SIERRA'S eFACiLiTY® Green

Office Building
Welcome to a presentation exploring the innovative green building strategies and
technologies implemented in SIERRA'S eFACiLiTY® Green Office Building, a
model of sustainability located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. This project,
designed by Dharmalingam Associates, covers 2322.55 sq m and boasts an
impressive EPI of 56.2 kWh/m2/yr. The building's occupancy type is Office, serving
as a testament to the successful integration of green building principles.

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Building Design and Orientation
Building Orientation
The building is oriented such that the longer facades face towards east and
west due to the site configuration..

Passive Cooling Systems

Shading devices, overhangs, and strategically placed vegetation block direct
sunlight, minimizing heat gain and improving thermal comfort.

Ventilation Systems
Natural ventilation strategies, such as cross ventilation and stack effect,
maximize air circulation, reducing the reliance on mechanical ventilation
systems.

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 Passive Strategies: Harmony with Nature
Climate Responsive Design Landscaping and Water Efficiency

• Building Orientation: East-west orientation to maximize natural light • Water Management

and ventilation. ➢ Zero-discharge site with 100% rainwater harvesting and tertiary
• Window Design wastewater treatment.
➢ WWR maintained below 40% to reduce heat gain. ➢ Over 40% reduction in landscape water demand through native
➢ High-performance glazing and external shading devices to optimize drought-tolerant species.
daylighting and reduce solar heat gain. ➢ Over 40% reduction in landscape water demand through native
➢ Strategically placed skylights for additional natural light. drought-tolerant species.
• Building Envelope
➢ 18-inch thick walls for thermal mass.
➢ High-performance glazing and cool roof tiles for energy efficiency.
➢ Foam concreting for reduced thermal load and energy demand.

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Active Strategies: Enhancing Performance

1 Air-Conditioning 2 Indoor Air Quality 3 Artificial Lighting

Energy-efficient HVAC systems Triple filtration, demand-controlled 100% LED lighting with 80% better
VRF system with EER of 13.85 and 55% ventilation with CO2 sensors, real-time performance than ASHRAE standards,
higher energy efficiency, coupled with IoT monitoring of pollutants, enhanced automated lighting control with sensors,
intelligent sensors and zonal bi- fresh air supply, and indoor plants for and individual lux level control for
directional heat recovery ventilation for optimal indoor air quality. maximum energy efficiency and savings.
precise temperature control and reduced
energy consumption..

4 Water Effiency 5 Energy Monitoring

89% water savings through waterless urinals, high-efficiency Continuous monitoring of power consumption, water usage,
faucets, treated water reuse, rainwater harvesting, and efficient occupancy, air quality, and temperature for optimal building
wastewater treatment systems. performance.
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Smart Technologies: Enhancing Efficiency

Solar Energy & Lighting Controls Sun-Tracking

Sensor-activated lights and minimal switches Somfy Animeo’s system optimizes blind
maximize natural light usage, reducing reliance on positioning based on sun and weather conditions,
artificial lighting and energy consumption while eFACiLiTY® app allows manual control

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Daylighting and Lighting
Daylighting Energy-Efficient Lighting

The building design prioritizes daylighting, maximizing the use of High-efficiency LED lighting fixtures minimize energy consumption
natural light to reduce the need for artificial lighting and improve while providing adequate illumination levels for comfortable work
occupant well-being. environments.

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Water Conservation
1 Rainwater Harvesting
Collected rainwater is used for non-potable purposes, such as irrigation
and toilet flushing, significantly reducing potable water consumption.

2 Greywater Reuse
Water from sinks and showers is treated and reused for non-potable
applications, further reducing reliance on fresh water sources.

3 Low-Flow Fixtures
Waterless urinals and high-efficiency sensor faucets

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Waste Reduction
Waste Reduction Recycling
The building implements a Separate collection bins for
comprehensive waste different waste streams encourage
management program, minimizing proper waste sorting and maximize
waste generation through source the amount of materials recycled.
reduction, reuse, and recycling.

Composting
Organic waste is composted on-site, reducing landfill waste and generating
valuable compost for landscaping purposes.

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Certification and
Performance

1 2
LEED Performance Metrics
The building has platinum certification Regular monitoring of energy
under the LEED Green Building Rating consumption, water usage, and other
System with score of 103 points out of key performance indicators provides
110 demonstrating its commitment to data for continuous improvement.
sustainable building practices.

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Lessons Learned

SIERRA'S eFACiLiTY® serves as a model for sustainable building design and operation, showcasing the successful integration of passive and
active strategies, smart technologies, and a holistic approach to environmental responsibility.

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PASSIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES

Orientation:
Detailed analysis of environmental conditions were conducted to choose a orientation that would
optimize building energy performance. The building form helps reduce heat gain or loss.
Landscaping:
Native and indige­nous species were selected for land­scaping, eliminating the need for regular
irrigation. To help establish the new landscaping, plants were watered twice a day for the first two
years.
Daylighting:
Daylighting is maximized in all occupied spaces. Appropriate shading devices designed through
simulation software are used to minimize glare. Integrated motorised blinds are used for occupant’s
visual comfort.
Ventilation:
A design ventilation rate of 30% additional outdoor air over that specified in ASHRAE Standard 62.1-
2004 enhances the indoor air quality within the build­ing and provides superior occupant comfort.
Passive design features resulted in a total diversified AC load of 84 kW for 891 m2 (24 tons for 9,600
ft2).
Building Envelope and Fenestration:
Climatically responsive façade design, including a roof that projects beyond all four sides of the building,
protecting it from direct sun and reducing heat gain.
All external surfaces, including the walls, roof and foundation, are insulated on the exterior using
polyurethane panels.
Exterior wall assembly is composed of 150 mm (6 in.) autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), fly-ash block work
and 75 mm (3 in.) polyurethane foam (PUF).
Roof insulation materials are 75 mm (3 in.) rigid polyurethane insulation and a 50 mm (2 in.) layer of mineral
wool
Window-to-wall ratio (WWR) is 33.8%, which helps ensure maximum daylighting potential with minimum
solar heat gains.
High performance double glazed windows with integrated motorized blinds provide improved protection
against sunlight. Efficient glazing balances the low thermal conductivity and shading coefficient.

Materials and Constructions Techniques:

The building uses regional building materials with recycled content.
Low VOC paints, sealants, coatings and adhesives have been used wherever possible.
ACTIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES

LIGHTING DESIGN
An energy-efficient lighting system with daylighting controls is used.
The building uses a combination of energy-efficient T5 linear fluores­cent lamps and compact
fluorescent lamps.
Occupancy sensors in normally unoccupied areas like storage areas, toilets and mechanical rooms
mini­mize lighting use.
Lighting controls ensure minimum internal heat gain and reduced air-conditioning load in those
spaces.
The building uses energy-sav­ing technologies associated with the electrical power supply sys­
tem/building management system
Optimized Energy Systems / HVAC system
Chilled beams for radiant cooling eliminates energy that would be used for supply fans.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Dry outdoor ventilation air is sup­plied through an externally mounted unit that dehumidifies the air before it
is supplied to occupied space. This dry outdoor air acts as primary air to the chilled beams.
Air quality is monitored inside the entire building with help of CO2 sensors located 1.8 m (6 ft.) above the
floor level in various spaces.
Dehumidified cold exhaust air from the bathrooms and office space is collected in each service core. This air
enters one side of the rotating heat wheel, chilling the wheel and drying the desiccant coating. This cool and
dry part of the wheel then rotates into the outdoor air­stream where it absorbs heat and humidity from the
incoming ventilation air before it is cooled to room temperature in the air-han­dling unit (AHU) room.
The energy recovery wheel reduces the ventila­tion load by 80%, minimizing operating energy and the size of
air-conditioning equipment
Comparative Analysis of Energy Efficiency Measures

Solar Energy Lighting HVAC

Sierras eFacility employs a large Both buildings prioritize energy- Sierras eFacility utilizes advanced
solar panel array for generating efficient lighting systems with HVAC systems with variable air
renewable energy. Eco Commercial sensors and daylight harvesting volume control, while Eco
Building integrates a smaller solar for natural illumination. Commercial Building focuses on
system, prioritizing energy natural ventilation and passive
efficiency. cooling techniques.
Comparative Analysis of Water
Conservation Strategies

1 Rainwater Harvesting
Both buildings have rainwater harvesting systems to collect and reuse
rainwater for non-potable purposes like irrigation.

2 Greywater Recycling
Eco Commercial Building utilizes greywater recycling for flushing toilets,
further reducing potable water consumption. Sierras eFacility implements
greywater recycling for landscape irrigation.

3 Low-Flow Fixtures
Both buildings install low-flow faucets, showers, and toilets to minimize
water usage while maintaining comfort.
Comparative Analysis of
Sustainable Material Usage
Locally Sourced Materials
Both buildings prioritize locally sourced materials to reduce
transportation costs and emissions associated with sourcing.

Recycled Content Materials

Sierras eFacility utilizes materials with high recycled
content, while Eco Commercial Building emphasizes recycled
materials for specific applications like furniture.

Low-VOC Paints
Both buildings use low-VOC paints to improve indoor air
quality and reduce the environmental impact of traditional
paints.