Intelligent Green Buildings

Dr. Mim. Hatice Sözer

5 Nisan 2010

Building Intelligence

Intelligent building (IB)

automated buildings (1981-85)

responsive buildings (1986-91)

effective buildings (1992-)

development of IB

closely linked with computers and information technology (IT)

but, IB high-tech building

Major IB features

automatic reactions (adjust internal conditions)

effective communication & IT management

responsiveness to changes

Integrated pyramid

single function/dedicated systems

multifunctional systems

integrated systems

computer integrated building

Building Intelligence

“An intelligent building is one that doesn't make the occupants

look stupid.”

maximizes the efficiency of its occupants and allows effective

management of resource with minimum life costs

more responsive to user needs and has the ability to adapt to

new technology or changes in the organizational structures

Building Intelligence

Intelligent Building

(IB)

Green Building

(GB)

Goals

building management

space management

business management

Goals

minimize environmental

impact

use resource efficiently

be ecologically sound

ensure healthy

environmentInformation

Technology

Environmental

Sustainabilitybuilding life cycle

efficient building systems

effective management & use

integration

Intelligent and Green

Key issues for intelligent-green buildings

site (access, local amenities, car parking)

shell (thermal strategy, structure, floor layout)

skin (services strategy, solar control)

building services (HVAC, small power, cabling)

information technology (communication, space

management, network)

Criteria: business value/benfits, efficiency and effectiveness

Intelligent and Green

Common objectives

responsive (to user needs / to climate)

efficient (building design & systems)

effective (operation & management)

better integration (with IT & within systems)

?Intelligent & Green Building

responsive to climate/site

use renewable energy

responsive to user needs

green building materials

low environmental impact

healthy environment

energy efficient

Pasif Planlama Teknikleri

responsive to climate/site

Classification of Climates

Basic Concept

"Weather" is the set of atmospheric conditions prevailing at a given place and time.

"Climate" can be defined as the integration in time of weather conditions, characteristics of

a certain geographical location. At the global level climates are formed by the differential

solar heat input and the uniform heat emission over the earth's surface. The movement of

air masses and of moisture-bearing clouds is driven by temperature differentials.

Many different systems of climate classification are in use for different purposes. Climatic

zones such as tropical, arid, temperature and cool are commonly found for representing

climatic conditions. For the purposes of building design a simple system based on the

nature of the thermal problem in the particular location is often used.

Cold climates, where the main problem is the lack of heat (under heating), or an excessive

heat dissipation for all or most parts of the year.

Temperate climates, where there is a seasonal variation between underheating and

overheating, but neither is very severe.

Hot-dry (arid) climates, where the main problem is overheating, but the air is dry, so the

evaporative cooling mechanism of the body is not restricted. There is usually a large

diurnal (day - night) temperature variation.

Warm-humid climates, where the overheating is not as great as in hot-dry areas, but it is

aggravated by very high humidities, restricting the evaporation potential. The diurnal

temperature variation is small.

The general climate (macroclimate) is influenced by the topographty, the vegetation and

the nature of the environment on a regional scale (mesoclimate) or at a local level within

the site itself (microclimate).

Importance of Climatic Design

Climate has a major effect on building performance and energy consumption. The process

of identifying, understanding and controlling climatic influences at the building site is

perhaps the most critical part of building design. The key objectives of climatic design

include:

To reduce energy cost of a building

To use "natural energy" instead of mechanical system and power

To provide comfortable and healthy environment for people

Factors Affecting Climatic Design

The local micro-climate and site factors will affect the actual environmental conditions of

the building. The important site-related factors should be considered when making the

climate analysis:

Topography - elevation, slopes, hills and valleys, ground surface conditions.

Vegetation - height, mass, silhouette, texture, location, growth patterns.

Built forms - nearby buildings, surface conditions.

Major thermal design factors to be studied include:

solar heat gain, conduction heat flow and ventilation heat flow.

The design variables in architectural expression that are important will include:

Shape - surface-to-volume ratio; orientation; building height.

Building fabric - materials and construction; thermal insulation; surface qualities;

shading and sun control.

Fenestration - the size, position and orientation of windows; window glass materials;

external and internal shading devices.

Ventilation - air-tightness; outdoor fresh air; cross ventilation and natural ventiation

1. Solar paths requiring shade

Studying the sunpath diagram for

each climatic zone, the shaded areas

represent the periods of overheating,

related to undesirable solar gain. In

the lower latitudes there is total

overheating, whereas in the higher

latitudes overheating only occurs

during the summer months.

2. Sunshade analysis (vertical and

horizontal)

The diagrams show the optimum

location of vertical sun shading,

shielding the building from low sun

angles in the morning and evening,

and horizontal sun shading blocking

the high midday sun. Tropical regions

need both vertical and horizontal

shading throughout the year. In

higher latitudes, horizontal and

vertical shading is only needed

during the summer on the south-

facing sides of buildings.

3. Insolation

The sunpath becomes more southerly as we move

north, changing from a 'bow-tie' pattern near the

equator to a heart-shape pattern in the temperate

zones.

4. Sun requirements during winter

There are obviously seasonal variations near the equator. Solar

heating becomes more important than in the upper latitutdes.

Beginning at the equator and moving north, the need for solar

heating increases while the need for solar shading dimishes

CLIMATE ANALYSIS

Cross ventilation

Cross ventilation is far more important in the

tropics than in temperate zones. The

theoretical strategy for blocking or inducing

wind flow into a building is based on local

prevailing wind conditions. Generally, for the

tropical zones as much ventilation as

possible is desired. For the arid zone cross

ventilation is required, but care has to be

taken to filter out high-velocity winds. In the

temperate zone, cross ventilation and

shielding are both necessary (for summer and

winter, respectively). In the cool region, the

building should be protected from cold, high-

velcity winds, although cross ventilation is

still required.

Wind direction

Desirable and undesirable winds in each the

climatic zones depend largely on local

conditions. Any breeze in the lower latitude

(tropical and arid climates) is beneficial for

most of the year whereas in higher latitudes

most wind is deter-mental and has to be

screened. There is also a small percentage

of the time in a year (spring and/or autumn)

when comfortable conditions can be

achieved naturally, without any need for

wind screening or additional breezes.

Humidity, Rainfall and Seasonal Variations

Annual Average Relative Humidity

The curve on the left represents the

annual average relative humidity in the

four climatic zones. In the arid zone,

the low level of humidity can be

beneficial for evaporative cooling. In

the tropical zone the high level of

humidity can be very uncomfortable.

Annual Average Rainfall

The middle curve represents the annual

average rainfall in the four climatic

zones. Rainfall level can be seen to

have a direct relationship with humidity

levels.

Annual Seasonal Variations

The distance of the angled line from the

vertical represents the annual seasonal

variations in the four climatic zones.

Higher latitudes, the cold and temperate

zones, have pronounced seasonal

variations. The lower latitudes have

constant climates throughout the year.

1. Form

The diagrams show the optimum building form for

each climatic zone. Research has shown that the

preferred length of the sides of the building, where

the sides are of length x:y, are:

•tropical zone - 1:3

•arid zone - 1:2

•temperate zone - 1: 1.6

•cool zone - 1:1

Analysis of these ratios shows that an elongated

form to minimize east and west exposure is needed

at the lower latitudes. This form slowly transforms

to a ratio of 1:1 (cylindrical) at the higher latitudes.

This is a direct response to the varying solar angles

in the various latitudes.

2. Orientation

Orientation as well as directional emphasis changes

with latitude in response to solar angles.

Zone

Building's

main

orientations

Directional

emphasis

Tropical

On an axis

5o north of

east

north-south

Arid

On an axis

25o north of

east

south-east

Temperate

On an axis

18o north of

east

south-south-

east

CoolOn an axis

facing southfacing south

3. Vertical cores and structure

The arrangement of primary mass can be used as a fator in climatic design as its position

can help to shade or retain heat within the building form. For the tropical zone, the cores

are located on the east and west sides of the building form, so as to help shade the building

from the low angles of the sun during the major part of the day. In arid zone, the cores

should also be located on the east and west sides, but with major shading only needed

during the summer. Therefore, the cores are located on the east and west sides,but primarily

on the south side.

The arrangement of the primary mass in the temperate zone is on the north face, so as to

leave the south face available for solar heat gain during the winter. The cool zone requires

the maximum perimeter of the building to be open to the sun for heat penetration.

Therefore the primary mass is placed in the centre of the building so as not to block out the

sun'r rays and to retain heat within the building

URBAN CLIMATE

Urban areas have particular climatic conditions with a higher temperature than exposed country-side, weak

winds and an amount of sunshine that varies according to the degree of pollution, the urban density, the

orientation of the streets and the shade provided by other buildings.

Urban Microclimates

Urban microclimates are complex because of the number and diversity of factors which come into play. Solar

radiation, temperature and wind conditions can vary significantly according to topography and local

surroundings. In addition, layout density can provide further constraints: the precise plot division, the need

for access and privacy, and the noise and impact of atmospheric pollution must all be taken into account. In

winter, most urban microclimates are more moderate than those found in suburban or rural areas. They are

characterised by slightly higher temperatures and, away from tall buildings, weaker winds. During the day,

wide streets, squares and non-planted areas are the warmest parts of a town. At night, the narrow streets have

higher temperatures than the rest of the city. In summer, green spaces are particularly useful in modifying the

environment during the late afternoon, when the buildings are very hot inside.

Strong local winds can modify the temperature distribution described above. Usually winds in towns are

moderate because of the number and range of obstacles they face. However, a few configurations such as

long straight avenues or multi-storey buildings can cause significant air circulation. Tall buildings rising

above low-rise building can create strong turbulent wind conditions on the ground as the air is brought down

from high levels. Strong winds can flow through gaps at the base of tall buildings. To protect pedestrians

from this, the turbulent flow has to be prevented from descending to street level, for example by modifying

the building form or by using wide protective canopies. In semi-open areas, adjacent buildings can be used as

protective screens against some winds.

Urban Heat Island

Visit any city on a hot summer day, and you will feel waves of blistering heat emanating from roads and dark buildings. Stay

in the city past nightfall, and you will notice that the streets are still radiating heat, while surrounding rural areas are rapidly

cooling.

Almost every city in the world today is hotter - usually between 1 to 4 deg C hotter - than its surrounding area. This

difference between urban and rural temperatures is called the "urban-heat-island" effect", and it has been intensifying

throughout this century. During hot months a heat island creates considerable discomfort and stress and also increases air-

conditioning loads and the incidence of urban smog. Research shows that for every degree of increased heat, electricity

generation rises by 2% to 4 %, and smog production increases by 4% to 10%.

Houses in Switzerland

Examples of houses in different climate zones

Houses in New Orleans

Houses in Middle-East

Photovoltaic, Wind Turbines

Ground coupled system for cooling and heating

Renewable energy

Design to use less:

Less is more – Minimize the area

Maximize the function

Responsive to user needs

Design to collaborate with the

environment:

Orient homes in the landscape to maximize

both views and energy efficiencies.

Become part of the landscape

Responsive to user needs

Design for longevity:

Designed to last a long time;

higher quality houses.

Design for flexibility:

Build flexibility into the design so that

homes can adapt to changes in future use.

Design for beauty, joy and sustainable life

Green building materials

Renewable materials: Bamboo, because it grows so fast and easily.

Sustainably harvested materials such as FSC (Forest Stewardship

Council) certified wood.

Recycled materials:

Countertops made with

recycled paper and

porcelain.

Tiles made from recycled

glass and porcelain.

Composite decking

materials and recycled

carpet tiles.

Green, living walls & roofs

Green building materials

Non-off-gassing materials: Never use VOC

(Volatile organic compounds) paints in houses

Hard Floor Surfaces: Using hard floor surfaces

protects against allergens and molds that might

thrive in hard to clean carpeting. Any carpeting to

use is in the form of washable carpeting tiles.

Low environmental impact - Healthy environment

Renewable materials

Long-lasting and low maintenance:

Materials such as weathering steel roofing and cement

siding with integrated color never require

repainting and are relatively maintenance free. They are

strong and reliable materials with long lives.

Re-use: When possible, incorporate previously used

materials into our houses

Natural Ventilation - lighting

Low environmental impact - Healthy environment

Energy efficient

Efficient envelope:

foam insulation, green roofs, and triple-pane/ low-E windows

to help homes trap heat in the cold and cool air when it's hot out.

Efficient fixtures: LED lights in houses which are huge energy savers.

Efficient appliances: The appliances, use the Energy Star certification.

Efficient heating system

Efficient cooling system

Energy monitoring system

Sun shading

Alternative energy sources:

solar, wind generation, and

geo-thermal power

Energy efficient

Reduce water intake:

Elements like dual flush toilets, low flow showerheads,

on-demand water heaters, and xeriscaping landscapes

create less of a dependency on fresh water.

Site waste management & minimizing

storm water run-off:

Solutions such as green "living" roof systems,

and the use of permeable materials for

walkways and driveways allow homes to

maximum the absorption of rainwater and its

utility.

Water Conservation

Energy efficient

Re-use water:

Rain-water catchment systems collect

rain water for irrigation.

Gray water systems collect water from

sinks and showers which is then re-circulated

for use in toilets.

Water Conservation

…for a building,

…for groups of buildings,

....for a regional development,

... for a city,

....for a geographical region,

....for the world as a whole.

Let’s dream : tomorrow’s energy efficient buildings would have …

A structure and walls of such insulation performance that only 50

kWh/m2/year would suffice to achieve ideal thermal comfort

All of its equipment to the optimal energy performance level

(lighting, HVAC, office devices, …)

Intelligence everywhere that would seamlessly handle energy usage

optimization whilst guaranteeing optimal comfort, a healthy

environment and numerous other services (security, assistance to

elderly people, …)

Renewable and non polluting energy sources

The ability to satisfy its own energy needs (thermal and/or electric)

or even contribute excess power to the community (zero/positive

energy buildings)

Users whose behaviors would have evolved towards a reasoned

usage of energy

Taken into account is the consumption of so-called conventional primary energy: heating, cooling, ventilation,

auxiliaries, production of domestic hot water and lighting facilities.

The label Effinergie is assigned to houses that meet the requirements of the BBC label (Low-energy Building)

with in addition, the requirement to measure the tightness of the air.

Envelope & structure of buildings are very efficient : less than 50

kWh/m2/year are needed for an ideal thermal comfort

Highly insulating and active

glazing :

• Vacuum double glazing :

energy loss = 0,5 W/m2/°C –

wall equivalent

• Thermo chromium : variable

heat flow between 20 to 60 %

New insulation materials:

thinner and able to store energy

• nano porous silica

• phase change materials

wall

coating

support

balls of paraffin

Effective treatment of thermal

bridges (junctions between walls,

metallic structures, aluminium

frames) : this can yield up to 30%

reduction of thermal losses

Intelligence is everywhere in buildings: for usages optimization, for

comfort, for health, for services

Shutters, lighting, HVAC

collaborate to reach global

optimization : increase of

more than 10 % global

energy efficiency

Sensors provide

information of air quality

(pollution, microbes, …)

and smart ventilation

insure health

Weather prediction are

integrated in control

Future office space (intelligent? green?)

House_n: MIT Home of the Future

(http://architecture.mit.edu/house_n/)

‘Slinky House‟ - Winning entry, Home of the Future

architectural design competition, Museum Victoria

‘Vegetal Houses‟ - Honourable mention, Home of the Future

architectural design competition, Museum Victoria

BREEAM LEED&

BREEAM stands for the BRE Environmental Assessment Method, and was invented by

BRE (building research establishment) , a building research organization funded mainly by

the government. Based in the UK this organization seeks to provide relevant research and

information to the building industry, about what kind of methods would best support

environmental protection and sustainable development. According to the BREEAM website

(www.breeam.org), „BREEAM assesses the performance of buildings in the following areas:

Management: overall management policy, commissioning site management and

procedural issues.

Energy use: operational energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) issues.

Health and well-being: indoor and external issues affecting health and well-being.

Pollution: air and water pollution issues.

Transport: transport-related CO2 and location-related factors.

Land use: Greenfield and Brownfield sites.

Ecology: ecological value conservation and enhancement of the site.

Materials: environmental implication of building materials, including life-cycle

impacts.

Water: consumption and water efficiency.

LEED was set up in the US, largely inspired by and based on BREEAM.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and is run by

the USGBC.

David Strong from BRE says “the Americans jumped ahead of the green building

movement by setting up the USGBC, and that LEED was set up to provide a set of

services to the American building industry. LEED is a registered trade mark and a

brand name. It’s part of a keen commercial mindset at USGBC, who have attracted

over 6,500 paying members bringing in over $24 million a year. It is this massive

success that the UKGBC is hoping to replicate”.

The USGBC, says that LEED was created to;

* define "green building" by establishing a common standard of

measurement.

* promote integrated, whole-building design practices.

* recognize environmental leadership in the building industry.

* stimulate green competition.

* raise consumer awareness of green building benefits.

* transform the building market.

Types of buildings which can be assessed under the International

Schemes

Whole new buildings

Major refurbishments of existing buildings

New build extensions to existing buildings

A combination of new build and existing building

refurbishment

New builds or refurbishments which are part of a

larger mixed use development

Existing building fit out

Credits are awarded in each of the above areas according to performance. A set of

environmental weightings then enables the credits to be added together to produce a single

overall score. The building is then rated on a scale of:

PASS, GOOD, VERY GOOD, EXCELLENT or OUTSTANDING and a certificate

awarded to the development.

LEED

Sustainable Sites

Choosing a building's site and managing that site during construction are important considerations for a

project‟s sustainability. The Sustainable Sites category discourages development on previously undeveloped

land; minimizes a building's impact on ecosystems and waterways; encourages regionally appropriate

landscaping; rewards smart transportation choices; controls stormwater runoff; and reduces erosion, light

pollution, heat island effect and construction-related pollution.

Water Efficiency

Buildings are major users of our potable water supply. The goal of the Water Efficiency credit category is to

encourage smarter use of water, inside and out. Water reduction is typically achieved through more efficient

appliances, fixtures and fittings inside and water-wise landscaping outside.

Energy & Atmosphere

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings use 39% of the energy and 74% of the electricity

produced each year in the United States. The Energy & Atmosphere category encourages a wide variety of

energy strategies: commissioning; energy use monitoring; efficient design and construction; efficient

appliances, systems and lighting; the use of renewable and clean sources of energy, generated on-site or

off-site; and other innovative strategies.

Materials & Resources

During both the construction and operations phases, buildings generate a lot of waste and use a lot of

materials and resources. This credit category encourages the selection of sustainably grown,

harvested, produced and transported products and materials. It promotes the reduction of waste as

well as reuse and recycling, and it takes into account the reduction of waste at a product‟s source

Indoor Environmental Quality

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans spend about 90% of their day indoors,

where the air quality can be significantly worse than outside. The Indoor Environmental Quality credit

category promotes strategies that can improve indoor air as well as providing access to natural daylight and

views and improving acoustics

Locations & Linkages

The LEED for Homes rating system recognizes that much of a home's impact on the environment comes

from where it is located and how it fits into its community. The Locations & Linkages credits encourage

homes being built away from environmentally sensitive places and instead being built in infill, previously

developed and other preferable sites. It rewards homes that are built near already-existing infrastructure,

community resources and transit, and it encourages access to open space for walking, physical activity and

time spent outdoors.

Awareness & Education

The LEED for Homes rating system acknowledges that a green home is only truly green if the people

who live in it use the green features to maximum effect. The Awareness & Education credits encourage

home builders and real estate professionals to provide homeowners, tenants and building managers with

the education and tools they need to understand what makes their home green and how to make the most

of those features.

Innovation in Design

The Innovation in Design credit category provides bonus points for projects that use new and innovative

technologies and strategies to improve a building‟s performance well beyond what is required by other

LEED credits or in green building considerations that are not specifically addressed elsewhere in LEED.

This credit category also rewards projects for including a LEED Accredited Professional on the team to

ensure a holistic, integrated approach to the design and construction phase

Regional Priority

USGBC‟s regional councils, chapters and affiliates have identified the environmental concerns that

are locally most important for every region of the country, and six LEED credits that address those

local priorities were selected for each region. A project that earns a regional priority credit will earn

one bonus point in addition to any points awarded for that credit. Up to four extra points can be

earned in this way