The building construction sector is one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions. This includes the emissions from the construction phase, such as from equipment, heavy machinery, and vehicles used for transportation of the building materials, as well as emissions coming from the building’s operational life, such as electricity, power requirements, and maintenance. Even the demolition of buildings contributes to carbon emissions.
Approximately half of the total global greenhouse gas emissions are generated from the urban construction sector, making it vital to consider construction with minimal carbon footprints. A great example of this is the Pixel building in Melbourne, Australia, which was constructed with sustainability in mind. Design features such as energy-efficient materials, the use of natural light, and natural ventilation have all contributed to making it one of the most sustainable buildings in the world.
About The Pixel Building
The Pixel building is an innovative project that was created to reduce the carbon emissions generated during and after its life span. Developed in July 2010, this carbon-neutral building was designed to meet the ever-changing business practices and provide a dynamic work environment. Its design is based on the idea of minimizing the carbon emissions generated from the building’s construction and operations. To achieve this, special measures such as energy-efficient materials, renewable energy sources and green building practices were taken. Additionally, passive design strategies such as natural ventilation, daylighting and shading were implemented. As a result, the Pixel building is able to generate energy back to the grid and offset all of the carbon used in its construction over time, making it a truly sustainable environment.
How is the Pixel building keeping a check on carbon emissions?
The Pixel building has managed to reduce its carbon emissions significantly compared to other buildings. It has achieved the highest LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) ratings. These rating systems are highly systematic and reliable and a brief explanation is given in the FAQ section at the bottom of the article. The building has implemented a variety of measures to reduce its carbon emissions and become more sustainable. These include:
Photovoltaics and Wind Turbines
The Pixel building is equipped with wind turbines and solar panels on its roof. These are used to generate electricity, with a total capacity of up to 11.3 kW. This reduces the dependence on external sources of energy, making the building more self-sufficient.
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is used in the Pixel building to provide an additional source of water. Special tanks are used to collect and treat the water, which is then distributed in washrooms and other areas. The leftover wastewater is used for watering the plants.
Eco-Friendly Refrigerants
The Pixel building uses Ammonia refrigerant, which has no effect on the environment and does not deplete the ozone layer. This is an eco-friendly alternative to CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), hydro-fluorocarbons, and halons which are commonly used in cooling systems such as air conditioners and refrigerators.
Pixelcrete
Pixel building uses Pixelcrete, which is a special concrete mix that has 60% less cement than a traditional mix. This reduces the carbon footprint of the building and the aggregate used in this mix is recycled.
Unique Air Conditioning System
The Pixel building only has two fans instead of several fans per floor. The air entering the building is heated or cooled as required by a gas-fired ammonia absorption heat pump. This ammonia refrigerant has zero impact on the environment. The building also has thermally active floors with vents to circulate the pre-conditioned air evenly on each floor.
Vacuum Flush Toilets The Pixel building uses vacuum flush toilets which use air suction to remove fecal waste and minimize water usage. This is a great initiative towards a greener outlook.
Anaerobic Digester The roof of the Pixel building has an anaerobic digester that produces biogas from the waste from the vacuum flush. This sewage is then sent to the sewer pipelines.
Reduced Energy Demand
The Pixel building was designed to be energy-positive but carbon neutral. It incorporates components in the facade and services to reduce electricity requirements for lighting, heating, cooling, and ventilation. LED lights are used for non-office areas, an external shading system is used to reduce solar thermal loads, and an individually addressable dimming system is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Grey Water Waste?
Grey water waste is wastewater generated from any building’s occupants, other than fecal waste. This water is generated from activities such as washing hands, washing utensils and bathing. Grey water waste does not contain as many toxins as sewage waste (black water waste) and usually requires little to no chemical treatment. In some cases, grey water waste is recycled and reused in the building, such as for watering plants, which is the case in the Pixel building. This helps reduce water waste and conserve water.
How Does Demolition of a Building Contribute to Carbon Emissions? Demolishing a building requires the use of fuel-operated heavy machinery, which produces a considerable amount of CO2 emissions. Additionally, when a building is demolished, a large portion of the building is not reusable and is disposed of in landfills, resulting in further emission of carbon and production of waste.
What is the LEED Rating System? LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a global green building rating system. This system helps evaluate the effectiveness of green buildings and assigns a score based on various categories. The categories are energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation and regional priority. A building can earn a maximum of 110 points, and the Pixel building achieved an impressive score of 105 points.
4. What is the BREEAM rating system?
Introduction
The BREEAM rating system is a comprehensive environmental assessment method developed by the Building Research Establishment of the United Kingdom. This system is used for assessing the environmental performance of buildings, and involves taking a range of factors into account.
Criteria Considered
The criteria taken into consideration by the BREEAM rating system includes ecology, pollution, waste, energy, management, water consumption, health and wellbeing, efficiency, materials, and transport.
Rating Scale
The BREEAM rating system follows a six-level rating scale, which is illustrated below. The scale goes from ‘Pass’ to ‘Outstanding’, with each level having a different set of requirements that must be met in order to achieve it.
The BREEAM rating system is an important tool for assessing the environmental performance of buildings and helping to ensure that they are constructed in a sustainable way. It is an invaluable resource for architects, engineers, and other professionals involved in the building and construction industry.
