INTEGRATION OF LIGHT AND VENTILATION IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

INTEGRATION OF LIGHT AND VENTILATION IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING Adi Lunawat (1014) Student of fourth year B.Arch, L.J School of Architecture(Ahmedabad) 1)Abstract Buildings, as they are designed and used today, contribute to serious environmental problems because of excessive consumption of energy and other natural resources. The close connection between energy use in buildings and environmental damage arises because energy-intensive solutions sought to construct a building and meet its demand causes severe depletion of invaluable environmental resources. However, buildings can be designed to meet the occupant’s need for thermal and visual comfort at reduced levels of energy and resource consumption. Energy resource efficiency in new constructions can be affected by adopting an integrated approach to building design. Thus, in brief, an energy-efficient building balances all aspects of energy use in a building – lighting, space-conditioning, and ventilation – by providing an optimized mix of passive solar design strategies, energy efficient equipment, and renewable sources of energy.

Light and ventilation is truly a designer’s medium. It is one of the tools we use to affect change in how we perceive and experience the environment around us. Light translates vision and it is vision that gives us a substantial portion of our experiences. This research will help make the design with light and ventilation an intuitive visual process that can deliver a whole new appreciation for the capabilities of architecture and design. It will also help develop design ideas and the visual tools for translating those ideas. These ideas will help identify the mechanisms responsible for the natural light and ventilation in affordable housing. With this process, the designer can deliver a feeling of calm, earthy tones, natural materials or a specific quality of light and shade, air and ventilation and will provide the desired thermal comfort level.

2)Keywords Light integration, Natural Ventilation, Quality of light, Mechanism Responsible, Conceptual design, Massing, Visual Comfort, Low cost housing

3) Methodology The methodology adopted for present study is carrying out detailed study of natural light and ventilation and different techniques adopted for or can be adopted to building sustainable affordable housing and comparing it with the existing site of Shahalam. The study is based on literature and field surveys.

The focus of the study is to find out ways of integrating natural light and ventilation in housing projects. The field study is divided into three parts- on site observation to investigate and examine traditional methods. Finding new and efficient ways and to implement them.

Study of affordable housing from projects under construction or recently completed.

4)Purpose Statement How material, orientation, form, massing, shading devices should be used when designing for affordable housing.

5)Aim How integration of natural light and ventilation in affordable housing is done.

6)Objective The use of natural light and ventilation sources in building or space is important to achieve and improve human well being. The lighting and ventilation of a place can positively enhance the environment of the space and increase the productivity of work.

Affordable housing is a root to a better India. More than half of the Indian population still lives in a place that is not suitable for living (slums).

7)Purpose Affordable housing schemes are for the people who barely have a place to live so as a designer its our duty to provide them houses in such a manner that they can live comfortably without the burden of energy bills. And to be considered affordable housing schemes have a large number of houses and so the energy consumption is also high. Sustainable planning can save a lot of energy.

8)Introduction "Purpose of this document is not just for a few people it’s for the world” Energy saved is Energy generated.

The way the buildings are designed and made today requires a lot of energy for lighting and ventilation. But when designing for people who barely have a house to live we as designers

need to work on how to reduce this need of energy without compromising the light and ventilation. There are many ways in which we can achieve this by using the basics of design and using materials that are sustainable.

Housing for the poor is not just the space, but it provides them with the survival, transformative and empowerment support. It has community, socio-cultural, financial and environmental dimensions. In terms of planning and design it means adopting a holistic approach where housing acts as a vehicle for poverty reduction, social empowerment, community interaction, and access to health, educational and recreational facilities.

(8.1)Natural ventilation Natural ventilation is the process of supplying air to and removing air from an indoor space without using mechanical systems. It refers to the flow of external air to an indoor space as a result of pressure differences arising from natural forces.

Natural ventilation can save significant amounts of fossil fuel based energy by reducing the need for mechanical ventilation and air conditioning. Air movement within buildings removes foul air and moisture and provides cooling in summer, for human thermal comfort.

Ways to achieve natural ventilationTake advantage of light summer winds in the design site layout and building form. Orient buildings to maximize their exposure to the prevailing summer wind direction. Design buildings with a relatively narrow plan form across the prevailing wind direction, to facilitate the passage of air through the building. Locate wall openings to facilitate the passage of air through the building. Use water features in, or near a building to engender a sense of coolness.. Use vegetation to modify the external wind direction, to enhance ventilation and cool incoming air.

Horizontal openings near floor level are more effective than vertical openings, for ventilation purposes. Single story deep plan buildings can be naturally ventilated through roof outlets, but ceiling fans are necessary for summer thermal comfort away from the perimeter zone. The minimum size of openings for ventilation purposes, are specified by the building regulations but there is no guidance for the maximum size of opening .

Fig-1 ---Basic planing of how the site layout and form affects the building (sketch)

Fig-2 ---Correct form and opening (sketch)

(8.2)Natural Light —Daylighting is the practice of placing windows, other openings, and reflective surfaces so that sunlight (direct or indirect) can provide effective internal lighting. Particular attention is given to daylighting while designing a building when the aim is to maximize visual comfort or to reduce energy use. Energy savings can be achieved from the reduced use of artificial (electric) lighting or from passive solar heating. Artificial lighting energy use can be reduced by simply installing fewer electric lights where daylight is present or by automatically dimming/switching off electric lights in response to the presence of daylight – a process known as daylighting.

Ways to achieve natural lightGood daylighting is a balancing act. In winter the sunlight that streams through your windows adds free solar heat that lowers your heating bill. In summer, you want to prevent direct sunlight from overheating interiors. All the while, you want to reduce harsh glare and create soft, ambient light that makes it easy to do everyday tasks.

1) Good daylighting is the interaction between lots of factors, including: 2) House orientation.

3) Proper window design and location.

4) Light control (blinds, shades, etc.).

5) Daylight requirements per type of room (living, bath, kitchen).

6) Overhead lighting from skylights and solar tubes.

7) Window shading.

8) Interior design, such as the arrangement of furniture and paint colors.

9) Reflective surfaces, both inside and outside your house.

10) Supplementary (artificial) lighting.

Fig-3 --- House section showing the air flow and lighting. (source: www.google.com/lightandventilationinhousing)

Fig-4 ---Building section showing ways to improve natural light and ventilation. (source: www.google.com/naturalventilation)

Fig-5 ---Long horizontal openings rather than vertical (sketch)

Fig-6 ---Shading device and overhead lighting. (sketch)` • Affordability: Green housing is not necessarily more expensive to construct and in some cases can be built below the cost of conventional housing. From a long-term (building lifetime) perspective, the improved efficiency of a green building reduces the operating costs associated with electricity, heating fuel, and water.

• Performance: Green practices can improve the durability of a building so that it lasts a long time without significant degradation, thereby reducing maintenance requirements and avoiding future replacements. Improved building envelope, temperature control, and appropriate ventilation can lead to higher levels of comfort, an important element of green buildings.

• Health: By choosing materials carefully during the design phase and through proper installation and maintenance of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, indoor air quality can be made healthier for the building’s inhabitants, and emissions to the environment can be reduced.

Planning and Design Process A designer must identify those that are most appropriate and feasible for the particular circumstances, while keeping in mind the overall goals of affordable housing listed above • Site selection: Is it possible to locate the project on a brownfield site or as an infill project?

Is the project site served by existing infrastructure (i.e. utilities, roads)?

Can the project be located near public transportation?

• Site design: Can the project take advantage of low-water and low-chemical landscaping?

Is it possible to incorporate previous pavement to minimize runoff?

• Building design: Has an integrated design process been used in which a “whole-building” approach identifies how different building components work together in order to maximize green benefits?

Can the building be situated to maximize daylighting and passive solar heating?

Can sustainably harvested wood be used?

Are non-toxic flooring and low-VOC paints options?

Have durable materials been selected?

• Construction methods: Is modular construction or use of modular building components possible?

Can optimal value engineering or advanced framing techniques be used to lower the material, labor and energy requirements?

Is a construction waste management plan in place to maximize recycling?

• Energy efficiency and indoor air quality: Is the building envelope tight and is adequate insulation utilized?

Are heating, ventilation, and air cooling systems efficient and properly sized?

Are non-toxic construction materials and finishes used?

• Building operations and maintenance: Have highly durable materials and equipment been utilized? Are residents responsible for their own utility costs and, therefore, more motivated to consume less energy and water?

Do residents know how to properly operate and maintain heating, ventilation, and cooling systems?

• Project financing: Have the benefits of lower operating, maintenance and replacement costs been considered by project financiers?

Have utility rebates and other non-traditional financing sources been explored?

9)Case Study Shahalam Affordable Housing Scheme ⦁

Brief History of the Housing Project

Shahalam low income housing is a project which helps people to have a basic need of a house along with the living and a social life. A house helps them to grow economically and socially.

The housing scheme includes various community like Muslim, Hindu, Suthar, Vadan, Vaghri, Dalit which will live together to break the hierarchy of society.

The site has approx. Area of 56993 m sq. It has surrounding context of rural housing and some historical monuments like Shahalam roza and Darwaza which speaks about the history of Ahmedabad.

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Project Size

The total project area is 56993 m sq. The total number of population as per the estimate of the residents, was 2500.The total number of houses at present is 500. ⦁

Project Layout

The settlement is divided into blocks, each having 8-10 houses. . The houses are constructed in rows on both sides of the road and every two houses share a common open space, that has often been purchased by one of the two owners that share it. ⦁

Housing Characteristics and Affordability

Originally, all the houses are one story, standard reinforced concrete buildings. More than on privacy, the design of the houses places emphasis on the open space, beneficial for self

employment. The piped sewerage adds to the quality of the houses. The toilets are connected to a sewerage line, a facility which is rare in affordable housing. The houses enjoy individual piped water facilities which, again, are not enjoyed by similar settlements. In terms of open air, the housing design is good as it provides the facility to all houses. There has been, however, a significant deterioration in the basic services due to non-maintenance of the infrastructure assets.

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Sustainability Component

The last important lesson is derived from the close observation of the total environment of the project . The most evident sustainable aspect is the amount of tress on the site and how much care has been taken to protect them. Solid waste is removed regularly. These factors lead us to the issue of differentiating between integrated planning and the sustainability concept. While the former can be achieved with the convergence of inputs in a coordinated fashion., sustainability can be achieved only when there is continuity in maintenance, which requires an updated database, close monitoring and resource generation for these purposes. Also keeping in mind the material, form and other architectural elements which helps in building sustainable houses.

Fig-7 --- Live photo from the site showing the housing scheme.

Belapur Housing, Navi Mumbai

Fig-8 --- Belapur housing scheme.

By-Charles Chorea (source: www.google.com/belapurhousingplans)

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Major points to be focused on

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Low rise as a building solution.

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Increased Community living and open spaces.

• Proper light and ventilation is facilitated,further reducing the maintenance cost of the housing.

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Inner pedestrian walkways.

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Shared spaces concept is applied which is more sustainable in general terms.

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Use of native and adopted species to reduce irrigation.

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LESSONS LEARNT FROM CASE STUDIES

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Employment, an essential Component Choice of Right Location : Principal Key Factor in the Project Success Affordability Assessment: Second Key Factor in the Project Success A Flexible Approach to Project Management Sustainability Component in Project Planning

10)Inference • India’s housing sector is one of the largest in the world. In order to emerge as one of the best in terms of equity, access to the poor, affordability, innovations, speed and quality, it has to embrace a new vision of equitable access to resources, optimizing the land, financial and natural resources, and building the capacities of public, private and collective community sector.

• Sustainable architecture not only helps the environment but also benefits human health and wellbeing.

• Use of the 3R principle can help to reduce substantial amounts of waste.

• Mitigating the high cost of operation and maintenance.

• Life cycle assessment over initial cost.

• Use renewable sources of energy rather than non-renewable.

• When it comes to making the case for green affordable housing, the main challenges has been the perception that green costs more.

11)Bibliography •

Hand Book of LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE (v4)

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Book Green School Primer.

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Requirements of affordable housing Research paper by Alexandria Engineering

Journal.

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Hulchanski – J David 1995, study on income based affordable housing.