Sustainable buildings in India

Geetgunjan Patel
Semester-x
S A P D , I t m u n i v e r s i t y, R a i p u r ( C . G . )
CEPT, A Living Laboratory
Summary
Location Ahmedabad

Geographical coordinates 23° N, 73° E

Occupancy Type Office & Educational

Typology New Construction

Climate Type Hot and Dry

Project Area 498 m2

Grid Connectivity Grid connected

EPI 58 kWh/m2/yr
CEPT University in Ahmedabad, one of India’s premier institutes, initiated the proposal of constructing a NZEB on its campus. The
Centre for Advanced research in Building science and energy (CARBSE) took up this challenging task for creation and dissemination
of knowledge for energy efficient and sustainable built environment in areas of building envelop design, testing the performance of
envelope components such as fenestration and building energy simulation research. CARBSE was successful in forming a group of
dedicated and enthusiastic researchers and professionals from around the world, who worked collaboratively to come up with a state-
of-the-art NZEB building which would not only function as a living laboratory but also house CARBSE’s various equipment for testing
and characterization services.
To start with, a thorough analysis was done of Ahmedabad’s climate and the site on which the building was proposed to be
constructed. An integrated and interactive design approach was considered suitable for designing the building. An extensive pre-
design analysis was done to comprehend the challenges and come up with applicable solutions for building massing, orientation, day-
lighting and artificial lighting inside the building, natural ventilation, occupant thermal comfort, HVAC and renewable energy systems.
Different options were considered for building design and simulation models were designed for in-depth and detailed analysis. After a
substantial amount of brainstorming by the academia and industry experts, the design was finalized and construction began in
September 2012 and finished in March 2015.
Various high level sensors were incorporated during the construction phase to monitor the performance of the building envelope,
environment and systems. They are collectively monitored through a Building Management system (BMS). The indoor environment
can also be controlled with the help of BMS. The data collected by the BMS has been analysed to judge the actual performance of the
building.
NZEB had been envisioned to provide an experience that will enable the occupants and visitors to understand the importance of
resource efficiency through sensorial aspects of design. The spaces within the facility house various activities and provide varying
visual and thermal comfort experiences to enhance the user’s understanding of the perceived physical and psychological comfort
conditions. It also offers an opportunity to demonstrate strategies used to achieve the targeted comfort levels. The design, as a whole,
emphasizes the importance of integrated design process and demonstrate the symbiotic relationship between architecture, interior
architecture, structure and services.
Passive Design Strategies
Orientation
The building is north-south oriented with appropriate
shading and light shelves on the south.
Daylighting
Vision, clerestories, light shelves on south bring in diffuse
daylight with occupant control. north light is used for
introducing daylight into the building.
Renewable Energy
50% roof covered with 27 kW PV panels tilted at 23º facing south for on-site generation equivalent to
70kWh/m2/yr.
Indira ParyavaranBhawan, Ministry of
Environment and Forest (MoEF)

Summary
Location New Delhi

Geographical coordinates 28° N, 77° E

Occupancy Type Office (MoEF)

Typology New Construction

Climate Type Composite

Project Area 9,565 m2

Grid Connectivity Grid connected

EPI 44 kWh/m2/yr
Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, the new office building for Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) sets is
a radical change from a conventional building design.
The project team put special emphasis on strategies for reducing energy demand by providing adequate
natural light, shading, landscape to reduce ambient temperature, and energy efficient active building
systems. Several energy conservation measures were adopted to reduce the energy loads of the building
and the remaining demand was met by producing energy from on-site installed high efficiency solar
panels to achieve net zero criteria. Indira Paryavaran Bhawan uses 70% less energy compared a
conventional building. The project adopted green building concepts including conservation and
optimization of water by recycling waste water from the site.
Indira Paryavaran Bhawan is now India’s highest green rated building. The project has received GRIHA 5
Star and LEED Platinum. The building has already won awards such as the Adarsh/GRIHA of MNRE for
exemplary demonstration of Integration of Renewable Energy Technologies.
Passive Design Strategies

• Orientation: Building is north south oriented, with separate blocks connected through corridors and a huge central court yard.
Orientation minimizes heat ingress. Optimal window to wall ratio.
• Landscaping: More than 50% area outside the building is covered with plantation. Circulation roads and pathways are soft
paved to enable ground water recharge.
• Daylighting: 75% of building floor space is day lit, thus reducing dependence on artificial sources for lighting. Inner courtyard
serves as a light well.
• Ventilation: Central courtyard helps in air movement as natural ventilation happens due to stack effect. Windows and jaalis
add to cross ventilation.
• Building Envelope and Fenestration:
• Optimized Building Envelope – Window assembly (U-Value 0.049 W/m2K),VLT 0.59, SHGC 0.32
• uPVC windows with hermetically sealed double glazed using low heat transmittance index glass
• Rock wool insulation
• High efficiency glass
• Cool roofs: Use of high reflectance terrace tiles for heat ingress, high strength, hard wearing.
• Materials and construction techniques :
• AAC blocks with fly ash
• Fly ash based plaster & mortar
• Stone and Ferro cement jaalis
• Local stone flooring
• Bamboo jute composite doors, frames and flooring
• High efficiency glass, high VLT, low SHGC & Low U-value, optimized by appropriate shading
• Light shelves for diffused sunlight
Active Strategies
Lighting Design
1. Energy efficient lighting system ( LPD = 5 W/m2) , nearly 50% more efficient than Energy Conservation Building Code 2007
requirements ( LPD = 11 W/m2) reduces energy demand further.
2. Remaining lighting load supplied by building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV).
3. Use of energy efficient lighting fixtures (T5 lamps).
4. Use of lux level sensor to optimize operation of artificial lighting.

Optimized Energy Systems / HVAC system

Chilled beam system/ VFD/ Screw Chillers
• 160 TR of air conditioning load of the building is met through Chilled beam system. Chilled beam are used from second to sixth floor.
This reduces energy use by 50 % compared to a conventional system.
• HVAC load of the buildings is 40 m2/TR, about 50% more efficient than ECBC requirements (20 m2/TR)
• Chilled water is supplied at 16° C and return temperature is 20° C.
• Drain pans are provided with the chilled beams to drain out water droplets due to condensation during monsoon.
• Water cooled chillers, double skin air handling units with variable frequency drivers(VFD)
• Chilled beams save AHU/FCU fan power consumption by approximate 50 kW.
• VFDs provided in chilled water pumping system, cooling tower fans and AHUs.
• Fresh supply air is pre cooled from toilet exhaust air through sensible & latent heat energy recovery wheel.
• Control of HVAC equipment & monitoring of all systems through integrated building management system.
• Functional zoning to reduce air conditioning loads.
• Room temperature is maintained at 26 ±1 ° C
Geothermal heat exchange system
1. There are 180 vertical bores to the depth of 80 meter all along the building premises. Minimum 3 meter distance is maintained
between any two bores.
2. Each bore has HDPE pipe U-loop (32mm outer diameter) and grouted with Bentonite Slurry. Each U-Loop is connected to the
condenser water pipe system in the central air conditioning plant room.
3. One U-Loop has 0.9 TR heat rejection capacity. Combined together, 160 TR of heat rejection is obtained without using a cooling tower.
Renewable Energy
• Solar PV System of 930 kW capacity
• Total Area: 6,000 m2
• Total Area of panels: 4,650 m2
• No of panels: 2,844
• Annual Energy Generation: 14.3 lakh unit

ACTUAL GENERATION ON SITE ( as on 25.01.2014)

• Power supply to grid started on 19.11.2013
• Power generation achieved: 300 kWh per day
• Total generation: 2.0 kWh
SunCarrierOmega Private Limited
Summary
Sun carrier omega office is located in Bhopal, central India with a
built up area of about 9888 sq. ft. The company provides turnkey
renewable energy solutions from planning, through installation to
servicing to fulfill the requisite energy demand for residential,
government and corporates sectors. It’s has achieved the LEED
Platinum certification under LEED India. The building is carved with
various green features poising the technology and environmental
sustainability. Sun Carrier Omega is the first company to bring to
India the Sun Tracking Intelligent Solar PV System, which generates
about 40% more energy than fixed systems. It also provides large
capacity vanadium redox flow energy storage and management
system, the Cellcube series etc.
The commercial building of Sun Carrier Omega has adopted the below mentioned demand side green
technologies and strategies to be one of India’s net zero energy buildings.
1. Site Sustainability Features:
• Located in close proximity to public transportation to reduce vehicular pollution and strain on local
infrastructure.
• To promote alternative fuel and low emitting vehicles.
• 14% of the total car parking area is provisioned for car poolers to promote share ride to minimize the
transportation strain on environment.
• 51% of the site area – exclusive of building foot print, is covered with native or adaptive landscape species.
• 81% of roof area is covered with a highly reflective material to reduce heat islands and to minimize impact on
microclimate.
2. Water Efficiency:
• Reduce the water consumption by installing water efficient fixtures, low flow dual-flush toilets, sensor based
urinals and other low flow fixtures.
• 100% onsite wastewater treatment. The treated water complies with tertiary standard and reused for
landscaping/ other purposes.
• Rain water harvesting system having a rain water recharge pit of capacity of 180 cu m per day.
• The building has achieved 40.9% reduction in potable water use
3. Energy Efficiency
• 100% annual energy consumption of the building is sourced by the onsite renewable energy generation and
storage.
• Other energy efficiency measures include high albedo paint on roof, efficient day lighting design, insulation,
occupancy monitoring, high-efficiency HVAC equipment, natural ventilation, and evaporative cooling.
4. Resource management
• Approx 96% of total construction waste of debris has been recycled or reused cutting down the debris
disposal to landfills
• Reducing virgin material exploitation through recycling the material.
• About 24% of the project’s material and products by cost were derived within 800 km of project site thereby
reducing the transportation pollution.
• 5.95% of the total materials cost used on the project were from rapidly renewable sources.
5. Indoor Air Quality
• Smoking is prohibited in the building thus ensuring the health and safety of all its occupants.
• Low emitting paints, carpets and composite wood products have been used to enhance the indoor
environment and provide superior workplace for all employees.
• CO2 sensors are provided in densely occupied area.
The building has been designed by En3 to promote green awareness to all the visitors and occupants to
spearhead the green movement in the state and the country.
Eco Commercial Building (ECB) Bayer
Material Science
Summary
Location Noida
Geographical 28° N, 77° E
coordinates
Occupancy Type Office, Private
Typology New Construction
Climate Type Composite
2
Project Area 891 m
Grid Connectivity Grid connected
2
EPI 71.56 kWh/m /yr
Introduction
The Eco Commercial Building is part of the Bayer Climate Program which seeks to reduce the company’s
greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy and resource efficiency. This administration building is
energy self-sufficient, and requires 70 percent less electricity compared to similar buildings in this region.
Eco Commercial Building (ECB) Bayer Material Science

Passive Design Strategies

•Orientation:
Detailed analysis of environmental conditions were conducted to choose a orientation that would optimize
building energy performance. The building form helps reduce heat gain or loss.
•Landscaping:
Native and indigenous species were selected for landscaping, eliminating the need for regular irrigation. To help
establish the new landscaping, plants were watered twice a day for the first two years.
•Daylighting:
Daylighting is maximized in all occupied spaces. Appropriate shading devices designed through simulation
software are used to minimize glare. Integrated motorised blinds are used for occupant’s visual comfort.
•Ventilation:
A design ventilation rate of 30% additional outdoor air over that specified in ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2004
enhances the indoor air quality within the building and provides superior occupant comfort. Passive design
features resulted in a total diversified AC load of 84 kW for 891 m2 (24 tons for 9,600 ft2).
•Building Envelope and Fenestration:
• Climatically responsive façade design, including a roof that projects beyond all four sides of the
building, protecting it from direct sun and reducing heat gain.
• All external surfaces, including the walls, roof and foundation, are insulated on the exterior using
polyurethane panels.
• Exterior wall assembly is composed of 150 mm (6 in.) autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), fly-ash block
work and 75 mm (3 in.) polyurethane foam (PUF).
• Roof insulation materials are 75 mm (3 in.) rigid polyurethane insulation and a 50 mm (2 in.) layer of
mineral wool
• Window-to-wall ratio (WWR) is 33.8%, which helps ensure maximum daylighting potential with
minimum solar heat gains.
• High performance envelope insulation leads to 40% reduction in energy use compared with the
ASHRAE/ IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 baseline.
• High performance double glazed windows with integrated motorized blinds provide improved
protection against sunlight. Efficient glazing balances the low thermal conductivity and shading
coefficient.
•Materials and Constructions Techniques:
• The building uses regional building materials with recycled content.
• Low VOC paints, sealants, coatings and adhesives have been used wherever possible.
Active Strategies

Lighting Design
1.An energy-efficient lighting system with daylighting controls is used.
2.Energy-efficient fixtures and ballasts contribute to a 37% reduction in lighting energy compared to ASHRAE
Standard 90.1-2004.
3.The building uses a combination of energy-efficient T5 linear fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent
lamps.
4.Occupancy sensors in normally unoccupied areas like storage areas, toilets and mechanical rooms mini-
mize lighting use.
5.Lighting controls ensure minimum internal heat gain and reduced air-conditioning load in those spaces.
6.Approximately 87% of regularly occupied spaces in the building have a minimum daylight factor of 2%. A
lighting power density (LPD) of 7.2 W/m2 (0.67 W/ft2) in all occupied spaces is significantly lower than the
ASHRAE Standard 1-2004 baseline of 11.8 W/m2 (1.1 W/ft2).
7.The building uses energy-saving technologies associated with the electrical power supply system/building
management system
Optimized Energy Systems / HVAC system
1.Chilled beams for radiant cooling eliminates energy that would be used for supply fans.
2.Chilled water is supplied at 15°C (59°F) rather than at the conventional 7°C (45°F).
3.Based on indoor design conditions of 24°C (75°F) and 55% relative humidity, the room dew-point tem-
perature is 14°C (57°F) and chilled water is supplied at a temperature 1°C (0.6°F) higher (at 15°C [59°F]) to
avoid any condensation on surfaces.
Indoor Air Quality
1.Dry outdoor ventilation air is supplied through an externally mounted unit that dehumidifies the air
before it is supplied to occupied space. This dry outdoor air acts as primary air to the chilled beams.
2.Air quality is monitored inside the entire building with help of CO2 sensors located 1.8 m (6 ft.) above the
floor level in various spaces. These sensors provide an audible alarm to the operator when the difference
between outdoor and indoor CO2 levels exceeds 530 ppm.
3.Demand Outdoor Air System (DOAS) starts at 7 a.m. to remove moisture that builds up during unoccupied
hours and brings down the temperature to desired level before office operational hours start.
4.DOAS recovers heat from the building’s exhaust air.
5.Dehumidified cold exhaust air from the bathrooms and office space is collected in each service core. This
air enters one side of the rotating heat wheel, chilling the wheel and drying the desiccant coating. This cool
and dry part of the wheel then rotates into the outdoor airstream where it absorbs heat and humidity from
the incoming ventilation air before it is cooled to room temperature in the air-handling unit (AHU) room.
6.The energy recovery wheel reduces the ventilation load by 80%, minimizing operating energy and the size
of air-conditioning equipment.
Renewable Energy
•Draws 100% of its energy from roof-top PV plant.
•57 kW PV plant generates 88.9 MWh/yr.
•Excess energy fed to other buildings at site.
Akshay Urja Bhawan, HAREDA
Summary

Location Panchkula
Geographical 30° N, 76° E
coordinates
Occupancy Type Office -Public
Typology New Construction
Climate Type Hot and Dry
2
Project Area 5,100 m
Grid Connectivity Grid connected
2
EPI 30 kWh/m /yr
Passive Design Strategies

•Orientation: Well oriented site and building along cardinal directions. Glazing coordinated to take advantage of
building orientation.
•Daylighting: South glazing provided with horizontal shades. Almost no east and west openings. Reasonable
north glazing with vertical shading. The courtyard is covered with angled louvers that maximize winter sun on
the south face of the north wing and shade the atrium in the summer while allowing diffused daylight in. All
workspaces of the building are daylit. Efficient lighting with 25% reduced lighting energy use.
•Ventilation: The south face has solar chimneys to aid ventilation in some of the non air-conditioned spaces
(which are mist cooled).
•Building Envelope :
• Cavity walls with PUF insulation
• Double glazed windows
•Construction Materials and Techniques:Aerated concrete blocks
•Insulated roof tiles
•Thermotech roof tiles
Active Strategies

Ventilation and cooling

1.Spaces divided into zones as per desired temperature set points. Apex offices (25 ± 1 °C), controlled office
and public areas (25 ± 3 °C) and passive zones (25 ± 5 °C).
2.Thermal comfort conditions in apex zones are always maintained through mechanical air conditioning.
3.Controlled zones are cooled in summer and chilled in monsoon. Passive zones are cooled in summer and
ventilated in monsoon.
4.A mist system is installed in the central atrium for cooling of controlled and passive zones.
5.Chilled water supplied at a higher temperature of 15°C.
Renewable Energy
Building Integrated Photovoltaic(BIPV) System with 42.50 kW capacity to supply total annual energy
consumption.
SOME ADDITIONAL FACTS

•HAREDA energy consumption <15 kWh/m2/year

•Energy required by HAREDA 62,415 kWh
•Energy production from solar PV 67,343 kWh
•Excess energy produced 4,928 kWh
•CO2 Credits 308 tonnes/year
•Total connected load for internal lighting = 5 kW
•Total connected load for space conditioning = 55.310 kW
•Total built up area of 55,000 sqft has a connected load of 125 kW which amounts to 2.27 W/sqft.
•The total simulated energy consumption in the building was13.5 kWh/m2/year compared to a conventional
building of 140 kWh/m2/year.
•Air conditioned area = 477 m2. Energy consumption intensity of air conditioned areas is 39 kWh/m2/year.
•Non air conditioned area = 3637 m2. Energy consumption intensity of non air conditioned area is 7.17
kWh/m2/year.