The document discusses the construction industry and sustainability. It notes that construction contributes significantly to GDP and job opportunities but also has major impacts on the environment, including 50% of energy usage, materials extraction, waste generation, and air and water pollution. It then discusses sustainability certification systems like LEED and BREEAM and outlines the categories assessed by the Green Pyramid Rating System in Egypt, such as sustainable sites, energy efficiency, water efficiency, and indoor environmental quality.

1. Sustainability
&
Environmental Assessment in
Construction

2. THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Contribution of the Construction Industry
❖ Social Contribution
• Providing building and infrastructure projects that fulfill community needs
• Constructing sophisticated infrastructure comprising efficient road
networks, superlative telecommunications facilities as well as water and
electricity.

3. THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Economic contribution
• GDP (3%-6% underdeveloped countries &7%-10% developed
countries)
• Job Opportunities
• Encourage other industries to develop and prosper.

4. THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Impact on the Environment

5. THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
❖ Energy Use, Global Warming and Climate Change
• 50% of global energy usage mainly used in the production of
materials, the construction process and by occupants or users of the
building or structure throughout its lifetime.
❖ Resource depletion, waste and recycling
• 50% Materials extracted from earth crust
• 50% Waste generated

6. THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
❖ Pollution and hazardous substances in the natural and built
environment
• 23% of air pollution
• 50% of climate change gases
• 40% of drinking water pollution
• 50% of landfill wastes

7. THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
❖ Planning, land-use and conservation
• Almost all development undertaken by the construction industry
requires planning permission. If not planned, the construction industry
can have a devastating impact on the biodiversity of particular sites.
• Significant impact upon transport movements and place considerable
pressure on the local road network.

8. Sustainability
• sustainability is any development that meets the needs of
the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs’ (World
Commission on Environment and Development, 1987).
• There are more than 200 definition of sustainability.
• This is because different academic fields and disciplines
have their own definitions and approaches.

9. Sustainability
Sustainability Aspects:

10. Sustainability
International Certifications Towards
Achieving Sustainability In Buildings

11. Sustainability
LEED stands for green building leadership. LEED is transforming the
way of how buildings and communities are designed, constructed,
maintained and operated across the globe. LEED certified buildings
save money and resources and have a positive impact on the health of
occupants, while promoting renewable, clean energy.
❖ Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)

12. Sustainability
❖ Building Research Establishment Environmental
Assessment Methodology (BREEAM)
BREEAM is the world's foremost environmental assessment method and
rating system for buildings, with 551.880 buildings with certified
BREEAM assessment ratings and over 2,000,000 registered for
assessment since it was first launched in 1990.
BREEAM sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building
design, construction and operation.

14. Sustainability
❖ Green Pyramid Rating System
The Green Pyramid rating system was introduced according to the
initiative that was taken by the Housing and Building National Research
Center to establish the Green Building Council in 2009.
The objective of GPRS is to provide green credentials for the assessment
of buildings in Egypt through raising awareness of the necessity of green
buildings according to the Egyptian context and conditions.

15. Sustainability

16. Sustainability
❖ Green Pyramid Rating System
Sustainable design and construction practices in GPRS are summarized in
the following categories (HBRC, 2017);
1) Sustainable Sites (SS)
This category discusses criteria related to land use and site selection. This
should consider the following criteria:
▪ Selecting a site that has minimal ecological conservation value and
environmental impact.
▪ Providing proper public transportation and urban connectivity.
▪ Preventing rainwater runoff through on-site collection methods.
▪ Avoiding heat island effect

17. Sustainability
❖ Green Pyramid Rating System
2) Energy Efficiency (EE)
This category discusses criteria related to energy demand of buildings,
energy efficiency, and the use of renewable energy sources that reduce the
negative impacts on the environment. The factors considered in this category
are:
▪ Improving the building envelope to reduce the energy demand.
▪ Application of passive heat gain reduction.
▪ Encouraging the use of renewable energy sources.
▪ Selecting energy-efficient mechanical systems.
▪ Selecting efficient artificial lighting Systems.
▪ Using energy-efficient vertical transportations.

18. Sustainability
❖ Green Pyramid Rating System
3) Water Efficiency (WE)
This category discusses criteria related to the efficient use of water in
buildings.
▪ Develop and implement a comprehensive water strategy.
▪ Reduce potable water uses by promoting the use of reused
greywater or avoiding the use of potable water, where possible.
▪ Design water-efficient landscaping.
▪ Minimize potable water use for irrigation purposes.
▪ Reduce generation of wastewater.

19. Sustainability
❖ Green Pyramid Rating System
4) Materials and Resources (MR)
This category discusses criteria associated with material extraction,
processing, manufacturing and distribution. This aims at minimizing the
negative environmental impact of using materials in a project by adopting
the following aspects:
▪ Avoiding the use of hazardous or toxic materials.
▪ Using materials with high renewable content.
▪ Using local materials to reduce transportation needs.

20. Sustainability
❖ Green Pyramid Rating System
5) Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
This category discusses criteria related to indoor environmental quality to
provide occupants’ comfort such as ventilation and air quality, tobacco
smoke control, indoor air delivery monitoring, thermal comfort, lighting
quality, and acoustic performance. The following factors are considered to
improve the indoor environmental quality of a building and hence enhance
its sustainable performance:
▪ Enhancing ventilation performance.
▪ Smoking control.
▪ Thermal comfort.
▪ Visual comfort.
▪ Acoustic comfort.

21. Sustainability
❖ Green Pyramid Rating System
6) Management Protocols (MP)
This category discusses criteria related to building management in order to mitigate the
environmental impacts of a building and to ensure its sustainability:
▪ Creating a Building Information Model for a building to meet all sustainability goals.
▪ Encouraging the calculation of life cycle environmental assessment of building
materials and systems.
▪ Providing energy and water use sub-metering systems to monitor the actual
consumption of energy and water for each system in a building and to detect any energy or
water leakage.
▪ Promoting and educating users about the sustainable initiatives through providing a
building user guide.
▪ Providing facilities for the collection, storage, and proper removal of the generated solid
waste during a building’s operation.

22. Sustainability
❖ Green Pyramid Rating System
7) Innovation and Added Value (IN)
This category discusses one criterion associated with improving the environmental
conditions of a building. Bonus points are provided for projects that seek to mitigate
adverse environmental impacts by improving the To be or Not to be: The National Green
Pyramid rating system
sustainability matter of a building through adopting innovative designs. Hence, the
following aspects are considered:
▪ Designs which excel in reflecting national and regional cultural heritage while
contributing to the environmental performance of the building.
▪ Initiatives which demonstrate additional environmental benefit by exceeding the
current benchmarks of GPRS.
▪ Design initiatives and construction practice which have a significant measurable
environmental benefit and which are not otherwise awarded points by the GPRS.

23. ▪ Benefits:
➢ Increase in Building Value
➢ Higher occupancy rates
➢ Capability to demand higher lease
➢ Tenant turnover is less
➢ Improvement in Occupants ’ health and well being
Benefits and Barriers of Sustainable Construction
➢ High Return on Investment
➢ Increases in worker productivity
➢ Less need of refurbishment
➢ Reduced risk of obsolescence
➢ Operating cost is less

24. ▪ Barriers:
➢ Perceived higher cost
➢ Lack of awareness in relation to the benefits of the green building
➢ Apparent complexity and cost of assessment for certification
➢ Short term budget horizon
➢ Apparent long wait for pay back
➢ Difficulties in quantify the benefits

25. Green buildings
➢ Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable
building) refers to both a structure and the application of processes that
are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a
building's life-cycle: from planning to design, construction, operation,
maintenance, renovation, and demolition.
➢ This requires close cooperation of the contractor, the architects, the
engineers, and the client at all project stages.
➢ The Green Building practice expands and complements the classical
building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort
(WIKIPEDIA)

26. Green buildings
Top 15 Green Home Building Techniques
1. Location
While buying property for yourself, take a note of things that you must
foresee before moving in. Firstly, avoid building west facing home. This will
keep your home cool as it minimizes sun exposure. Secondly, avoid building
home in environmentally sensitive locations such as earthquake or hurricane
or flood prone areas. Thirdly, check if public transportation is easily
available and local grocery shop is not that far away. This will help you
avoid taking your own vehicle every time and will reduce your travel time

27. Green buildings
Top 15 Green Home Building Techniques
2. Smaller is Better:
A small home built with eco friendly techniques is going to have
smaller environmental impact as against a large home. A house that is
too large is likely to cost more to heat and cool. Try to keep the place
manageable and cost effective. If you are planning to extend your
family and bring in few relatives, you need to put proper resources
and accommodation in place.

28. Green buildings
Top 15 Green Home Building Techniques
3. Energy Efficient Equipment:
ENERGY STAR label on a piece of equipment states that
particular product has been deemed as energy efficient by the
Environmental Protection Agency(EPA). ENERGY STAR is
becoming well known label and consumers today choose energy
star appliances for their homes. These appliances offer significant
cost and energy savings without compromising performance.

29. Green buildings
Top 15 Green Home Building Techniques
4. Proper Insulation:
Insulation is one of the most important ting that you need to consider
while building a green home. Heating and cooling account for 50% of
your home’s energy consumption. Air leaks such as around windows,
door and duct work is responsible for building’s heat loss. Don’t let
heating and cooling of your interior spaces air go waste through
improper insulation. Proper insulation will not only reduce your
energy consumption but will bring down your electricity bills
substantially.

30. Green buildings
Top 15 Green Home Building Techniques
5. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:
Reduce your need for buying new products that are not environment
friendly. Reuse your old material such as wood floors, doors,
windows in your next home. Recycled materials such as recycled
glass, aluminium, recycled tile, reclaimed lumber, recycled plastic
can be used in green home building.

31. Green buildings
Top 15 Green Home Building Techniques
6. Use Sustainable Building Materials:
If building a green home is your goal, then using environmentally or eco-
friendly products should be on your list which can reduce the impact of
construction on the environment. Each and every part of your house such
as roofing material, building material, cabinets, counters and insulation to
your flooring should be environmentally friendly. Use products such as
reclaimed lumber, recycled plastic, recycled glass or natural products
such as bamboo, cork and linoleum which are made of natural, renewable
materials.

32. Green buildings
Top 15 Green Home Building Techniques
7. Install Solar Panels:
Solar energy is clean and renewable source of energy. Solar panels are an emerging
and hot technology for people who want to utilize the natural power all around us, the
sun. Solar panels may be expensive at first, but the long-term savings you can put into
your pocket is a stunning example of the benefits of turning your life from black to
green. The location of your house and the way you have constructed solar panels can
determine how much power you can collect. By taking advantage of solar power you
can bring down your energy consumption and supply excess energy, if any, to your
utility company. Also, government grants, incentives and tax breaks are huge bonus to
those who want to use solar power in their home.

33. Green buildings
Top 15 Green Home Building Techniques
8. Energy Star Windows:
Energy efficient windows labeled as ENERGY STAR windows are
new player in window market and are much more energy efficient than
normal windows. The ratings for these windows determine how energy
efficient they will be. The lower the rating, the more energy efficient
are your windows. The energy savings provided by these windows are
enough to cover the added cost per window.

34. Green buildings
Top 15 Green Home Building Techniques
9. Rainwater Harvesting Systems and Tankless Water Heaters:
Install a rainwater harvesting system while building your green home to collect
rainwater from roofs and then storing it in a tank. The collected water can then be used
for other purposes such as toilets and sprinkler systems. Rain barrels are one of the most
common methods of rainwater harvesting being used today.
With tankless water heaters, you need not wait for the water to get heated. Tankless
water heaters heat only that much water that is needed as it is passed through electric
coil. This gives you twin benefits. Firstly, it eliminates excess energy costs as it heats up
only that much amount of water that is needed and secondly, you can get ample storage
place by eliminating the hot water tank

35. Green buildings
Top 15 Green Home Building Techniques
10. Eco-Friendly Lighting:
Both LED and CFL cost more upfront but use less energy and last
longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Since they offer significant
cost savings in the long run, they can be ideal for your new green
home.

36. Green buildings
Top 15 Green Home Building Techniques
11. Water Conserving Fixtures:
Low flow faucets, toilets, showerheads are few of the ways that you
can use while building a green home to conserve water. They can cut
down on your water bills cost and make your home much more
environment friendly. Apart from that, consider buying washing
machines and dishwashers that give you same kind of cleaning and
can save water and energy.

37. Green buildings
Top 15 Green Home Building Techniques
12. Programmable Thermostat:
We all know that almost 50% of our energy consumption goes
towards heating and cooling of our home. The simplest way to cut
down this cost and reduce electricity bill is to install programmable
thermostat. Your HVAC system will work when the thermostat
reaches the designated temperature. Also, a slight 3-5 % of your
energy bill can be saved if you can set your thermostat 1 degree down
in the winter and up by 1 degree in the summer.

38. Green buildings
Top 15 Green Home Building Techniques
13. HVAC System:
Buy a high efficiency, Energy Star rated HVAC system based on the
design and construction of your house that will help you save energy
and money. A HVAC system needs to be properly installed so that it
could perform up to its full potential. Make sure ducts are short,
straight and air tight. The ducts need to be professionally tested with
the goal of under 10% leakage.

39. Green buildings
Top 15 Green Home Building Techniques
14. Efficient Landscaping:
Shady landscaping can protect your home from direct sunlight during
the summer and allows more sunlight to reach your home through
windows during the winter. Planting trees on southern and western side
of your home can keep your home cooler as they will block sunlight
from falling directly on your home and during the winter, when trees
lose their leaves, they will allow more sunlight to reach your home.

40. Green buildings
Top 15 Green Home Building Techniques
15. Harness Geothermal Energy:
Geothermal energy is known as energy from the earth. Geothermal
energy requires more upfront investment but provide unlimited energy
to heat and cool your home. During the winter season, geothermal heat
pump uses the earth loop to extract heat from deep underground to
your home’s HVAC system; in the summer season, heat is extracted
from the air and moved back into the earth through loop system.

41. How To Become Greener In Your Household
➢ Turning off any lights or appliances when you don’t use them.
➢ Remembering that even when you’re not using something and it’s plugged in, it’s still
eating away at potentially saved energy (this includes things like laptops, cellphone
chargers, essentially everything you can think of that is plugged in).
➢ Buying only recyclable containers and reusing plastics for food storage.
➢ Creating a family energy plan that everyone can plan their daily routine by.
➢ Having safe and environmentally friendly alternatives for things like entertainment.
Eliminating the extensive use of the television or the Internet is also a great way to get
the family more involved with one another. Plan family game nights and other fun
ways to spend your time together.

42. Sustainability

43. Sustainability

44. Sustainability

45. ➢ WLC plays an important role in sustainable approach construction, which reduces
the operation cost and energy emissions.
➢ Life cycle energy analysis is a method used to find out all energy inputs throughout
the building life cycle. The whole life cycle energy use in buildings relies upon the
operating percentages ( 80 % 90 %) of the total energy used and embodied
percentages ( 10 % 20 %) of the total energy of the buildings.
Whole Life Cycle (WLC)

46. Whole Life Cycle (WLC)

47. Life Cycle Energy of Building
System Boundaries for Life Cycle Energy Analysis

48. Life Cycle Energy of Building
Life Cycle Process and stages for Lighting Technology

49. Life Cycle Energy of Building
Improving Energy Efficiency through the design of Building Envelope
According to Sozer (2010 ), the following strategies can be adopted
to reduce the heat conducted through the building envelope:
▪ Improvement in the external wall insulation
▪ Enhancement of glazing system
▪ Minimizing the percentages of the external windows on the
external façade
▪ Addition of shading system.

50. Life Cycle Energy of Building
▪ Improving Energy Efficiency through Green Roof:
Green roof is a layered framework consists of waterproofing
membrane, root barrier layer, vegetation layer, drainage layer and
Irrigation system.