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More Developers In Gurgaon Now Are Now Going For Green Buildings. Though A Rather Expensive Investment, An Increasing Number Of Buyers Are Choosing To Live Closer To Nature. For A Resource-Strapped City, This Might Be A Way Out If Costs Are Brought Down.

From luxury homes and infrastructure projects like expressway, airports and Metro, developers of the millennium city seem to have latched on to a new USP - Green Buildings.

The latest launch of the 'green' residential project in sector 89, by a Noida-based realtor. The project realization value stands at Rs. 2,250 crore.

Experts are of the view that the appreciation potential of properties near major infrastructure projects is a familiar dynamic in Indian real estate. On the other hand, green homes are still a fairly new phenomenon in India and there is a niche clientele for them, though it is certainly growing.

Pramendra Sahel, managing director, markets, Jones Lang LaSalle, said, "The green- homes concept in India is closely intertwined with the arrival of IT and IT enabled Services and many of the employees having travelled the world, during the course of their training. They are exposed to the monumental thrust towards everything 'green' in the developed countries. There, they absorb a part of that country's culture and develop a taste for sustainable homes. Developers have latched on to this trend, and have launched the 'green homes' projects, near software parks and ITES complexes".

For a city, which is grapping with basic necessities, if considered seriously, this step can help the city and its residents go a long way.

According to Parimita Mohanty, fellow, Energy Environment Technology Developed, Center for Distributed Generation, TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute), upcoming buildings and townships can install simple things like building automation and management system, smart lighting solutions and similar, will smartly manage the load in a building or township. " Roof top or building integrated solar system/wind system can be installed at different buildings with smart meters and controls, so that the load and energy resources can be managed smartly and smart street lighting systems can be installed at the township areas, even in developed colonies," said Mohanty.

The Gwalpahari campus of TERI is an example of a green building, equipped with a Smart Mini Grid (SMG). An SMG or Micro Grid is an intelligent electricity distribution network, operating at or below 11KV. The energy demand is effectively managed by a diverse range of Distributed Energy Resources such as solar photo-voltaic cells, micro-hydro power plants, wind turbines, biomass, small conventional generators, such as diesel gensets in combination with each other through smart control techniques

An SMG system has great potential in large commercial and industrial complexes, hospitals, shopping malls/complexes, apartments, residential complexes, educational institutions, remote unelectrified as well as electrified locations to ensure maximum flexibility, reliability and safety.

On her visit to India for climate change summit, US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, chose the ITC green center to address all the stakeholders and subscribed it as a, "a monument to the future."

Niranjan Khatri, General Manager, Environment Initiatives, ITC Hotels said, "By design intent, we have reduced our energy and water consumption by 51% and 40% respectively. The key criteria include enhancing energy efficiency, mitigating climate change by reducing energy consumption, optimizing water efficiency, procuring materials which are green and sourced within 500 miles, in order to reduce congestion/ carbon emission."

The ITC Green Center in Gurgaon became the world's greenest building, securing the highest points accorded to any green building, during its LEED platinum recertification in 2012 by the US Green Building Council.

Meanwhile, realtors said that though the concept bas been in existence for a while, the buyers have become conscious, despite it being a costlier investment in the initial stage.

"Gurgaon presents various modern housing concepts. Our new project, Greenpolis, has been designed keeping in mind the ever increasing needs of the society, for energy efficient houses, it will bring a new elegance to the city and will further strengthen our endeavour of providing greener and healthier living by creating sustainable habits," Vidur Bharadwaj, Director, The 3C Company.

A spokesperson for Emaar MGF said, "We are incorporating LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) guidelines in the design and construction of buildings. These will be highly energy and resource efficient" green buildings, non-wasteful and non-polluting, as well as flexible and adaptable to long term functionality. A comfortable and healthy environment will not only help increase productivity of the work force, but considerably reduce the carbon footprint of the building as well".

Ensure that the building design incorporates principles of climate responsive design for the region to ensure comfort to its occupants without need of technology and therefore, reduce energy consumption.

Maximum heat comes through the roof and windows. Ensure good glass for windows and use roof insulation to reduce the heat inside the building. Use AAC blocks or hollow blocks in place of regular bricks. These are lightweight blocks and provide good insulation from the walls. A well-insulated building reduces energy consumption. It's similar to putting cold water in a thermos flask.

Ensure that not more than 60% of your external walls are windows and all windows are well shaded. Windows that are not shaded bring a lot of direct heat.

For most of India the northern and the southern directions receive the least amount of direct heat from the sun during summers. Ensure that your main living rooms, bedrooms, offices etc are located on those sides, away from eastern and western side of the floor. This ensures that they receive less heat and require less air- conditioning.

Couple the use of fans with air- conditioning at 25 deg c. using fans with air- conditioning in this manner provides comfortable conditions while reducing energy consumption.

Install energy efficient appliances and air- conditioning system. Once the building has been designed to be efficient, one needs less air- conditioning. Therefore invest in smaller but more efficient air- conditioning system. In a good, energy- efficient building, a 1TR air- conditioning can provide cooling to about 250-300 sq ft. of room area.

Use low flow plumbing fixtures in the buildings to reduce the overall water consumption. Low flow fixtures provide the same level of hygiene as normal fixtures, but often use 50% less water.

Plant native, shade giving trees around the building. Native trees need very little water and their shades helps to reduce the building's energy consumption capacity.

The most important step is to change your lifestyle. Buildings don't consume energy on their own. Energy is consumed by various equipments which are used by people. It has been proven that incorrect use of energy- efficient technologies do not help in saving any energy or water. Therefore, adapt to a low-energy lifestyle.