Development of green 3R roof/walls bio-technology for retrofits integrating waste, food and energy aspects | |
| Author | Chawla, Vishaka |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-18-35 |
| Subject(s) | Green roofs (Gardening) Sustainable buildings Recycling (Waste, etc.) |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Managemen |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. EV-18-35 |
| Abstract | With an increase in urban population and lack of greenery, Green Roofs and Walls are an ideal solution to achieve greenery while overcoming the issue of lack of space. Further integration of Urban Waste Management and Agriculture (Urban food production) into this scenario can make it even more attractive and economically sustainable. This development integrates Green Building Envelope (Walls/Roofs) with Waste Recycling (3R) and Urban Agriculture (on recycled waste nutrients). The walls and roofs were created using the 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) concept, thus the name, Green 3R Roof/Walls. Various aesthetically attractive and food producing plant creeper species were planted and grown as start - ups under different conditions and in various site locations. The growth of these plants over time was studied to quantify numerous benefits offered by Green Roofs and Wall s. The Green 3R Roof and Walls help in monetary savings through waste attenuation, food production, landscape improvement and therm al protection. The Green 3R Walls were estimated to reduce temperature by 3°C. The use of wastewater (Urine) as a fertilizer was shown to potentially reduce the campus wastewater load and contribute to saving in expensive wastewater treatment, while dealing with it as valuable resource. If one assumes that WW fert ilizer, urine is applied at odo r and physiologically appropriate a nd sustainable rates (Nitrogen Loading Rate of 0.864 gN/m 2 .d) and considers total available area for potential Green 3R Roofs and Walls, it can be stated that entire urine stream generated daily on campus (2 - 4m 3 ) can be accommodated on campus as a resource with significant benefits. The extent of landscape improvement studied by conducting a questionnaire survey of showed that 65% of AIT respondents were of the opinion that the Green 3R roof and walls would improve AIT landscape. The respondents were conser vative about the issue of use of wastewater (urine) as a fertilizer in public areas. However, the perception of campus inhabitants was that only 14% and 5% disagreed or strongly disagreed, respectively, with the use of such a fertilizer on campus. In olfac tory sense monitoring tests a potential and commonly perceived constraint in the application of WW Fertilizer (urine), its offensive odor, was found to be not a significant issue, as soil effectively absorbed and neutralized even at high specific applicati on rates (NLR of 0.864 gN/m 2 .d). A novel irrigation/fertigation system was developed for Roof and Wall situations, while safe and economical hydraulic regime was proposed to ensure aesthetically sustainable urine application in high profile, sensitive area s. In the studies on monitored plant physiological parameters under various conditions, it was observed that Mexican creeper ( Antigonon leptopus), paper flower ( Bougainvillea glabra) and Butterfly pea ( Clitoria ternatea) were the most suitable plants for Green 3R Walls. Rocktrumpet ( Mandevilla jamesonii) vine variety, on the other hand, was the most suitable for Green 3R Roofs. Over the start - up period soil and composted soil were not observed to deteriorate. |
| Year | 2018 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. EV-18-35 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shipin, Oleg V.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Visvanathanm Chettiyappan;Soni, Peeyush; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | AIT Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2018 |