Page 17 - Shelter-April 2024

THEME PAPER

and social priorities the Experts, Service Providers, and promote heat loss, when
governing principles for Contractors etc. Accordingly, excess heat is gained by the
making buildings green, green building projects, shall building. However in cold
remain universal. Buildings, involve, creating a dedicated regions, the design option
like machines, are large team, right at inception, shall focus on capturing
consumers of resources/ having knowledge, expertise, and retaining sun, so as to
energy, but a green building understanding, experience of make optimum use of solar
not only minimise/optimise designing green buildings in radiation. Accordingly, north-
use of resources/energy, but order to ensure that buildings south shall remain the best
also ensures replacing the is planned, designed and orientation in hot regions
conventional non-renewable constructed in a holistic and whereas north shall invariably
resources/energy with integrated manner. Being a be avoided while designing
natural/renewable resources. group based activity, creating buildings in the cold regions.
Basic approach to green such a team would not only However, architect, on his/
buildings invariably revolves help in making optimum her part has to adopt a holistic
around and involve; designing use of available professional approach to building design,
with nature, making optimum expertise, but will also go a so that building gels with
use of natural resources and long way in making building nature and makes optimum
adopting integrated approach sustainable, cost-effective and use of given climate and
to design. While Planning resource- efficient in the entire orientation.
with nature would essentially life span.
involve, making optimum use Site Planning
of Panchbhutas- Prithvi (site), Climate and Orientation
Agni( energy), Jal (water), Vayu Climate and Orientation
(air) and Aakash (Space), for have always been valued
meeting the basic needs of energy as the key for optimising
and resources for buildings, nature, natural resources of
Integrated approach to building sun and air and minimising
design essentially revolves carbon implications of the
around, respecting site, building, and accordingly
rationalising site planning, must form integral part of
rationalising built form; building design for making
promoting building efficiency; optimum use of the natural
making optimum use of sun resources and evolving
and air for lighting, heating, energy efficient building
ventilation; minimising waste; envelop. Since requirements
using local materials and of building design would
optimising landscaping etc. vary in different climatic Fig 2: Principles governing site
planning
Making buildings green, is zones, accordingly buildings,
never reckoned as individual with regard to climate, sun Rational and innovative site
professional responsibility but and wind, will have to be planning has great bearing
always considered as a group- oriented differently and on decarbonising and making
based activity, involving distinctly in different regions. buildings green, sustainable
professionals like; Architects, In hot regions, the design and energy efficient.
Engineers, Structural options shall invariably Appropriate site planning
Engineers, Landscape involve minimising heat gain helps in determining the

April, 2024, Volume 25. No.1 - SHELTER 15