Green Buildings and Energy Sources Explained

SRES’S Sanjivani College of Engineering, Kopargaon
(An Autonomous Institute)
Environmental Science (Audit Course)
Prepared By: Dr. M.V. Jadhav
Prof. U.T. Kulkarni
1
UNIT VI
GREEN BUILDINGS AND ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
6.1 Concept of Green Buildings
Green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are
environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle from siting
to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction. This practice
expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability,
and comfort. Green building is also known as a sustainable or high performance building.
Although new technologies are constantly being developed to complement current practices
in creating greener structures, the common objective of green buildings is to reduce the overall
impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:
 Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
 Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity (see healthy building)
 Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation
6.1.1 Importance of Green Buildings
Conventional buildings have a substantial impact on the health and wellbeing of people and
the planet. They use resources, generate waste, and emit greenhouse gases throughout their life
cycle which can be 50, 75, or more years. For example:
Fig 1. 2011 Energy Chart of USA
According to the U.S. EIA, roughly 41% of total U.S. energy consumed in 2011 was used
in buildings (about 40 quadrillion BTUs).

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U. S. EPA 2010 statistics show commercial and residential economic sectors accounted
for 11% of greenhouse gas emissions which include burning fossil fuels for heat, use of products
containing greenhouse gases, and waste.
The U.S. EPA estimates landscape irrigation accounts for about 1/3 of all residential water use,
more than 7 billion gallons per day.
Environmental benefits of green building:
− Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems
− Improve air and water quality
− Reduce waste streams
− Conserve and restore natural resources
Economic benefits of green building:
− Reduce operating costs
− Improve occupant productivity
− Enhance asset value and profits
− Optimize life-cycle economic performance
Social benefits of green building:
− Enhance occupant health and comfort
− Improve indoor air quality
− Minimize strain on local utility infrastructure
− Improve overall quality of life
At a global level:
− The building sector has the largest potential for significantly reducing greenhouse gas
emissions compared to other major emitting sectors – UNEP, 2009.
− This emissions savings potential is said to be as much as 84 gigatonnes of CO2 (GtCO2) by
2050, through direct measures in buildings such as energy efficiency, fuel switching and the
use of renewable energy – UNEP, 2016.

Prof. U.T. Kulkarni
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− The building sector has the potential to make energy savings of 50% or more in 2050, in
support of limiting global temperature rises to 2°C (above pre-industrial levels) – UNEP, 2016.
At a building level:
− Green buildings achieving the Green Star certification in Australia have been shown
to produce 62% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than average Australian buildings, and 51%
less potable water than if they had been built to meet minimum industry requirements.
− Green buildings certified by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) results in energy
savings of 40 - 50% and water savings of 20 - 30% compared to conventional buildings in
India.
− Green buildings achieving the Green Star certification in South Africa have been shown to
save on average between 30 - 40% energy and carbon emissions every year, and between 20 -
30% potable water every year, when compared to the industry norm.
− Green buildings achieving the LEED certification in the US and other countries have been
shown to consume 25 per cent less energy and 11 per cent less water, than non-green buildings.
5.1.3 Difference between Green buildings and Conventional buildings.
The features of a green home can be hard to identify for most home buyers and home builders.
According to “Choosing Green” by Jerry Yudelson, any green home has five key components:
sustainable site and location, water conservation, energy conservation, materials, and indoor
environmental quality.
1. Sustainable Site and Location: One important element of green that is often overlooked
happens to simply be where we choose to build. Avoiding inappropriate sites such as farmland and
locating the site near existing infrastructure, like roads, sewers, stormwater systems and transit,
allows builders to lessen negative impact on a home's surroundings.
2. Water Conservation: Conserving water can be economically done by installing low-flow
fixtures that often cost the same as less efficient models. Water can be saved in landscaping
applications by simply choosing the proper plants.
3. Energy Conservation: Probably the most important part of building green is energy
conservation. By implementing passive design, structural insulated panels (SIPs), efficient lighting,

Prof. U.T. Kulkarni
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and renewable energy like solar and geothermal, a home can benefit from reduced energy
consumption or qualify as a net-zero energy home.
4. Materials: Green materials include many different options. Most often, people assume that
"green" means recycled materials. Alhough that recycled materials represent one option, green
materials also include reused materials, renewable materials like bamboo and cork, or materials
local to your region. Remember, a green material does not have to cost more or be of lesser or
higher quality. Most green products are comparable to their non-green counterparts.
5. Indoor Environmental Quality: The quality of the indoor environment plays a pivotal role in
a person’s health. In many cases, a much healthier environment can be created through avoiding
hazardous materials found in paint, carpet, and other finishes. It is also important to have proper
ventilation and ample daylighting.
6.2 Introduction to Energy and Environment.
Energy and the environment have always been and will continue to be closely linked. All
energy is, at bottom, either derived or captured from the environment around us. Once used, it is
eventually returned to the environment as a harmless byproduct or, more often than not, as harmful
emissions or waste. As energy usage has increased around the world, so too have the stresses this
usage imposes on the environment intensified. Globalization has accelerated the pace of these
developments and ensured that the actions of one country are felt more acutely in many others.
6.2.1 Types of Energy Sources
Energy is the capacity of a physical system to perform work. Energy exists in several forms
such as heat , kinetic or mechanical energy, light, potential energy , electrical, or other forms.
Energy is the ability to do work. Energy sources could be classified as Renewable and Non-
renewable.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly such as
solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal resources, and biofuels and hydrogen.
Solar Energy

Prof. U.T. Kulkarni
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Sun is the primary source of energy. Sunlight is a clean, renewable source of energy. It is a
sustainable resource, meaning it doesn't run out, but can be maintained because the sun shines
almost every day. Coal or gas are not sustainable or renewable: once they are gone, there is none
left. More and more people are wanting to use clean, renewable energy such as solar, wind,
geothermal steam and others. It is called 'Green Power'. It lights our houses by day, dries our
clothes and agricultural produce, keeps us warm and lots more.
Wind Energy
Wind is the natural movement of air across the land or sea. The wind when used to turn the
blades of a wind mill turns the shaft to which they are attached. This movement of shaft through a
pump or generator produces electricity. The Potential for wind power generation for grid
interaction has been estimated at about 1,02,788 MW taking sites having wind power density
greater than 200 W/sq. m at 80 m hub-height with 2% land availability in potential areas for setting
up wind farms @ 9 MW/sq. km. India now has the 4th largest wind power installed capacity in the
world which has reached 36089.12 MWp (as on May, 2019). Private agencies own 95 % of the
wind farms in India.
Biomass and Biofuels
The plants fix solar energy through the process of photosynthesis to produce biomass. This
biomass passes through various cycles producing different forms of energy sources. For example,
fodder for animals that in turn produce dung, agricultural waste for cooking, etc. The current
availability of biomass in India is estimated at about 500 million MT per annum, with an estimated
surplus biomass availability of about 120 – 150 million metric tones per annum covering
agricultural and forestry residues. This corresponds to a potential of about 18,000 MW. An
additional 9131.50 MWp power was generated through bagasse based cogeneration in the
country’s Sugar mills.
Biomass is an important source of energy accounting for about one third of the total fuel used
in our country and in about 90% of the rural households. The widespread use of biomass is for
household cooking and heating. The types of biomass used are agricultural waste, wood, charcoal
or dried dung.
Water and geothermal

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Water
The flowing water and the tides in the sea are sources of energy. India is endowed with large
hydropower potential of 1,45,320 MW. Heavy investments are made on large projects. In recent
years, hydel energy (through mini and small hydel power plants) is also used to reach power to
remote villages which are unelectrified. The estimated potential of Small Hydro Power is about
15,000 MW in the country. As on May 2019, the installed capacity of Small hydro projects (upto
3MW) amounts to 4603.75 MW.
Ocean energy
Oceans cover 70 percent of the earth’s surface and represent an enormous amount of energy.
Although currently under-utilised, Ocean energy is mostly exploited by just a few technologies:
Wave, Tidal, Current Energy and Ocean Thermal Energy.
Tidal Energy : The tidal cycle occurs every 12 hours due to the gravitational force of the
moon. The difference in water height from low tide and high tide is potential energy. Similar to
traditional hydropower generated from dams, tidal water can be captured in a barrage across an
estuary during high tide and forced through a hydro-turbine during low tide. The capital cost for
tidal energy power plants is very high due to high civil construction and high power purchase tariff.
To capture sufficient power from the tidal energy potential, the height of high tide must be at least
five meters (16 feet) greater than low tide. Total identified potential of Tidal Energy is about 12455
MW, with potential locations identified at Khambat & Kutch regions, and large backwaters, where
barrage technology could be used.
Wave Energy : Wave energy is generated by the movement of a device either floating on the
surface of the ocean or moored to the ocean floor. Many different techniques for converting wave
energy to electric power have been studied. Wave conversion devices that float on the surface have
joints hinged together that bend with the waves. This kinetic energy pumps fluid through turbines
and creates electric power. Stationary wave energy conversion devices use pressure fluctuations
produced in long tubes from the waves swelling up and down. This bobbing motion drives a turbine
when critical pressure is reached. Other stationary platforms capture water from waves on their
platforms. This water is allowed to runoff through narrow pipes that flow through a typical
hydraulic turbine. The total theoretical potential of wave energy in India along the country’s coast

Prof. U.T. Kulkarni
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is estimated to be about 40,000 MW – these are preliminary estimates. This energy is however less
intensive than what is available in more northern and southern latitudes.
Current Energy : Marine current is ocean water moving in one direction. This ocean current
is known as the Gulf Stream. Tides also create currents that flow in two directions. Kinetic energy
can be captured from the Gulf Stream and other tidal currents with submerged turbines that are
very similar in appearance to miniature wind turbines. Similar to wind turbines, the movement of
the marine current moves the rotor blades to generate electric power.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) : Ocean thermal energy conversion, or OTEC,
uses ocean temperature differences from the surface to depths lower than 1,000 meters, to extract
energy. A temperature difference of only 20°C can yield usable energy. Research focuses on two
types of OTEC technologies to extract thermal energy and convert it to electric power: closed cycle
and open cycle. In the closed cycle method, a working fluid, such as ammonia, is pumped through
a heat exchanger and vaporized. This vaporized steam runs a turbine. The cold water found at the
depths of the ocean condenses the vapor back to a fluid where it returns to the heat exchanger. In
the open cycle system, the warm surface water is pressurized in a vacuum chamber and converted
to steam to run the turbine. The steam is then condensed using cold ocean water from lower depths.
OTEC has a theoretical potential of 180,000 MW in India subject to suitable technological
evolution.
Geothermal energy
Geothermal Energy is heat stored in earth crust and being used for electric generation and also
for direct heat application. Geothermal literally means heat generated by earth. Various resource
assessment carried out by agencies established the potential 10600 MWth /1000MWe spread over
340 hot springs across seven Geothermal provinces/11 states.
The availability of geothermal power is most environment-friendly power, round the year 24x7
basis, not affected by the severity of climate during 6 to 7 winter months like hydro and like
dependence on sun in solar PV.
Non Renewable energy
Coal, Oil and Natural gas are the non-renewable sources of energy. They are also called fossil
fuels as they are products of plants that lived thousands of years ago. Fossil fuels are the

Prof. U.T. Kulkarni
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predominantly used energy sources today. India is the third largest producer of coal in the world,
with estimated reserves of around 3,19,020.33 million tonnes of Geological Resources of Coal (as
of 1.4.2018). Coal supplies more than 70.87% of the country's total production of energy by
commercial sources. India consumes about 245 MT of crude oil annually, and more than 70% of it
is imported. Burning fossil fuels cause great amount of environmental pollution.
The process of gathering these fuels can be harmful to the biomes from which they come.
Fossil fuels are put through a process called combustion in order to produce energy. Combustion
releases pollution, such as carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide, which may contribute to acid rain
and global warming.
6.3 Energy Crisis
The energy crisis is the concern that the world’s demands on the limited natural resources that
are used to power industrial society are diminishing as the demand rises. These natural resources
are in limited supply. While they do occur naturally, it can take hundreds of thousands of years to
replenish the stores. Governments and concerned individuals are working to make the use of
renewable resources a priority, and to lessen the irresponsible use of natural supplies through
increased conservation.
The energy crisis is a broad and complex topic. Most people don’t feel connected to its reality
unless the price of gas at the pump goes up or there are lines at the gas station. The energy crisis is
something that is ongoing and getting worse, despite many efforts. The reason for this is that there
is not a broad understanding of the complex causes and solutions for the energy crisis that will
allow for an effort to happen that will resolve it.
Causes of the Energy Crisis
It would be easy to point a finger at one practice or industry and lay the blame for the entire
energy crisis at their door, but that would be a very naive and unrealistic interpretation of the cause
of the crisis.
1. Overconsumption: The energy crisis is a result of many different strains on our natural
resources, not just one. There is a strain on fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal due to

Prof. U.T. Kulkarni
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overconsumption – which then in turn can put a strain on our water and oxygen resources by
causing pollution.
2. Overpopulation: Another cause of the crisis has been the steady increase in the world’s
population and its demands for fuel and products. No matter what type of food or products you
choose to use – from fair trade and organic to those made from petroleum products in a sweatshop
– not one of them is made or transported without a significant drain on our energy resources.
3. Poor Infrastructure: Aging infrastructure of power generating equipment is yet another
reason for energy shortage. Most of the energy producing firms keep on using outdated equipment
that restricts the production of energy. It is the responsibility of utilities to keep on upgrading the
infrastructure and set a high standard of performance.
4. Unexplored Renewable Energy Options: Renewable energy still remains unused is most
of the countries. Most of the energy comes from non-renewable sources like coal. It still remains
the top choice to produce energy. Unless we give renewable energy a serious thought, the problem
of energy crisis cannot be solved. Renewable energy sources can reduce our dependance on fossil
fuels and also helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
5. Delay in Commissioning of Power Plants: In few countries, there is a significant delay in
commissioning of new power plants that can fill the gap between demand and supply of energy.
The result is that old plants come under huge stress to meet the daily demand for power. When
supply doesn’t matches demand, it results in load shedding and breakdown.
6. Wastage of Energy: In most parts of the world, people do not realize the importance of
conserving energy. It is only limited to books, internet, newspaper ads, lip service and seminars.
Unless we give it a serious thought, things are not going to change anytime sooner. Simple things
like switching off fans and lights when not in use, using maximum daylight, walking instead of
driving for short distances, using CFL instead of traditional bulbs, proper insulation for leakage of
energy can go a long way in saving energy.
7. Poor Distribution System: Frequent tripping and breakdown are result of a poor
distribution system.
8. Major Accidents and Natural Calamities: Major accidents like pipeline burst and natural
calamities like eruption of volcanoes, floods, earthquakes can also cause interruptions to energy

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supplies. The huge gap between supply and demand of energy can raise the price of essential items
which can give rise to inflation.
9. Wars and Attacks: Wars between countries can also hamper supply of energy specially if
it happens in Middle East countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, UAE or Qatar. That’s
what happened during 1990 Gulf war when price of oil reached its peak causing global shortages
and created major problem for energy consumers.
10. Miscellaneous Factors: Tax hikes, strikes, military coup, political events, severe hot
summers or cold winters can cause sudden increase in demand of energy and can choke supply. A
strike by unions in an oil producing firm can definitely cause an energy crisis.
Possible Solutions of the Energy Crisis
Many of the possible solutions are already in place today, but they have not been widely
adopted.
1. Move Towards Renewable Resources: The best possible solution is to reduce the world’s
dependence on non-renewable resources and to improve overall conservation efforts. Much of the
industrial age was created using fossil fuels, but there is also known technology that uses other
types of renewable energies – such as steam, solar and wind. The major concern isn’t so much that
we will run out of gas or oil, but that the use of coal is going to continue to pollute the atmosphere
and destroy other natural resources in the process of mining the coal that it has to be replaced as an
energy source. This isn’t easy as many of the leading industries use coal, not gas or oil, as their
primary source of power for manufacturing.
2. Buy Energy Efficient products: Replace traditional bulbs with CFL’s and LED’s. They
use less watts of electricity and last longer. If millions of people across the globe use LED’s and
CFL’s for residential and commercial purposes, the demand for energy can go down and an energy
crisis can be averted.
3. Lighting Controls: There are a number of new technologies out there that make lighting
controls that much more interesting and they help to save a lot of energy and cash in the long run.
Preset lighting controls, slide lighting, touch dimmers, integrated lighting controls are few of the
lighting controls that can help to conserve energy and reduce overall lighting costs.

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4. Easier Grid Access: People who use different options to generate power must be given
permission to plug into the grid and getting credit for power you feed into it. The hassles of getting
credit of supplying surplus power back into the grid should be removed. Apart from that, subsidy
on solar panels should be given to encourage more people to explore renewable options.
5. Energy Simulation: Energy simulation software can be used by big corporates and
corporations to redesign building unit and reduce running business energy cost. Engineers,
architects and designers could use this design to come with most energy efficient building and
reduce carbon footprint.
6. Perform Energy Audit: Energy audit is a process that helps you to identify the areas where
your home or office is losing energy and what steps you can take to improve energy
efficiency. Energy audit when done by a professional can help you to reduce your carbon footprint,
save energy and money and avoid energy crisis.
7. Common Stand on Climate Change: Both developed and developing countries should
adopt a common stand on climate change. They should focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions
through an effective cross border mechanism. With current population growth and over
consumption of resources, the consequences of global warming and climate change cannot be ruled
out. Both developed and developing countries must focus on emissions cuts to cut their emission
levels to half from current levels by 2050.
6.4 Acid Rain
The term acid rain was coined in 1852 by Scottish chemist Robert Angus Smith, according to
the Royal Society of Chemistry, which calls him the "father of acid rain." Smith decided on the
term while examining rainwater chemistry near industrial cities in England and Scotland. He wrote
about his findings in 1872 in the book "Air and Rain: The Beginnings of a Chemical Climatology."
Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it
has elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic
animals and infrastructure. Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide,
which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids.

Prof. U.T. Kulkarni
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The precipitation is not necessarily wet or liquid; the definition includes dust, gasses, rain,
snow, fog and hail. The type of acid rain that contains water is called wet deposition. Acid rain
formed with dust or gasses is called dry deposition.
6.4.1 Causes of Acid Rain
Though manmade pollutants are currently affecting most acidic precipitation, natural disasters
can be a factor as well. For example, volcanoes can cause acid rain by blasting pollutants into the
air. These pollutants can be carried around the world in jet streams and turned into acid rain far
from the volcano.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) released into the air by fossil-fuel power
plants, vehicles and oil refineries are the biggest cause of acid rain today, according to the EPA.
Two thirds of sulfur dioxide and one fourth of nitrogen oxide found in the atmosphere come from
electric power generators.
A chemical reaction happens when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides mix with water, oxygen
and other chemicals in the air. They then become sulfuric and nitric acids that mix with
precipitation and fall to the ground. Precipitation is considered acidic when its pH level is about
5.2 or below, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. The normal pH of rain is around 5.6.

Prof. U.T. Kulkarni
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Fig 2. Causes of Acid Rain
6.4.1 Effects of Acid Rain
Effects of acid rain
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are not primary greenhouse gases that contribute to global
warming, one of the main effects of climate change; in fact, sulfur dioxide has a cooling effect on
the atmosphere. But nitrogen oxides contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major
pollutant that can be harmful to people. Both gases cause environmental and health concerns
because they can spread easily via air pollution and acid rain.
Acid rain has many ecological effects, especially on lakes, streams, wetlands, and other aquatic
environments. Acid rain makes such waters more acidic, which results in more aluminum
absorption from soil, which is carried into lakes and streams. That combination makes waters
toxic to crayfish, clams, fish, and other aquatic animals. (Learn more about the effects of water
pollution.)

Prof. U.T. Kulkarni
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Some species can tolerate acidic waters better than others. However, in an interconnected
ecosystem, what affects some species eventually affects many more throughout the food chain,
including non-aquatic species such as birds.
Acid rain and fog also damage forests, especially those at higher elevations. The acid deposits
rob the soil of essential nutrients such as calcium and cause aluminum to be released in the soil,
which makes it hard for trees to take up water. Trees' leaves and needles are also harmed by acids.
The effects of acid rain, combined with other environmental stressors, leave trees and plants
less healthy, more vulnerable to cold temperatures, insects, and disease. The pollutants may also
inhibit trees' ability to reproduce. Some soils are better able to neutralize acids than others. But in
areas where the soil's "buffering capacity" is low, such as parts of the U.S. Northeast, the harmful
effects of acid rain are much greater.
6.5 Global Warming
Global warming, the phenomenon of increasing average air temperatures near the surface
of Earth over the past one to two centuries. Climate scientists have since the mid-20th century
gathered detailed observations of various weather phenomena (such as temperatures, precipitation,
and storms) and of related influences on climate (such as ocean currents and the atmosphere’s
chemical composition). These data indicate that Earth’s climate has changed over almost every
conceivable timescale since the beginning of geologic time and that the influence
of human activities since at least the beginning of the Industrial Revolution has been deeply
woven into the very fabric of climate change. The global climate is the connected system of sun,
earth and oceans, wind, rain and snow, forests, deserts and savannas, and everything people do,
too.
A description of the global climate includes how, for example, the rising temperature of the
Pacific feeds typhoons which blow harder, drop more rain and cause more damage, but also shifts
global ocean currents that melt Antarctica ice which slowly makes sea level rise until New York
will be under water.
It is this systemic contentedness that makes global climate change so important and so
complicated.

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Global warming is the slow increase in the average temperature of the earth’s
atmosphere because an increased amount of the energy (heat) striking the earth from the sun is
being trapped in the atmosphere and not radiated out into space.
The earth’s atmosphere has always acted like a greenhouse to capture the sun’s heat, ensuring
that the earth has enjoyed temperatures that permitted the emergence of life forms as we know
them, including humans.
Without our atmospheric greenhouse the earth would be very cold. Global warming, however, is
the equivalent of a greenhouse with high efficiency reflective glass installed the wrong way
around.
Fig 2. Global Warming
6.7 Greenhouse Effect
“Greenhouse effect is the process by which radiations from the sun are absorbed by the greenhouse
gases and not reflected back into space. This insulates the surface of the earth and prevents it from
freezing.”
What is Greenhouse Effect?
A greenhouse is a house made of glass that can be used to grow plants. The sun’s radiations warm
the plants and the air inside the greenhouse. The heat trapped inside can’t escape out and warms
the greenhouse which is essential for the growth of the plants.

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16
Same is the case in the earth’s atmosphere. During the day the sun heats up the earth’s atmosphere.
At night, when the earth cools down the heat is radiated back into the atmosphere. During this
process, the heat is absorbed by the greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere. This is what makes
the surface of the earth warmer, that makes the survival of living beings on earth possible.
However, due to the increased levels of greenhouse gases, the temperature of the earth has
increased to a very high level due to various factors. This has led to several drastic effects.
Greenhouse gases are the gases that absorb the infrared radiations and create a greenhouse effect.
For eg., carbondioxide and chlorofluorocarbons
The major contributors to the greenhouses gases are factories, automobiles, deforestation, etc. The
increased number of factories and automobiles increases the amount of these gases in the
atmosphere. The greenhouse gases never let the radiations to escape from the earth and increase
the surface temperature of the earth. This then leads to global warming.
Fig 3. Green House Effect
Causes of Greenhouse Effect
The major causes of the greenhouse effect are:
Burning of Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels are an important part of our lives. They are widely used in transportation and to produce
electricity. Burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide. With the increase in population, the
utilization of fossil fuels had increased. This has led to an increase in the release of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere.

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Deforestation
Plants and trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Due to the cutting of trees, there is an
inconsiderable increase in the greenhouse gases which increases the earth’s temperature.
Farming
Nitrous oxide used in fertilizers is one of the contributors to greenhouse effect in the atmosphere.
Industrial Waste and Landfills
The industries and factories produce harmful gases which are released in the atmosphere.
Landfills also release carbon dioxide and methane that adds to the greenhouse gases.
Effects of Greenhouse Effect
The main effects of increased greenhouse gases are:
Global Warming
It is the phenomenon of a gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere.
The main cause for this environmental issue is the increased volumes of greenhouse gases such as
carbon dioxide and methane released by the burning of fossil fuels, emissions from the vehicles,
industries and other human activities.
Depletion of Ozone Layer
Ozone Layer protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. It is found in the upper
regions of the stratosphere. The depletion of the ozone layer results in the entry of the harmful UV
rays to the earth’s surface that might lead to skin cancer and can also change the climate drastically.
The major cause of this phenomenon is the accumulation of natural greenhouse gases including
chlorofluorocarbons, carbon dioxide, methane, etc.
Smog and Air Pollution
Smog is formed by the combination of smoke and fog. It can be caused both by natural means and
man-made activities.
In general, smog is generally formed by the accumulation of more greenhouse gases including
nitrogen and sulfur oxides. The major contributors to the formation of smog are the automobile
and industrial emissions, agricultural fires, natural forest fires and the reaction of these chemicals
among themselves.
Acidification of Water Bodies

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18
Increase in the total amount of greenhouse gases in the air has turned most of the world’s water
bodies acidic. The greenhouse gases mix with the rainwater and fall as acid rain. This leads to the
acidification of water bodies.
Also, the rainwater carries the contaminants along with it and fall into the river, streams and lakes
thereby causing their acidification.

Green Buildings and Energy Sources Explained

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