Effect of Rainwater Harvesting System in Green Building Analysis

This report investigates the effect of rainwater harvesting systems on green buildings, specifically within the context of Hong Kong. It explores the significance of rainwater harvesting as a crucial component of sustainable construction, addressing water scarcity and environmental pollution. The report delves into various aspects, including the basic concepts of rainwater harvesting, the assessment of existing systems in green buildings, and the analysis of energy consumption associated with these systems. It examines water conservation measures implemented by the Hong Kong Housing Authority and the impact of rainwater harvesting systems on real estate development. The study also reviews relevant literature, presents a methodology that includes planning, data collection, and fieldwork, and concludes with recommendations for enhancing the quality and standard of rainwater harvesting systems to promote a healthier lifestyle for the public. The report highlights the importance of green building techniques, energy regulation, and ecological biodiversity in urban development, emphasizing the role of rainwater harvesting in achieving sustainable growth.

Running head: EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
Effect of Rainwater Harvesting system in green building
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1
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
harvesting the rainwater for the construction purposes. Fieldwork provides the researcher with
1

2
EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
the practical example regarding the onsite rainwater harvesting system used for achieving
success in green building projects.
2

3
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
----------------------------------------
3

4
EFFECT 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
4

5
EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
Fieldwork:..................................................................................................................................23
Summary:...................................................................................................................................23
References and Bibliography.........................................................................................................26
Appendix........................................................................................................................................31
5

6
EFFECT 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
6

7
EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
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.
7

8
EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
Collaborative partnership with AECOM has assisted the Hong Kong real estate
businessmen to effectively implement the rainwater harvesting systems and techniques for
constructing green buildings. The housing development plans operate in the local areas;
however, the widespread impact of the water sensitive urban design has enhanced its glory from
Australian countries to the metropolitan ones. Success in Europe and US has encouraged the
businessmen to apply the practice of water sensitive urban design in China.
Revealing consciousness and rational thinking, towards the application of rainwater
harvesting system, helps in the achievement of positive results in terms of gifting a healthy
lifestyle to the public domain (Morakinyo et al. 2017). These aspects interplay with the three
variables of the dissertation. The propositions, “of” and “in”, links the first variable, “rainwater
harvesting system” with the second variable “green building”. Rainwater harvesting systems
fades the independence of the concept of rainwater harvesting. Therefore, it can be said that
effective utilization of the rainwater harvesting systems results in the creation of green buildings,
which contribute less to the environmental pollution.
1.4 Research aim
The aim of this research is to assess the effect of rainwater harvesting systems in green
building in Hong Kong.
1.5 Research objectives
 To understand the basic concepts related to rainwater harvesting and the systems used for
constructing green buildings in Hong Kong
 To assess the effectiveness of the existing rainwater harvesting systems in green
buildings of Hong Kong
8

9
EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
 To study the energy consumed through the use of rainwater harvesting systems for
constructing buildings through the concept of green buildings in Hong Kong
 To assess the water conservation measures taken by Hong Kong Housing Authority
through the operations of small water turbines
 To excavate out the impact of the rainwater harvesting systems utilized by real estate
businessmen for creating green buildings
 To suggest recommendations for improving the standard and quality of rainwater
harvesting systems for gifting the public of Hong Kong with more green buildings, so
that they can lead a healthy lifestyle.
1.5 Significance of the research
The widespread effects of the rainwater harvesting on green construction, sets the ground
for this research. The literature review enhances the clarity of the readers regarding the basic
concepts related to rainwater harvesting and green building. Pondering upon the scholarly
reviews is an attempt to validate the proposed points. Along with this, the methodology enriches
the knowledge regarding the opinions of the samples regarding the impact of rainwater
harvesting in terms of fulfillment of their residential needs. Considering the regulation of the
water and energy consumption along with the emission of CO2 gains an important position in the
literature review (Kibert 2016). Countering this, the water conservation methods are more
important, which helps in controlling its usage. The model of rainwater harvesting enhances the
clarity of the readers in terms of the direction of water flow from the catchment area to the
purification process. Focusing on the hilly areas enriches the knowledge of the readers in terms
of maintaining the ecological biodiversity in the developing areas.
9

10
EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
Water conservation helps the real estate businessmen and proprietors to make effective
and judicious utilization of the water for the completion of the construction purposes. The
commonality of this issue contradicts the limitation of countries like Taiwan (Chen 2013).
Moreover, this conservation helps in construction of buildings, which need less finance, raw
materials and less labor maintenance. Within this, energy and CO2 emission control is an
important aspect as it helps in regulating the current flow in the water. This regulation is
important for determining the appropriate method of rainwater harvesting system. At the first
instance, sketching the proposed model helps in assessing the impact of the applied method for
constructing the building as per the requirements (Tam, Wang and Le 2016).
10

11
EFFECT OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM IN GREEN BUILDING
2.0 Literature review
The following section provides an insight into the scholarly reviews regarding the steps
taken to conserve rainwater for mitigating energy consumption and creating green buildings. For
this, theories and models related to rainwater harvesting have been duly considered.
2.1 Rainwater harvesting system as an innovative approach towards saving energy in hilly
communities
The hilly areas are sloping in nature, where the water easily penetrates into the houses. In
this context, rainwater harvesting system is an added advantage in terms of getting fresh waters
for carrying out the basic tasks of survival. Rapid urbanization in the hilly areas has escalated
both the water and the energy consumption. As most of the water supply systems depend on the
energy supply is needs strong financial flexibility for adopting innovative design in the energy
saving means (Gou, Prasad and Lau 2013). Upon examination, it has been found that rainwater
harvesting system is an effective means in terms of conserving both the usage of water and
energy. As a matter of specification, geographical investigations, spatial technologies, hydraulic
simulation were used to determine how rainwater harvesting can prove beneficial in terms of
regulating the levels of water and energy conservation in the urban hilly areas. Within this, the
financial speculation was an important point, which validated the plans of using the mentioned
processes. Financial strength acted as an agent in enhancing the savings of water and energy
(Chui and Ngai 2016). The percentile for this was 21.6% for the domestic water usage. This
annually saved 138.6 kWH units of energy per family. Along with this, the results revealed that
the 85.5% energy saving for rainwater harvesting systems was comparatively lower than the
solar panels (Zhang et al. 2017).
11