BS : ITC`s `energetic` efforts : Oct 31,2007
ITC`s `energetic` efforts
Radhieka Pandeya / New Delhi October 31, 2007
At ITC Green Centre, energy consumption has been slashed by as much as 51 per cent through design integration alone.
When ITC Green Centre in Gurgaon was inaugurated in May last year, it not only became the world’s largest green building with space of 170,000 square feet, but also the first non-commercial complex in the country to be awarded the United States Green Building Council-Leadership in Energy and Environmental Designs (USGBC-LEED) platinum rating the highest in the order.
Since then, many other buildings have got the coveted rating, but what lends unique character to the building is that it got the platinum rating at a time when the rating system had not been customized to suit Indian conditions and priorities.
When we started working on this building, the green movement had just started. Since most of our existing buildings already met the gold standard, we decided to go a step ahead and try for the platinum rating, says Niranjan Khatri, general manager, Welcomenviron Initiatives.
It may sound like a short step forward, but it took the company a lot of time and effort to get all the nuances of a platinum-rated green building right.
The first hurdle was acquiring green materials like green wood obtained from sustainable forests and low-volatility organic compounds for construction, which at that time were not easily available in the country.
Here, ITCreceived help from USGBC, which helped it source the materials, though the price tag was hefty.
Numerous energy sensitivity exercises had to be conducted with ITC design and architecture consultants and employees, sensitizing them with issues of environment conservation.
This even meant encouraging employees living in the vicinity to cycle to work or, for those living far, to form car pools. Today, 70 per cent of the staff uses car pool.
At ITC Green Centre, energy consumption has been slashed by as much as 51 per cent through design integration alone. In fact, in daytime, unlike other office buildings, artificial light is not consumed at all here. The building has been designed to maximize the effect of natural light, largely eliminating the need for artificial ones.
At the same time, the window glass, while allowing light inside, does not allow heat. This, not only keeps the office cool from inside during the day, but also decreases the load on air-conditioners.
The water consumption has dropped by 40 per cent and, with a water re-cycling plant, the building is a zero water discharge building.
Every drop is treated with great respect. The water from the toilets is recycled and used for our horticulture activities. There is no wastage, says Khatri.
Even the carpets have been laid using adhesives that are low on the volatile organic compounds that are known to damage the soil and groundwater.
However, for ITC, being the first private company in the country to come up with such a building, the costs incurred were enormous.
We had a cost over-run of 12 per cent, says Khatri, adding that similar projects undertaken after this one saw reduced costs of 4-7 per cent. Actually, now the cost of such a building would be lower than that of a normal office building, he reveals.
This, because not only are materials easily available now but also unlike a normal planning and construction scenario, in that of a green building, all plans have to be decided and confirmed prior to construction. Once work begins, these cant be altered.
Yet, upgradation is an ongoing process and in keeping with technological advances, ITC recently purchased the most contemporary chiller for its air conditioning system that consumes less power but demands more investment.
Nevertheless, says Khatri, We are confident of breaking even on our overheads in five years. After five years, this building will save us more money than we spent on it.
Publication : BS; Section : Energy Efficiant Buildings; Pg : 9; Date : 31/10/07