Effect of Rainwater Harvesting System in Green Building

Running head: EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
Effect of Rainwater Harvesting system in green building
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EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
ACRONYMS
MOEA Ministry of Economic Affairs
IAQ Indoor Air Quality
GIS Geographic Information System
APDR Area Precipitation per Demand Ratio
AECOM Architecture Engineering Consulting Operations and Maintenance
WUSD Water Sensitive Urban Design
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EFFECT 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
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EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
harvesting the rainwater for the construction purposes. Fieldwork provides the researcher with
the practical example regarding the onsite rainwater harvesting system used for achieving
success in green building projects.
Project Management
In a bid to carry out the project of final year of MSc Mechanical Engineering that gives me the
opportunity to develop my essential knowledge in project planning that is directly connected to
engineering field. As per my interests and ideas, I opted to pick on effects of rainwater in green
building and an elaborate and extensive consultation with my project supervisor where I availed
supplementary information on findings and research for the development of the project brief
within a span of one month.
Based on the focus of the investigation upon the submission of the project brief, I had to engage
myself in the preparation of the interim report that conducts relevant and comprehensive research
on effects of rainwater harvesting in green buildings in literature review. Within a span of two
months, preliminary data analysis was conducted on the project, which has been developed in the
past through a way of variety investigation and hence exhibiting elaborate literature survey and
background information or research in carrying out the findings.
The valuable advice alongside the guidance from the project supervision enabled me to draft the
interim project that was composed of project introduction, background, aims and objectives of
investigation, scope of the project, specifications and the methodology that was submitted at a
later date as the final submission. In addition, with reference to the aims and objectives of the
project, which is effects of rainwater harvesting in green buildings, the project aimed at assessing
the effect of rainwater harvesting systems in green building in Hong Kong. This is by having the
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EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
main objective being understanding the basic concepts in relation to rainwater harvesting and the
technologies or systems used in the construction of green buildings in Hong Kong. Other studied
objectives of the research project included explore on the energy consumption through the use of
rainwater harvesting systems, study the measures that are used in the conservation of rainwater
in Hong Kong as well as assessing the effectiveness of existing rainwater harvesting in green
buildings of Hong Kong.
Surveys and literature research provided platform that enhanced and facilitated the achievements
of the objectives of the research. Through surveys and information extracted from secondary
sources of information, such crucial information as information on the rainfall patterns and
climates of various cities in China were found and thus allowing comparison to be made. Still, it
was possible to establish the various techniques used in the construction of green buildings in
Hong Kong as the use of rainwater harvesting systems in green buildings in the city. The amount
of water collected, energy consumed and thus the carbon dioxide emitted in green buildings that
use rainwater harvesting techniques was studied into finer details and comparison made against
buildings that do not adopt rainwater-harvesting techniques as a method of water conservation.
The project report is adequately written with a month in which the findings and interpretation of
the research project are presented on rainwater harvesting in green buildings in Hong Kong and
the impact of the techniques on energy conservation and hence a reduction the carbon footprint
of such buildings.
In summary, this project research and investigation areas present concrete and extensive
information on effects of rainwater harvesting on green buildings in Hong Kong. Through the
findings of this research, sustainability by reduction of carbon footprint is established to be
possible by the use of the various techniques or rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting
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EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
techniques are highly significant when it comes to increasing environmental sustainability as
well as enhancing the comfort of the occupants of a building fabric. Be it on commercial or
residential buildings, the research project gave an insight into what would be perceived as an
excellent way of keeping the cost of maintaining a building at manageable levels and at the same
time ensuring the building’s occupants are ever finding pleasure of interaction with the space.
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EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
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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EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
Table of contents
Contents
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................9
Outline of Dissertation.................................................................................................................9
1.1 Insight into rain....................................................................................................................10
1.2 Advent of rainwater harvesting...........................................................................................11
1.3 Rainwater harvesting for green building in Hong Kong.....................................................12
1.4 Research aim........................................................................................................................13
1.5 Research objectives.............................................................................................................13
1.5 Significance of the research.................................................................................................14
Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................15
2.1 Critical assessment of effects of rain water harvesting for green building..........................15
2.2 Rainwater harvesting system as an innovative approach towards saving energy in hilly
communities...............................................................................................................................21
2.3 Water conservation measures for green building in other parts of the world......................22
2.4 Energy consumption and CO2 emissions from rainwater harvesting system.....................24
2.5 Evaluation of Model of rainwater harvesting......................................................................37
2.6 Progress of Green building..................................................................................................39
2.7 Operations of large building rainwater harvesting systems.................................................40
2.8 Application of rainwater harvesting systems and the amount of energy consumed............42
2.9 Hydro-turbines: an efficient means of conserving energy...................................................43
2.10 Summary of the Literature Review....................................................................................45
Chapter 3: METHODOLOGY......................................................................................................49
3.1 Planning:..............................................................................................................................49
3.2 Relevant studies:..................................................................................................................49
3.3 Data collection:....................................................................................................................50
3.4 Fieldwork.............................................................................................................................50
3.5 Engineering Design.............................................................................................................50
3.6 Ethical Considerations.........................................................................................................55
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