The Hindu Business Line : Green-print

Every 20,000 sq ft of a centrally air-conditioned shopping mall or commercial complex consumes about 150-160 units of power per hour. But green buildings consume about 30-50 per cent less energy and 30-70 per cent less water, resulting in drastic reduction of operating costs. Green building involves increasing the efficiency of buildings in their use of energy, water, and materials, and reducing the impact on human health and the environment through better design, construc tion, operation, maintenance and waste disposal.

In India, the green building movement, spearheaded by CII-Godrej Green Business Centre, has gained tremendous impetus over the last few years. From 20,000 sq ft in 2003, India’s green footprint is now over 25 million sq ft.

Green buildings are evaluated by rating systems such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Globes from the Green Building Initiative.

The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) was launched in 2001, and the LEED-India green building rating system was launched this year. The rating system is divided into five environmental categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. An additional category, innovation and design process, addresses sustainable building expertise. An important feature of LEED-India is that it encourages naturally ventilated buildings.

Around 100 projects have been registered under LEED rating system, says S. Raghupathy, Senior Director and Head - Green Business Centre, Hyderabad, and Secretarial Head - IGBC. He expects about 1,000 buildings to be registered green by 2010.

‘Green’ principles

Green buildings are designed to ensure harmony with the natural surroundings, says Sonali Lalvani, Head-Marketing, RMZ Corp, a Bangalore-based developer. The company recently got a LEED pre-certification from USGBC for two projects — Platinum for Ecospace in Kolkata, and Gold for RMZ Millenia Business Park, Chennai.

Green building materials include rapidly renewable plant material like bamboo, stone, recycled metal, and other products that are non-toxic, reusable, renewable, and/or recyclable. Products with low-volatile organic components are also preferable, says Raghupathy. When old buildings are demolished, good wood should be reclaimed, renewed, and reused as flooring, doors, windows, mantels and hardware, he adds.

The building design should ensure use of natural air and sunlight, thus reducing electricity consumption. Well-insulated windows, doors and walls help reduce energy use.

Solar water-heating systems and smartly-designed lighting and air-conditioning systems have ensured 30 per cent reduction in energy use at Wipro’s Gurgaon Development Centre (GDC). Natural lighting is used as much as possible, and a combination of daylight sensors and lighting control helps optimise energy use. Double-glazed windows with energy-efficient glass cut down noise and heat levels, reducing the load on the air-conditioning system.

The centre has received USGBC’s Platinum rating.

Wipro also has a paper recycling unit at its Electronics City campus in Bangalore that makes notepads for employees; and its Bangalore office converts canteen waste into bio-fuel.

The RMZ Millennia Business Park in Chennai has a sewage treatment plant; the treated water is used for gardening and in toilet flushes and water-cooled air-conditioning systems, says Sonali of RMZ Corp. The use of ultra-low flow systems in toilet fixtures can further help conserve water, she adds.

“The key principle in all our buildings is extreme discretion in power consumption and water management, which has become a way of life for us,” says Laxman K. Badiga, Corporate Vice-President and CIO, Wipro Technologies. The Azim Premji Foundation building in Bangalore uses natural light and functions without air-conditioners. Onsite generation of renewable energy through solar power, wind power, hydropower, or biomass can significantly reduce the building’s environmental impact. Wipro is considering setting up windmills as an energy source option, Badiga says. Raghupathy points out that waste disposal management — both during construction and occupation — plays an important role in sustainable practices.

Interface Inc, a US-based modular floor covering manufacturer, has through its waste reduction programme generated over $336 million in costs avoided, says Raj Menon, Country Manager - India, Interface FLOR. Energy-efficiency and commitment to renewable energy have resulted in 60 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions on an absolute basis since 1996. Further changes in production process have enabled 80 per cent water savings, he says.

The company offers climate-neutral products through its ‘Cool Carpet’ programme whereby certified carbon-offset projects such as forestry plantation are implemented.

Savings versus cost

Raghupathy says the ‘green’ initiatives involve 3-8 per cent increase in incremental costs. “But this gets paid back in 3-4 years’ time.”

Wipro’s Badiga adds his company’s initiatives were “achieved with a nominal increase in construction cost, say about 10 per cent”.

Chandrasekhar Hariharan, Managing Director, Biodiversity Conservation (I) Ltd, Bangalore, says there is a mistaken belief that green buildings cost more. “Over the years, these buildings have shown they don’t.”

For Badiga the bigger challenge lies in sustaining the movement. “Launching such an initiative is easy, but sustaining it is the tricky part,” he says. Wipro employees are sensitised to the company’s green initiatives through exhibitions, conferences and training programmes. In fact, at the induction programme itself new recruits learn about Wipro’s green values, says Badiga.

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