residential green building case study in india

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4 Indian homes that spotlight sustainable design practices 

By AD Staff

A Kerala Home Inspired by Laurie Baker

A jackfruit tree and need for privacy formed the basis of architect Vinu Daniel’s design philosophy when he was approached by a client to build a family home for eight near Ernakulam in Kerala. “We decide to take up a project only when the client has the same vision for the house they want to live in as we do,” says Daniel, founder of The Wallmakers, whose work is deeply influenced by Laurie Baker, pioneer of sustainable, cost-effective, and context-driven architecture in India.

The tree in question held court over one corner of the site. “This gave form to the idea of a compound wall that revolves around the tree and twists upwards to join the ferro-cement shell roof of the house seamlessly,” he explains. “This in turn created a small intimate space, landscaped like a Japanese zen garden,” he adds. Though located near the entrance of the home, the courtyard has plenty of shade and privacy for family gatherings, and is also easily accessible from the kitchen.

The Kerala home is deliberately spartan to allow the material palette to be the star of the show. Photographs courtesy of Anand Jaju and Syam Sreesylam/The Wallmakers

The 2,750-square-feet home is spread across two storeys. The first floor accommodates an open living and dining area, three bedrooms, kitchen, and an outdoor barbecue. A fourth bedroom and reading area populate the second floor, alongside an adjoining balcony and terrace. Adhering to the firm’s sustainable design philosophy, the house has been constructed from compressed stabilised earth blocks (CSEB) and rammed earth walls. “These walls take the load of the ferro-cement roof which is made from 1.5-centimetre thick, precast steel-reinforced arched shells. They effectively reduce the overall cement consumption by 40 percent and steel consumption by 30 percent and are at par with reinforced concrete slabs in all other aspects, including strength,” says Daniel.

A spiral staircase, designed to appear like draped fabric, connects the two floors. Made from cement over a skeleton of discarded pipes, it mirrors the curve of the compound wall and roof. “The staircase was a tricky one. We found out that whatever we did in 3D, didn't come up exactly. We had to think on our feet,” says Daniel. Brick walls cast a warm glow in the bedrooms—also furnished in wood—making the space cozy, despite the use of a very basic material palette.

By Ashna Lulla

By Kriti Saraswat-Satpathy

By Annabelle Dufraigne

A staircase made from cement and discarded pipes connects the two floors of the house

At first glance, you might think this property (featured image) is a forest lodge tucked away in the hills. While that’s not too far from the truth, you’d be surprised to know that this house—a secondary home for a family of four, spread across 4,128 square feet—is located within the premises of a small food processing unit in Guwahati, Assam. While the location is bang in the middle of an industrial pocket with the sound of men and machines, the home, owing to its inward-looking design, still exudes peace and affords privacy.

This was also achieved by planning a separate entrance away from the other industrial buildings. The brief to the design team—Sustainable Architecture for Earth, represented by lead architect Krittika Agarwal—was simple: the owners wanted to coexist with nature while being allowed to comfortably travel between the indoors and the outdoors.

“The Aangan, as the home is known, is an attempt to acknowledge contemporary living needs while responding to our responsibility towards the environment. The project is a composition of spaces that intertwine the outdoors and indoors. It is a reflection of our Indian culture, where the central courtyard or  aangan is the heart of the house,” says Agarwal about the philosophy behind the home.

Photographs courtesy of Lina Baishya/Sustainable Architecture for Earth

In keeping with this idea, the decor was planned to accommodate local materials and traditional crafts. The sustainable design employs local timbers sourced from within a 100 kilometre radius. Similarly, the art and artefacts that the home is dotted with have been carefully curated to showcase local arts and artisans. “The handmade carpets that embellish the interiors have been sourced from multiple stores in India. The ceiling of the prayer room is adorned with miniature hand paintings by the artisans of Mandawa in Rajasthan. This painted ceiling depicts stories of Lord Krishna and connects the family to their Marwari roots. The decor is further enriched by pieces collected by the family from flea markets during their travels, both in India and abroad. Additionally, the nooks and corners of the house are adorned with oil paintings made by the lady of the house,” says Agarwal.

The homeowners are welcomed with lush greenery around the main entrance, which leads to the staircase. As one ascends, the tropical greens and delicate hanging lamps in the stairwell create an interesting visual impact. The living room is the centre of the home, and this double-height space opens out into a courtyard, blurring the lines between the outdoors and indoors.

View from the living room

A Home in Trivandrum That Funnels in Air and Light

In the heart of Trivandrum, there is a small spot that breathes fresh air. "It was being suffocated by other residential projects from all four sides," says Vinu Daniel, whose firm, The Wallmakers inverted the home 's layout to funnel the interior air flow into a central courtyard.

Airy and luminous as it may be, those are, however, not the only hallmarks that distinguish this curious home from its cookie-cutter surroundings. Its Rat-Trap bond masonry, upcycled decor and grillwork are a nod to the foolproof tradition of sustainable architecture. "Sadly, today, less than 30 percent of the world's population lives in buildings made of earth, although it is a more sustainable and durable material. The blame lies solely on the advent of industrialization and a widespread demand for cement houses. At Wallmakers, we have devoted ourselves to the cause of using mud and waste as chief components to make structures that are both utilitarian and alluring," Daniel says.

A sustainable home inspired by Laurie Baker's design philosophy in Trivandrum. Photographs courtesy of Jino Sam/The Wallmakers

Pirouetting beehive forms, fire engine red bricks and an illusion of undulating, near-constant movement: this is the facade of the Pirouette House. The decision to employ the Rat-Trap bond masonry technique proved fruitful, as the site did not offer the opportunity for soil excavation to make mud blocks. Using the Rat-Trap bond technique, Daniel and his team layered bricks vertically, rather than horizontally, to create wall cavities pointed at increasing thermal efficiency, minimizing total brick volume, and concealing structural members and service ducts. “The idea was further developed to form a series of slanting walls that danced left and right, converging only to support the ferrocement shell roof. We also used MMT ferrocement shells. These wafer-like structures are steel-reinforced, arched shells with an effective thickness of 2.5 centimetres. By taking on loads akin to RCC slabs, they reduce the overall cement consumption by 40 percent and steel consumption by 30percent,” he explains.

Brickwork walls create a cocoon in the living room, proving consonant with the wooden scrap pieces that have been polished and panelled over the floor. The cane treatment is of particular note, as it finds expression in the furniture and grillwork, with the latter doubling as a partial screen for privacy.

These wafer-like structures are steel-reinforced

A circular screen—apparently salvaged from waste metal—adds character to the wall, as is echoed in equal spirit by the cement oxide ceiling. Says Daniel of the home's orientation, "The design is inward-facing, aligned in the east-west direction, with all spaces funnelling into the central courtyard. The openings facilitate maximum cross-ventilation."

The cane treatment is of particular note, as it finds expression in the furniture and grillwork, with the latter doubling as a partial screen for privacy.

A Home in Ghaziabad That Works With Nature

Whether you gaze at the Rajasthan 'baolis' that create a cooler microclimate around the monument, Kathiawadi jali lattice work that replaces window frames, or most famously, the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur—North India's long-established historic architecture is known for providing cool indoor climatic conditions to its occupants using passive and natural cooling methods. Architect Sachin Rastogi, the founding director at ZED Lab—a Delhi-based research-driven architecture and interior design studio specializing in net-zero energy buildings—has used said design principles to build the Cantilever House , a standalone home located in Raj Nagar, Ghaziabad.

The house responds to the hot and dry climate of the region through a host of design interventions and passive cooling techniques. By placing the living areas in the north and the east to allow sufficient daylight, and by allocating space for private areas in the west and the south, the house records minimal heat gain throughout the day. The windows on the south are shaded by a pergola to ensure that the south face remains comfortable throughout the year. So, even in peak summer, only the fans are switched on in this home.

The structure employs a series of mechanisms that minimize resource consumption. Photograph courtesy of André J Fanthome/ZED Lab

The residence employs a series of mechanisms that minimize resource consumption and reduce the building's environmental impact, while enhancing the residents' thermal comfort. For example, the double-height lobby is flanked by the summer court on the north and the winter court on the south to enable stack ventilation at all times. The night-time spaces are characterized by optimum thermal mass to protect the day-time spaces from the south and west sun. The north face of the house is glazed to admit diffused daylight and avoid heat gain and glare. The facade is fitted with double-glazed units with low e-coating for thermal resistance. Nearly all of the glass surfaces for the day-time spaces are designed to open into the water court, envisioned as a transitional area between the harsh outdoors and the ambient indoors.

Interstitial spaces in the property are reinterpreted by enabling seamless movement from the inside to the outside. For instance, as one walks into the house through the double-height lobby on the east-facing entrance porch, they are pleasantly surprised by the garden's view with a water body. Greenery in the interiors establishes a strong visual connection with the outdoor landscape, while the integration of landscape features with the built envelope ensures a cool microclimate for the residents. The water court on the north serves as a heat sink; the plants and vertical garden also contribute to thermal comfort while purifying the air, trapping dust and pollutants. The front and rear lawns along with the water court also serve as recharge pits for adequate rainwater harvesting. The residents' hot water requirements are met by evacuated tube solar hot water systems installed on the rooftop.

By Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar

Photography by Moriq

By Nolan Lewis

Photography by Isha Shah

By Avantika Shankar

Photography by Studio Noughts and Crosses | Andre J. Fanthome

By Arman Khan

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Home » Property Trends » How green buildings support India’s ESG goals and targets?

How green buildings support India’s ESG goals and targets?

Like other countries, India has undergone a paradigm shift when it comes to sustainability, with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) objectives forming the centrepiece of the ecosystem. While ESG was looked at mostly through the lens of regulation, it has now become the crux of overarching strategies not just in the business landscape but also from the perspective of India’s economic and developmental growth.

Table of Contents

India’s market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India had launched the Business Responsibility Report (BRR) for top 100 listed companies in 2012 and extended it to the top 500 listed companies in 2015.

In 2021, the BRR was replaced by the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) that mandated ESG disclosures to be communicated by the top 1,000 listed companies based on their market capitalization. After this, more businesses have become aware of their responsibilities whether it is about environmental protection or the health and well-being of employees.

Meanwhile, the ‘E’ in ESG symbolises environment, highlighting the need to reduce environmental impact. This is where green buildings step into picture. These structures are built keeping in mind ecologically friendly practices. Besides, such buildings also help in offsetting carbon emissions and support water and energy conservations.

As India embarks on a journey of sustainable development, it is the need of the hour to incorporate more green buildings not just to nurture the environment, but also to reflect the country’s commitment to ESG significance.

Impact of green buildings

Not many are aware that these buildings can have a lasting impact on people and the planet. According to the Energy Statistics India report, there are a few industries that consume more energy than others — iron and steel account for 15.29% of industrial energy usage, while chemicals and petrochemicals (5.36%), and construction (2.09%).

Constructing green buildings is one of the key steps that can have a multi-fold impact, ensuring environmental protection and economic growth. It can be achieved by ensuring that eco-friendly architectural approaches are adopted as part of various building phases, ranging from initial design to renovation, and reconstruction.

Statistics highlight that construction of buildings account for 40% of the world’s energy consumption. Fortunately, with green buildings, lower energy consumption is one of its prominent markers. As these buildings are designed with energy-efficiency, it not only helps with decreased consumption of energy but also lowers operational expenses.

In a nutshell, green buildings can work well on various counts — apart from offering environmental sustainability, these structures also help with efficient use of water resources.

Green buildings from an economic lens

There is often a misconception that green buildings will not reap profits but that’s far from true. For starters, they bring down the long-term costs considerably even if the construction of the building in its initial phases is capital-intensive. They yield substantial savings over their operational lifespan — this is perfectly aligned with and reinforces India’s commitment towards sustainable economic development.

Green buildings are also considered as a lucrative option for investors and tenants as they offer long-term gains. These are in sync with India’s strategic goal of promoting sustainable investments to support its economic growth trajectory.

Government support and policy landscape

India’s sustained commitment towards construction of ecologically friendly buildings is clearly visible through its policy framework for green building practices. There are a set of guidelines that have been mandated by the government for the construction and development sectors. These are holistic in approach, covering everything from environmental concerns to responsible governance.

One of the most prominent examples is the widespread adoption of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system that has been designed by the US Green Building Council. This certification has been embraced by developers and business organizations alike, much in line with India’s resolve to foster environmentally conscious construction and development.

Leading by example, some of the most prominent buildings in the country including the T3 at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has secured a LEED certification.

Going forward, it is a good idea to weave in green building standards into national policies. A case study here is the National Building Code of India that has been updated to include provisions for green building construction.

When India embarked on the Smart Cities Mission in 2015, striving to establish 100 smart cities across the country, the vision was clear to prioritize sustainable urbanization. Once again, a holistic approach was adopted — where technology, infrastructure, and governance were integrated in equal measure. In fact, all the green building principles apply here, from optimized energy consumption to efficient waste management.

Another much-talked-about initiative, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) that was launched in 2015 to provide affordable housing to all citizens encourages the construction of energy-efficient and sustainable housing. By incorporating green building principles, PMAY contributes not only to curbing energy usage but also promoting sustainable urban living.

Creating impact

The widespread adoption of green building practices and certifications, as well as the seamless integration of sustainable design principles into national policies aligns well with the environmental pillar of ESG. Through some effective measures around sustainable construction, India’s policy framework can rightfully navigate the damaging consequences of urban development.

Embassy REIT, a leading Indian real estate investment trust has incorporated an ESG approach to ensure that its sustainability efforts have a positive outcome. By taking these steps, it has turned around its case. Today, it has a LEED Platinum certification for all 77 operational buildings that covers 33.4 Mn square feet. This is spread across 12 office parks in Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, and NCR.

Moreover, with sustainability being the centrepiece of its operations, Embassy REIT is on a mission to achieve 100% USGBC certification across its entire portfolio by FY2023.

Additionally, the company has launched a ’75/25 Renewable’ program, targeting at least 75% of electricity consumption from renewable sources by FY2025. In FY2023, 52% of its energy consumption came from renewables; it has also installed electric vehicle charging points while embracing electric vehicles for internal transportation within its properties.

Another example is that of DLF, a player in India’s real estate sector for over 75 years. Most of its developments incorporate green building standards, thereby focusing on energy-efficiency.

In its rental portfolio, approximately 39 Mn square feet is LEED Platinum certified. It has also secured the LEED Zero Water certification across its portfolio including retail malls from the US Green Building Council (USGBC). DLF The Crest is the largest residential project in the world to be awarded with Platinum Certification under LEED v4.1 O+M: Existing Buildings.

Another example is Mindspace REIT. As part of the ‘K Raheja Corp Group’, a pioneer in the Indian real estate’s green transition, Mindspace REIT has prioritized eco-friendly construction. By March 31, 2023, an impressive 97% of its operational area held green certifications (LEED Platinum or Gold). This is visible in 54 operational buildings that have LEED certifications.

These examples have a key takeaway — with the greater adoption of green building practices, India’s goal of an ESG-conscious ecosystem is not too far, if all stakeholders in the construction space make their individual contributions. As they say, every drop counts.

(T he author is managing director, Southeast Asia, and Middle East, GBCI, India.)

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Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan is the Regional Director of GBCI India, and manages the business and market development of LEED and other GBCI rating systems for the Southeast Asia and Middle East regions. An alumnus of College of Engineering, Guindy and IIM Kolkata, he holds expertise in corporate strategy, international market expansion, branding, and business unit creation. He has over 20 years of corporate work experience in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

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Home > News and Thought Leadership > A Green & Healthy Retrofit – India’s Platinum Case Study

A Green & Healthy Retrofit – India’s Platinum Case Study

India’s paharpur business centre offers a refreshing new flavour to the health and wellbeing industry.  it’s an internationally relevant example of healthy, resource efficient design that is operating in an existing building and certified with a methodology developed for the local culture . the green building industry has demonstrated in recent years that there is a business case for buildings that benefit people and planet . we’ve seen cutting-edge examples of healthy, green new builds with shiny exteriors, productive occupants and persuasive paybacks. however, it is truly stimulating for our industry to investigate the success of a building that has incorporated the core principles of green, healthy buildings in a unit that has been operational for decades. we need examples to show the how-to of healthy retrofit of our existing building stock, and the paharpur business centre offers a promising insight into this area of increasing industry importance.   health and wellbeing in india – the whole body and mind approach the indian green building council (igbc) released a pilot version of their ‘health & well-being rating for occupants’ certification , in conjunction with the confederation of indian industry (cii), in 2017. the certification scheme covers the traditional core concepts of health and wellbeing including: indoor air and water quality, occupant comfort and consideration of fitness and nutrition. however, one of the unique elements of the new certification is their culturally grounded perspective on wellbeing. the methodology of the certification explains the relationship between the five elements of physical wellbeing and consciousness in the built environment. traditional indian medicine and healing emphasises a holistic, ‘whole body and mind’ view of health, and places strong emphasis on the link between mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing. to create a model that reflects the holistic indian culture of health, the three core areas of wellbeing are defined in the certification as physical , emotional and intellectual and   social wellbeing. this shows a clear disparity from western medicine, which has historically emphasised physical health over mental and emotional; demonstrating that western health and wellbeing strategies may require cultural adjustment to ensure global relevance.   case study: paharpur business centre the paharpur business centre (pbc) is a 30 year old commercial building, located in delhi, india. the building houses 250 employees working in small and medium enterprises. the slogan of the centre emphasises the core values of productivity and occupant health: ‘ breathe fresh, work smart ’. however, the environmental credentials of this building are not to be overlooked. pbc is a certified green building and is consistently reporting impressive energy efficiency figures in operation. the pbc is india’s first project to be awarded a platinum level certification from igbc’s health and wellbeing rating tool – so what strategies have been implemented to achieve this   healthy, sustainable strategies the pbc implemented sustainable design and operation features to improve the working environment. flagship features within the building include: fresh air: over 5,000 indoor plants purify the air, boosted by electrostatic, carbon and hepa filters to remove particles and allergens. indoor air quality is monitored and displayed to building occupants. clean water: the quality of drinking and treated water is tested quarterly to minimise the risk of water-borne diseases. comfort feedback loop: strategies to improve physical comfort parameters (visual, thermal, acoustic, olfactory and ergonomic) based on occupant survey feedback have been implemented, both improving the environment and ensuring staff feel valued. indoor cleanliness: housekeeping procedures are in place to maintain cleanliness and control outdoor dust pollutants. environmentally-friendly chemicals are used to reduce any adverse impact on respiratory systems. healthy lifestyle incentives: food and nutrition labelling encourages the consumption of healthy food. the building also provides fitness facilities for occupants.   building the business case to date, the pbc is calculating the economic benefit of their healthy, green building by using the metrics of reduced absenteeism and increased productivity. however, third party occupant satisfaction surveys have indicated that 95% of occupants are satisfied with the environment provided at pbc. although the business case is yet to be quantified, it can be expected that such high levels of staff satisfaction will almost certainly be reflected in reduced staff turnover.  therefore, recruitment and training costs will be lower and will hopefully also correlate with improved staff productivity and business output. furthermore, documented high levels of energy efficiency should also be reflected in utility overheads, demonstrating the complimentary business case for green and healthy sustainable buildings. here at worldgbc, we commend the indian gbc for using their new health and wellbeing certification to demonstrate that healthy, green strategies are not just  for new builds. it’s a lesson learnt for us all: you don’t need to wait for your retrofit schedule or your new office move to build healthy, green strategies into a space. the development of igbc and cii’s certification also proves that human sustainability strategies are most powerful when they are culturally relevant.  additionally, best practice guidance and research should be adapted to be regionally and societally ingrained. we would like to thank igbc for sharing details of their most recent healthy, green case study and look forward to presenting more information on the business impacts once available.   catriona brady is project manager for worldgbc’s better places for people project. this blog was adapted from information from anand m. & dr jain, p c. 2018. ‘the green building movement in india’ air conditioning and refrigeration journal (march 2018) pp. 94-98, with permission from the indian green building council. to learn more about the pbc case study, click here ..

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10 Green Buildings in India That Inspire the World

Table of Contents

What is a green building?

Green building, or sustainable design , is the practice of accelerating the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use energy, water, and materials, and of reducing impacts on human health and the environment, considering the total life span of a building. Green-building concepts are not only restricted to the walls of buildings but also include site planning, community and land-use planning issues.

Why is Green Building important?

The growth and development of our communities feature a large impact on our natural environment. The whole process of building a building that is designed and planning, construction, and operation, handles the consumption of many of our natural resources.

Let’s discuss some of the sustainable buildings in India that inspire the entire world.

Suzlon One Earth

Suzlon Energy Limited pledged to make the greenest office in India. The building is 3-story high and is constructed on 10.5 acres. It achieved LEED for New Construction Platinum certification from the India Green Building Council and Five-Star GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) certification.

Inspired by vernacular architecture, the planning provides 90% of the spaces with daylight and external views, allowing inhabitants to enjoy seasons and weather and connect with the time of the day.

5% (154 kilowatts) of its annual energy is generated through conventional and building-integrated photovoltaic panels (20%) and wind turbines (80%), on-site.

Aluminum louvers allow daylight and cross-ventilation, acting as protective skin to the building. LED lighting systems and solar water heating save energy. 100% of sewage grey water is recycled into flushing, landscaping, and air-cooling systems, while 100% of rainwater is harvested. Glass exhaust chimneys with tropical plants act as visual connectors between all floors and permit aeration of the basement parking lot.

The focus of the complex may be a central courtyard that features a forty-meter traditional obelisk reaching bent the sky from the basement and a waterfall facing a crescent cafeteria. This corporate campus may be a counterblast to prevailing glass-box architecture occurring across India and maybe a game-changer in terms of how corporate campuses are designed so far in India.

Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, Hyderabad

Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre led by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII, a non-profit organization) has been at the forefront for the past 15 years in leading India’s green building movement. The design of the Centre back in 2004 maybe a live demonstration and reflection of a conducive green building, and, therefore, at that point, it had been the primary LEED Platinum Certified Building in India and out of doors the U.S.

The building stands as a true pioneer and a catalytic example of using traditional methods of sustainability in amalgamation with modern technologies.

The 20000 sq ft building sits on 5-acre land having only a 9.2 percent footprint, ensuring minimum disturbance to existing features. Located centrally on the flattest land available with landscaping and foliage all around, it provides a soothing microclimate and minimizes the impact of pollution on the inhabitants.

More than half the roof area is converted into a terrace garden, minimizing the inside temperature.

Along with it, the solar photovoltaic cells on the sundeck help in producing nearly 20 percent of the building’s energy consumption. Two air cooling towers chill the air up to eight degrees by sprinkling water and hence reducing the load on the air-con.

The building has been oriented through various energy stimulation exercises such as that 90 percent of the inside gets direct sunlight, reducing the necessity for artificial lighting. Further, north facades are glazed to realize efficient diffused light. Double-glazed units with argon gas stuffing between the glass panes enhance the thermal parcels. 

Glowing light, which also contributes to overheating in sections of a structure, was avoided by the use of traditional styles of slipup Jalli walls. 

These create a screening effect allowing air to undergo and ending scorching sun heat and casting beautiful light patterns. The other provisions, like rainwater harvesting, Root Zone Treatment system, indoor air quality monitoring, and high-performance glass, make it one of the simplest samples of passive designs.

The building’s confident form and well-researched and sought-out techniques successfully exuberate symbolic power and have become a stimulus to support the Indian green movement to radiate as wide as possible.

ITC Grand Chola

Along with the unparalleled bespoke experiences for their discerning guests, ITC Hotels also sets new benchmarks in planet positivity. Using renewable energy, recycling solid waste, conserving water, banishing single-use plastic, and reducing their carbon footprint at every step- ITC has been everything and more. It is actively involved to keep alive our time-honored rituals that promote well-being. 

ITC Chola in Chennai received a LEED Platinum for New Construction category in 2012 and is also among the top sustainable buildings in India. Being the most important hotel to receive the award, it prides itself to be Carbon Positive, Water Positive, and Waste Recycling Positive.

Apart from the use of solar energy, sustainable building materials, there is an attempt to have Zero Discharge into Sewers status- no wastewater will be discharged into sewers. Their use of sewage treatment plants, treat wastewater to almost potable quality water. The treated water is used for horticulture, cooling towers extending the additional wastewater into the neighboring golf course (The Madras Golf Course). Green roofs and external areas use stormwater catchment. Additionally, 100% of their electrical energy demands are powered by a self-owned wind farm carrying a capacity of 12.6MW Kundadam, near Coimbatore, the excess of which is contributed to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.

Hyderabad Gandhi International Airport

GMR-led Hyderabad International Airport has been established in an area spreading over 5000 acres, and half of the premises are with a natural ecosystem and support the life of various flora and fauna.

Landscape design at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad is based on modern and contemporary architectural styles created through artistic ideas. The landscape altogether areas provides a robust visual identity through the utilization of straightforward, yet bold and aesthetic hardscape treatment, planting statements, and streetscape expressions.

Once you enter the airport premises at the entry plaza you’re greeted with a blooming expanse of sloped planters, curvilinear walls, palms, ground cover, and xerophytic plants. The main access road of the airport offers a 12 km long four-tiered landscape on both sides. This consists of open fields, ground cover, shrubs, and trees. 3 metre medians running through this 12km stretch of the road are dotted with shrubs, palm trees equipped with a cloud-based fully automated irrigation system.

Inside the terminal, there are over 15000 plants of varied species, types, and heights displayed at various locations in the building. All plants are planted in soil-less media and displayed in various sorts of Indian and imported planters made in steel, ceramic, FRP, and fired clay.

A unique green wall or vertical garden covering 150 square meters at RGIA is the first of its kind in India to be displayed under indoor conditions. The scheme of plants is rotated at frequent intervals with fresh, disease-free, and healthy stock plants maintained at GHIAL nursery.

The airport is operating with a focus on conserving natural resources by practicing the 4Rs concept- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Replenishment towards environmental protection.

Action for Social Advancement (ASA) Head Office

Action for Social Advancement (ASA) is a non-profit development organization whose mission is to ensure livelihoods through development services with an emphasis on natural resource development. In its head Office in Bhopal, ASA proudly showcases its ethos of ecological principles.

The land available for the building is at the lowest level of the plotted development and gets waterlogged. Added thereto the character of Black Cotton soil (low water percolation rate) and therefore the inadequately designed outflows made the water stagnate for an extended time. In response to this, the building was raised by a floor and the area left below was converted into a wetland and a stepped well. This led to the avoidance of flooding and the replenishment of shallow aquifers.

The stepped well was designed as a gathering space for the community around. The crucial strategies included passive building planning, energy efficiency, water management, and biodiversity. Features like deep overhangs and courtyards while reducing the heat gain and glare ensured an ample amount of daylight within. Eastern and western facades were designed to have skewed windows to cut the glare of the horizontal sun without losing daylight and fresh air. The landscaped court on the top floor and common court and balcony spaces on all floors were brought in to facilitate interactions spill-over space for the workshop and board room, respectively.

Insulating the roof was a crucial part of the passive cooling strategy, which was done by higher ceilings, and the use of the local brickbat Coba (a thick layer of broken bricks on top of the roof) for weatherproofing course.

The wetland provides nesting spaces for birds in the summer with its aquatic and semi-aquatic flora. Operational energy usage was reduced through the use of LED fixtures, energy-efficient fans, and an air-cooling system. This has shown a reduction of energy consumption by 66% compared to the previous office space occupied by ASA. All the energy is produced by a 20kVA solar PV panel system installed on rooftop. 

Water for up to four months of the year can be generated from rainwater harvesting, and excess from the storage is used for recharge. The consumption of water was reduced considerably by using water-efficient fixtures.

Infinity, Kolkata

Infinity Benchmark in Kolkata, a 20-story covering an area of 560,000 Square Feet, became the city’s first platinum-rated building designed by the firm Agrawal and Agrawal Architects.

Choice of building materials, use of polyfoam coating under the roof, and an energy-efficient design helped in effectively insulating from heat gain. Double glazing reduced 75% of incoming heat. About 20% of recycled materials were used in the method of building alongside another 20% locally sourced.

A rainwater harvesting system, along with a water treatment system, minimizes reliance on external water sources. Wastewater that is treated and recycled is commonly used for irrigation and cooling purposes. A pioneering move to promote environmental systems was the induction of charging points for electric cars.

Infosys, Mysuru

The Infosys Mysuru campus has been awarded the LEED EBOM (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Existing Building Operation & Maintenance) Platinum certification by us Green Building Council (USGBC).

Infosys now has 18.25 million square feet of the very best rated green buildings–of which 16.9 million square feet are LEED Platinum rated and 1.35 million square feet are GRIHA 5-star rated buildings.

The LEED Green Building scoring system may be a globally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. Infosys has the most important building area certified as LEED Platinum within the IT office space category. To form its campuses sustainable and resource-efficient, Infosys has since 2008 followed a two-pronged strategy to style new buildings to the very best energy efficiency standards and implement deep retrofits in old buildings.

At the Mysuru campus, large-scale retrofit projects in existing buildings, including food courts, training centers, guest houses, and sports complexes, were some ways through which efficiency improvements were achieved. Major interventions included the entire re-engineering of chiller plants, air handling units, building management system (BMS) retrofit, UPS, and lighting retrofit. Initiatives like these have helped Infosys lower its operating costs, improve equipment life, achieve better indoor air quality, and increase occupant comfort and satisfaction.

Indira Paryavaran Bhawan

Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, the new office block for the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) sets, may be a radical change from a standard building design.

It puts special emphasis on strategies for reducing energy demand by providing adequate natural light, shading, landscape, to scale back ambient temperature, and energy-efficient active building systems. Several energy conservation measures were adopted to scale back the energy a lot of the building and therefore the remaining demand was met by producing energy from on-site installed high-efficiency solar panels to realize net-zero criteria. It uses 70% less energy compared to a standard building. The project adopted green building concepts including conservation and optimization of water by recycling wastewater from the location.

It is now India’s highest green-rated building. The project is a GRIHA 5 Star and LEED Platinum-certified building. The building has already won awards like the Adarsh/GRIHA of MNRE for exemplary demonstration of integration of Renewable Energy Technologies.

Godrej Plant 13 Annexe

Built-in Mumbai in 2008, Godrej Plant 13 Annexe of a 24,443 sq. meter area office-cum-convention was awarded the ‘Net Zero Energy Rating’ by the IGBC scoring system attaining 77 points. An onsite and offsite renewable energy system powers the whole site. The building regenerates 8% of its energy demand through solar rooftop panels.

Several additional features and upgrades are added to realize net-zero. These include improving upon the building’s systems (HVAC, lighting) performance; monitoring energy performance at the system level to know energy end-use efficiencies; addressing cost streams related to building operations; improving occupant comfort leading to productive employee workspaces; enlightening building occupants and visitors regarding the benign impact on the environment; providing public recognition for leadership in sustainability; and becoming a case study for other corporates to emulate in future.

By the building’s design, most areas are natural daylight. The centralized air-conditioning system has been designed considering the diversified occupation of the building.

System-level monitoring and analytics of HVAC, lighting, ventilation energy consumption and solar PV generation on a day to day have resulted in the identification of potential energy-saving opportunities and control of operations; Rs 0.15 million has been invested towards institutionalizing a system-level metering system, which has yielded significant benefits by way of monitoring and control of wasteful energy within the building.

The overall energy consumption reduction within the past two years is 276 MWh (7 percent of total energy consumption). Energy cost reduction for the past two years has been Rs 4.8 million (8 percent of the entire energy cost). Total energy generated from renewable sources (rooftop solar PV) is 8 percent.

CISCO Smart Campus, Bangalore

The Cisco Smart Campus, Bangalore, spread across 2.18 million sq. ft of built-up area was certified 5 LEED-Platinum building. It scored a complete of 96 from a possible 110 points. The entire building’s energy consumption is being offset by green power investments amounting to over 70,00,000 kWh of green power once a year.

To encourage cycling, provision is formed for bicycle parking and shower facilities. on-site generated construction waste diverted quite 80% from landfills. Renewable material cost accounts for 7.7% of the project’s material cost. The development process used about 21% of materials manufactured by recycling materials. Provisions are made to encourage bicycle and shower facilities for workers, including 53% of the bottom building on-site parking is found underground or undercover.

Q. What is the concept of green building in India? A. Green building in India refers to the practice of creating structures that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout their lifecycle. These buildings aim to reduce their impact on the environment and human health.

Q. What are the top 10 green buildings in India? A. Some of the top green buildings in India include the Suzlon One Earth, Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, ITC Grand Chola, Hyderabad Gandhi International Airport, Infosys Mysuru campus, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Godrej Plant 13 Annexe, Infinity Benchmark in Kolkata, and CISCO Smart Campus in Bangalore.

Q. Who are the best eco-friendly architects in India? A. Some of the best eco-friendly architects in India include Christopher Benninger, Rajeev Kathpalia, Brinda Somaya, and Manit Rastogi, among others.

Q. What are some key features of eco-friendly buildings in India? A. Eco-friendly green buildings of India incorporate sustainable materials, energy-efficient designs, water conservation techniques, and renewable energy sources to minimize their environmental impact.

Q. How do green buildings contribute to energy efficiency in India? A. Green buildings use energy-efficient technologies such as solar panels, LED lighting, and insulation to reduce energy consumption and promote renewable energy sources.

Q. What are some examples of energy-efficient buildings in India? A. Some examples of energy-efficient buildings in India include the Suzlon One Earth, Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, and the Infosys Mysuru campus, among others.

Q. What are the benefits of eco-friendly buildings? A. Eco-friendly buildings offer benefits such as reduced energy costs, improved indoor air quality, lower water consumption, and reduced environmental impact.

Q. How do green buildings in India compare to the best green buildings in the world? A. Green buildings in India are on par with the best in the world in terms of sustainability, innovation, and design. They incorporate cutting-edge technologies and practices to minimize their environmental impact.

Q. How can I make my building more eco-friendly? A. To make eco-friendly building in India, you can use sustainable materials, install energy-efficient appliances, incorporate green spaces, and promote water conservation practices.

Q. What are some key considerations when designing an energy-efficient building in India? A. When designing an energy-efficient building in India, it’s important to consider factors such as climate, orientation, insulation, shading, and use of renewable energy sources.

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Mycoremediation can work wonders for water pollution, electrowinning technology makes significant strides in wastewater treatment, effective eco-friendly practices for tyre disposal, can robotics really save the environment, light towers revolutionise temporary power and lighting by embracing sustainability, eco-friendly insulation options for a greener home, top renewable energy scholarships: opportunities to study abroad, top eco-friendly fencing materials for a green yard, green threads: how fashion brands are weaving eco-friendly fashion practices, the future of medical waste disposal: biodegradable containers and sustainable waste…, shaping sustainable business practices with strategic consulting, clearing the air: health benefits of embracing a tobacco-free lifestyle, how important is environmental education at school, streamlining operations with innovative & efficient industrial packaging, case studies of green construction and sustainable architecture in india.

There is no doubt that living in a safe and sustainable environment has become the need of the hour. Buildings consume about 30-35% of the total energy consumption in India, and as a result of rapid economic and population growth, this consumption is rising at an alarming rate. A huge increase in demand for housing and expansion of commercial office spaces have caused a haphazard growth in Indian cities. While urban authorities are struggling to find solutions to this unraveling crisis, a few private players have made a determined effort to create a sustainable living space.

Nispana Innovative Platforms organized a conference on ‘Sustainability in Design and Construction India’ (SICI-2016) in Bengaluru to discuss the government policies on sustainability in construction and architectural design at the city level, along with hurdles and suggestions to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency.

Case Studies of Sustainable Architecture in India

Some of the case studies of innovative green construction and sustainable architecture in India showcased at SICI-2016 are presented here:

Muziris Heritage Project

Dr. Benny Kuriakose showcased the Muziris Heritage Project undertaken to restore the historical and cultural significance of the legendary port of Muziris. Situated just outside the modern city of Kochi, this ancient port city was lost in antiquity due to a major flood that happened way back in 1340 AD. The oldest mention about Muziris is found in Sangam literature and chronicles of Greek historians, which stated it to be the most prominent spice trading port for Roman and Greek merchants.

Excavations began in 2006 in the present-day town of Kodangallur and the foundations of an ancient port were found. Interestingly the town has India’s first Muslim mosque, one of the oldest Jewish synagogues and a Marthoma Church all in the same vicinity. Soon, a major restoration project was launched through a public-private partnership to renovate the existing heritage buildings. It is the largest heritage conservation project undertaken in India worth INR94 crore, which was funded mainly by the Government of Kerala and the Archaeological Survey of India. Benny Kuriakose stated that these older structures were in a stable condition and in terms of energy efficiency, it is much better to restore an existing building rather than build a new one.

The next speaker Stanley George from GoodEarth asked an interesting question: Do you think technology can solve our environmental problems or can common sense do it? He explained with an example: when we restore a lake, do we use stone and cement to cover the banks or do we allow plants create a green blanket? If we blend traditional building practices with modern technology, we can find innovative solutions to the environmental crisis we face today, opined Stanley George.

Good Earth’s Malhar Footprints project is an ideal example of this blend of traditional building practices and modern technology, which is based on the philosophy of famous architect Laurie Baker,. Way back in 1995, Stanley George and team began by experimenting with alternatives in architecture, exploring concepts of holistic development, sustainable housing, organic farming and found an architectural style most suitable for Indian conditions. GoodEarth Malhar Footprints is an eco-friendly township spread over seven acres of land in Kengeri, Bengaluru. This gated community has houses built with compressed soil stabilized bricks made at the site and houses are extended around a network of landscaped courtyards with restricted vehicular movement.

GBCI Certification

When asked about regulations on green buildings in India , Mili Majumdar clearly stated that mandatory regulations do not ensure compliance, rather there would be more violations than earlier. The current system of voluntary certification is a much better system since it not only ensures commitment to the cause, but also provides a chance to market the project in a big way. A LEED-certified building has much higher market value due to rising awareness about living in a better environment, opined Majumdar.

Sustainable Integrated Townships

Vasudevan Suresh, renowned housing expert and Vice Chairman of the National Building Code of India presented the case for building integrated townships in cities. Suresh stated that architects are responsible for not just building a project but tracking its entire lifecycle. Urban mobility, waste management and ensuring water safety are the prime concerns of urban authorities. However, the haphazard growth of Indian cities has created a massive infrastructural crisis where things have become unmanageable.

Suresh feels integrated townships such as Hiranandani Gardens in Mumbai, Mahindra Lifespaces in Chennai, Rajarhat Newtown in Kolkata are ideal solutions for the urban sprawl. If a workplace is built next door to a housing project, then the commute is reduced to walking or cycling. Similarly, if a shopping mall, a hospital, a school, a park and a commercial hub are all clustered together in one integrated township, that will reduce most of the urban infrastructural problems. For example, waste segregation and management will become easy since it will all be collected in one location, while providing WiFi net connectivity and large power backup will become economically feasible.

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Can building-to-grid technology be game-changer for sustainable development in india, sustainable home on a budget: is it possible, 8 key points to prioritize when revamping your business premises, what are the advantages of green roofing your building.

You can also check out Greenland ashram done by Mr.Philippe in Tiruvannamalai. http://greenlandashram.com/

All structures were build using traditional mud wall techniques. Its extremely well done.

Good luck Levine.

eco-friendly houses by using ‘Glass Fibre Reinforced Gypsum’ (GFRG) panels. Please give us Contacts of Construction Agency in India.

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Renewable Energy Integration 50 % roof covered with 27 kW PV panels tilted at 23º facing south for on-site generation equivalent to 70kWh/m 2 /yr.

Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, MoEF

Renewable Energy Integration 930 kW PV panels with a total area of 4650m 2 for on-site generation, tilted at 23º facing south to generate equivalent to 70kWh/m 2 /yr

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Renewable Energy Technology Building Integrated Photovoltaic(BIPV) System with 42.50 kW capacity to supply total annual energy consumption.

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Renewable Energy Technology Draws 100% of its energy from roof-top PV plant. 57 kW solar PV generates 88.9 MWh/yr. Excess energy fed to other buildings at site.

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Green building: case study

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Journal ijmr.net.in(UGC Approved)

SYED M A Q B O O L GEELANI

Building materials and technologies, and building practices have evolved through ages. The following points require attention, regarding the use of modern building materials: energy consumed in the manufacturing processes, problems of long distance transportation, natural resources and raw materials consumed, recycling and safe disposal, impact on environment, and long-term sustainability. Thus the issues related to energy expenditure, recycling, biodegradable, environmental and sustainability with respect to future demand need to be addressed during the manufacture and use of any new building material by the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use resources energy, water, and materials while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better site, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal i.e. the complete building life cycle for achieving sustainable building development or green building development. The goal of the "green building" project is to reduce the impact of construction on the environment by sustainable building and construction of buildings using methods and materials that are resource efficient and will not compromise the health of the environment or the associated health and well-being of the building's occupants, construction workers, the general public, or future generations. Sustainable building involves the consideration of many issues, including land use, site impacts, indoor environment, energy and water use, solid waste, and lifecycle impacts of building materials. Energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions will therefore continue to rise unless actions to direct the construction industry towards sustainable consumption and production are taken urgently.

Jasir Mushtaq

Today we all have heard the term " Green Building " more and more often just because the Green Movement is getting more and more popular with each passing year. A green building is the one which uses less water, optimises energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional building. The " built " environment has a vast impact on the natural environment, human health, and the economy. By adopting green building strategies, we can maximize both economic and environmental performance. Green construction methods can be integrated into buildings at any stage, from design and construction, to renovation and deconstruction. In the year 2001, the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), formed by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is continuously striving towards wider adoption of green building concepts in our country. It has licensed the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Standard from the U.S. Green Building Council and at present certifies the LEED-New Construction and LEED-Core and Shell buildings in India. The Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) was launched by the Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) as a guide for energy efficiency standards. The Green Building movement spearheaded by CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre in Hyderabad since 2001 has come a long way. With a meagre green building footprint of 20,000 sq.ft in 2003, today over 400 million sq.ft have been rated by IGBC. India ranks third among the top ten countries for LEED and in 2016, nearly 650 projects in India earned LEED certification. According to a recent USGBC survey, 87 percent of Indian professionals anticipate that use of LEED in India increasing overall, with nine out of ten industry senior executives in India anticipating that their LEED related work will increase over the next several years. The effective use of the natural resources is the need of present days. The Indian green building movement is surging ahead and well poised to reach greater heights, in the years to come.

pankaj saini

The concept of green building has created an immense importance in a developing country like INDIA. The theory implies of minimizing the wastage and the cost of construction. Green Building encompasses a wide range of design practices, building systems integration, product specification, and construction techniques Green building approach is consistent with the mission of most affordable housing developers, and the most community development corporation mission statements which include language about ensuring that low income people have access to safe, decent and affordable housing. The concept of green buildings is not as emerging as we think it is. The Evolution of housing started by utilizing nature and natural resources like trees and caves as shelter from the severity of natural elements like sun, rain, wind, etc. Based on such complex experiences, our Vedic philosophy evolved certain methods to maximize the use of Panch Mahabhuta or the 5 basic elements of nature, i.e., Jal (w...

IOSR Journals

Change in climate, caused by the release of greenhouse effect causing gases (primarily carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere, has been recognized as one of the greatest threats of the 21st century. Share of the global energy consumption in India and China has also been on the rise due to heavy industrialization, urbanization, population explosion, and intensive growth of IT. Buildings are the prime energy consumers in modern cities accounting upto 40 to 45% energy consumption. Their consumption can be largely confined through improving efficiency, which is an effective means to lessen greenhouse gas emissions and slow down depletion of fossil fuels. There is a heavy (over 50%) saving potential in the building sector and thus it is considered as a potential sector to meet the challenges of global energy demand and climate change. Along with the advent of energy efficient measures, more effective means are needed to induce or compel greater efforts, especially to the signatories of the Kyoto Protocol. This technical paper highlights the importance of sustainable construction, discusses role of energy efficiency in green buildings in Indian context to reduce the energy consumption and environmental degradation through Green House Gas emission (GHG). Also it points out to the benefits of green construction as well as the incentives from govt. and municipal bodies for GRIHA certified green building.

Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology

Mohammed Arif

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the characteristics of green building guidelines in developed countries and to analyze their influence on the evolution and adoption of similar guidelines in India.Design/methodology/approachThis research reviews the green building guidelines in the developed as well as the developing countries such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design guidelines for new construction (LEED® NC‐USA), Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)‐UK, Comprehensive Assessment System for Building Environmental Efficiency (CASBEE)‐Japan, and LEED®‐India and further performs a comparative analysis of these guidelines.FindingsBased on the comparative analysis of LEED® NC‐USA, BREEAM‐UK, and CASBEE‐Japan, the characteristics that might have affected their current acceptance were identified. The catalysts and hindrances associated with the acceptance of LEED‐India in India were identified based on the comparative analysis ...

IAEME Publication

Environmental pollution has reached a stage wherein it cannot be left alone to the natural environment to heal by itself. Human interventions have become absolutely necessary to control environmental pollution and reduce the impact of damage to the environment. One large contributor to environmental pollution is the construction industry. The improper use of natural resources in construction on buildings, the energy consumed and the dispose of the salvage largely impacts the environment. There is a huge concern to reduce the impact of buildings on the environment. This concerns for the environment have in fact led to the thought process of construction of green buildings which minimize the impact of the buildings on the environment. In order to minimize the environmental impact of the buildings it is high time to follow guidelines and necessary steps for undertaking the task of construction of green buildings. The researchers in this paper talks about the requirement of green building constructions in India, and tries to find out the drivers which create a demand for purchase of green buildings.

KULDEEP KAUSHIK

IJERA Journal

Interal Res journa Managt Sci Tech

The building sector is one of the biggest consumers of electricity in India [1] ; it is also the largest generator of CO2 emission & one of the highest consumers of water in India. This is the basic reason why Green building movement comes to India so that we can minimise the environment effect caused by the construction activity in India. Green buildings have potential to reduce up to 34 percent lower CO2 emissions, consume 25 percent less energy and 11 percent less water, and have diverted more than 80 million tonnes of waste from landfills [2]. The author of this paper has studied different rating systems in India & the sustainability of the green buildings in India. The paper goes beyond Green building rating system and gives a thought to the understanding of embedded emission and operational emission. The author of the paper gives an idea of not only Green Building but also a sustainable green building by Post occupancy evaluation.

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Case studies.

IIT Gandhinagar- India’s first campus to receive a five-star GRIHA LD rating

Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) is a rating tool that helps people assess their building performance against certain national benchmarks. GRIHA focuses to minimize a building’s resource consumption , waste generation , and overall ecological impact by quantifying these aspects helping to control and reduce them to the best possible extent. Indian Institute of Gandhinagar (IIT Gandhinagar) is an institute that has been constantly working towards sustainability and developing a green campus since the initial stage. 

The master plan of the institute came into existence in consideration of the sustainability aspect of the campus. The campus was thus honored with the five-star GRIHA rating after completion in the year 2017.

Under the guidance of the visionary director of the institute- Dr. Sudhir Jain, the institute has been upscaling concerning values, knowledge, and sustainability. He states- “Sustainability is a key focus at IIT Gandhinagar in everything we do and that includes the development of our campus. The IIT Gandhinagar master plan demonstrates that green initiatives need not come with a hefty price tag.”

The consultants who supported the phase 1 construction were: Mitimitra Consultants Pvt. Ltd, HCP Design Planning & Management Pvt. Ltd., Vastu Shilpa Consultants, and Jhaveri Associates. The renewable energy installation on the campus is proposed to have 500 kWp capacity for the site area of 211795 sq.m. The aspects which make the campus green and sustainable are:

1. Sustainable site planning | IIT Gandhinagar  

The hard paving has been avoided and the landscape is merged with the building clusters to reduce the increase in outdoor ambient air temperature. Stormwater management is done to reduce peak run-off water quantity. The holding ponds are implemented on the campus as a sustainable urban drainage system.

Zero Sewage Discharge

To have a zero discharge campus, there are no outgoing sewage lines from the campus to the municipality . The wastewater and sewage generated on campus are treated through anaerobic reactors and a root zone treatment system. The water recycled is piped separately throughout the campus for irrigation purposes.

2. Optimization of Energy

In comparison to GRIHA LD base buildings, the campus is 46% more energy efficient. The energy optimization is gained by reducing heat gain or increasing cooling in the campus. The architects opted for fly ash bricks for the construction which generates the lowest heat gain. Fly ash bricks were used in the cavity walls and outside walls of the campus buildings. Exclusive use of exposed concrete and grit plaster is done externally. The central court called- Samvad court (court of ‘kites in the sky’) uses an interesting concept of perforated shade. An interesting play of light and shadows can be observed in space.

A Passive Downdraft Evaporative Cooling(PDEC) technique using a mist pump has been adopted for the dining hall . It helps reduce the indoor temperature with hardly any energy consumption. Academic Complex Building 7 uses a combination of a PDEC mist pump, a night purge system, and a cavity wall system. Jali screens have been provided to reduce glare in housing buildings. The use of various passive cooling techniques is seen throughout the campus. All these techniques help to cope with the harsh summers in this region.

A building monitoring system(BMS) is installed to manage cooling strategies. In the case of street light 85% more energy efficiency is observed. Street lights designed here meet the minimum lighting requirement, installed with automatic switches. 

Solar carport

The campus demands approximately 1MW of energy, of which the solar carport and the rooftop solar panels together can provide 500kWp.The 90 vehicles carport is created to facilitate safe parking space on the campus. This is the first and one of a kind facility in the region paving a path for future adaptations of the same model.

3. Water management | IIT Gandhinagar

The institute reduces its annual water demand by 41.86% through the reuse of treated wastewater. All fixtures used in the campus are low-flow fixtures.100% wastewater is treated by the DEWATS system installed on-site.

Rainwater Harvesting and Storage: Jal Mandaps

An innovative system of rainwater harvesting has been developed on campus. The campus building rooftops are connected to a stormwater collection pipe network. These pipes are then connected with a gravity feed system to six rainwater storage structures located throughout the campus. They are inspired by the concept of associating architectural features with water conservation structures, e.g. step-wells or vavs in Gujarat. 

4. Solid waste management

Biogas plants and compost pits are installed on the campus to treat all the organic waste. Food waste from the hostel mess is segregated at the source and is fed to the biogas plant. The compost pits take all other organic kitchen waste— vegetable peelings, etc. later used as manure in the landscaping.

The segregation of waste is done at the source. The institute’s ‘Green Office’ is actively involved in waste reduction initiatives, along with other green campus efforts. Staff training, monitoring the implementation of various initiatives, and providing general education regarding waste reduction is done.

5. Sustainable transport | IIT Gandhinagar

Site planning has been done to improve walkability in the campus through continuous and universally accessible footpaths. A green transportation mode is provided on the campus by two CNG-based vans that drive several times a day between the housing block and the Academic Complex. Electric charging facilities are provided for more than 10% of the total car and two-wheeler parking slots. A ‘Sustainable Cycle Pooling Initiative’ for students, staff, and faculty exists on the campus.

The author had an opportunity to be in the IIT Gandhinagar campus as an architectural intern, under the guidance of principal architect-Ar. Vikram Hundekar and senior architect-Ar. Dhara Mehta. She observed the practical implementation of the practices mentioned above and was amazed by the visionary leaders of the institute, guiding youngsters towards a greener, sustainable India .

References:

https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/education/iitgn-palaj-crowned-king-of-green-campuses/articleshow/50644897.cms

http://www.iitgn.ac.in/

https://campus.iitgn.ac.in/pdf/Overview_Report.pdf

https://www.grihaindia.org/sites/default/files/2018-11/iit-gandhinagar.pdf

A person who is passionate about art defines Rasika Hivrekar precisely, resonating with the meaning of her name. She is a final year architecture student. She believes self-expression is the best gift to mankind and loves exploring new avenues of it. Along with architecture, she is passionate about writing and music as well.

9 Innovative Adaptive Re-use of Colonial Architecture in India

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