Ansal Esencia – Green Township in Gurgaon

Ansal Esencia is the first of it’s kind Green-rated township in Gurgaon’s 67th Sector. Touted to be the greenest community in the NCR (National Capital Region), the Esencia township, developed by Ansal API has been registered as the Pilot Project for Green Rating by GRIHA under the Integrated Habitat Assessment norms.

Rating assessment and assistance is being provided by ADaRSH, Association for Development and Research of Sustainable Habitats. ADaRSH, an independent registered society was founded by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi) with support from MNRE (the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy) and is mandated to promote development of Sustainable buildings and habitats in India.

Ansal Esencia

Green Features of Ansal Esencia

Esencia has incorporated recommendations from ADaRSH in it’s endeavour to develop a Green community.

Here are some of the features that promise to make Esencia a Green and Sustainable community:

* Use of renewable sources of energy.

* Street lights and hot water systems that are powered by renewable solar energy.

* All the electronics in the buildings/apartments in Esencia shall be governed by BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) ratings and are designed to ensure maximum possible energy conservation. A master switch at the exit of each apartment also helps to optimize energy needs.

* Sensor-controlled lighting in every living room also helps conserve energy.

* Green zones like the Hyde Park, Tranquil Grove, Eco Grove etc along with open grid pavements, trees with large crowns that provide large shaded areas and overhangs and fins in all the buildings act as Heat Islands that trap and dissipate heat.

* Excellent pedestrian infrastructure and bicycle tracks cater to the health of Esencia’s residents.

* Streets fitted with Green and eco-friendly furniture like garbage cans, benches, bus stops and even poles.

* An organized waste management system.

* A landscaped terrace garden adds to the dwellings’ aesthetics and provides temperature control and hydrological benefits.

* A landscaped green cover with native flora handpicked by ADaRSH. These plant species have the following “Green” characteristics:

♦ They can cope with air pollutants like NOx, SPM and SO2.

♦ Drought-resistant and water efficient.

♦ Fast growing, deep-rooted and can stand firmly against even strong winds.

♦ They form a dense canopy with a high foliage density and a large leaf area.

♦ Capable of fixing Nitrogen and produce rapidly decomposable leaf litter.

Suzlon One Earth – LEED Rated Green Building in Pune

Suzlon One Earth

Suzlon is India’s largest and one of the world’s biggest producers of “clean” wind energy. In keeping with their Green image they wanted to build a Head-Quarters (HQ) building that reflected their global and “Sustainable” status. Spread over 10 acres of land and with a built-up area of 820,000 sq.ft., in Hadapsar, Pune, India, Suzlon’s aptly named “One Earth” corporate HQ houses all their functions and global verticals in a functional, aesthetic and Green campus.

Suzlon One Earth

The name “One Earth” signifies recognition of the Earth as a unique eco-system whose resources must be managed responsibly. It also signifies the effort made to create such an environmentally responsible corporate home. In keeping with the theme, the corporate buildings at One Earth have been named after the key elements of nature as Aqua, Tree, Sky and Sun.

Designed by the Pune-based Christopher Charles Benninger Architects and executed by Synefra, One Earth puts into practice the concept of an “Office in the Garden” rather than merely creating another concrete and metal eyesore.

One Earth is one of only five buildings in India to be LEED rated and the first in the state of Maharashtra. It is also the only building in India with the highest ratings from LEED (Platinum rating with 57 points which it obtained in 2010) and GRIHA (Five Star rating with 96 points).

Some of the factors that have contributed to One Earth’s exceptional Green rating are:

Planning & Design

Sustainability prinicples have been scruplously adhered to, right from site selection and design to engineering, construction, materials and operations. This includes usage of native flora, minimizing both environmental impact and reducing the need for landscaping water, low-energy/green materials, appropriate orientation of the building facades that ensures adequate day lighting and minimizes glare etc.

Energy Efficiency

A hybrid wind (80%) – solar (20%; through photovoltaic panels) energy system located on-site and off-site generates 155 kW of power, making One Earth India’s first 100% renewable energy campus. Smart solutions like motion/occupancy sensors, Low-E glass for the buildings, low energy LED lighting, aluminum louvres that shade the interiors while providing ample natural illumination, HVAC systems that filter and cool air before resupplying them to ACs to reduce the load on ACs etc., optimize energy consumption.

Water Efficient

100% rainwater is harvested, 100% of grey water is recycled via an on-site sewage treatment plant into flushing, air-cooling and landscaping systems attesting to One Earth’s water-efficiency. Water fixtures including low flow fixtures that reduce in-building water consumption by 65% and touchless urinals with hytronic sensors all help reduce water consumption and make One Earth water efficient.

Working Comfort

Ergonomics is also meticulously attended to; not only do the workstations provide an optimized balance between comfort and productivity, they are arrange to provide an unobstructive view of the surroundings that allows the wandering eye a chance to relax and refocus. Essential resources such as printers, fax machines, storage cabinets, the pantry etc., are located to minimize unproductive movement.

Bank of India – Sustainable Architecture Building in Goa

Panaji, Goa, got itself a stylish new landmark in 2011, when Bank of India unveiled it’s Zonal Office cum Head Office in Goa. What was striking about this exemplary piece of architecture was the extensive use of glass from both the functional and aesthetic viewpoints.

Sustainable Architecture Building in Goa

The prominent role played by Glass in this structure and its contribution to making this building a fine example of Sustainable Architecture, is worth looking into, especially in a time when new approaches are desperately needed.

To being with, the brief for the project was fairly simple; The structure was to be a multi-usage facility combining commercial, recreational and residential components. But behind this simple demand lay many inter related elements that needed serious consideration.

Design Plan

The design had to be not just attractive enough for commercial reasons, but also technically sound for greater feasibility. The design that was put forth, after these condiseration started by aiming to make the building stand out even when viewed from a distance. This was to be accomplished by giving it varied elevation on all sides. A huge glass canopy on the front side was to be the building’s most striking feature. True to the plan, today the facade commands attention even from far off and even in the midst of a sea of commercial concrete edifices. And in addition to this distinct glass facade look, the building generously uses the inherent benefits of glass.

The contribution of glass-

* Towards Sustainability

The structure required a system that would provide it an optimal energy and cooling solution at minimal cost. Glass was zeroed-in as the appropriate solution with its ability to lend itself for heat regulation. Helping regulating internal temperatures effeciently and reducing the reliance on power, in a more sustainable manner.

* The feel effect-

Glass with a soothing colour was identified as appropriate for the general feel of the building. Nano Misty Blue, a glass manufactured by Saint Gobain Glass India, scored high in both on energy-efficiency and the aesthetics, and so was chosen for the soothing effect for the facade, giving it an overall cool effect that you can sense by just approaching near the building.

Nano Misty Blue is a high performance coated glass that combines thermal insulation properties with advanced energy-efficient solar control properties in a neutrally-tinted, aesthetically appealing package. The fact that it complies with LEED, TERI, GRIHA & ECBC norms made it a perfect fit for a  high-end, functional Green structure.

Within the building too, glass was found to be such a convenient fit that it was also used in the construction of the capsule lifts and for surrounding two sides of the High Value Overseas Department. And, the Bank of India ATM at Porvorim, incidentally is the first all glass ATM of it’s kind in the country.

Added Green features

Solar panels installed on the terrace contribute significantly towards meeting the structure’s electricity needs. Eco-friendly LED lights on the exterior which use minimal power while contributing to the building’s appearance, stand out visually also, completing the building’s very modern look.

Biodiversity Conservation India Ltd (BCIL) – Green Building in Banglore

Biodiversity Conservation India Ltd (BCIL)

Green, of course, is an established trend now. But, back in 1994, Green Building was an unknown concept; something one could not locate even with long-range radar. That was when Biodiversity Conservation India Ltd (BCIL) was founded in Bangalore, with an aim of creating eco-friendly living habitats, especially in the urban space. Especially when no one wanted it. Especially when no one seemed to care about it.

Biodiversity Conservation India Ltd

Today, the picture is completely different. BCIL-ZED (the revamped avatar of BCIL; ZED stands for “Zero Energy Development”) is one of Asia’s largest Green Building groups with over 500 families living across their creations in Bangalore and Mysore. Today BCIL is a 500-crore group, with a handful of awards, including international awards.

Let us sample T-ZED, India’s first IGBC platinum-rated residential apartment complex, completed in 2009. BCIL did not use bricks, concrete blocks, chemical paints, vitrified tiles or ceramics in it’s construction. It also used a nominal amount of steel, composite cement and reinforcement steel in building the 80 apartments and 15 family homes, each of which is Vaastu-compliant, that comprise the T-ZED complex built over 5 acres. Nor were any of the materials sourced from beyond 700 kms.

The living amenities are also a world apart. “Water conscience” meters, lights that can be switched off using mobile phones, hot water from solar heaters, air-conditioners, free of CFC and HCFC, that circulate more fresh air than normal ACs and an electricity bill that is one-third of a conventional apartments’.

That’s not all. There are 44 interconnected rainwater percolation wells that lead to a 400,000 litre water tank located beneath a road behind the housing complex. The water is purified in a central reverse osmosis system without the use of chemicals. Grey water is directed to the gardens, toilets and for washing cars. A biogas digester chews biodegradable waste and generates power for the residents’ needs.

BCIL-ZED’s vision does not stop with Green Building. It has expanded to encompass eco-friendly furniture under the name, ZED Envi, ZED Arbo, a range of energy-efficient high-tech appliances, solar and wind power solutions under the names ZED Sun and ZED Breez respectively and even HARVEST, bio-friendly agri solutions.

And then, there is BCIL ZED Foundation, an action research institution for zero energy development practices that was established in 2003. And, BCIL ZedLabs, a consulting organization on Sustainability Frameworks for Green Buildings in the urban context, founded in 2008.

In addition to it’s Green Building and Consulting components, BCIL-ZED also offers Green training to workers and professionals in the construction industry.

So, when Chandrasekhar Hariharan, the Chairman of ZED-BCIL says in that quietly confident manner of his, “We will care for the world so much that you don’t have to” you will know that he means every word.

AllCargo – Green Building in Mumbai

AllCargo- Green Building in Mumbai

The AllCargo building in Mumbai, is a stunning blue colored glass facaded building that stands apart from the rest of the lot, with its curves and free flowing design. The building is famous for its looks, and is equally famous for what it has managed to achieve as a green building. Mumbai has about 20% of the green buildings in India and the AllCargo Building is one the finest of Mumbai’s green buildings.

All Cargo- Green Building in Mumbai

The new structure is raised around the core of an old fashioned commercial building, the old Avashya House. The idea behind the revamping was to change the existing structure, into a more energy efficient working building, to make it more contemporary and in consonance with principles of sustainability. The look and the efficiency of the building had to be worked upon and glass was chosen as a key defining feature, because of the green factor, and because of the distinctly different feel it would give to the whole building.

This choice of glass gives the building its distinct look and is reflective of the structure’s green sensibility.

Changes that made the building Green-

1. SGG Evo Orion Blue glass was chosen as the ideal glass for the purpose of the facade, as it offered advanced solar control coupled with a high degree of transparency.
2. A double glazing allows the building to regulate heat generated through refracted sunlight, hugely reducing the air conditioning need, reducing cost and energy consumption simultaneously.
3. Design elements that have great utility were introduced into the design. These were not mere cosmetic additions but elements that added to the structure’s productivity. For example aluminum section fins on the facade, 1 foot in width, that run in circles add an extra relief to the external design, while also acting as effective sun shades.
4. Rain water harvesting was incorporated to make the whole building more environmentally responsible, and to bring in the green element into the overall layout, landscaping with ample patches of green was introduced.

The Allcargo building is an example of how, simple design solutions like the strategic use of glass can positively impact the  sustainability of the whole building, and how the revamping process can give the building a completely different look.

Green Building in Ladakh

The Druk White Lotus School, located in the remote arid reaches of northern Himalayas, is a one of a kind school , located in Ladakh. At about 13000 feet above sea level, completely cut away from the advantages of modern civilization, Druk White Lotus School through sheer enterprise, offers a modern learning environment to the local Ladakhi children.

Druk White Lotus School – Green Building in Ladakh

Druk White Lotus School, Ladakh

Today the school has attained iconic status for two things- one, for being a testimony to the human will to achieve and two, as a telling example of sustainable architecture. In 2002 the school was awarded  for being the best educational building and it was also the joint winner of the best green building award.

Things however weren’t that rosy when the idea of the school was envisaged and the initial plans were drafted. Materials necessary for a building of this sort, if it were to be transported from elsewhere, would have have rendered the project  unfeasible and so architects had to look for answers from what was locally available. It was then that a decision to fall back on locally known environmentally friendly construction methods, using only materials locally available, was taken. This decision was to turn the school into what it is now, a green building that is rated among the best in the world.

Green Elements of Druk White Lotus School

 

 

 

 

The salient green elements of the school

• The school for major part does not rely on external energy and power. It exploits the ample sunlight using photovoltaic panels for energy and is self sufficient.

• The school strategically uses available sunlight and class rooms are designed to gain maximum sunlight making internal lighting redundant.

• All the water needed for the school is made available on the school premises itself with dedicated boreholes and solar pumps supplying them. A feat that is commendable in itself given the topography and acute short supply of water throughout the region.

• The school used and continues to use only materials, culled from the local area, making the whole structure fit organically with the environment. The local mud brick, that forms the cavity wall for example, is a local innovation that is great method for improved insulation with added durability.

• The roof of the school that is an essential part of the façade, is made completely from locally available poplar and willow, and is also a local technique, is very effective against the harsh exterior conditions and cold winds.

• The school located in Shey, Ladakh aims to nurture and cultivate the local culture and way of life, while simultaneously equipping students with modern skills.

Rise of Green Buildings in Chennai

In spite of the power crunch in TN, Chennai is home to many green buildings than the other towns in India. Property in Chennai is home to forty two of the 212 structures in India that are certified as eco-friendly by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).

Tamil Nadu tops the states with 47 green buildings and 57 more registered for certification which is a colossal improvement over preceding years. Sriperumbudur has 3 green buildings, Tirupur 2, and Coimbatore, Siruseri, Salem and Madurai have one each. A platinum rating is the most coveted one followed by gold, silver and licensed ratings, primarily based on use of natural resources, waste management, sustainability and indoor environmental quality.

Interestingly, even a house in Madipakkam, [1 of 2 in India] has received its own green rating. People in Chennai are proactive concerning green buildings. Additionally, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is endorsing the concept.

A green building is one that uses less water, is high on energy potency and sustainability, generates less waste, conserves natural resources and includes a higher indoor environmental quality than a traditional building. Today’s monoliths of concrete, steel can soon get replaced by green, self-sustaining buildings and cities. Eco-friendly blueprints are off the drafting board, hauled onward by energy-saving rafters and photovoltaic louvres on gigantic cranes because the cities of the long run rise from the grime of urban sprawl.

There has been an amazing increase within the range of residential property in Chennai that are awarded green certification especially over the past 3 years.

Property in Chennai leads the country with 42 green buildings with leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) rating. Solely ten buildings within the town won the rating from 2004 to 2008, whereas 37 buildings received the rating between 2009 and 2011.

Consultants ascribe this to rising ecological awareness furthermore as business opportunity: Green certification offers builders a new branding choice. For a patron, the green certificate may be a third party validation, rather like a university degree. They’re able to pay additional for a green building. A green certificate is additionally a symbol of company social responsibility.

Green Building in Chennai

Green Building in Chennai- Raintree Hotels

Raintree Hotel, Chennai

The Raintree Hotel on St. Mary’s Road is a five-star hotel situated in Alwarpet, Chennai. The luxury hotel, which is a part of Ceebros Property Development Limited, is one of two hotels from the Ceebros Group in Chennai; the other one (also called Raintree), being located on Anna Salai- a bustling and quite the nerve center in Chennai. Raintree, which is less than a decade old in the city, has been honored with a whole host of awards.

Certification as an Ecotel Hotel

In the year 2006, Raintree was awarded the Ecotel certification. What deserves special mention is the fact that Raintree was just the 5^th hotel in India and the first ever in south India to obtain the certificate.

Raintree Hotel, Chennai

Examining Ecotel

Let us examine what the term Ecotel signifies. “It is an environmental certification specific for hospitality. It enables hotels to be truly green and sustainable over the long term – by involving the entire value chain of owners, architects, operators, employees, suppliers and hotel guests.” Its mission is “to enable hotels to achieve a strategic and economic advantage through environment-friendly operations, systems and processes while positively impacting their local communities.”

The Ecotel certification is based on five areas of environmentalism; they being conservation of energy and water, solid waste management, employee environmental education and community involvement and a steadfast commitment to environment. Yes, to a hotel, being an Ecotel is the hallmark of being environmentally sensitive. The five tenets denote the five areas of certification which in unison can fetch the Ecotel certification.

The certification is not easy to come by. For the processes, systems and practices that stamp an environmentally responsible hotel operation is taken into account. The audit is undertaken in each of the prescribed parameters and is built on an audit checklist. Post checking, each item is looked into in great detail and is then based on scientific and technological advances and international charters and treaties specific to saving the environment.

Raintree as a Green Building

Raintree scored centum in the audit and has been cherished by hoteliers and customers alike. Like they say, in the service industry, it is best to stay and practice green.

Green Building in Hyderabad

Green Building in Hyderabad – Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport [RGIA] also called the Hyderabad International Airport opened to the public in the year 2008 is an international airport near Shamshabad, in downtown Hyderabad. It is named after the former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. RGIA was declared as the 6^th busiest airport in the country in terms of international and overall passenger traffic for the financial year 2010–11.

Green Building

Let us first take a look at the exact definition of a green building. “A green building is one which uses less water, optimizes energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional building.” A green building connotes to any structure whereby the process that has gone into its making salutes the environment in its entirety. Right from the siting to the design to the construction to the maintenance and right down to its demolition, the structure has to be environmentally responsible to be deemed green.

Green aspects about the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

Rajiv Gandhi International Air Port Hyderabad

Ecological balance: A green belt has been built in an area of 273 hectares with various plant species at RGIA. Additionally, 971 hectares of natural greenery has been left intact. Saluting this effort, RGIA received the best landscape award from the State Govt. in two consecutive years- 2011 and 2012.

Energy conservation: RGIA has saved energy of 3.97million kWh (kilowatt hour) especially in the last couple of years, thereby reducing carbon footprint by about 3331 tons. In 2011, RGIA received “Certificate of Merit” in National Energy Conservation Awards 2011 from BEE.

Rainwater harvesting: Here, the net recharge is an approximate at 1.729 million cubic metre per annum. The use of surface water is a decisive factor to water conservation.

Recycling waste food: It is a well known fact that travel spaces such as airports are the breeding ground for food surplus. RGIA converted the waste food as compost on the site and turned the disadvantage into anything, but that. Chemical fertilizers gave way to the compost collected from the area. Similarly, paper and plastic waste are recycled, reprocessed and reused.

What is LEED India

LEED India

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED-INDIA) Green Building Rating System is a recognized point of reference both in our country as well as worldwide for the design, construction and further, operation of high performance green buildings. The organization supplies building owners, architects, consultants, developers, facility managers and project managers the paraphernalia that they require to design, construct and operate green buildings.

The principal features of a green building include valuable use of soil and landscapes, resourceful utilization of water, usage of energy efficient and Eco-friendly apparatus, operational control & building management systems, use of renewable energy, use of recycled or recyclable materials and most significantly, better indoor air quality and air circulation for health and comfort.

LEED-INDIA is one of the chief councils to give a green rating to a structure, whether an apartment, independent home or office. LEED-INDIA promotes a holistic methodology to sustainability by way of the fact that it recognizes the functioning of a green building in five of these crucial matters.

LEED India Rating System

LEED INDIA rating system provides a road map for measuring and documenting success for every building type and phase of a building life cycle. In India, many buildings register for a LEED Green Building Rating. Let’s take a look at a few of these. IT Parks, Offices, Banks, Airports, Convention centers, Educational institutions, Hotels and Residential complexes are the major structures that register for a LEED rating. Please take note that these buildings are just a few instances. LEED-INDIA for New Construction and Major Renovations is a green building rating system that helps to guide and design high-performance commercial buildings.

If the application of LEED-INDIA for a specific building type is open to discussion, IGBC eggs on the project team to authenticate using LEED-INDIA checklists that are made available with each Rating System. The project is a viable candidate for LEED-INDIA certification if it can meet all prerequisites and achieve the bare minimum number of points to earn the certified level of LEED-INDIA project certification. The rating system of LEED-INDIA enumerates the intent, requirements, submittals and technologies or strategies for each credit and includes the LEED-INDIA for New Construction.