Learning from the Recycling Ideas of Nature for Sustainability: Council House (CH2)

*Merve Ertosun Yıldız, Semra Arslan Selçuk and Figen Beyhan* 

#### **Abstract**

 Building sector is playing an active role in the depletion of energy resources. Ecological balance is hanged by a thread due to increasing waste and pollution problem. Thus, ongoing discussions about sustainable development and environmental consciousness are focusing on the "nature and built environment relationship". Furthermore, recent researches show that nature has good ideas to improve a systematic approach to architectural design for sustainability. This discipline, known as biomimicry, leads researchers working within interdisciplinary groups to achieve built environments like "ecosystems" highly efficient, recycling, low wasting. Accordingly, by learning from nature, using waste in building construction by "recycling or reusing" has taken important place in terms of energy conservation. In this context, this chapter discusses a case study, Council House Building, in detail from designing process to construction, from material usage to renewable energy concerns. The findings demonstrated that a building can be designed with sustainable design goals. This building can be called "a working ecosystem" due to several strategies like efficient use of solar energy, natural ventilation and lighting, using waste water, etc. It is also possible to conclude that biomimicry in the realm of architecture should be discussed and formulated for formation of sustainable built environments.

**Keywords:** biomimicry, recovery, recycling, sustainable architecture, CH2 building

#### **1. Introduction**

By the end of the twentieth century, the increase in the exhaustion rate of the world's limited resources leads to great environmental and social losses. In the increasing urbanization/urbanization process, the construction sector, which plays an active role in the consumption of energy resources, has demonstrated the necessity of designing on the basis of people's healthy and comfortable living, and sustainability approaches have gained importance. Due to the increased awareness of ecological impacts, serious studies are being carried out in developing methods to understand and solve these effects. Recent researches have shown that nature is a guide for worthy ideas in this context, and it is directed towards this field with the interdisciplinary working groups of scientists. In nature, ecosystems are the most effective examples of living organization in the world for today's building design, with its high efficiency, recycled approaches, little waste, and sustainable

 approaches. There are also successful examples to demonstrate that a building within the city can be designed in line with sustainable design objectives by taking ecosystems as a model. Council House (CH2) is one of those buildings which has been designed by learning from the sustainability ideas found in nature. This building, which has recovery strategies such as effective solar use, natural ventilationlighting, use of wastewater, and the use of recycled materials are applied, has taken its place in the literature as a working ecosystem in architecture. At the end of the study, it is seen that, recycling ideas which works in any type of ecosystem in nature, can be applied to the built environment through the biomimetic approaches and sustainable results can be achieved in the buildings.

#### **2. The concept of reuse/recycle in architecture**

When sustainability concept is considered, which is in the core of economic, social, and environmental aspects of building sector, it is seen that environmentally sensitive design approaches can be adopted to the built environment. During the production process, it is possible to perform conservation of natural resources, and allow the use of the structural components throughout the life of the building. Moreover, it will be feasible using old materials and components considered as "waste" at the end of the life of the building by means of recycling or reuse.

 Reuse of waste materials is a physical process such as collecting, cleaning, and repeating the use of the material. Recycling is the process of converting wastes that can be re-evaluated through a variety of physical and/or chemical processes into secondary raw materials and including them in the production process. Reuse or recycling of building waste is the recovery approach that aims to meet the raw material needed for new materials to be produced. Most of the structural elements can become recyclable when they have completed their life cycle. Thus, the raw material consumption which is one of the main problems of the sector can be reduced, and the buildings will show a more respectful attitude to the environment and contribute to the economy. For example, recycling of building materials could reduce total life cycle energy by 30% [1]. Recycling aluminum or steel allows saving more than 50% of the embodied energy [2]. The use of recycling concrete can reduce the total amount of waste by 12–15%. In addition, recycling or re-use of construction waste can reduce demands on landfills [3]. For this reason, many countries around the world give great importance to the recycling of structural waste. The waste management in Australia, which is an important framework for sustainability, aims to avoid waste generation, reduce the consumption of energy and raw materials spent in order to reveal new products, reduce the value of waste materials, and prevent pollution [4]. Hong Kong has initiated initiatives such as the development of green technologies, the classification of construction waste, the creation of a waste management plan scheme, and the use of recycled materials to increase the applicability of waste management and to minimize the occurrence of structural waste [5, 6]. In EU countries, like Germany, Holland, England, France, and Italy, the technology is well established and highly developed, easily accessible and inexpensive, in general for the separation and recovery of construction and demolition waste [6].

 As an example, Kamikatsu Public House (**Figure 1**) in Japan was designed and built in 2015 to raise awareness of reuse of building components in the county. This building received the Kam Sustainable Buildings 2016 AP award due to its attitude towards using re-functionalized waste materials. Components from abandoned houses in the region were used on the building facade, recovered tiles for flooring, bottles for luminaire and newspapers as wallpapers were used in the building [9, 10].

*Learning from the Recycling Ideas of Nature for Sustainability: Council House (CH2) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836* 

**Figure 1.**  *Using re-functionalized waste materials on Kamikatsu Public House [7, 8].* 

Similarly, the Manifesto House designed by James and Mau is an eco-friendly example completed in 2009. Designers used waste materials in their projects. Wooden pallets were used as an envelope on the threecontainers which are used as structure of the building (**Figure 2**). More than 85% of the building materials are made of recyclable insulation, steel, paper, and aluminum. The project utilizes prefabricated and modular components allowing more efficient construction for potential future modifications or extensions [13, 14].

 Another example, The Collage House, India was designed by S + PS Architects in 2015 with the idea of reusing materials. The front facade is a "corner of windows" that reuses old windows and doors gathered from the abandoned houses in the region. They are designed to get a surface that wraps two sides of the building (**Figure 3a**). Metal pipe remains repaired to construct a bamboo like "pipe wall"

**Figure 2.**  *Recycled containers and wooden pallets of Manifesto House [11, 12].* 

#### **Figure 3.**

*Reusing waste materials on building. (a) Doors/windows used on the Collage Houses envelope [15] and (b) bamboo wall made of metal pipe remains [16].* 

#### **Figure 4.**

*Reusing brick and glass wastes on building facade: a) Crystal House [19]; b) recyclable glass components [20]; and c) recyclable glass components [21].* 

that integrates structural posts and downspout (**Figure 3b**). There is also a wall clad made of cut-waste stone slices generated on site during the building process [17, 18].

 MVRDV designed in Amsterdam a building called the Crystal House (2016). In the construction of the project, broken and defective glass and brick wastes were processed and reused on the facade surface (**Figure 4a**). In substance, whole facade materials especially glass components are wholly recyclable (**Figure 4**) [22, 23, 55].

 The University of Toronto Scarborough Campus (UTSC) Student Centre was designed by Stantec Architects, 2004. A total of 16 tons of structural steel deconstructed from the mechanical penthouse of the old Terrace Gallery of Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) was reused in this building (**Figure 5**). This project shows the processes that facilitated the reuse of structural steel components in the building from the start of a recycling plan, deconstruction, and reconstruction [25].

 As a result of sustainability-related concerns, the development of an architectural understanding that prioritizes the efficient use of existing resources is extremely important for the protection of the environment and natural resources. Generally, it is observed that recycle/reuse material usage for building sector is widespread in the developed countries. In addition, these countries have developed a number of motivations to increase the use of these materials. For example, certification systems have been developed to guarantee the quality of recycled materials in European Union countries, such as Netherlands and Belgium. Documentation of the quality of second-hand materials allow the recycling of wastes and use them as secondary raw materials because of the appropriate price for material producers [26, 27]. Moreover, research suggests that recycled materials could be in the quality of new materials. So, recycled materials are efficient sources for the building sector [1, 2]. Also, recycled materials instead of being waste, could create "secondary market", a new financial area for the sector [28].

**Figure 5.**  *UTSC Student Centre constructed with reused steel [24].* 

*Learning from the Recycling Ideas of Nature for Sustainability: Council House (CH2) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836* 

After all, due to potential risks on the human health and natural environment, it is important to manage and operate effectively all building materials, especially the wastes. The key point of that is the planning process formed by the decisions taken in the design process. So, architects as the designers of the buildings and spaces have growing responsibilities. From this perspective, the rest of this study quests for the ideas and approaches found in nature and can be developed for the architecture in terms of recycling and reusing.

#### **3. Biomimetic architecture using recycling/reusing strategies of nature**

The term of biomimicry comes from *bios* meaning life and *mimic* meaning to imitate. It is a science that examines nature's phenomena, processes, and elements by mimicking nature's best ideas to find out innovative solutions for complex problems. It follows the nature's way to solve human problems such as habitation, nutrition, social relations, and optimization, using minimum material and energy, effective patterns for appropriate structural solutions, etc. in a sustainable way. So, its knowledge is based on the idea of effectiveness. Also, biomimicry reminds that all creatures are dependent on nature, and they should continue their lives with limited sources [29, 30]. To briefly explain, Janine Benyus in her book sets out that there are nine basic principles of the concept of biomimicry: "Nature runs on sunlight, uses only the energy it needs, fits form to function, recycles everything, rewards cooperation, banks on diversity, demands local expertise, curbs excesses from within, taps the power of limits" [31]. To sum up, every organism in nature avoids excesses and "overbuilding", gains maximum efficiency with minimum material and energy, recycles, and finds a use for everything.

The systems in nature, called "ecosystems", are the most effective examples of the life organization in the world and building designs with high efficiency, low waste, and sustainable structures. Recoveries of organisms by using waste as a source, as a result of the reactions in the cell systems, the cycle of carbon dioxide, are an example for reusing in the ecosystems. Also, there is a significant cycle in the ecosystems. The seeds are planted in the soil after which they become trees, and the trees give fruits (the seeds are waste but they are actually the source).

Benyus and Koelman who studies about adapting basic principles of biomimicry to architecture, say that biomimicry can find three basic areas of performance [32]:


Biomimicry has three main levels which include form, process, and ecosystem [33]. These can be applied when a design problem is tackled. Through analyzing the organism or ecosystem, form and process in nature, a solution can be entirely biomimetic. At that time, it is important to define which feature(s) in nature is to be mimicked [33].

**Tables 1**–**4** indicate some examples presenting biomimetic idea in architecture. These examples indicate that biomimicry can be used in different levels in terms of needs in architecture.

The environmental problems are a global reality. The built environment is responsible global environmental and social problems like waste, materials, energy use, and greenhouse gases emission. The growing concern of environment has led to the need for energy conscious, eco-friendly, and energy efficient designs to minimize the negative effect of buildings and its related activities on the environment. In this context, biomimicry approach and principals could provide guide for sustainability design.


Learn from nature:


#### **Table 1.**

*Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatic Centre) [34, 35].* 


Learn from nature:


**Table 2.**  *Dragonfly Vertical Farm [36, 37].*  *Learning from the Recycling Ideas of Nature for Sustainability: Council House (CH2) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836* 


Learn from nature:


#### **Table 3.**

*Hydrological Centre for University of Namibia [38–40].* 


#### Learn from nature:


#### **Table 4.**

*The Bird's Nest (Bejing National Stadium) [33, 41].* 

#### **4. CH2**-**Council House, Melbourne**

 A 10-storey office building Council House 2 (CH2), which is totally 12,536 m<sup>2</sup> with commercial spaces on the ground-floor and underground parking lots, has been designed by mimicking the ecology using the natural 24-hour cycle of solar energy, natural light, recycling rainwater to power, heat, cool, and water the building [42]. The first application of the biomimetic design approach in Australia was designed by Mick Pearce (DesignInc). During the design, every possible element of the building was planned on the basis of the "laws of nature", and the concept of biomimicry has shaped the building's form, material, and all technical and mechanical components. The design concept is defined as "…if human beings no longer wish to survive, they have to create harmonious and more sustainable spaces within the nature" [43].

The design team states that CH2 is a highly energy efficient and sustainable building, with all its systems and spaces. The building provides all of its components like a living organism and summarized by the design team as follows [46]:

	- *Epidermis*: external layer of facade-vertical planting (green facade)
	- *Dermis*: sub-layer of skin to filter external influence likes light, wind etc.

 The CH2 building design inspired from nature; especially from the termite mounds for natural indoor ventilation and from tree for the design of building skin (**Figure 6b** and **c**). In fact that, biomimicry can be seen in whole building. First of all, the west facade behaves like an epidermis of the tree so it can be sensible to the external climate [46]. The north and south facades, inspired from the tree, and were designed as wind pipes so they provide air movement on the building (**Figure 7a**  and **b**). The east facade is like a building core that has the services areas and toilets. It performs like a tree bark and protecting the spaces by filtering air and light (**Figure 7c**) [33].

#### **Figure 6.**

*Council House 2 inspired by nature. (a) Council House 2 Building [44], (b) design concept [45], and (c) CH2's natural analogy [45].* 

*Learning from the Recycling Ideas of Nature for Sustainability: Council House (CH2) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836* 

**Figure 7.** 

*Council House 2. (a) The wind pipes [47], (b) the wind pipes [48], and (c) the bark (inspired eastern facade) [45].* 

 The termite mound was a model for the CH2 thermal design concept which mimics natural convection, thermal mass, ventilation heaps, and water use for cooling (**Figure 8**). CH2 has many energy efficient/sustainability principles and includes many technological features. For example, it uses thermal mass for absorbing excess heat, it also uses facades to cool and heat building with its recycled timber louvers controlled by photovoltaic cells. Furthermore, it has wind-powered turbines which help cooling the building at night. The recycling of the waste heat generated inside the building for their heating/cooling system, so there is always an air movement [46].

The other striking features of CH2 are the five shower towers (**Figure 9**), in which water droplets evaporate slightly as they use up energy and thus cool the air. The shower towers take the water used from the phase change place and recool them for using again within the phase change place. Later, the water evaporates slightly, taking energy, and cooling the remaining droplets of water [53, 54]. There is a system always reusing water.

CH2 building design is based on the fundamental "laws of nature". It is concerned with developing architectural responses which are expression of ecosystem. In this way, design approaches that cover the principles of sustainability have been

#### **Figure 8.**

*The bioclimatic section of CH2 buildings inspired from termite mound [49].* 

**Figure 9.**  *Shower towers [50–52].* 


Learn from nature:


#### **Table 5.**

*Learning from Council House 2.* 

 adopted and the building has been attached in the literature as an effective design. This case study is an effective one for architects who wants to learn more on how sustainable buildings can be designed by the principles of nature (**Table 5**).

#### **5. Conclusions**

The construction sector, which has become more dominant, has created irreversible damage in the environment with the excessive use of natural resources and

#### *Learning from the Recycling Ideas of Nature for Sustainability: Council House (CH2) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836*

 energy consumption. Natural processes can serve to find innovative solutions to complex problems. So, architectural problems of any kind can be solved by mimicking the sustainability process of nature. Developing and improving sustainable built environments actors involving construction sector can focus on nature and natural systems to transfer sustainable ideas. Because, biomimesis could have three main fields of application in architecture: in the production of more resistant, stronger, lighter, self-combining, and self-repairing materials; in the acclimatization of the buildings and the built environment; and in the creation of a sustainable, recyclable built environment that allows the reuse of waste materials without consuming but producing resources. The example analyzed within the scope of the study, presents a respectable reproduction of nature as a form, behavior, and living system with its high energy efficiency and sustainable design approaches. The findings of the research demonstrated that a building in an urban area can be designed in accordance with sustainable design goals just like in an ecosystem. Consequently, the concept of biomimicry in the realm of architecture should be discussed and formulated for formation of sustainable built environments. For the further studies creating a guideline for sustainable buildings learning from nature through biomimicry would be useful for the architects looking for innovative sustainable solutions.

#### **Author details**

Merve Ertosun Yıldız\*, Semra Arslan Selçuk and Figen Beyhan Department of Architecture, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

\*Address all correspondence to: ertosunmerve@gmail.com

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

### **References**

 [1] Mulders L. High quality recycling of construction and demolition waste in the Netherlands [M.Sc. thesis]. Utrecht: Utrecht University, Faculty of Geosciences; 2013

[2] Ekanem OE. Effective recycle planning for construction and demolition wastes [doctoral dissertation]. Philadelphia: Temple University Graduate Board; 2011

[3] Ng WY, Chau CK. New life of the building materials-recycle, reuse and recovery. Energy Procedia. 2015;**75**:2884-2891. DOI: 10.1016/j. egypro.2015.07.581

[4] Zero Waste South Australia Report: Waste and recycling industry in Australia. 2019. Available from: https://www.aph. gov.au/…/WasteandRecycling/~/…/ WasteandRecycling/…/report.pdf, [Accessed: 2019-02-10]

[5] Jaillon L, Poon CS. Sustainable construction aspects of using prefabrication in dense urban environment: A Hong Kong case study. Construction Management and Economics. 2008;**26**(9):953-966. DOI: 10.1080/01446190802259043

[6] Li Y. Developing a sustainable construction waste estimation and management system [degree of doctor of philosophy]. University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; 2013

[7] Kamikatz [Internet]. 2019. Available from: http://galeri3.arkitera. com/var/resizes/Haber-02/2016/08/10/ kamikatz.jpg.jpeg [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[8] Kamikatz House [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://architizer. com/projects/kamikatz-public-house/ media/1969819/ [Accessed: 2019-01-10] [9] Kamikatz Public House Project [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https:// architizer.com/projects/kamikatzpublic-house/ [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[10] Arkitera- Kamikatz Public House. 2016. Available from: http://www. arkitera.com/haber/27381/kamikatzpublic-house/TarkanOnline [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[11] Designboom [Internet]. Manifesto House. 2019. Available from: https:// static.designboom.com/wp-content/ uploads/2014/05/james-mau-manifestohouse-designboom-04.jpg [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[12] MH [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://inhabitat.com/prefabfriday-the-manifesto-house-in-chile/ manifesto-house-2/ [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[13] Designboom [Internet]. Manifesto House. 2014. Available from: https:// www.designboom.com/architecture/ james-mau-arquitectura-manifestohouse-infiniski-05-28-2014/ [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[14] Ecocontainerhome [Internet]. 2019. Available from: http://www. ecocontainerhome.com/2011/01/ manifesto-house-a-container-homeby-james-mau-for-infiniski/ [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[15] Dezeen.com [Internet]. Collage House. 2019. Available from: https:// static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/04/ collage-house-s-ps-mumbaiindia-sebastian-zachariah-iragosalia-photographix-pinkishshah\_dezeen\_936\_0.jpg [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[16] Collage House [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://images.adsttc. com/media/images/5719/4814/e58e/

*Learning from the Recycling Ideas of Nature for Sustainability: Council House (CH2) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836* 

ce90/5d00/0013/slideshow/20\_E\_ SZ44386.jpg?1461274637 [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[17] Dezeen.com [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://www.dezeen. com/2016/05/01/s-ps-collage-housereclaimed-window-door-facademumbai-india/ [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[18] Domusweb [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://www.domusweb. it/en/architecture/2016/04/28/collage\_ house.html [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[19] Crystal Houses [Internet]. 2019. Available from: http://www.mvrdv.nl/ media/uploads/2153\_160401\_MVRDV\_ Crystal\_Houses\_Amsterdam\_v01(4). jpg?width=1920 [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[20] Crystal Houses [Internet]. 2019. Available from: http://www.mvrdv.nl/ media/uploads/2153\_160405\_MVRDV\_ Crystal\_Houses\_Amsterdam\_v01(1). jpg?width=1920 [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[21] Crystal Houses [Internet]. 2019. Available from: http://www.mvrdv. nl/media/uploads/160403\_MVRDV\_ Crystal-Houses\_Amsterdam(1). jpg?width=1920 [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[22] Crystal Houses [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://www.mvrdv.nl/ projects/240/crystal-houses [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[23] Arcdaily.com [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://www.archdaily. com/785923/crystal-houses-mvrdv [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[24] UTSC Student Centre [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://media. glassdoor.com/l/eb/82/49/40/utscstudent-centre-highland-creek-photothanks-to-flickr-user.jpg [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

[25] Gorgolewski M, Straka V, Edmonds J, Sergio-Dzoutzidis C. Designing

buildings using reclaimed steel components. Journal of Green Building. 2008;**3**(3):97-107. DOI: 10.3992/jgb.3.3.97

[26] CDW Belgium Factsheet [Internet]. 2019. Available from: http://ec.europa. eu/environment/waste/studies/ deliverables/CDW\_Belgium\_Factsheet\_ Final.pdf [Accessed: 2019-01-24]

[27] CDW Netherlands Factsheet [Internet]. 2019. Available from: http:// ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/ studies/deliverables/CDW\_The%20 Netherlands\_Factsheet\_Final.pdf [Accessed: 2019-01-24]

[28] Vachon A. Economic and environmental considerations for construction and demolition (C&D) debris management and policy [M.Sc. thesis]. University of Maine, B.S. Environmental Management & Policy, Maine; 2008

[29] Spiegelhalter T, Arch RA. Biomimicry and circular metabolism for the cities of the future. The Sustainable City VI: Urban Regeneration and Sustainability. 2010;**129**:215-226. DOI: 10.2495/SC100191

[30] McGregor SL. Transdisciplinary and biomimicry. Transdisciplinary Journal of Engineering & Science. 2013;**4**:57-65

[31] Innovation inspired by nature: Biomimicry [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/ publication/285805738\_Innovation\_ inspired\_by\_nature\_Biomimicry [Accessed: 2019-02-08]

[32] Selçuk AS, Sorguç GA. The effect of biomimesis in architecture design paradigm. Journal of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture of Gazi University. 2007;**22**(2):451-459

[33] Radwan GA, Osama N. Biomimicry, an approach, for energy efficient building skin design. Procedia

Environmental Sciences. 2016, 2016;**34**:178-189. DOI: 10.1016/j. proenv.2016.04.017

[34] Dezeen.com [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://static. dezeen.com/uploads/2008/02/0802 watercube-t-165\_1.jpg [Accessed: 2019-02-08]

[35] Architizer.com [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://architizer. com/projects/watercube-nationalswimming-centre/ [Accessed: 2019-02-08]

[36] Inhabitat.com [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://inhabitat. com/files/dragonfly3.jpg [Accessed: 2019-02-08]

[37] Dragonfly [Internet]. 2019. Available from: http://vincent. callebaut.org/object/090429\_dragonfly/ dragonfly/projects/user [Accessed: 2019-02-08]

[38] Hydrological Centre [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https:// worldcadaccess.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8 341c19df53ef0134896acb30970c-500wi [Accessed: 2019-02-08]

[39] Adebisi GO, Onuwe JO, Sani AM. Assessment of biomimicry design concept adoption in architecture: Towards a sustainable built environment in Nigeria. IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology (IOSRJESTFT). 2015;**9**(4):41-46

[40] Tekin Ç, Kurugöl S. Environmentally friendly three buildings with three lives. Engineering Sciences. 2011;**6**(4):943-952 (in Turkish)

[41] Birds Nest Beijing Stadium [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://www.arch2o.com/ wp-content/uploads/2016/10/

Arch2O-Birds-Nest-Beijing-Olympic-Stadium-Herzog-de-Meuron-17.jpg [Accessed: 2019-02-08]

[42] Council House 2 Building [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://www.c40.org/case\_studies/ council-house-2-ch2-new-municipaloffice-building-eco-buildings-co2-87 electricity-82-gas-87-and-water-72 [Accessed: 2019-02-10]

[43] Arkitera [Internet]. 2019. Available from: http://v3.arkitera.com/k172 biomimicry-yeni-bir-mimarlik-tarzi-mi. html [Accessed: 2019-02-10]

[44] Australia Greenest Building [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https:// inhabitat.com/ch2-australias-greenestbuilding/ch23/ [Accessed: 2019-02-10]

[45] Webb S. The Integrated Design Process of CH2. Environment Design Guide, 1-10 [Internet]. 2005. Available from: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov. au/SiteCollectionDocuments/ch2-casestudy.pdf [Accessed: 2019-02-10]

[46] Snapshot11.2019. Available from: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov. au/SiteCollectionDocuments/ch2 snapshot-11-biomimicry.pdf

[47] Wind turbines [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://images.adsttc. com/media/images/51cc/7166/ b3fc/4be5/6b00/0077/slideshow/04\_ CH2\_Dianne\_Snape.jpg?1372352850 [Accessed: 2019-02-10]

[48] Arcdaily [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://images.adsttc.com/media/ images/51cc/716d/b3fc/4b21/4200/0075/ slideshow/05\_CH2\_Dianne\_Snape. jpg?1372352870 [Accessed: 2019-02-10]

[49] Wordpress.com [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://rpc6yg. files.wordpress.com/2011/11/ assignment43230pdf-5.jpg [Accessed: 2019-02-10]

*Learning from the Recycling Ideas of Nature for Sustainability: Council House (CH2) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87836* 

[50] Shower Tower [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://images.adsttc. com/media/images/51cc/7148/ b3fc/4b21/4200/0073/slideshow/02\_ CH2\_Dianne\_Snape.jpg?1372352809 [Accessed: 2019-02-10]

[51] Shower Tower Section [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://images. adsttc.com/media/images/51cc/7255/ b3fc/4be5/6b00/0080/slideshow/24\_ Shower\_Tower\_Section\_-\_DesignInc. jpg?1372353104 [Accessed: 2019-02-10]

[52] Shower Tower [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://rpc6yg.files. wordpress.com/2011/11/img018. jpg?w=490&h=793 [Accessed: 2019-02-10]

[53] Yeler GM, Yeler S. Models from nature for innovative building skins. Kırklareli University Journal of Engineering and Science. 2017;**3**:142-165

[54] Council House2 [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://rpc6yg. wordpress.com/2011/11/08/sustainablecase-study-council-house-2-ch2-part-iiin-progress/ [Accessed: 2019-02-10]

[55] Glass [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://media.glassdoor. com/l/634488/university-of-torontoscarborough-office.jpg [Accessed: 2019-01-10]

**97**

**Chapter 8**

**Abstract**

climate in the world.

**1. Introduction**

harvesting, life-cycle cost

Building in Sana'a

*Samah Alramagha and Demet Irklı Eryıldız*

An Approach to the Zero Energy

Green building movement has grown in Sana'a/Yemen for the last decade for environmental and financial reasons is directly related to the energy consumption and the cost. Before the power outage, people used the electricity provided by the government from petrol. However, the power and water outages make people move towards sustainable energy and rational use of water. On the other hand, construction technology is still the same like using the materials without insulators and concrete bricks. The aim of this chapter is to learn what the construction of zero energy is, analyze the various examples of countries of hot dry climate convergence in Sana'a, design residential buildings in Sana'a, and test the building against consumption, cost, and performance requirements, thereby reducing non-renewable energy use in the construction sector. This study is very important to facilitate the development of zero energy building (ZEB) in developing regions that have hot dry

**Keywords:** zero energy building, energy efficiency, green building, rainwater

For nearly a quarter of a century, global temperatures and carbon dioxide emissions have increased particularly in Yemen [1]. In recent years, Yemen has been facing a major energy shortage that cannot provide the demands of the population and infrastructure. For nearly a decade, the power of electricity had fallen to less than 70%. However, in 2015, it became even worse because of internal and external conflicts. Yemen is rich in resources that could be enough to produce electricity to get enough energy for buildings [2]. The percentage of buildings using electricity is about 55% of the total energy in Yemen (**Figure 1**). If the building is operated by renewable energy, the problem of carbon emissions and energy shortage will be easily solved. That is why the zero energy building (ZEB) is very important in Yemen. The residential buildings that are using renewable energy can significantly reduce emissions for the construction sector. Now, there are nearly 65% of buildings in Sana'a which use the basics of zero energy building (ZEB) such as using solar panels, trying to use less electricity and water. Zero energy buildings mean a reduced cost of living, higher resale values (as the demand for high-efficiency

homes is increasing), and freedom from variable energy prices [3].

The chapter will explain recommendations for the best possible design solutions to reach ZEB in Sana'a. For residential buildings in dry and warm areas, the design and operation of passive and active systems quite different with cold and humid

#### **Chapter 8**
