How can we make our houses Green?

Theme: How can we make our houses Green?

Most of us know the difference between Green buildings and Conventional buildings, however, by adopting few simple measures, one can get a nice cool home and save a lot of energy too.

Friends; it is not at all a Herculean task. A little knowledge and awareness can do wonders to a house. Materials that are used in green design are always assessed for their environmental impact.

To start with, Bamboo can replace concrete, steel or wood; depending on the situation and the application. It can be used in a very refined architectural way, say, in form of sun shades. Northern India has to bear scorching heat during summers, so using bamboo sun shades can be an economical and ‘greener’ option. The bamboo sun shades are open to daylight and air. So, the gap between screen and window is well-ventilated. The rays of sunlight entering through the screens look nice and at the same time do not overheat the house.

Bamboo can further be used for other purposes in house such as bamboo cladding on the walls.1

Water efficiency is one of the major components in energy conservation. For this, Grey water should be collected and used. ‘Grey-water’ is the waste water from sources such as dishwashing or washing machines. It can effectively be used for subsurface irrigation like for garden. The nutrients from food actually enrich plants and it can conveniently be stored in a tank outside kitchen. Through rain water harvesting, water can be collected and used for similar purposes.
Water management can be achieved by minimizing usage of water. Water conserving fixtures should be installed such as ultra-low flush toilets and low-flow shower heads. Bidets help eliminate the use of toilet paper. Taps with sensors is a good option too.

Energy efficiency can be achieved by replacing CFLs with LEDs. Solar batteries can be put over the roof and thus solar energy can be tapped. To restrict heat from penetrating in, windows should be insulated properly, so that house remains cool in summers and warm in winters. This objective can be achieved by replacing normal window glasses with double or triple glazed glasses. Other cheaper alternatives are bubble sheet, insulated window films that can be put over glass. These are available at hardware stores.

Terrace gardens or roof gardens are latest in trend. These gardens were initially installed because they looked good. But there are other advantages. They provide an extra layer of insulation, so they help regulate the temperature of a building against drastic changes in temperature. A study on the environmental benefits of green roofs found that an 850 meter square retrofitted green roof on one building reduced CO2 emissions by about 11.5 tonnes a year.

A high ceiling, a double-layered roof with gap for insulation, and strategically placed vegetation plays significant role in keeping house cool.

And if these tips are not enough, then Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) has released an exclusive directory on 'Green Building Materials and Service Providers'. This Directory would facilitate easier decision making for selecting Green material and services. It is segregated under 5 major heads, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Material Products and Technologies, Indoor Environmental Quality and Service Providers.