Eco-Mansion

List of selected teams has been declared. All selected teams will be contacted and told about what exactly needs to be done by them in the finals.
Post all your queries on our forum and get them answered. Click here to visit the Forum. Check out a few important Updates
Click here to get answers to a few Frequently asked Questions.

As each day passes by, we are moving towards a potential fuel crisis. With the traditional fuels getting close to exhaustion, the world needs to do all it can to take advantage of renewable energy sources. Alternatively, we can conserve energy through various methods for energy management and effective designing of homes can be one such method. A simple design can change how we live and how our future will be...

1.1 Problem Statement

Design an eco friendly, energy conserving and low maintenance house.

» Download the PDF version of the Problem statement.

1.2 Design Goals

The design of the house should satisfy the criteria of a green building. Green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:

1. Efficiently using energy, water and other resources.
2. Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity.
3. Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation.

Prizes worth Rs.22,000(INR) to be won.

View the Design Specifications »

For further queries contact:

2.1 Zoning and Site Restrictions

The house is to be built at an open space in New Mumbai on a plot area of 2500 sq. ft. for a high income family having 6 members (grandparents, husband-wife and a daughter and a son). The plot should be rectangular in shape.

Include the google map picture of the site that you have chosen from New Mumbai. The contours of the site and the surrounding buildings should be depicted in the picture.

2.2 Design Requirements

The following are the bare minimum things that the participant should incorporate while making the design sustainable:

1. Energy efficient design.
2. Building science.
3. Materials used.
4. Indoor environmental quality.

View the Submission Details »

3.1 Abstract Submission

Participants have to submit a written abstract before the competition. This abstract will be used to shortlist teams for the competition. Only shortlisted teams will be eligible to participate in Eco Mansion at Techfest 2010.

1. The following points must be covered in the abstract:
   • Description of the structure of the building:
     This should be aimed at giving a brief overview of the design. The following points (if relevant) may be incorporated:

     • a. The environmental conditions that you are considering while designing the house.
       b. Number of floors your house would have and how you have optimized that.
       c. Placement of the various rooms and areas in the design, depending upon the kind of conditions they need.

     Description of the energy efficient methods used:
     In this section include the areas where you feel that energy consumption of the building can be reduced and mention all the measures taken to do the same.
2. Please make the abstract as concise as possible. Typically it should not exceed 4 A-4 pages (excluding the front page) on MS Word (Times New Roman font, size 12, with single spacing). The front page should have the team registration number and names of the team members.

   Include the google map picture of the site that you have chosen from New Mumbai. The contours of the site and the surrounding buildings should be depicted in the picture.

3. Each team is allowed to make only one valid submission. In case of multiple submissions, only the last submission will be evaluated.
4. Submission of Abstract: The document must be named as EM(registration number). Example, if your registration number is 1024, your file must be named EM1024.doc. The abstracts should be sent to ecomansion@techfest.org

3.2 Competition Requirements

For the final round, the following will be required:

1. Design:
   Participants are required to submit the site plan, plans at all levels, elevations and sections in separate sheets. It would be advised for you to bring in A1 sheets, though there are no restrictions.
   Computerized 3D model of the building should also be submitted. Software like AutoCAD can be used for the same. Please inform us beforehand about the software that you would be using for the final presentation.
2. Documentation for overall energy reduction:
   Teams are required to give a rough estimate of reduction in energy requirements achieved through their design. An exact quantitative description of the net energy reduction is not needed.

Participants will have to make a presentation before a panel of judges explaining how they have made their building energy efficient and how their methods can be practically implemented.

View the Rules »

4.1 General Rules

1. The organizers will reject incomplete, inconsistent or improper documents and designs. Furthermore, the organizers will not return submitted documents and designs.
2. The decision of the jury shall be final and binding.
3. All entrants are regarded as having a full understanding of the regulations for the competition and as being willing to comply with every rule.
4. The organizers reserve all rights to change any or all of the above rules as they deem fit. Change in rules, if any, will be highlighted on the website and notified to the registered participants.

4.2 Team Specifications

A team may consist of a maximum of 3 members. Students from different educational institutes may form a team.

4.3 Eligibility

All students with a valid identity card of their respective educational institutes are eligible to participate.

4.4 Certificate policy

1. Certificate of Excellence will be given to all the winners.
2. Certificates of Participation will be given to all the teams whose abstract will be selected for the competition. The teams which get disqualified due to disobeying any of the competition rules, will not be considered for the certificate.

4.5 Accommodation

Accommodation registrations are over.

View the Judging Criteria »

Following are some of the parameters on which the design will be judged. Your innovation and understanding of the design will result in more marks being awarded to you.

5.1 Design Specifications

1. Efficient use of the space provided.
2. How well the green house concept has been covered.
3. Utility of the house to the family.

5.2 Sustainability

1. Energy: Use of energy efficient technologies and construction in the design. The effort should be on passive methods of energy-efficient design. Here the energy reduction should be done through the design of the house and not through installation of energy efficient devices. However, if the design has locations where such devices can be installed, then that will be appreciated.
2. Building Science:

   • a. While designing, movement of air, moisture and heat in and out of the building must be taken care of, as it influences the energy efficiency.
     b. Understanding of how building components work together to get the intended performance.
     c. Ease of maintenance of the building.

3. Material Selection:

   • a. Understanding of material characteristics and capabilities.
     b. Resourcefulness in material use and waste handling.
     c. Understanding of embodied energy required to manufacture materials used as well as the energy required for their transport, etc.

4. Environment Quality Inside Building: Air ventilation.
5. Water: Water usage and its efficiency, conservation and treatment alternatives.
6. Site: Compatibility of the building with the surrounding climatic conditions.

View the Resources »

6.1 Resources

We have provided the following reference for your help. The CADTutor. Hope you find it useful.

Register here for Eco-Mansion.