International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
ISSN 2319 - 4847
Special Issue for National Conference On Recent Advances in Technology and Management for
Integrated Growth 2013 (RATMIG 2013)
Energy Efficiency in Infrastructure Development
for Sustainable Development
A. M. Yamsanwar
Civil Engineering Department, R.C.E.R.T. Chandrapur
yamsanwarachal@rediffmail.com
ABSTRACT
The need for infrastructure development for the society is increasing day by day. This is reducing the available natural resources and
disturbing the ecological and biological global balance. The change has created a great challenge to the designers, engineers and policy
makers to carry out the development work keeping in mind the ecological and biological balance. As such the concept of “Sustainable
Development” is thought of. A Sustainable Development is defined as “Development that meets the need of present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their demands”. A design engineer should be aware of ecological engineering
technologies and he should be capable of blending design process with upcoming global challenges. All the infrastructure development
should be treated with inclusion of global environmental issues, planning perspective and inclusion of different policies and thoughts.
For this it is necessary that designer and engineer work in co-ordination with each other. The designer is expected to incorporate
system thinking, material requirements, availability and its impact on environment performance. Whereas the engineer is expected to
use their expertise in the design process as an integral part of holistic design process.
THE PROCESS AND SYSTEM OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
In a sustainable infrastructure development, it is necessary that we should think of
i)
Bringing awareness of sustainable design in the engineering and technology and
ii)
To develop an approach which incorporates the new global challenges?
The designer should be concerned about all environmental impacts such as Ageing of structures, failure of eco system,
draughts, pollution, rising sea level etc. and he should consider all these factors in his design.
The goal of the designer should be clear. His primary objective should be to try to bring back the ecological balance and at
the same time he should keep in mind the requirements of human being such as healthy food, water, shelter and energy. The
main challenge in the design is to blend the infrastructure requirements with green infrastructure; the job of designer is to
fulfill human requirements working hand in hand with nature, and not to solve our problems at the cost of nature. The green
design is globally accepted and has become more common by way of government policies, green building codes and action
plans to protect the climate. Now it is required to apply solutions globally, considering the policies. It should be kept in mind
that all renovations, new master plans can be executed with more sustainability considerations.
CREATING NEW METHODOLOGIES
Engineers are considered as concerned only with building infrastructure. However now he has become an essential part of
design team. His contribution in the project now has increased beyond and now he has to look on to the policies that help to
design project design concept at the outset. The strategic team which design the strategies for the project should work for
deeper sustainable efforts and higher quality work at the beginning itself. When the team decides the strategies, they can
effectively shape the factors affecting the basic strategies such as,
Increase water saving
Decrease in material usage and use of waste materials
Minimum use of energy etc.
The environmental and energy performance of our buildings or build environment is of increasing concern in the design
process and hence it is necessary that engineers offer their expertise in the initial stages.
Organized By: GNI Nagpur, India
International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
ISSN 2319 - 4847
Special Issue for National Conference On Recent Advances in Technology and Management for
Integrated Growth 2013 (RATMIG 2013)
DESIGN TEAM
In the project different professionals contribute their expertise and skill at different times. For successful process it is
necessary to integrate the action of all team members. The design team members co=ordinate with each other for the
successful project execution. The different teams and their work can be related as below,
i)
Sustainable Consultants
This is the team which works from the office. It decides the priorities of the project and helps the team to draft the goals
of the project. This team works with the engineers to work for reduction in water demand, reduction in energy and
resource materials. It integrates green space and reduces carbon foot print.
ii) Ecologist
The ecologist will work with site engineers and design team members for determining areas of constraints and
development opportunities. He will conduct basic ecosystem survey and establish development priorities that are
helpful to promote ecological benefits and will decrease the environmental impact.
iii) Planner and Architect
He will design prepare the master plan of the proposed infrastructure. He should work with the engineers to design the
site and will decide about the placement, sizing, and integration of the different parts of the infrastructure. He should
study overall plan to ensure to requirements of the project such as energy saving, water reuse and sustainable waste
practices.
iv) Landscape Architect
The landscape architect should ensure the site aesthetics are improved by giving due consideration to vegetation
management, storm water facility placement. He should assist engineers to minimize damage to soil, trees and native
plants during construction. He should plan for appropriate plantation and landscaping and coordinate landscaping
management of green infrastructure on site
v) Geotechnical Engineers
He will carry out underground survey for soil characteristics and recommend data for planning of roads, buildings and
site infrastructure. He will determine soil types that will support infiltration and various types of landscaping.
vi) Mechanical, Electrical and other consultants
They will design electrical system including heating, cooling, ventilation and air conditioning. They will work with
others to minimize infrastructure including piping, trenching and mining
vii) Hydrologists
They will work to determine local water table and quality of water. They will decide about the potential stream for
storm water runoff and will develop watershed master plan. They will also study the balance water model and review
strategies to collect its water and reuse it. They will also help engineers to develop water treatment and delivery
arrangements that will minimize the piping works.
SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE SYSTEM
WATER CONSERVATION
In urban water use the complexity of water movement and use through urbanization presents the designer with particular
challenges when contamination or resource shortage comes in to question. In the natural world water moves in continued
cycles, constantly changing its form and mixing with surroundings. As a designer we need to consider the whole water cycle
in order to build sustainable system that restores the natural balance of water by reducing the negative impact our current use.
The basic principle of ecology is that, in nature nothing is a waste it is simply transformed in to another form in the eco
system and we should find ways to use it. In order to live sustainably we need to transform waste material in to useful
materials or energy without creating a more polluting atmosphere.
Organized By: GNI Nagpur, India
International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
ISSN 2319 - 4847
Special Issue for National Conference On Recent Advances in Technology and Management for
Integrated Growth 2013 (RATMIG 2013)
STORM WATER MANAGENENT
The storm water should be looked up as a vulnerable resource instead of waste product. The successful implementation of
storm water management can decrease peak run off rate and total run off volume. It can reduce pollution and other negative
effects of over development. It can enhance the natural cycle and overall environment of the communities.
ENERGY AND GREEN HOUSE GASES
A successful energy strategy should be planned. Some of the points in energy planning are,
Reduce energy demand through design
Use energy efficiently
Select sustainable power supplies
Take care of climate change and reduce carbon foot print
To be successful, each infrastructure development should be designed considering the surrounding atmospheric conditions
and considering the use of local energy resources. The project should be planned for minimum central power generation. It
should be kept in mind that everyone involved in the project can make significant contribution to the success. We can also
think of passive energy saving system.
Some of the active design strategies are listed below,
Energy efficient lighting
Energy efficient appliances
Geo thermal insulation
Interior air exchange
Chilled ceiling/chilled beam system
Some of the natural sources of energy are,
Solar Power a)Solar thermal b) Photo voltaic
Wind Power
Geo Thermal System
Bio mass
Water power
CARBON FOOTPRINT
Even after applying all the measures as discussed above it is necessary to calculate the project carbon footprint as
per the given standard methods and make an effort to reduce the carbon footprint.
Policy Measures
Energy policies may be implemented as formed by the government, regional organizations etc. The purpose of this
is to set up rules, incentives or penalties to develop proper energy practice.
CONCLUSION
The movement of “Green Building” was originally considered only for the design of buildings. However it is now extended
to Green Site, green streets, green cities and green infrastructures. Most of the countries now have realized the importance,
and adopting this strategy for development. A total approach and good teamwork can bring wonderful results.
Organized By: GNI Nagpur, India
International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
ISSN 2319 - 4847
Special Issue for National Conference On Recent Advances in Technology and Management for
Integrated Growth 2013 (RATMIG 2013)
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Organized By: GNI Nagpur, India