C04265 - Rainwater Harvesting Impact In Green Buildings​​​​​​​

Running head: EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
Effect of Rainwater Harvesting system in green building
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1EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
Abstract
Water scarcity is one of the burning issues, which has deprived the public from doing
their basic tasks for survival. In such a situation, the concept of rainwater harvesting is an
address towards this issue, which generates the hope of restoring the greenery of the Nature.
Preservation of water, through advertisements and promotions can be considered as an initiative
to gift a healthy lifestyle to the public domain. Rapid growth of population has resulted in the
advent of latest technologies, which have proved fruitful in terms of harvesting the rainwater for
constructing green buildings. The effective and judicious utilization of these technologies has
projected remarkable improvements in the prices of the buildings of Hong Kong. Rainwater
harvesting model is a summarization of the conceptual framework, which enhances the
preconceived knowledge of the readers regarding the process of rainwater harvesting. This
summarization broadens the scope and arena of traditional conventions regarding rooftop
rainwater harvesting. The idea of green building breaks the shackles of this traditionalism.
The aspect of energy regulation along with the emission of carbon dioxide attains an
important position in this research. The aspect of ecological biodiversity in the developing areas,
such as the hilly areas generates the hope of growth in terms of the natural resources. The major
drive behind this is the rainwater harvesting system. Planning here is an important aspect in
terms of achieving sustainable growth. Application of rational thinking in constructing plans
would help the real estate builders in creating buildings, which possesses plenty for the
generations to come.
The methodology section portrays the perspectives of the residents as well as the real
estate builders, proprietors and staffs in terms of the technologies and techniques used for
harvesting the rainwater for the construction purposes. Fieldwork provides the researcher with
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2EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
the practical example regarding the onsite rainwater harvesting system used for achieving
success in green building projects.
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Acknowledgement
I extend my gratitude to my tutors and professors, who took pains for making this research a
successful one. Along with this, I am also grateful to my parents, who have extended all kinds of
support to me in completing this project within the stipulated time. I am obliged by the support
shown by the librarians regarding lending me the relevant books, journals and mazagines.
Moreover, I am grateful to the Almighty for bringing this phase in my life, which took me closer
to my professional and personal development.
Regards
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4EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
Table of contents
Introducing the problem..................................................................................................................5
Research aim....................................................................................................................................7
Research objectives.........................................................................................................................7
Literature review............................................................................................................................10
Rainwater harvesting system as an innovative approach towards saving energy in hilly
communities...............................................................................................................................10
Water conservation measures for green building in Taiwan.....................................................11
Energy consumption and CO2 emissions from rainwater harvesting system...........................13
Evaluation of Model of rainwater harvesting............................................................................14
Progress of Green building........................................................................................................15
Operations of large building rainwater harvesting systems.......................................................17
Application of rainwater harvesting systems and the amount of energy consumed..................19
Hydro-turbines: an efficient means of conserving energy.........................................................20
Methodology..................................................................................................................................22
Planning:....................................................................................................................................22
Relevant studies:........................................................................................................................22
Data collection:..........................................................................................................................23
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5EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
Fieldwork:..................................................................................................................................23
Summary:...................................................................................................................................23
References and Bibliography.........................................................................................................26
Appendix........................................................................................................................................31
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6EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
1.0 Introducing the problem
1.1 Insight into rain
Environment is a vast domain, which includes various aspects like flora, fauna and
Nature as a whole. Within the domains, one of the most important components is water, as it
accumulates 70% towards the formation of the planet Earth. Without water, existence is not
possible (Tian and Ida 2015). Pondering upon the environmental cycle, rain attains an important
position regarding quenching the thirst of the plants in times of drought. Along with this, rains
are a ray of hope for the farmers in terms of getting the fruits of their hard labors. Rain, on the
other hand, clogs the transport system, adding to the complexities of the public in terms of
reaching from one place to the other (Hill et al. 2017). If the rainwater is not preserved properly,
the complexities aggravate for the people in the form of water scarcity, stalling the balance in
their lives. On the contrary, conserving the rainwater helps the people to carry out the basic tasks
in an efficient and effective manner.
1.2 Advent of rainwater harvesting
With the increase in population, there has been a simultaneous increase in the natural
resources. Rapid growth of population has strained the production of the natural resources,
compromising with the needs and requirements of the general public. In such a situation,
rainwater harvesting is an initiative to preserve the rainwater for fulfilling the basic necessities
(Campisano et al. 2017). Earlier, the people were aware of only rooftop rainwater harvesting.
Through this method, water could be easily stored in tanks or reservoirs. The plastic and metal
body of the tanks allowed the water to penetrate from the tanks into the pipes, which eased the
process of completing the basic needs of survival. Interestingly, this method has created wonders
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in the upliftment of the urban cities. As a matter of specification, it has provided a quality
lifestyle to the households.
One of the recent innovations in the rainwater harvesting is the creation of green
buildings. This concept is an address towards the increasing environmental pollution and cost of
the raw materials for construction (An et al. 2015). Adopting of green building technique has
added to the comfort and luxury of the people. This satisfaction, in turn, has expanded the
business of the real estates. Delving deep into the system of rainwater harvesting, it has reduced
the need for water supply from the municipalities. This reduction has mitigated the risk of storm
water drainage.
1.3 Rainwater harvesting for green building in Hong Kong
The method of rainwater harvesting adds to the greenery of the ecosystem. Using it for
the construction purposes can be considered as a means of mitigating the environmental
pollution. Along with this, the concept of green building is an answer to the financial crisis,
which pollutes the business of the real estates (Gou and Lau 2014). Application of modern
technologies for harvesting the rainwater has resulted in the creation of innovative design
buildings. Examples of these methods are water sensitive urban design (WSUD), bioretention,
chlorination, which form an important part before the initiation of the constructions.
Topographical studies are conducted by the real estate businessmen for the application of
appropriate rainwater harvesting system. Evaluation of the applied techniques helps the
personnel to assess the appropriateness and effectiveness of the applied techniques
(Chinawaterrisk.org 2017). The major drive behind this is to ensure that the residents get 24
hours water supply for fulfilling the basic needs.
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