towards all the above. Building consumes 40 per cent of the world’s total energy, 25 per cent of its wood harvest, and 16 per cent of its water while being responsible for approximately a third of greenhouse gas emissions.
Gautham explains how green homes can help in environmental conservation.
The term ‘Green’ is defined as “voluntary pursuit of any activity, which encompasses concern for energy efficiency, environment, resource conservation and use of recycled products and renewable energy.” The author explains evolution of Green homes in three phases – Green by Design, Green by Construction and Green by Use. ‘Typical’ buildings consume more of our resources than necessary, negatively impact the environment, and generate a large amount of waste. For example, if only 10 per cent of homes in India used solar water heating systems, we would avoid 8.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
Green by design
In order to design Green:
• Use energy-efficient and eco-friendly equipment.
• Use recycled building material.
• Ensure high level of indoor air quality for human safety and comfort.
• Use renewable energy – including solar, wind and biomass.
• Use effective controls and building management systems.
• Ensure efficient use of water.
• Optimise waste generation from construction, usage and demolition.
By going Green we not only end up with a building which has less of an impact on nature, but which also creates a comfortable, healthy environment to live in and also yields significant savings on utility bills for the occupants.
Green by construction
Use materials which are environmentally friendly, recycled products and those that are less harmful to Nature, such as mud, bamboo and rock. Attention should also be paid to interior products that are catalysts in creating green homes and to how much site disturbances can be avoided on a building site.
Green by use
The most important phase of creating a Green home is the way it is put to use, which is in the hands of occupants rather than the designers or builders, even though facilitating proper use is planned from the design phase. The author elaborates on how energy conservation and water conservation are done at house level by use of energy-efficient appliances, alternative sources of energy, proper usage of thermostats in cooling spaces, and proper usage of appliances. He talks about the three important practices: Reduce – Reuse – Recycle.
Gautham points out that if our great-grandparents had lived the lifestyle we have now and had as many vehicles as we have now, we would be spending our lives in dark, cycling to work, moving around with pollution masks, and would not even be able to have a full shower once a week. While we are fortunate that it isn’t the case, giving us a feeling of great relief, our grandchildren may not be as lucky!
After all, apart from using up the dwindling natural resources at our disposal, we also consume almost 1200 KW of electricity, produce 35 tons of garbage and release 12,000 kg of CO2, in a year – (Courtesy: Our Building and Construction).
* Green Homes by R.K. Gautham (BS Publications, Hyderabad 500 095)
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