Conference Proceedings : “JANASEVANA” National ... - UN HABITAT

In sites with a high water table, specifying a high floor level ensures a damp free environment inside the house and
facilitates sewerage disposal. Sites where rain water discharge can be an issue, avoiding obstructions to natural
drainage and fixing the floor level at a suitable height above the access road would be required. Construction of a
house in a flood prone zone may require building it on stilts.
A design allowing for un‐built areas in the plot for environmental reasons is a good practice. With strategic window
placement, natural ventilation can be maximised. Choosing wide eaves to overhang the walls will provide shade from
intense sun and roofs can be used for collecting rainwater.
Eco‐friendly materials are those which are locally produced, natural,
sustainable, and require minimal processing when they are manufactured,
and non‐toxic. Materials requiring little transportation to the site, materials
that are available naturally requiring minimal processing, locally produced or
available, and sustainable over time are some of the considerations. Use of
stone found locally in slip‐form moulds to construct walls has been
successfully tried out in Sri Lanka. Stone can be used for decorative features
as well as for load bearing purposes. Selecting used construction material for
the building is also a useful eco‐friendly practice. However, there are certain
cultural and spiritual issues in using used materials – as some people are
reluctant to use these materials.
Use of doors or windows from
construction sites or remodelling
projects is eco friendly as it eliminates
the need to process new wood and
eliminates waste in landfills.
Inspection of the materials before
removing them from locations is
necessary to ascertain suitability and
functionality.
Specifying the over‐use of clay bricks and tiles means irreversible impacts on the environment in mining clay, leaving
abandoned hazardous quarry pits and use of firewood for the burning. Use of recycled brick or concrete blocks is a
good alternative option. Use of doors or windows from construction sites or remodelling projects is eco friendly as it
eliminates the need to process new wood for these items and also eliminates waste in landfills. Inspection of the
materials before removing them from current locations is necessary to ascertain suitability and functionality.
Timber is a sensitive item in housing construction. Although the use of timber is necessary for structural reasons,
excessive use of timber should be discouraged as they have very serious environmental consequences. As the felling
of trees depletes forest cover, the use of timber in manufacture of building components (doors and windows),
furniture and fittings should be minimized. Use of borate pressure treated wood, resistant to fungal decay and termite
damage is an alternative. These trees are fast growing and replenishable in the short term, compared to userpreferred
hard wood that have long term affects of depletion of permanent forest cover. Use of bamboo wood
where possible which is quite hard, durable, fast growing, and naturally mildew, insect and water resistant, is also a
good option.
Construction methods where possible should be labour intensive, saving on machine use and energy consumed. Dust
control and minimizing use of water and energy during the construction process is environmentally friendly.
Purchasing only the material needed to avoid waste and planning the work to avoid over purchasing of materials is
also an eco‐friendly practice
Finally, on the end use of the house several environmentally friendly practices have been identified. For example,
installing water saving devices in the home, on sinks, showers and the flush of the toilet, reusing water by installing a
rain water tank for flushing the toilet, doing laundry and watering the garden are eco‐friendly practices. Installing solar
panels for heating water and purchasing energy efficient appliances and light bulbs is an option. Therefore getting the
most energy efficient household appliances that is affordable is necessary. Setting up compost bins to recycle organic
material and waste is an eco friendly activity. The compost thus produced can be used as fertilizer in the garden. All
these activities will contribute towards making your house more environmentally friendly.
Conference Proceedings – National Housing Symposium 28