HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS (HPB)
1. Context
High-performance buildings (HPBs) are at the forefront of sustainable construction, tackling urgent needs like energy efficiency, climate resilience and resource conservation. As climate change intensifies, resources become scarcer, and urbanisation increases, HPBs — built to consume less energy, conserve resources, and withstand unpredictable weather — are an important part of achieving and keeping sustainable living
2. About Interactive Design
- High-Performance Buildings (HPBs) emphasize a collaborative design methodology that brings together architects, engineers, sustainability experts, and building owners to establish clear, measurable performance objectives.
- For instance, these objectives could target achieving 90% daylighting in occupied areas or maintaining cooling efficiency at 700 square feet per tonne of air conditioning in commercial spaces.
- This approach ensures seamless integration of all building systems, including air-conditioning, lighting, and structural elements such as walls, roofs, and windows.
- Digital modeling plays a pivotal role by offering a virtual project simulation. This enables the design team to forecast performance outcomes, determine optimal system sizes, and evaluate various strategies.
- By conducting simulations, the team can refine their plans to align with energy efficiency and thermal comfort targets before construction begins. This forward-thinking approach enhances operational efficiency, boosts resilience, and minimizes long-term expenses.
- A notable feature of the integrative design process in HPBs is the early adoption of passive design strategies.
- These involve leveraging natural daylight and utilizing materials with thermal mass to store heat, effectively reducing heating and cooling requirements. This strategy allows designers to select appropriately sized equipment, optimizing energy use
3. Process of making materials sustainable
- Materials for high-performance buildings (HPBs) are selected based on their durability, energy efficiency, and contribution to occupant well-being. These buildings prioritize materials with low embodied carbon—referring to the emissions generated during manufacturing—and high recycled content. To identify the most sustainable options, a life-cycle assessment is often employed to measure a material’s environmental impact over its entire lifespan.
- In addition, HPBs utilize low-emission interior materials to enhance indoor air quality by minimizing the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are harmful substances that readily evaporate into the air. This not only promotes a healthier indoor environment for occupants but also enhances the overall performance of the building.
- For instance, in the development of the Indian Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS) campus in Bengaluru, planners are employing life-cycle cost analysis.
- This approach assesses materials based on factors like comfort, durability, and long-term costs. It also considers how envelope materials impact the sizing of cooling systems and energy consumption over a 50-year period
4. How can buildings use less energy?
- Buildings contribute approximately 40% of the total energy consumption, amounting to 580 million terajoules—or 13,865 million tonnes of oil—over their lifespans, primarily for operational activities. Reducing this energy demand involves implementing both passive and active strategies.
- Passive design approaches leverage natural resources by maximizing daylight, optimizing building orientation, and utilizing thermal mass to minimize dependency on artificial lighting, heating, and cooling systems. These strategies are adapted to the local climate and the specific requirements of the building, ensuring efficient operation without excessive reliance on mechanical systems.
- On the active front, high-performance buildings (HPBs) integrate energy-efficient HVAC systems, lighting, and appliances, complemented by smart technologies such as automated lighting controls and occupancy sensors.
- These innovations enable real-time energy monitoring and optimization. For example, the Infosys Hyderabad campus became India’s first HPB to adopt a radiant cooling HVAC system paired with daylighting controls and task lighting, significantly reducing energy consumption.
- A core objective of HPBs is achieving net-zero or net-positive energy performance, where the building generates as much or more energy than it consumes. This goal is increasingly attainable with advancements in cost-effective solar and wind energy technologies, helping to decrease dependence on fossil fuels
5. Significance of High Performance buildings (HPB)
- Water scarcity remains a pressing challenge across the nation, and high-performance buildings (HPBs) address this issue by focusing on water conservation, reuse, and quality enhancement.
- Features such as low-flow faucets and dual-flush toilets minimize water consumption, while rainwater harvesting systems collect rainwater for non-potable purposes like irrigation and sanitation.
- On-site wastewater treatment further boosts efficiency by recycling greywater for irrigation and treating blackwater using biological solutions such as constructed wetlands or sewage treatment plants.
- HPBs also integrate green infrastructure elements, including permeable paving and bioswales, to manage stormwater effectively and mitigate urban heat island effects.
- For instance, Infosys campuses in India recycle 100% of their wastewater through advanced water management systems, such as aerobic membrane bioreactors, achieving zero-discharge status.
- To ensure optimal performance, HPBs rely on advanced monitoring systems that track real-time metrics like energy use, water consumption, and indoor environmental quality. This data enables facility managers to identify inefficiencies and take corrective measures, while ongoing performance evaluations validate the building’s design and guide future projects.
- An example is the second annex of the Indian Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS) campus in Bengaluru, which uses a network of smart devices and AI-driven controls to optimize thermal regulation and improve efficiency
6. How can HPBs handle climate risks?
- High-performance buildings (HPBs) are designed to endure extreme and unpredictable weather conditions, such as intense heat and flash floods, through strategic site selection and flood prevention measures.
- Their structural resilience is bolstered by the use of durable materials and diversified energy systems, while passive survivability ensures habitability even during power outages.
- Additionally, renewable energy systems provide backup power, and rainwater harvesting combined with on-site water treatment helps maintain water availability during emergencies.
- For instance, the Infosys Crescent building in Bengaluru demonstrates exceptional energy efficiency. Accommodating around 8,000 occupants, it consumes only 75 kWh of energy per square meter annually, compared to the 150-200 kWh typically used by similar office buildings.
- Despite 90% of the space being air-conditioned, the building's advanced cooling system requires just 3 watts per square foot, significantly lower than the usual 4-5 watts in conventional offices. This example highlights how intelligent design can reduce energy usage and costs without inflating construction expenses.
- HPBs are setting new benchmarks for sustainability and resilient architecture in the 21st century. Beyond their environmental benefits and lower operational costs, they also enhance real estate value.
- As the principles behind HPB construction and operation become more widely adopted, the ultimate aim should be to transform all buildings into high-performance structures
7. Way Forward
high-performance buildings (HPBs) represent a transformative approach to modern construction, addressing critical challenges such as climate resilience, energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainable resource use. By integrating innovative design principles, advanced technologies, and environmentally friendly practices, HPBs offer a blueprint for creating structures that are not only efficient and cost-effective but also adaptable to the uncertainties of the future.
As these practices gain wider adoption, HPBs will play a pivotal role in mitigating environmental impacts, enhancing occupant well-being, and setting new standards for sustainable urban development. The ultimate vision should be to transition all buildings towards high performance, fostering a built environment that is both resilient and aligned with global sustainability goals
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For Prelims: Contribution of buildings to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, India’s initiatives for green and sustainable buildings (e.g., Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), Green Building Council)
For Mains: Urbanization and the role of HPBs in creating sustainable cities, Geographic factors influencing building design (e.g., climate-responsive architecture)
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Source: The Hindu
