Sustainable Building Services: Categories and Importance

This article discusses the importance of sustainable building services in achieving energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. It covers the categories of building services, including mechanical, water drainage and plumbing, electrical, and data-based systems. The article also delves into the classification of buildings based on occupancy and type of construction. Additionally, it provides insights on how organizations can practice energy efficiency to reduce running costs.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING SERVICES
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Question 1
a) A necessary evil is an evil that has to be permitted for a better or greater
good or results. Building services involve services being installed in the
buildings to enhance their functionality, comfort, efficiency and safety. The
installation of building services come with extra costs of construction but
such services must be included in the building to achieve its functional
requirements Mumovic, D. and Santamouris, M. eds., 2013. This makes
building services a necessary evil.
b) The design, manufacture and installation of building services are done in
such a way that they are aimed at reflecting the needs of Environmentally
Sustainable Development. Services like electrical power systems include
such designs as the solar power and panels that are aimed at reducing
production of electricity through biofuels Alyami, S.H., Rezgui, Y. and
Kwan, A., 2013. The availability of such services as rain water harvesting
systems, stormwater harvesting systems and drainage water harvesting
systems are important in enhancing environmental sustainability.
Priority in the design and construction was minimization of water and energy
consumption technologies among them passive cooling, renewable energy,
recycling of grey water, the use of intelligent control systems as well as
combined solutions of heat and power. Through following such a path in the
design and construction process, the environmental performance of the
building is enhanced and thus a check on the cost of maintenance of the
building is done.
c) Categories of Building Services
Mechanical services include
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 HVAC systems: The central focus of the Heating, Ventilation and Air
Conditioning System is to achieve an indoor environment that is not
only safe but also comfortable for human habitation. The safety aspect
is mainly on the Indoor Air Quality which means that the indoor air
should be composed of sufficient oxygen but free from noxious gases.
Comfort on the other hand is purely human perception and can change
within the boundaries. Generally comfortable air quality is defined as
that with which 80% or more of the people who are subjected to the
condition do not express dissatisfaction. The HVAC system has three
components: rejection unit, central plant and distribution system. The
core of the system is contained in the central plant also termed as the
chiller plant and it is the part in which compression of the fluid occurs
in order to generate its heat. The coolth which has been produced by
the chillers are distributed throughout the building by the distribution
system.
 Elevators and escalators: Elevators are cars that navigate in a vertical
shaft to transport passengers or goods between the various levels of a
multi-storey building. Most of the modern elevators are operated using
electric motors with the help of counterweight via a system of cables
and pulleys. Escalators are modified staircases that are capable of
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moving between floors or levels of buildings. The current escalators
are able to move at a speed of 36 m per minute with the larger types
having a capacity of 6000 persons per hour. The breakage of a chain in
the escalator results in the halt of release of tension and a safety switch
as well stops the device should there be a breakage in the handrail or
should it become lose or in case of deflection in the side panel.
 Compressed air systems which are used in the industries
 Fire fighting systems
 Gas supply systems
Water drainage and Plumbing Systems
Drainage refers to the elimination of the sub-surface and surface water.
Sustainable urban drainage systems are drainage systems that have been
designed in such a way that they can effectively manage the drainage of
surface water especially in the urban surroundings. Plumbing on the other
hand defines any system that permits the movement of fluids majorly
involving plumbing fixtures, pipes, valves and tanks among other apparatus.
The system services include
 Water supply 4

 Water recycling systems
 Rainwater harvesting system
 Drainage of wastes
 Storm water drainage systems
Electrical services
 Emergency power
 Backup power
 Power supply
Data based systems: These are systems composed of the equipment and
technologies which are usable in communication and storage, retrieval,
manipulation and transmission of data. They include:
 Security and Fire alarm systems: Protection of the staff, visitors,
information and equipment of a physical property is of importance.
Security also forms a fundamental aspect on the construction sites. The
main components of a security system may include control of access,
CCTV cameras, perimeter security, integrated systems, intruder alarms,
detection systems for fire.
 Public address systems
 Data network systems
 Building management system: These are computer based systems that
are used in checking and regulating building services. They assist the
building managers in understanding the operations of the building and
enable them to regulate and adjust the various systems in a way that
can optimise its performance. Alongside data collation and enabling
ease of control, building management systems are important in the
visualization of data, creation of alarms and alert in cases of excesses
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in the various parameters, failure occurrences any with prognostic
systems under circumstances that may result into failure. They also
allow making of comparison between building, spaces and
benchmarking of data.
Please provide your Reflection (Question 1). (Note: Use the text box
provided only for your reflection - place it after each answer )
What is the relevant knowledge you have brought to this response. Why and
how have you used this knowledge?
Building services are needed for the efficient and effective operation of a
building and without them the occupancy of a building or structure is
compromised. That notwithstanding, building services come with increased
cost of construction of maintenance of a building or structure and hence
making them a necessary evil. They are services that lead to increased costs
but those which are critically needed to a building to effectively and
efficiently operate. The analysis of the situation should be based on the
various ways in which sustainability can be achieved in a building and the
techniques that are being adopted among them energy efficiency, thermal
comfort and improved performance. The use of sustainable building service
improves the environmental performance of a building as well as minimizing
the maintenance cost.
Question 2
Sustainable Building Services are building services that are in line with or
enhance the achievement of the global sustainable goals of increased energy
efficiency, minimization of water usage and reduction of energy
consumption. Building services has a significant role to play when it comes
to the achievement of a proper design of a building not just in line with the
overall strategies and standards that need to be achieved but last with regard
to façade engineering, the sources of energy, sustainability, the location of
vertical services, weights, sizes and position of the main plant and equipment
as well as the distribution routes for horizontal services and drainage Berardi,
U., 2013. To achieve a complete design, building services must be included
hence building services are a basic component of the built system. The
building services as has been listed previously come in various forms or wide
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ranges that are meant to meet the specific design requirements of every
aspect of the building in order to meet the design and functional
requirements.
On another end, the built system should be designed in such a way that all the
various subsystems are functioning in harmony without having a clash
between any of the systems Ma, Z., Cooper, P., Daly, D. and Ledo, L., 2012.
This means electrical services like power supply should be done in such a
way that the electrical cables do not cut through the water supply cables or
the waste drainage lines. Such a harmonious built system is only achievable
through proper planning during the design stage and once achieved generates
a complete function built system.
A careful integration of the heating and cooling system, water supply and
drainage system and the power supply system aids in the achievement of a
wholesome functional unit that meets the expectations of the occupants of the
building. These systems must have work collaboratively since just a single of
the system may not achieve the desired performance level. Human comfort is
and safeties are a factor of numerous aspects ranging from adequate lighting,
heating and ventilation to spatial circulation.
Please provide your Reflection (Question 2).
How do you need to analyze the situation and what are you looking for?
The situation is analyzed by perceiving a built system as single a functional
unit that heavily borrows from numerous subsystems in order to operate.
These subsystems must remain to work in harmony with each other.
Through the working in harmony of the various subsystems, a single
functional and concrete unit is established that enhances the achievement of
safety and comfortable habitation of a building or space. Despite the
differences in their structures and functioning, the different subsystems
among them water and plumbing, electricity supply, heating and ventilation
among other systems are bound to work together and in harmony.
Question 3
Classification of Buildings
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Class 1 Buildings include houses and are typically single dwelling units
standing alone of a residential or domestic nature. Classified into Class 1a
and Class 1b
 Class 1a include building units such as a single dwelling hat is a
detached house or a group of dwellings that are attached
 Class 1b refers to a boarding house, hostel or guest house with a floor
area that is below 300 m2 and has less those 12 occupants.
Class 2 Buildings are apartment buildings which are basically multi-unit
residential buildings in which people live below or above each other. They
may also include dwellings of single storey having a common space at the
lowest levels for example a car park at the basement
Class 3 Buildings refers to residential building which are neither Class 1 nor
Class 2 buildings and tend to be a common place of transient living for
numerous people who are not related for example a boarding house, hostel,
guest house etc. they may also be inclusive of workers quarters and
dormitory style accommodation.
Class 4 Buildings defines a residence or dwelling that is found within a
building that is of a non-residential nature for example the residence of a
caretaker in a storage facility. Class 4 buildings may only be found in class 5
to 9 buildings.
Class 5 Buildings include office buildings that are mainly used for
commercial or professional purposes except for class 6, 7, 8 and 9 buildings.
Offices of architects, lawyers, accountants, government agencies as well as
medical practitioners are among the examples of class 5 buildings.
Class 6 Buildings: These include shops, cafes and restaurants and are mainly
places that are used for the purposes of retail of goods of directly supplying
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services to the general public. Example include shopping center, funeral
parlour, dining room, bar, public laundry, showroom or market.
Class 7 Buildings: These buildings are grouped in class 7a and Class 7b
buildings. Class 7a buildings include car parks while Class 7b buildings are
mainly warehouses, buildings there are meant for the display of products for
wholesale or storage buildings
Class 8 Buildings: Class 8 buildings mainly include a factory which is a
building that hosts processing activities. The building may be used for the
purposes of assemblage, packing, cleaning, alteration, finish or production of
goods and include such buildings as the mechanics workshop as well as a
laboratory.
Class 9 Buildings: These are buildings of a public nature and are classified
into:
 Class 9a buildings which include hospitals
 Class 9b which include assembly buildings where people may meet for
civil, social, theatrical, political or even religious purposes
 Class 9c are buildings that offer care to the aged
Class 10 Buildings: These are non-habitable structure or buildings and are
divided into:
 Class 10a which include private garages, shed and carports
 Class 10b may include retaining walls, swimming pool, mast, and
antenna
 Class 10c is a shelter of a private bushfire. A private bushfire refers to
a building or structure that is associated with but not attached directly
to a Class 1a building
Please provide your Reflection (Question 3).
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How well do you think you have done this and how could you have done it
better?
The various ways of classifying buildings is extensively discussed with
examples in each of the categories given to offer more insights into the
classification of a building. Buildings are classified based on on the
occupancy and on the type of construction that has been used. Building
classification based on occupancy is the categorization of buildings in terms
of the usage and re mainly used for building and enforcement of fire codes.
Buildings are classified into 10 classes: Class 1 Buildings, Class 2 Buildings,
Class 3 Buildings, Class 4 Buildings, Class 5 Buildings, Class 6 Buildings,
Class 7 Buildings, Class 8 Buildings, Class 9 Buildings and Class 10
Buildings The Building Code and Standard of Australia is a document which
contains the provisions that are needed for the design and construction of the
buildings besides any other structures. Among the issues that are addressed
by the code include access and egress, structural functionality, services and
equipment, fire resistance, energy efficiency and sustainability, health and
amenity provision for the occupants of the building or structure
Question 4
The organization should practice energy efficiency in order to reduce the use
of energy that would in turn lead to a reduction in the running cost. The
various methods that the organization may adopt to reduce insufficient
energy efficiency include:
Reducing cost of heating: This can be achieved through efficient operation of
the furnace and may be achieved through installation of a programmable
thermostat and setting it so that the buildings may not be heated when there
are no occupants or during off duty hours. Heating costs can also be checked
through such strategies as insulation and sealing of the buildings which serve
to lower the costs of air conditioning.
Reducing the costs of cooling: The cooling costs can be reduced through the
use of fans instead of air conditioning, turning off fans that are not in use
since fans do not actually cool the air but instead helps in quick evaporation
of water from the skin thereby bringing about cooling. Cooling costs may
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also be reduced through planting of trees around the buildings, installation of
awning windows and close window curtains that help in keeping out sunlight
from gaining direct access into the buildings.
Reducing the lighting costs which are achievable through the maximization
of sunlight and turning off the lights during the day time Kibert, C.J., 2016.
The organization may also adopt compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of
the conventional incandescent light bulbs since the compact fluorescent light
uses about 25% of the total wattage of an incandescent light to generate the
same level of illumination besides having a ling lamp life of between 8000
to 10000 hours
Reduction of water usage: Most of the water using systems in a building
would require power to function and as such need to be designed or
redesigned in such a way that they minimize the use of energy. Among the
strategies include installation of toilets, faucets and shower heads that
enhances saving of water Wong, K.D. and Fan, Q., 2013. The water levels of
the toilet water reservoir should be lowered but care should be taken to
ensure that the level is not reduced too low until the flush does not properly
function.
Reduction in the usage of electricity: Make use of the available LED light
bulbs, having the computers set to switch off the monitor automatically and
switch to standby mode after some time of disuse, adopting products that
have logos of energy storage especially replacing and recycling worn out
generators using Energy Star approved devices. Still, switching off electrical
appliances which are not in use may reduce the usage of electricity Alyami,
S.H. and Rezgui, Y., 2012. The organization may also consider buying
laptops instead of desktops since most of the laptops are designed in such a
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way that they optimize energy efficiency and do not require uninterrupted
supply of power to operate efficiently.
Please provide your Reflection (Question 4).
What are the steps that are required in this process and how have you
addressed each step?
1. Performing an energy audit and measurement which involves collection
of data and analyzing it. This is achieved in establishing the various
forms in which energy is spent in a building, establishing which
equipment or applications consume the highest amount of energy and a
possible justification if any is provided. This will form the basis of
having an idea on how energy consumption occurs in the organization.
While some equipment may be used a lot of energy by design, other
may be due to faults and errors that may call for fixing.
2. Fixing the basics which encompass the deployment of fixes of high
yield but low cost in the waste of energy. This would involve
comparing the rating of the equipment as provided by the manufacturer
against the actual consumption experienced which would be
informative of the various equipment that have faults and the necessary
adjustments made which may including repair or complete replacement
depending on the state of the equipment in question.
3. Automation through the use of regulation and automation. This would
come along with the integration of techniques of energy management
into the everyday management of the building. There are various
strategies that can be used in ensuring efficiency in the use energy that
do not necessarily touch on the equipment is the buildings. The
incorporation of such techniques as switching off the lights during the
day and maximizing on passive cooling as opposed to the use of fans
and air conditioners would enhance the energy performance and thus
energy management in the day to day management of the building
energy requirements.
4. Monitoring, maintaining and enhancing which would improve on the
conservation of energy and sustainability.
References
Alyami, S.H. and Rezgui, Y., 2012. Sustainable building assessment tool
development approach. Sustainable Cities and Society, 5, pp.52-62
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Wong, K.D. and Fan, Q., 2013. Building information modelling (BIM) for
sustainable building design. Facilities, 31(3/4), pp.138-157
Mumovic, D. and Santamouris, M. eds., 2013. A Handbook of Sustainable
Building Design and Engineering:" An Integrated Approach to Energy,
Health and Operational Performance". Routledge
Brophy, V. and Lewis, J.O., 2012. A green vitruvius: principles and practice
of sustainable architectural design. Routledge
Kibert, C.J., 2016. Sustainable construction: green building design and
delivery. John Wiley & Sons
Berardi, U., 2013. Clarifying the new interpretations of the concept of
sustainable building. Sustainable Cities and Society, 8, pp.72-78
Ma, Z., Cooper, P., Daly, D. and Ledo, L., 2012. Existing building retrofits:
Methodology and state-of-the-art. Energy and buildings, 55, pp.889-902
Yudelson, J., 2012. Marketing green building services. Routledge
Alyami, S.H., Rezgui, Y. and Kwan, A., 2013. Developing sustainable
building assessment scheme for Saudi Arabia: Delphi consultation
approach. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 27, pp.43-54
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