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Greening up construction
Green building technology has become one of the hottest trends in construction. The benefits of a green technology application in construction are far-reaching and comprehensive, offering significant advantages when used in new facilities as well as existing structures. Ujjwal Goel, managing director of Teraciel Engineering and Contracting (TEC) explores some examples of green building technology and their benefits
T
he primary way that green technology benefits are achieved is through greater energy efficiency. In new buildings, green
building construction plays a role in every phase of development. Every aspect of the structure, including siting, design, construction materials, and the systems used to run and maintain operations are chosen to be as sustainable and energy efficient as possible. Thirty to 40 per cent of a commercial building is
typically unoccupied at any given time. Green building technology makes use of motion detectors, RFID scanners, access card readers, and other sensors to monitor the occupancy status of building sectors. Whenever an area of a structure becomes
unoccupied, green technology automatically shuts off lights and adjusts HVAC, cooling, heating, and ventilation options. Building owners can realise as much as 30% savings in their energy expenses by eliminating unnecessary energy use in this manner. Numerous studies have documented cases of the “sick building syndrome” that can create an unhealthy work environment in commercial buildings, particularly older buildings and those located in hotter climates where ventilation issues are a concern. When HVAC systems are constantly left on, they can accumulate condensation that allows unhealthy mold spores to develop. Energy efficient green building solutions can automatically turn off HVAC systems when not needed in order to maintain the correct temperature and humidity for optimum health. Advanced software and sensors can be put in place to monitor the ventilation system to prevent CO2 from underground garages from circulating throughout the building.
Solar power
Solar power has been increasingly exploited as a sustainable construction technology. In green construction, it is utilised in two ways. One pertains to active solar power and the other is passive solar power. Active solar power is the use of functional solar systems that absorb the sun’s radiation to cater for heating and electricity provision. It reduces the need for the use of electricity or gas.
10 May 2019
The upfront installation costs are higher but in the long-term, it saves on energy bills and aids in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from non- renewable energy sources like fossil fuels. On the other hand, passive solar power is a design that uses the sun’s rays to warm homes through the strategic placement of windows and the use of heat-absorbing surfaces. The windows let in energy and the heat absorbed reduces the need for warming the house during cold periods such as winter.
Biodegradable materials
The use of biodegradable materials is an eco- friendly means of making construction sustainable. Most traditional construction methods lead to the accumulation of waste products and toxic chemicals, the majority of which take hundreds of years to degrade. Biodegradable materials such as organic paints, therefore, aid to limit the negative impacts on the environment as they easily breakdown without the release of toxins.
Green insulation
Insulation is among the greatest concerns when it comes to construction of buildings and homes. However, most people don’t know that insulators are simply wall filters which don’t need to be made from expensive and highly finished materials. On this basis, the use of green insulation has proven to be a sustainable construction technology as it eliminates the need for high-end finishes made from non-renewable materials.
The use of smart appliances
Homes and commercial buildings consume most of the world’s energy and for this reason, it has necessitated the use of smart appliances as part of sustainable construction technologies. The sustainable construction technologies emphasise the installation of energy saving and self-sufficient appliances. SmartGrid dishwashers, refrigerators and washing machines are examples of such sustainable technologies. The technology is oriented towards establishing zero-energy homes as well as commercial buildings.
www.heatingandventilating.net
www.heatingandventilating.net
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