PROJECT REPORT

POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN ENVIRONMENTAL

ECONOMICS

SUBMITTED TO
UNIVERSITY OF HYDERABAD

ENERGY - EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING FOR

MICROCLIMATE MODIFICATION AND WATER
CONSERVATION: A PARADIGM SHIFT

MOHAN KOTAMRAZU
Enrol No. 20EE0051-03
Professor and Head
Dept. of Architecture
K.I.T.S., Ramtek.
Dist. Nagpur (M.S.)
 INTRODUCTION

 Landscape design is the creation of evocative, meaningful and sustainable

landscapes. It is the conscious process of managing, planning and physically
changing or modifying the landscape.
 Landscape design is the conscious process of managing, planning and
physically changing or modifying the landscape.
 The working materials of landscape architecture are plants, plantations,
building materials and water.
 The designer must take into account or consideration the main geological and
soil features and the climatic conditions which the area has. Landscape and
vegetation affect the physical environment of man as much as actual built
environment itself.
 According to Hackett the role of the landscape planner is to locate and weld
together various land uses in a process based on technical knowledge and the
physiology of landscapes and an aesthetic understanding of its appearance.
 Sylvia Crowe suggests that landscape planning is a wider concept than land
use planning because it includes appearance as well as use, pleasure as well as
fertility.
 PARADIGM SHIFT IN LANDSCAPING THOUGHT

 Today there is a growing awareness among architects and landscape

designers about certain lacunae in the traditional approach towards
landscape design.
 The current energy shortage stresses that the concerns of the architect and
landscape designer must be broader than aesthetics.
 The French garden at Versailes, France, designed by the famous land scape
architect had over 14000 fountains. In the present scenario of water crisis
such an attitude towards the use of water is unacceptable.
 Today what would be appreciated is an intelligent and sensitive approach
leading to conservation of this valuable resource.
 Another concept previously unexplored in landscape design that needs
serious attention is conservation of energy through passive means.
 Retrofitting existing sites for application of solar energy by suitable grading
practices needs to be explode.
 Integration of all the above considerations would ultimately result in
landscapes that would be self sustaining and responsive to the life style of the
people who use them.
OBJECTIVES

 To study the role of vegetation in creating favourable microclimatic

conditions in and around buildings and the manner in which plants could
improve environmental quality.
 To evolve criteria for appropriate plant selection.
 To develop strategies for conservation and re-use of water in landscaping.
 To explore ways by which energy efficient methods for landscaping could
be employed through passive techniques.
 To provide guidelines for energy efficient site planning techniques which
result in the creation of favourable microclimatic conditions.
 LANDSCAPING AT FILM CITY

Japanese Garden

In Japanese gardens the two most fundamental principles of garden making, one, the
recreation of natural habitat and, two, the attempt to appeal to the less rational and more
intuitive sense of the viewer, are embodied.

Ground covers in landscaping

A variety of ground covers like Ipomea tricolour and Ipomea chataruse have been
successfully used to cover large expenses of ground in the film city.
 VINES AND CREEPERS

Semi-permeable Trellis covered with the climber Ipomea tuberosa in Visakhapatnam

(Hot and humid climate), allows breeze to filter through improving comfort conditions.

The compound wall at Ambazari park, Nagpur (hot and dry climate) covered
with Pyrostegia Venusta (Golden Shower). This deciduous creeper provides
shade in summer and by shedding its leaves allows adjacent areas to be warmed
by reflected radiation in winter.
The ingress of solar radiation into building Duranta repens ‘Variegata’, an ever green hardy
interiors can be mitigated by the use of the shrubs is often grown as hedge and forms an
creeper Hedora helix which is covers the entire impenetrable barrier. Durantas are pruned to
walls of a building at Ambazari park, Nagpur. maintain good shape.

Golden Duranta hedge at KITS, Ramtek

 ROCK GARDEN PLANTS AT AMBAZARI PARK
NAGPUR

Russelia juncea (Coral plant)

Grows well in all types of soil but flowers best in porous soil and full sun. Very useful in
shrubbery and rock gardens.

Lantana sellowiana
These hardy plants are grown in shrubbery, rock gardens, as ground cover and
hedge; dwarf and trailing types in baskets are in planters in terrace gardens.
 SHADE TREES AT ANDHRA UNIVERSITY
VISAKHAPATNAM

Bombax malabaricum
(Indian silk cotton tree)
A decidous tree used to provide shade for parks, gardens and highways.

Swetenia mahagonia
(Jamaicam Mahagony Tree)
Excellent shade Tree. Requires varied soil with good drainage.
 SHELTER BELT PLANTATION FOR WIND
PROTECTION

Casurina equistifolia plantation along the coastal corridor of Visakhapatnam

 SHADE TREES AT KITS, RAMTEK

Ficus benjamina (Java Fig)

This ever green tree with drooping branches which Alstonia scholaris (Saptaparni, Devil’s Tree)
provides excellent shade is suitable for planting along This evergreen tree with good foliage provides deep
highways, large avenues and parks and for interior shade and is used for planting in parks and roads.
decoration.
 HEDGING PLANTS AT KITS, RAMTEK

Casuanina equistifolia (Australian Oak)

Good tree for mass planting along sea shores for checking soil erosion. If regularly pruned makes
good hedge. It is drought resistant.

Pedilanthus tithymaloides (Devils backbone)

An excellent hedging plant which is easy to grow should be kept sponged at all times. The
stems contain an acrid milky sap that irritates the skin.
 ORNAMENTAL TREES IN KITS, RAMTEK

Butea monosperma (Flame of the forest)

Plumeria obstusa (Pagoda Tree) This deciduous tree which prefers black
Small or medium size deciduous tree that cotton oil is used in parks and gardens and
grows well on all types of soil bears finely is recommended as a soil binder.
perfumed flowers.
 TREE PLANTATION AT KITS, RAMTEK

Triveni Hostel, KITS, Ramtek prior to plantation

Plantation adjacent to Triveni Hostel for modification of micro-climatic conditions

Trees used - Bauhinea blakeana, Delonix regia, Azadrachta indica, Samanea saman,
Pongamia glabra and Cassia siamia.
 ORNAMENTAL FLOWERING TREES

Lagerstroemia flos – reginae (Queens flower)

Cassia fistula (Amaltas)
This deciduous flowering tree with purple pink
This deciduous variety with drooping yellow flowers is
flowers is one of the most attractive flowering trees
one of the most attractive flowering trees of India.
at KITS, Ramtek.
 DROUGHT RESISTANT PLANTS AT KITS, RAMTEK

Drought resistant plants help in water conservation. Succulent

leaves such as cactus store the water in leaf cells.

Thuja Orientalis (Chinese Thuja)

This species is planted in gardens for its attractive, dense foliage and neat bushy habit of growth. It
tolerates drought and also resists pollution.
 EMBELLISHMENTS AND MULCHES IN KITS, RAMTEK

Wedelia trilobata
Few ground covers are used more widely in tropical gardens than
this hardy trailer which grows in sun or shade and tolerates most soil
conditions.

Mulches help to retain the water which is in

the soil and keep it from evaporating, or
transpiring back into the atmosphere.
Mulches reduces maintenance reducing use
of water.
Mulches limit reflectivity, curtail heat
prevent weeds, hold soil together, improve
appearance and keep water in the root zone.
Embellishments like sculptures, statues etc.,
add flavour to the landscape.

Combination of mulches and stepping stones at Torin -in - A Japanese

Dry landscape garden of the Edo period
 LANDSCAPING AT KITS, RAMTEK
ELECTRONICS BUILDING COURTYARD

Cycas revoluta, Arnentherium red and green, Golden duranta, Tabernae montana and
Thuja orientalis are the some of the shrubs in the courtyard.

Greviella robusta (Silver Oak, for noise, dust control and filtering breeze.
 LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT FOR
WATER CONSERVATION

There are three strategies which can be used in dealing with landscaping design for
water conservation.

1. To use water more carefully.

2. To design or redesign a landscape so that less water is required.
3. To apply water to plants precisely measures for conservation of water through
creative landscape.
SITE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
FOR SOLAR ENERGY AND
ARCHITECURE
CONCLUSION

From the foregoing study the following points emerge.

1. Vegetation can regulate the environmental quality by various means and
create favourable micromatic conditions.
2. Landscaping apart from its visual enhancing quality also offers another
strategy for energy conservation.
3. Application of Energy efficient landscape design strategies save energy at
the point of use.
4. Proper landscape management practices can result in conservation of
valuable natural resources.