ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY

Master of Science (MSC)

Department of Sustainable Environmental Design Programme

“Spring 2019 Semester”

Assignment No.2

Subject Name: Climate Responsive Design

Subject Code No: (3672)

Student Name: Mukhtiar Ali

S/O: Muhammad Saleh

Semester 1st

Roll No: BX509217

ID: 191100257

Region: Karachi.
 Assignment 2

Q1. What are the salient features of both the case studies in the context of
climate friendly building design? Explain.

Answer: Silent features of Shakeel Qureshi house:

70% of heat comes from rooftop, and 30 % of heat comes from boundary walls,
ducts are made under the ground for maintaining home cold in summers, in the
sides of stires the water falls were made and that water was going through the ducts
and the windows were made in rooms that come from ducts. If the water goes
through the ducts that produce coldness and cool air will pass through the windows
that were in rooms, instead of using colours paints , he used bricks that were pores
material, and pores is always active, because of pores material the cost of
construction is reduced. The outer layer of doors was made up of wooden shaped.
80% of area of home was green.

In the meantime, here are nine key features found in most energy efficient
homes:

1. Home insulation: Want a quieter, more comfortable home? Home insulation

will help you get just that. It will also reduce your heating and cooling energy
costs.

2. Window replacement: Double pane, low emissivity (low-e) windows can also
Reduce outside noise, drafts and heating and cooling costs.
3. Solar thermal: These systems harness the power of the sun to both heat water
And the home. Air sealing: Reduces drafts, saves energy costs, and keeps must,
Mold and Allergens out.

6. Solar electric panels: Converting sunlight into electricity reduces the Collective

Dependence on fossil fuel. Solar can immediately lower your Energy costs and
Protect from rising electricity rates.

7. Energy efficient lighting: Replacing incandescent bulbs with more energy

Efficient CFLs and LED lighting can reduce energy use in homes by 50-75%.

8. Duct sealing: If your furnace turns on and off, or if you have some rooms
That are too hot or too cold these are telltale signs that your ducts may be
Leaking. (The average home duct system leaks 30% or more.) Properly
Sealing the ducts increases energy use by efficiently directing the air inside
Your home.

9. Energy Star appliances: New Energy Star model appliances (washer, dryer
And refrigerator) can reduce the amount of energy use by half, compared to
Models that are over 10 years old.

10. Efficiency water heaters. Reduce your monthly water heating bills by
Selecting a high efficiency or a tankless water heater.
Silent features of Ar. Ayesha Noorani:

The home that was explained by Ayesha Noorani was her daughter’s house and that
home was under construction. Instead of using cement she used.

1. Calcium hydroxide:
2. Calcium carbonate:

Calcium hydroxide was mixed with hydronic lime simply known as kasoori chuna.
Mr. Talib Husain was mixing the material. And she can’t cover the bricks with
cement. She used the materials to cover the bricks. Hydrolic lime is a different from
other materials. Lime plaster was used to cover the bricks. Instead of using cement
she used lime, lime is most important material, it can be reused and recycled, and
the walls were 20 inches thick World.

In architecture we are so caught up in creating something new, we often forget

about what happens at the end of a building’s life cycle the unfortunate, inevitable
demolition. We may want our buildings to be timeless and live on forever, but the
harsh reality is that they do not, so where is all the waste expected to go.

As with most non-recyclable waste, it ends up in the landfill and, as the land
required for landfill becomes an increasingly scarce resource, we must find an
alternative solution. Each year in the UK alone, 70–105 million tonnes of waste is
created from demolishing buildings, and only 20% of that is biodegradable
according to a study by Cardiff University. With clever design and a better
awareness of the biodegradable materials available in construction, it’s up to us as
architects to make the right decisions for the entirety of a building’s lifetime.
Cork is something of a super food of construction materials, so much so that we've
written a whole feature on it. The harvesting of cork is a completely renewable
process that causes no harm to the tree and naturally regrows after ten years. It also
boasts many desirable properties as a fire retardant, acoustic insulator and is
extremely waterproof. Its adaptive qualities have seen it being used both for internal
and external purposes.

Perhaps one of the biggest architectural crazes within the last few years,
countless bamboo projects have been shared across the internet thanks to the
material's aesthetic qualities, but more so for its sustainable credentials. If you
needed a little reminder about why it has become so popular, bamboo can grow up
to four feet a day, regrows after harvesting and is two to three times stronger than
steel.

Objects made of Finite, a material developed by students from Imperial College

London using desert sand. Recently developed by students Carolyn Tam, Hamza
Oza, Matteo Maccario and Saki Maruyama at the Imperial College
London, Finite is a composite material comparable to concrete that uses abundant
desert sand rather than the fine white sand usually used in construction (and which
is now running out). It makes for a biodegradable material that at the same time is
saving the world from the next sustainability crisis. Unlike concrete that can’t
biodegrade, Finite’s organic binders allow it not only to be left to decompose but it
can also be collected and reused for multiple life-cycles, reducing material
consumption.

Surprisingly, the floor covering is a lot more eco-friendly than it might appear. Not
to be confused with vinyl that contains a synthetic mix of chlorinated
petrochemicals, linoleum is made entirely from natural materials linseed oil, natural
resin, ground cork dust, wood flour, and powdered limestone resulting in a floor
choice that is both biodegradable and can be incinerated to provide a relatively
clean source of energy.

As plastic accumulates in our oceans and rivers, it has become imperative that we
both reduce our consumption and find cleaner, biodegradable alternatives. Bio
plastics break down much faster than synthetic plastic at the same rate as paper does
and produces biomass. One of the main ingredients used is a soy-based adhesive
that helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the use of the carcinogenic
pollutant formaldehyde, while also requiring significantly lower temperatures
during production. Although so far soy bio plastics have been limited to disposable
food containers and bin bags, with more research, there is certainly potential for
biodegradable plastics to be seen in the future of construction.
As mentioned above, formaldehyde is a controversial material that has raised many
questions over the years regarding its effects on both health and the environment.
As MDF’s primary bonding adhesive uses the chemical, it cannot be recycled and
the huge amount of MDF used in shop displays and furniture ends up in either
landfill or the incinerator. To tackle the problem, new forms of medium density
fiber board have been studied by the University of Leicester that substitute the
formaldehyde with a resin derived from potato starch.
It may not be a complete revelation to you, but timber is of course biodegradable
and a renewable material as long as it is sourced sustainably. However, when used
in construction, the timber treatment must be factored in, as much of it can end up
as "special waste" that requires extra treatment before heading to landfill an
unnecessary process that can be prevented.

Following recent projects that have explored the wonders of this curious
material, mycelium has risen in popularity, although its use is so far still limited to
temporary pavilions or installations. Mycelium is the vegetative part of the fungus,
made up of hundreds of interwoven fibers produced by the spores which make it an
incredibly strong material when dried. If combined with farm waste in molds, the
fungus culture forms organic bricks that can be used in construction that afterward
decompose and return to the carbon cycle.
Q2. Critically evaluate the following three features of the house designed by
Ar. Shakeel Qureshi:
i. Roof garden
ii. Rain water harvesting
iii. Underground Tunnel System

Answer (i). Roof garden:

These types of shingles will give you the fewest color choices for energy efficiency,
as they tend to absorb heat. You may select medium browns and grays if you want a
darker roof color, but dark brown or black aren't Energy Star rated.
Does A New Roof Increase Energy Efficiency? According to the Department of
Energy, heating and cooling costs make up 48 percent of our overall energy use.
Unfortunately, much of our warm and cold air is lost due to poor building
insulation. They can improve storm water management by reducing runoff and
improving water quality, conserve energy, mitigate the urban heat island, increase
longevity of roofing membranes, reduce noise and air pollution, sequester carbon,
increase urban biodiversity by providing habitat for wildlife, provide space for
urban Results suggest green roofs are currently not cost effective on a private cost
basis, but multifamily and commercial building green roofs are competitive when
social benefits are included. ... However, green roofs are not the most competitive
energy conservation techniques. Roofs that have reflectivity such as white TPO,
PVC and Elastomeric Coatings are the best. Cool roofing is probably
the most popular and effective energy efficient roof for commercial properties
in Pakistan. You may save a little money on your heating and cooling bills, but
you'll spend upfront to have the green roof installed. Extensive roofs require less
watering and fertilizing, but they require at least yearly inspections to remove
unwanted self-seeding plants. Usually, green roof setups cost at least $30 per square
foot, while elaborate setups may cost as much as $200 per square foot. For a
specific estimate for your building and city, speak with a home improvement
specialist or professional landscaper. Reintroducing vegetation to urban areas
through green roofs is one of the most promising solutions to mitigate the problem
of heat islands. Green roofs absorb less sunlight than dark roofs, through the
process of evapotranspiration and by providing a shading effect to buildings.
A green roof's plants remove air particulates, produce oxygen and provide shade.
They use heat energy during evapotranspiration, a natural process that cools the air
as water evaporates from plant leaves. Green roofs replace a hard infrastructure
with one that's not only more efficient, but also beautiful and useful. By protecting
the roof membrane, however, a green roof can extend the life of a roof by two or
three times beyond its typical lifespan. In Europe, where they have been building
with green roofs since the 1960s, green roofs have been known to last for from 30
to 50 years. Green roofs help reduce the Urban Heat Island Effect, a condition in
which urban environments absorb and trap heat. A green roof's plants remove air
particulates, produce oxygen and provide shade. Another important benefit of green
roofs is their ability to reduce and slow storm water runoff in urban environments.
The most popular by far, asphalt shingles are made of fiberglass sandwiched
between asphalt and ceramic granules. Relatively light and easy to install, they are a
good choice if you're looking for style at a budget price. They may last 30 years or
more but can be vulnerable to high winds. In general, lighter-colored roofs reflect
away heat rays from the sun, but dark-colored roofs absorb much of that heat and
transfer it into the rooms below. ... This quality means even tan asphalt shingles
may welcome more heat into your home than a dark brown metal roof. But back
to roof color.
2. Rain water harvesting:

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is a simple low-cost technique that requires minimum

specific expertise or knowledge and offers many benefits. For drinking water
purposes in rural areas, the most common technique is small-scale rooftop rainwater
harvesting: rainwater is collected on the roof and transported with gutters to a
storage reservoir, where it provides water at the point of consumption (for rainwater
harvesting for agricultural use see also bunds, field trenches, planting pits, micro-
basins, retention basins, dams, conjunctive use, gully plug, controlled
drainage or fog drip). Collected rainwater can supplement other water sources when
they become scarce or are of low quality like brackish groundwater or polluted
surface water in the rainy season. It also provides a good alternative and
replacement in times of drought or when the water table drops and wells go dry.
The technology is flexible and adaptable to a very wide variety of conditions. It is
used in the richest and the poorest societies, as well as in the wettest and the driest
regions on our planet (HATUM & WORM 2006) (see also precipitation
harvesting for a general overview on RWH).

Basic design principles:

 Rainfall
 A catchment area or roof surface to collect rainwater.
 Delivery systems (gutters) to transport the water from the roof or collection
surface to the storage reservoir.
 Storage reservoirs or tanks to store the water until it are used.
 An extraction device (depending on the location of the tank may be a tap, rope
and bucket, or a pump (HATUM & WORM 2006); or a infiltration device in
 the case the collected water is used for well or groundwater recharge (see
also surface or subsurface artificial groundwater recharge).
 additionally there are a wide variety of systems available for treating water
either before, during and/or after storage (e.g. bios and
filter, SODIS, chlorination; or in general HWTS)
 additionally there are a wide variety of systems available for treating water
either before, during and/or after storage (e.g. bios and
filter, SODIS, chlorination; or in general HWTS)

 Process diagram of a drinking water RWH system. Source: THOMAS &

MARTINSON (2007)

3. Underground Tunnel System:

How does rainwater harvesting work?

Rainwater harvesting systems capture rain water by directing it from large surfaces
(e.g. roofs) to an underground or over-ground holding tank. The harvested
rainwater is filtered and then pumped directly to the appliances or to a header tank.
Domestic Rainwater Harvesting.

The technique of rainwater harvesting is no longer new and has already been
existing from ages even from the biblical times. The rain water harvesting systems
are basically designed to route surface water into a storage tank that is fitted either
above or underground.

Common Types of Rainwater Harvesting Systems:

Water Butt this is one the most basic form of rainwater harvesting where the water
collects in the container from the drain pipes and/or natural rainfall.
 Direct-Pumped.
Rs 4.5 lakh to harvest more than 170 million liters of water annually. Rainwater
harvesting methods are site specific and hence it is difficult to give a generalized
cost. But first of all, the major components of a rainwater harvesting system rain
and catchment area are available free of cost. The two major types of rainwater
harvesting include roof based and land-based rain water harvesting. Rain
harvested water can be used for watering livestock, laundry, flushing toilets, etc.
Water harvesting is the collection of runoff for productive purposes. Instead of
runoff being left to cause erosion, it is harvested and utilized. In the semi-arid
drought-prone areas where it is already practiced, water harvesting is a directly
productive form of soil and water conservation. Rainwater tanks can range from
around $700 to $2000, starting from a small, freestanding model without pump or
extras, to large, custom-built models. Costs vary depending on the size, material,
finish and strength of the tank. If you choose a Ferro-cement tank, costs will range
between Rs 12,430 for 5,000 ltr and Rs 15,800 for 10,000 ltr tanks. Installing a water
harvesting system can cost between Rs 2,000 and Rs 30,000, for buildings of about
300 sqm, depending on the city you're in. Easy to Maintain Utilizing the rainwater
harvesting system provides certain advantages to the community. First of
all, harvesting rainwater allows us to better utilize an energy resource. It is important
to do so since drinking water is not easily renewable and it helps in reducing
wastage. It can be purified to make it into drinking water, used for daily applications
and even utilized in large scale industries. In short, Rainwater harvesting is a process
or technique of collecting, filtering, storing and using rainwater for irrigation and for
various other purposes. How Rain Water Harvesting is done.

This is done through catchment areas & conduits. The catchment of a water
harvesting system is the surface which receives rainfall directly. Conduits are the
pipelines that carry rainwater from the catchment or rooftop to
the harvesting system. Rainwater harvesting/Groundwater recharge.

Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) is a specific type of groundwater recharge

practiced with the purpose of both augmenting ground water resources and
recovering the water in the future for various uses. A number of water harvesting
techniques are based along contours including: contour ploughing; contour ridges;
stone lines; grass strips and terraces. The technique used depends on the steepness of
the slope, soil type, conditions, crops grown and other factors such as the availability
of labor. Runoff is collected from within the basin and stored in the infiltration pit.
Micro catchments are mainly used for growing trees or bushes. This technique is
appropriate for small-scale tree planting in any area which has a moisture deficit.
Besides harvesting water for the trees, it simultaneously conserves soil.
Each type of tank material has its own advantages and disadvantages, so let's
look at these materials individually.
 Plastic tanks. The most common plastic tanks are made of polyethylene,
often just called 'poly'.

 Aqua plate and galvanized steel.

 Stainless steel.
 Concrete.
 Fiber glass.

Based upon feedback from actual customers over 35 years, high-density cross
linked polyethylene (XLPE) lasts 30-40% longer than linear polyethylene tanks.
This translates into ten additional years of useful tank service, with 15-20 years as
the typical useful life of high-density cross linked polyethylene tanks. Rooftop Rain
Water Harvesting is the technique through which rain water is captured from the
roof catchments and stored in reservoirs. Harvested rain water can be stored in sub-
surface ground water reservoir by adopting artificial recharge techniques to meet
the household needs through storage in tanks.
Q3.In the design of Ar. Ayesha Noorani, how orientation and appropriate
roofing system respond to the climatic conditions?

In the Ayesha’s daughter house roof was made up of bricks:

Anyone repairing or conserving old buildings should know about lime. Although
lime mortars, renders and plasters were largely superseded by cement based
products in the first half of the 20th century, lime has a long and proven track
record dating back to ancient times; we know, for example, that the Egyptians were
using lime by 4000 BC in the construction of pyramids.

This doesn't mean that lime is an outmoded technology, nor is it a complicated or

difficult to use material. In fact, lime has a growing place in modern construction
with increasing numbers of designers choosing to use lime based products because
of their special properties.

Unlike many modern materials, lime has the great benefit of allowing buildings to
breathe, thus avoiding problems of dampness and decay. Equally, lime produces
wonderful soft looking textures, weathers gracefully and, in the form of lime wash,
can add striking colour and beauty to buildings.

Lime based materials offer flexibility and has the ability to self-heal so allow a
degree of movement, saving the need for regular expansion joints. From
sustainability perspective, when a building is demolished lime mortar can easily be
removed from bricks or stones, enabling their reuse. When working with lime there
is less waste than with cement mortars as mixes can remain useable the following
day and some may be stored indefinitely.
There are two main types of lime: non-hydraulic and hydraulic. Non-hydraulic lime
is produced by burning pure limestone (calcium carbonate) in a kiln. This results in
quicklime (calcium oxide) which is then slaked with water to produce calcium
hydroxide in the form of lime putty. This may be mixed with aggregate to create a
mortar and becomes hard when in contact with the air (carbonation), resulting in a
material similar to the limestone it was made from. This process is known as the
‘lime cycle’.

Hydraulic lime is produced in a similar way but from lime stones with naturally
occurring impurities and it’s these minerals that allow the mortar to set and harden
through chemical reactions with water (hydration). Available in powder form,
hydraulic lime sets faster than non-hydraulic lime and has a higher strength but a
lower permeability. Natural hydraulic lime (NHL) is sold in various strengths (NHL
2, 3.5 and 5) to suit different building’s needs.

In dealing with old buildings we shouldn’t ignore emerging innovations in lime

technology. If re-rendering, it’s certainly worth considering insulating lime renders
as a way of increasing the thermal performance of old walls. Should it be necessary
to replace an inappropriate concrete floor, a lime Crete floor can offer a viable
alternative as it will provide a structural floor slab that is vapour permeable and can
include under floor heating?
Another non-traditional product is hemp Crete. This mix of hemp a natural plant
fiber with hydraulic lime and various additives offers excellent thermal insulation,
thermal inertia and humidity control. Its uses range from providing insulation to the
walls of medieval timber framed houses to constructing extension; in its panelized
form it’s even been used to build new superstores.

Lime putty
Q4.What is biodegradable building materials? Which local biodegradable
materials are used by Ar. Ayesha Noorani in her house? What are the
advantages and disadvantages of these selected materials?

Answer:
These are the biodegradable building materials:

1. Calcium hydroxide (white)

2. Calcium carbonate (turned into lime stone)
3. Calcium oxide.
Calcium hydroxide mixed with hydronic lime (kasoori chuna)

As could be seen from the composition of demolition waste, only a small

percentage is biodegradable. Timber, an extensively used biodegradable material,
only makes up 3.1% of the total materials used. To increase the use
of biodegradable materials in buildings, a broader range of products is required.
Biodegradable. Capable of being broken down (decomposed) rapidly by the action
of microorganisms. Biodegradable substances include food scraps, cotton, wool,
wood, human and animal waste, manufactured products based on natural materials
(such as paper and vegetable-oil based soaps).
The Most Eco-Friendly Home Construction Materials:

 Recycled Steel. Producing and smelting steel takes a lot of energy.

 Bamboo. Bamboo is increasing in popularity as a building material.
 Sheep's Wool. Sheep's wool, of course, can also be regrown quickly.
 Straw Bales.
 Precast Concrete.
 Earth.
 Plant-Based Polyurethane Rigid Foam.

Building materials typically considered to be 'green' include lumber from forests

that have been certified to a third-party forest standard, rapidly renewable plant
materials like bamboo and straw, dimension stone, recycled stone, recycled metal
(see: copper sustainability and recyclability), and other products that. Pound for
pound, steel is the strongest construction material available (unless you count
exotic materials like titanium). It is so much stronger than wood that the two
cannot be fairly compared. Biodegradable polymers (BDPs)
or biodegradable plastics refer to polymeric materials that are 'capable of
undergoing decomposition into carbon dioxide, methane, water, inorganic
compounds, or biomass in which the predominant mechanism is the enzymatic
action of microorganisms, that can be measured by standardized tests Recycling
Construction Materials. As most contractors already know, construction and
demolition (C&D) materials are those items left over at a construction, renovation
or demolition site. The most common materials are concrete, wood, and drywall,
and asphalt shingles, asphalt pavement, metal and cardboard.
Elements or Components of Green Building-Material, Water, Energy Health.
Agree building has four main elements or components on which it is designed:
materials, energy, water and health to make green building more sustainable.

List of the Advantages of Biodegradable Plastics:

1. Biodegradable plastics offer reduces carbon dioxide levels.

We are producing more waste plastic today than ever before in human history.
These items are finding their way into our oceans and even contaminating our
drinking water. Scientists estimate that there could be more waste plastic in the
ocean than fish by the year 2050, with tap water containing micro plastics up to
80% of the time. Researchers at the University of Bath have created a plastic that
only uses sugar and carbon dioxide, resulting in polycarbonates that no longer need
to use petrochemicals and their CO2 emissions necessary for refinement. Plastics
like these break down naturally, only depositing the amount of gas back into the
environment that was used to create it in the first place.

2. Biodegradable plastics can reduce greenhouse gas emission levels.

When you use biodegradable plastics instead of items made through the traditional
refinement process, and then fewer greenhouse gas emissions escape into the
atmosphere. We consume over 100 million tons of plastic each year, which means
the standard 5:1 ratio of production indicates that this industry produces 500 million
tons of carbon dioxide that goes into our atmosphere each year. That number is
equivalent to the annual emissions of 19 million vehicles. If we were to recycle our
plastics each year, then our net carbon savings alone would be up to 30%, which
some researchers suggesting the savings could be as high as 80%. Switching to
biodegradable plastics would help to reduce the number of greenhouse gas
emissions produced by the industry even further, despite the initial financial costs
that would be required to make the transition.
3. Biodegradable plastics are broken down by naturally-occurring bacteria.
After plastics are formed, the traditional products will hold their carbon. When you
dispose of them and they begin to decompose in some way, then that gas is released
into the atmosphere. Because biodegradable plastics do not always require CO2 as
part of the manufacturing process, then this greenhouse gas release may never occur
during the decomposition process. When they begin to break down in the
environment, bacteria in the soil begin to consume the components. That leaves us
with less waste to manage over all, reducing the potential for pollution in every
biome.

4. Biodegradable plastics do not release other dangerous items upon

decomposition.

If you were to throw out a bucket-full of traditional plastics into a landfill, then you
would have methane and other forms of pollutants release as the product begins to
decompose. Because these items do not typically exist with biodegradable items, we
would be able to take advantage of this supplemental benefit immediately. Plastics
make our lives easier in many ways, but they can also contain potentially dangerous
products that could harm our health at the same time. Bisphenol a (BPA) is a key
ingredient in resin and plastic manufacturing. In the past, this substance was used in
plastic tableware, water bottles, and sports equipment. Phthalates soften the plastic
to turn it into PVC. Both are considered to be endocrine disruptors that are toxic to
the reproduction cycle of humans. Biodegradables eliminate these substances from
being needed.
5. Biodegradable plastics consume less energy during the manufacturing cycle.

Although biodegradable plastics offer a slightly higher cost in the production cycle,
we actually consume less energy to produce them. We no longer need to go through
the processes of finding, accessing, and transporting hydrocarbons to create plastic
items using this technology. That means we are burning fewer fossil fuels,
consuming less of them during the manufacturing process, and releasing fewer
contaminants when the plastics reach their end-of-life stage. Because of this energy
savings, the long-term cost of using biodegradables could be substantially less than
traditional plastics especially if the cleanup costs from plastic pollution are added to
that calculation.

6. Biodegradable plastics reduce the amount of waste we produce.

Plastics make up approximately 13% of our current waste stream. That figure
represents about 32 million tons of waste each year, with only 9% of that amount
directed into recycling programs. The remainder goes into landfills and other waste
disposal programs, where it could take up space for more than a century. When
facilities have the correct composting equipment available to manage biodegradable
plastics, we can experience an entire breakdown of the product in 18-36 months,
depending on what method is used. Even if a complete breakdown does not occur,
we would achieve a reduction in the amount of space needed to dispose of the
materials. That would create fewer pressures on the overall waste stream.
7. Biodegradable plastics would direct petroleum consumption to other needs.

Traditional plastic products come from the heating and treatment of oil molecules.
This process turns them into polymers that become useful for the industry. Roughly
3% of petroleum consumption in the United States is due to the number of plastics
that we consume each year. Biodegradables come from products like switch grass
or corn, which means we could redirect the petroleum being used by the industry to
our transportation or heating needs instead.

8. Biodegradable plastics can mix with traditional products.

We do not need to make completely new products using biodegradable plastics to

create an environmental benefit with this technology. Once the natural materials are
turned into polymers, they can work with the ones that were manufactured using oil
molecules. That means we can mix the traditional manufacturing cycle with the
natural one, reducing the percentage that comes from fossil fuels. When we create
this mixture, the plastic products often have more strength as well.

9. Biodegradable plastics require less energy during the manufacturing cycle.

Corn-based plastics represent approximately 40% of the biodegradable source

materials that are used for these products in the United States. When you compare
the polymers made from this crop to those using raw petroleum, it requires 65% less
energy to create a similar-quality biodegradable product. That is in addition to the
68% reduction in greenhouse gases that occur during the manufacturing process.
10. Biodegradable plastics could create new export industries.

In 2016, China produced approximately 290,000 tons of biodegradable plastics.

They consumed about 130,000 tons domestically, and then exported the remainder
during that year. The growth rate in local sales was 13% from the year before, with
the entire value of this segment worth over $350 million. Many of the mature
markets for plastic products in the developed world are looking for ways to reduce
their carbon and waste footprints. Switching to this product makes a lot of sense
because it could eliminate the impact of pollution on the environment over time.
Making biodegradables a top priority could become a moneymaking tool for the
country that can perfect this technology first.

11. Biodegradable plastics create a new marketing platform.

Although it would be ignorant to say that biodegradable plastics are 100% safe,
they are usually viewed as a product that supports sustainable business practices by
consumers and those in the C-Suite. Organizations that adopt this product are often
seen as being preferable because they are viewed as being concerned about the
environment. That means shareholders, executives, and employees all stand to gain
from the potential for higher profits. The Coca-Cola Company has already created a
bio-plastic bottle that they can use with their beverages. Poland Spring is reducing
the number of plastic components that they use for their packaging needs. Making
this switch could lead to significant changes in how people and other businesses see
each other.
12. Biodegradable plastics can decompose quickly in specific situations.

Bio plastics are generally compostable, which means they will decay into natural
materials that will eventually blend harmlessly into the soil. Some of these
biodegradable items can break down in a measurement timed in weeks instead of
months or years. When the cornstarch molecules encounter water, then they slowly
absorb it, swelling up to break the item into smaller pieces. Then the natural
bacteria in the composting container digest it to produce something that can benefit
the planet later on. You must pay attention to the quality and labeling of the bio
plastic items upon purchase to ensure that you are using items that can decompose
rapidly.

List of the Disadvantages of Biodegradable Plastics:

Biodegradable plastics must follow a specific disposal procedure.

We can definitely benefit from the presence of biodegradable plastics because they
can decompose effectively in our environment without creating a pollutive effect.
This advantage can only occur if the items are disposed of properly, meaning that
these items must be treated in a manner that is similar to compost. If we throw out
these plastics in the landfill last we would the traditional items, then they will
follow a path that is similar to the non-biodegradable option. That is why we must
be mindful of recycling programs and waste-reduction initiatives to ensure that we
can all take advantage of the benefits that the natural products offer.
Q5. Criticize the passive measures which have been taken in the construction
of both case studies?

1. You are advised to consult with source material frequently as you undertake
Your design project. If you need any guidance you may contact your tutor or
Write to the Programme Coordinator.

2. Prepare three copies of this assignment, one for yourself, one for the tutor and
the third one for the Department of Environmental Design, Health &
Nutritional Sciences (AIOU) for record. Attach three assignment forms with
this assignment as for assignment one.

Answer: Passive Blinding Design:

'Passive design uses layout, fabric and form to reduce or remove

mechanical cooling, heating, ventilation and lighting demand. Examples of passive
design include optimizing spatial planning and orientation to control solar gains and
maximize daylighting.
manipulating the building form and fabric to facilitate natural ventilation strategies
and making effective use of thermal mass to help reduce peak internal temperatures.

Designers tune the thermal characteristics of buildings so that they moderate

external environmental conditions and maintain internal conditions using the
minimum resources of materials and fuel.

Passive design maximizes the use of 'natural' sources

of heating, cooling and ventilation to create
comfortable conditions inside buildings

It harness environmental conditions such as solar radiation, cool night air and air
pressure differences to drive the internal environment. Passive measures do not
involve mechanical or electrical systems.

This is as opposed to active design which makes use of active building

services systems to create comfortable conditions.

Such as boilers and chillers, mechanical ventilation, electric lighting, and so

on. Buildings will generally include both active and passive measures.

Hybrid systems use active systems to assist passive measures, for example heat
recovery ventilation, solar thermal systems, ground source heat pumps, and so on.
Very broadly, where it is possible to do so, designers will aim to maximize the
potential of passive measures, before introducing hybrid systems or active systems.
This can reduce capital costs and should reduce the energy consumed by
the building.
 However, whilst passive design should create buildings that consume less energy,
they do not always produce buildings that might be considered 'sustainable'
as sustainability is dependent on a range of criteria, only one of which is energy
usage.

Passive design can include:

 Passive cooling.
 Passive heating.
 Passive ventilation (or natural ventilation).

NB: Passive solar design is an aspect of passive building design that focuses on
maximizing the use of heat energy from solar radiation.

Passive design can include consideration of:

 Location.
 Landscape.
 Orientation.
 Massing.
 Shading.
 Material selection.
 Thermal mass.
 Insulation.
 Internal layout.
 The positioning of openings to allow the penetration of solar radiation, visible
light and for ventilation.
In its simplest form, a shallow building orientated perpendicular to the prevailing
wind with openings on both sides, will allow sunlight to penetrate into the middle of
the building and will enable cross ventilation. This should reduce the need
for artificial lighting and may mean that cooling systems and mechanical
ventilation are not necessary. In taller buildings, stack ventilation can be used to
draw fresh air through a building, and in deeper buildings atriums or courtyards can
be introduced to allow light into the center of the floor plan.

However, difficulties arise, for example; when buildings have cellular spaces that
block the passage of solar radiation and air, or where site constraints create complex
massing or mean that windows cannot be opened because of noise or air
quality issues. This can lead to the introduction of more complex passive measures,
such as trombe walls, solar chimneys (or thermal chimneys), solar stacks, acoustic
louvres, thermal labyrinths, and so on.

The situation is complicated further by different climates, changing seasons, and the
transition from day to night, so that passive design may have to allow different
modes of operation, sometimes rejecting external inputs and expelling the buildup
of internal conditions, whilst at other times, capturing external inputs and retaining
internal conditions.

Typically, these variations can be dealt with through measures such as shading,
shutters, overhangs and louvres that allow low-level winter sun to penetrate into
the building, but block the higher summer sun. Thermal mass can be used to store
peak conditions during the day and then to vent them to the outside at night. Even
deciduous trees can be beneficial, their leaves shading buildings from summer sun,
but then allowing the solar radiation to penetrate through their bare branches during
the winter.
Additional complexities can be introduced by internal heat loads such as people
and ICT equipment and by occupancy patterns. In a 9-to-5 office with a moderate
amount of installed equipment, it may be possible to use thermal mass to
store heat loads during the day and then to vent these and cool the thermal
mass when the building is unoccupied at night. This may not be possible with
a building such as a hospital that is continuously occupied.

Considering all these issues early in the design process, so that they can be
incorporated into the fundamental design of the building, requires close working
across the entire design team. The historic model, where the architect designed
a building and then a structural engineer made it stand up and then last of all
a services engineer made it comfortable, is unlikely to achieve a satisfactory result.

Passive design measures can require occupant involvement, for example to

open windows, turn out lights, adjust louvres, and so on. This requires education so
that occupants are able to understand the building and to operate it
efficiently. Occupant behavior is often cited as one of the prime causes of the
'performance gap', that is, the difference between the expected and actual energy
consumption of completed buildings.

As well as reducing energy consumption, adopting passive design strategies can

help building ratings across standards such as Pass iv Haus, BREEAM, the Code for
Sustainable Home sand LEED.

NB: The urban heat island effect, is an effect found in urban environments where
the predominance of hard, heat absorbing surfaces results in a higher
ambient temperature than in rural environments. It has been found that simply
selecting lighter coloured materials that reflect solar radiation rather than absorbing
it can significantly reduce urban temperatures and so the need for active systems to
provide cooling.