3. Scope of the present study
Energy in buildings can be categorised into two types: (1)
energy for the maintenance/servicing of a building during its
useful life, and (2) energy capital that goes into production
of a building (embodied energy) using various building
materials. Study of both the types of energy consumption
is required for complete understanding of building energy
needs. Embodied energy of buildings can vary over wide
limits depending upon the choice of building materials and
building techniques. RC frames, RC slabs, burnt clay brick
masonry, concrete block masonry, tile roofs represent common
conventional systems forming the main structure of
buildings in India. Similar building systems can be found in
many other developed and developing countries. Alternative
building technologies such as stabilised mud blocks
(SMB’s), prefabricated roofing systems, masonry vaults,
filler slab roofs, lime-pozzolana (LP) cements, etc. can be
used for minimising the embodied energy of buildings.
Examples of buildings using alternative building technologies
can be found in India and elsewhere [8–14].