The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) has granted a ‘gold' certification to the IT building of the ongoing phase-III project of Technopark here.

The certificate is given as part of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) India rating System.

This is for the first time that a Technopark facility is being awarded a green building certificate.

The construction activities on the phase-III project are progressing. It will also constitute the largest in the Technopark complex, said Mr Mervin Alexander, Chief Executive Officer, Technopark.

The building has a built-up area of 10 lakh sq.ft.

In fact, the IT building at the phase-III campus has been ‘pre-certified' by the IGBC after a two-level review system considering various factors inherent in the project design and implementation.

The green building facility would be leased out to multiple tenants from around the world and is expected to be operational by the end of this year, Mr Alexander added.

A green building 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 upcoming building will be equipped with energy efficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system by usage of variable frequency drives and heat recovery wheels, among others, an official spokesman said.

Water-cooled centrifugal chillers with high coefficient of performance (CoP) will be installed. Cooling system that ensures adequate ventilation and proper filtration can have a positive impact on indoor air quality.

This will not only sustain good health but also enhance productivity of the occupants. Double glazing with low ‘U value' (measure of ability to transfer heat) that resists heat transmission to building interiors will be employed.

Natural lighting will be utilised to the maximum extent. Other control devices include day light sensors and occupancy sensors which help conserve energy. Renewable energy sources would be tapped wherever possible.

The design was conceived by architect Hafeez Contractor in association with consortium partners Iyer and Mahesh of Thiruvananthapuram.

The phase-III campus will be spread over 90 acres, and will feature common facilities ranging from like electrical substation, water distribution system, sewage treatment plant, food courts and shopping malls to a bus station.

One important attraction is the rainwater harvesting facility being set up on the campus.

The pond will have a surface area of 8,500 sq m and a volume of 10,000 cu m. All these facilities have been designed in compliance with the requirements of green buildings.

Land parcels have also been allotted to few companies, including HCL, on the campus. Developmental works by these companies are also progressing.

Published on May 3, 2011