Page 19 - Shelter-April 2024

THEME PAPER

energy. Lifecycle operation of decarbonising buildings. In lighting controls; motion
building involves two types the past, strategy of building sensors / dimmable lighting
of energy – Embodied Energy design has been focused on; controls etc for making
(energy which goes into making buildings energy buildings energy efficient and
making of a building) and efficient, which now should carbon neutral.
Operations & Maintenance be taken to the next level
Energy (energy consumed by of zero energy buildings Terrace Garden
building during its lifetime). before achieving the ultimate Within built environment,
Only17 % is embodied energy, objective of making buildings building envelope comprising
whereas O&M operations energy positive. This of outer walls and roof of
involves rest of 83% energy. would need dual strategy a building, accounts for
Accordingly, for making of; minimising energy about two-third (60%) of
buildings energy efficient, both consumption and making total heat gain and heat
embodied and operational buildings net generator of on- loss and is known to be a
energy components will site renewable energy from major determinant, dictating
need reduction. Reducing natural resources (sun, wind, the sustainability besides
embodied energy will bio-mass, geo-thermal). It operation and energy
essentially require; optimising would also involve daylight consumption pattern of the
various systems; reducing harvesting; promoting buildings. Accordingly, roofs
structural loads; using operational / maintenance and walls have to be planned,
low-energy construction efficiency through BMS designed and constructed
technologies; creating slim (Building Management carefully and thoughtfully
and resilient structures; System); smart metering for insulating buildings
using local/natural/low besides computer modelling against gaining/losing undue
energy materials in natural (for optimising design heat and cold for making
form; using construction/ of electrical/ mechanical buildings sustainable, energy
demolition waste. etc. systems and building shell), efficient and zero carbon.
Properly orienting buildings coupled with using advanced Green roof, as one of the roof
and adopting passive/
climate responsive design
strategies; placing habitable
rooms in best orientation;
sourcing natural light,
proper positioning/sizing
of windows, avoiding glare,
using minimal glass on east/
west, installing high R-value
wall/ ceiling insulation;
will go a long way in
reducing operational energy
demand of buildings. Using
properly sized / energy-
efficient and rated lighting/
heating/cooling systems in a
thermally efficient building
shell, will be pre-requisite for Fig 4: Green roof for reducing heat gain

April, 2024, Volume 25. No.1 - SHELTER 17