Four Civil Engineering students of Shinas College of Technology (ShCT) organized a one-day field visit to the Ecohouse located at Higher College of Technology (HCT), Muscat, on June 20, 2018.           

The purpose of the visit was to acquire practical knowledge about green building, and to understand the green building techniques suitable for the development of the country.

During the visit, Mr. Tariq Al-Kharousi, lecturer in Electrical section, HCT  and  Asma Al-Balushi, member of Eco house, HCT, explained about the concept of Ecohouse such as sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.

In the Ecohouse at HCT, specially designed insulated double-wall (external and internal) technique is used to reduce the heat load from the atmosphere. Additionally, double glazing technique is employed for the windows. Special inlets and outlets along with heat exchangers assist in improving the environmental quality indoors. The orientation of the house is in a South-North direction. A waste water treatment plant and rainwater storing facilities are also installed in the building.

Solar PV panels have been installed to produce electricity for the building and the excess is fed to the main grid using a bi-directional meter. A solar water heater too has been installed. In this way, renewable energy is utilized as much as possible for the operation of the Ecohouse.

ED Lecturer Mr. A. Kandasamy, accompanied four Bachelor students in civil engineering project students during the said visit.