ABSTRACT Buildings have a lot to answer for in terms of the amount of natural resources consumed, the amount of pollution created, the amount of energy wasted and the amount of wastes generated. Construction activity is known to have a major impact on the environment and is a major consumer of a wide range of naturally occurring and synthesized resources. Despite the recognition that environmental issues are important to the survival of the construction industry, the industry continues to degrade the environment, exploiting resources and generating waste, and is slow to change its conventional practices to incorporate environmental matters as part of its decision making process. With increased awareness and knowledge of these impacts, efforts are being made to avoid these adverse effects and to work towards impact improvement. Among these is Green Architecture. This thesis aimed to highlight and describe approaches to green architecture and how they were adopted to a hotel design, with special regard to the climatic conditions. Case studies were carried out both locally and internationally to have a good understanding of the topic. The buildings examined include the Bank of America Tower and the G Tower Malaysia. These buildings were analyzed with respect to the benefits derived from the use of principles of architecture such as passive solar design, day lighting, greywater and rainwater systems, construction materials and pattern of site development. Burj al Arab Hotel Dubai and Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja were also studied for hotel design, spatial organization and space requirements, as well as the Songjiang Hotel china, a green hotel.
The findings of the case studies were applied to design the hotel with energy and water efficiency being the main focus of the study. For energy efficiency, the hotel is designed with the environment: passive cooling techniques such as natural ventilation, evapourative cooling, shading, landscaping and day lighting are employed. Photovoltaic is used on the building facade. Evacuated solar tubes on the roof deck heat rainwater captured as well as greywater system is used to make the hotel water efficient. The five star Kada International Hotel which is located by the River Kaduna bank has 122 rooms and suites, conference and exhibition hall, restaurants, leisure facilities, shops and rentable office spaces. The study concluded with the proposition that the application of green architecture will result to a more environmental friendly hotel, decreased running costs, and increased property values, while ensuring that resources and planetary systems are protected for future generations to come.
The findings of the case studies were applied to design the hotel with energy and water efficiency being the main focus of the study. For energy efficiency, the hotel is designed with the environment: passive cooling techniques such as natural ventilation, evapourative cooling, shading, landscaping and day lighting are employed. Photovoltaic is used on the building facade. Evacuated solar tubes on the roof deck heat rainwater captured as well as greywater system is used to make the hotel water efficient. The five star Kada International Hotel which is located by the River Kaduna bank has 122 rooms and suites, conference and exhibition hall, restaurants, leisure facilities, shops and rentable office spaces. The study concluded with the proposition that the application of green architecture will result to a more environmental friendly hotel, decreased running costs, and increased property values, while ensuring that resources and planetary systems are protected for future generations to come.
