passive design case study in india

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Tools and Rules-of-Thumb for Passive Design Strategies for Indian Climatic Conditions

Sakshi Nagpal, Prasad Vaidya | 2017 

Energy required by the building sector in India accounts for 33% of the national energy use. Climate- responsive design can drive the building sector in India towards a low energy future because including passive design approaches and materials can decrease cooling by 60%–90% for new buildings and 50%– 90% for retrofits. Different passive design strategies are applicable for the 5 climate zones in India.

This study uses literature to identify prescriptive approaches to passive design strategies along with published rules of thumb. Of the 45 strategies identified through the literature research, only 19 were found to have rules-of-thumb that help sizing of building elements during design. For the 45 strategies, a Strategy Index for India is compiled, which includes the rules-of-thumb where available, applicable climatic as well as building conditions. Where specific values for climate conditions relevant to the strategies are not found and only generic climatic conditions, such as Hot-Dry, Warm-Humid or cold are found, the specific climatic conditions are derived by cross referencing the climate zone definitions and their threshold values from the literature. However, when this approach is applied to TMY weather data of Indian cities, it leads to recommendations that do not correspond with the strategies found in those cities. This analysis is presented in the paper. A monthly climate assessment method is proposed, which enables building designers to select passive design strategies that respond to seasonal variations within a climate. A Strategy Decision tool is formulated to help building designers select strategies that are applicable based on the local weather data and site conditions. Taken together, the Strategy Decision tool and the Strategy Index can be an important toolkit for building designers in India.

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A Study of Passive and Active Strategies through Case Studies for the Composite Climate Zone of India

Abstract: there are only 4500 buildings and about 4.17 billion square feet of the area under green buildings till 2016. it is only around 5% of india's total construction, and there is considerable potential for sustainable design in the indian market. sustainable building design requires passive and active techniques. it is vital to design a sustainable building that uses passive strategies to its fullest because they are cheaper and more efficient than active strategies. the designer emphasizes active features and neg… show more.

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Cited by 3 publication s

References 2 publication s, an overview of motivators and challenges of passive design strategies.

Growing concerns over high energy consumption and CO2 emissions from residential buildings have boosted the adoption of passive design strategies (PDS) globally, for their promising solution to address these issues, and also positively influencing occupant productivity. As such, many governments and organizations have developed relevant codes and procedures to encourage and enforce the adoption of PDS. Despite the increased focus, the adoption of PDS is still trailing behind in developing countries, particularly in a hot, dry and humid climate zone. This paper examines the current state of PDS adoption in such climates, and extracts relevant motivators, and challenges. The data was gathered through a structured review of literature. Initial results show the extraction of thirty-five motivators and forty-six challenges to PDS adoption. The key motivators include reduction in energy consumption and energy bills, while key challenges include high initial investment and lack of awareness. These are expected to generate a general awareness among stakeholders and allow a better understanding of the underlying issues for non-adoption of PDS. Future research will examine the extracted sets of motivators and challenges through a questionnaire survey in a hot, dry and humid climate zone.

Passive sustainability strategies in traditional Gaziantep residences: a critical report on historical development

In recent years, the increase in the need for energy and the rapid depletion of energy resources have revealed that energy control in buildings is of vital importance. This situation requires energy efficiency not only in new buildings but also in existing building stocks. For this reason, passive strategic measures affecting thermal comfort and energy efficiency in historical buildings built in Gaziantep in the late 18th and early 19th centuries have been evaluated in this study. First, the cultural, technological and natural images of the region that are effective in the development of these strategies were identified. The reflection of these images on architectural design and the parameters affecting energy use as a result were revealed. In order to examine the effect of passive strategy measures in the spaces, a field study was carried out on a selected Gaziantep traditional residential building. For the field study, measurements were taken from the selected building and the street every hour during the day. These measurements have been made under the following conditions: sunny inside the courtyard, sunny outside the courtyard, shade inside the courtyard and shade outside the courtyard. Afterwards, all measurements have been compared. As a result, it is concluded that the courtyard systems that form the cultural, technological and natural image of the region have a great effect on thermal comfort.

Evaluating the Climatic Potential of Passive Strategies for Residences in Four Cities Under the Warm-Humid Climate of South India

Design guidelines prescribed by climate analysis tools are broad and similar for various cities under the same climate zone overlooking the impact of altitude, latitude, and surrounding geographical features. Boundary conditions determined by International Standards underestimate the cooling potential of passive strategies in the free-running mode in warm-humid climates. Thus, a climate file-based study is conducted to determine city-specific requirements for the residential building program. Indices like Climatic Potential for Natural Ventilation and Climatic Cooling Potential are used in conjunction with the Indian Model for Adaptive Comfort to define boundary conditions for Natural Ventilation, Nocturnal Ventilation Potential, and Thermal Mass Potential in four inland and coastal cities in the warm-humid climate of South India. With the least Natural Ventilation Potential, mixed-mode operation of buildings is feasible in Nagercoil. Elevated airspeeds benefit Tiruchirappalli and Chennai during the day. With a Nocturnal Ventilation Potential of 10–20%, passive dehumidification is favorable in all cities. Results show that the climatic potential for each strategy varies with location and plays an important role in developing city specific design inputs for residences.

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Analysis of Indian Traditional Buildings using Passive Cooling through Natural Ventilation Techniques

2021, International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology (IJRASET)

There is a rapid increase in the use of active cooling strategies for ventilation and air circulation in the recent scenario, and hence an urge of climate-responsive buildings is a need of today. Taking the advantage of local climate and designing buildings that decrease energy use can be achieved by implementing passive cooling strategies in a building. The present study focuses on how various solar passive techniques have helped in designing climate-responsive structures in the past and how its implementation can enhance the structure in modern construction techniques. By analysing structures from the past and studying the science behind them, the passive cooling effect and its development in design implementation can be examined. The paper concludes by having incited on how solar passive strategies can help to create a flexible building, responding to climatic effects and its evolution over a period of time.

Related Papers

Mahendra Joshi

The energy consumption in India is rising faster in residential buildings, primarily due to the usage of air conditioning systems in summers to provide comfort conditions to the occupants. Passive cooling techniques offer the best solutions without using mechanical or electrical components to lower the electricity bills. The climate of Naya Raipur is composite, and the temperature ranges from 45 to 49 degrees in summer to 25 to as low as 0 degrees in winter. So the best design solution for this region will be passive solar architecture and must be incorporated in the design and construction of buildings.

Hemchandra Pawar

1Student of Civil Engg Dept. STB College of Engineering Tuljapur, India. 2Faculty of Civil Engg Dept. STB College of Engineering Tuljapur, India. ---------------------------------------------------------------------***--------------------------------------------------------------------Abstract The energy consumption in building sector is quite high and is expected to further increase because of improving standards of living and growing world population. Artificial cooling of buildings requires huge power consumption. To overcome this situation without compromising human comfort is challenging task for developing countries like India. The Integrated approach in building design deals with the building as a system and with the means to achieve passive cooling and thereby energy conservation. In integrated approach for buildings, building components should be so designed to reduce the heat gain, to modify heat transfer, and certain cooling techniques should be adopted to remove the heat...

Rio-Green Infra

A combined solar chimney – wind tower concept has been developed for a typical urban institution building in Delhi. Due to site limitations, the concept of solar chimney based ventilation has been introduced through roof mounted thermo-siphon air panels of 70 m 2 absorber area. A wind tower provided on the suction side of fresh air has potential for cooling incoming air by 5°C by using 250 m 2 of stone cladding. Openings for airflow inside the buildings are designed to suit smooth natural ventilation. Evolution of the final design through various constraints is explained in this paper.

Ar. Shanta Dash

The research's goal is to find and analyse passive cooling systems used in Historic building architecture. Historical constructions are not only gorgeous, but also functional, realistic, and artistically pleasing, with inspiring details. For the time being, it is critical to include these aspects into modern architecture in order to reduce active energy use in buildings. It is apparent that historical structures have a well-constructed coherent basis based on natural characteristics, climate, local material and intellectual reactions to physical conditions in order to provide comfort and inspirational forms in accordance with the climate. The main issue is to develop cooling solutions that can be used in both olden and modern buildings, with a focus on which techniques and architectural structures can save energy at a high level.This study aims to perform a survey of historical buildings in order to determine how buildings have been ventilated in previous years and what concerns have arisen in the past, as well as to investigate structures that are energy efficient and employ passive cooling techniques. This research will provide various suggestions for building cooling, including how to remove undesired heat from the sun and whether ways are relevant or not.

IJERA Journal

The consumption of energy in the buildings is increasing as the development is taking at a very fast rate. No evidence is now required to prove that the present climate changes are directly linked to the human activities and also the concerns regarding exploitation of the fossil fuel have reached a level where the negative effect are having impact on the life of a common man. Passive Architecture involves blending conventional architectural principles with solar & wind energy and the inherent properties of building materials to ensure that the interiors remain warm in winter and cool in summer, thus creating a year-round comfortable environment. Various solar passive techniques have been studied in detail so that the undesirable impact in hot and dry climate could be mitigated. It is concluded that with the application of these techniques the building could be made comfortable with comparatively less use of energy.

International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology (IJERT)

IJERT Journal

https://www.ijert.org/vernacular-passive-cooling-techniques-a-case-study-of-a-vernacular-house-in-allur-village-kalaburagi-india https://www.ijert.org/research/vernacular-passive-cooling-techniques-a-case-study-of-a-vernacular-house-in-allur-village-kalaburagi-india-IJERTV9IS080150.pdf In Traditional Architecture buildings were designed by the local builders who are unschooled in the formal architectural design and their works reflects the diversity of local climate, local available materials, tradition and culture of that particular place and most comfortable for all the activities. Climate had a major effect on the performance of the traditional building architecture and its energy consumption in hot dry area of North Karnataka region. These strategies include: layout orientation, distance between buildings, building orientation & form, climatic elements such as Roof projections, jharokhas, central courtyard to mention a few Many Vernacular Technologies are Energy efficient and sustainable although some of them are currently no longer functioning properly because of changed culture and ecological situations. In this regard the key challenge is to learn fundamental lessons and principals of Vernacular Architecture, and to find the ways of integrating those principles into development programmes to plan new residence. Studying Traditional Techniques to understand the sustainable strategies used in hot-dry region to achieve thermal comfort should make a valuable contribution to the field. The paper depicts empirical study of a vernacular residence of Kalaburagi.

IAEME Publication

The modern day construction practice depends much on electromechanically devices for thermal comfort of the buildings increasing the demand for already fast depleting energy resources. The solar passive architecture concepts incorporated in the design of the building uses minimum or no energy for keeping the building comfortable naturally. So, an attempt has been made by constructing a modern building using solar passive architecture techniques in Thanjavur, Tamilnadu for warm-humid climate. Performance evaluation of the designed building is studied during the peak summer during the month of May and peak winter during the month of December. During summer and winter, the air temperature inside the building ranges from 24.6 to 30.8˚C and relative humidity ranges from 46 to 74%. It is found that the building is well within the thermal comfort as predicted by Tropical Summer Index & National Building Code of India Standards and bioclimatic chart. The analysis shows that thermal comfort model as suggested by Humphreys and Nicol (2000) is the model of best fit for the designed building. It is also evident from the analysis that the naturally ventilated building with solar passive architecture provides a thermally comfortable environment during summer and winter seasons.

Solar Energy

Sadhan Mahapatra

ajer research

The continued rapid growth of construction industry and demand of energy raises a number of persistent questions and problems and demands for solution. Passive design responds to local climate and site conditions in order to maximize the comfort and health of building users while minimizing energy use. The key to designing a passive building is to take best advantage of the local climate. Passive cooling refers to a building design approach that focuses on heat gain control and heat dissipation in a building in order to improve the indoor thermal comfort with low or nil energy consumption. Passive cooling systems use non-mechanical methods to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature and are a key factor in extenuating the impact of buildings on the environment. The energy consumption in buildings is very much with the anticipation to further increase because of improving standards of leaving and the increase of world population. Air conditioning use has increasingly penetrated the market during the last few years and quite enough to contribute in the rise of absolute energy consumption. This paper reviews and analyses the performance of various passive cooling systems and their role in providing thermal comfort and its significance in energy conservation with the help of Architectural interventions.

steven cuyan

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4 Indian homes that spotlight sustainable design practices 

By AD Staff

A Kerala Home Inspired by Laurie Baker

A jackfruit tree and need for privacy formed the basis of architect Vinu Daniel’s design philosophy when he was approached by a client to build a family home for eight near Ernakulam in Kerala. “We decide to take up a project only when the client has the same vision for the house they want to live in as we do,” says Daniel, founder of The Wallmakers, whose work is deeply influenced by Laurie Baker, pioneer of sustainable, cost-effective, and context-driven architecture in India.

The tree in question held court over one corner of the site. “This gave form to the idea of a compound wall that revolves around the tree and twists upwards to join the ferro-cement shell roof of the house seamlessly,” he explains. “This in turn created a small intimate space, landscaped like a Japanese zen garden,” he adds. Though located near the entrance of the home, the courtyard has plenty of shade and privacy for family gatherings, and is also easily accessible from the kitchen.

The Kerala home is deliberately spartan to allow the material palette to be the star of the show. Photographs courtesy of Anand Jaju and Syam Sreesylam/The Wallmakers

The 2,750-square-feet home is spread across two storeys. The first floor accommodates an open living and dining area, three bedrooms, kitchen, and an outdoor barbecue. A fourth bedroom and reading area populate the second floor, alongside an adjoining balcony and terrace. Adhering to the firm’s sustainable design philosophy, the house has been constructed from compressed stabilised earth blocks (CSEB) and rammed earth walls. “These walls take the load of the ferro-cement roof which is made from 1.5-centimetre thick, precast steel-reinforced arched shells. They effectively reduce the overall cement consumption by 40 percent and steel consumption by 30 percent and are at par with reinforced concrete slabs in all other aspects, including strength,” says Daniel.

A spiral staircase, designed to appear like draped fabric, connects the two floors. Made from cement over a skeleton of discarded pipes, it mirrors the curve of the compound wall and roof. “The staircase was a tricky one. We found out that whatever we did in 3D, didn't come up exactly. We had to think on our feet,” says Daniel. Brick walls cast a warm glow in the bedrooms—also furnished in wood—making the space cozy, despite the use of a very basic material palette.

By Nuriyah Johar

By Ashna Lulla

By Kriti Saraswat-Satpathy

A staircase made from cement and discarded pipes connects the two floors of the house

At first glance, you might think this property (featured image) is a forest lodge tucked away in the hills. While that’s not too far from the truth, you’d be surprised to know that this house—a secondary home for a family of four, spread across 4,128 square feet—is located within the premises of a small food processing unit in Guwahati, Assam. While the location is bang in the middle of an industrial pocket with the sound of men and machines, the home, owing to its inward-looking design, still exudes peace and affords privacy.

This was also achieved by planning a separate entrance away from the other industrial buildings. The brief to the design team—Sustainable Architecture for Earth, represented by lead architect Krittika Agarwal—was simple: the owners wanted to coexist with nature while being allowed to comfortably travel between the indoors and the outdoors.

“The Aangan, as the home is known, is an attempt to acknowledge contemporary living needs while responding to our responsibility towards the environment. The project is a composition of spaces that intertwine the outdoors and indoors. It is a reflection of our Indian culture, where the central courtyard or  aangan is the heart of the house,” says Agarwal about the philosophy behind the home.

Photographs courtesy of Lina Baishya/Sustainable Architecture for Earth

In keeping with this idea, the decor was planned to accommodate local materials and traditional crafts. The sustainable design employs local timbers sourced from within a 100 kilometre radius. Similarly, the art and artefacts that the home is dotted with have been carefully curated to showcase local arts and artisans. “The handmade carpets that embellish the interiors have been sourced from multiple stores in India. The ceiling of the prayer room is adorned with miniature hand paintings by the artisans of Mandawa in Rajasthan. This painted ceiling depicts stories of Lord Krishna and connects the family to their Marwari roots. The decor is further enriched by pieces collected by the family from flea markets during their travels, both in India and abroad. Additionally, the nooks and corners of the house are adorned with oil paintings made by the lady of the house,” says Agarwal.

The homeowners are welcomed with lush greenery around the main entrance, which leads to the staircase. As one ascends, the tropical greens and delicate hanging lamps in the stairwell create an interesting visual impact. The living room is the centre of the home, and this double-height space opens out into a courtyard, blurring the lines between the outdoors and indoors.

View from the living room

A Home in Trivandrum That Funnels in Air and Light

In the heart of Trivandrum, there is a small spot that breathes fresh air. "It was being suffocated by other residential projects from all four sides," says Vinu Daniel, whose firm, The Wallmakers inverted the home 's layout to funnel the interior air flow into a central courtyard.

Airy and luminous as it may be, those are, however, not the only hallmarks that distinguish this curious home from its cookie-cutter surroundings. Its Rat-Trap bond masonry, upcycled decor and grillwork are a nod to the foolproof tradition of sustainable architecture. "Sadly, today, less than 30 percent of the world's population lives in buildings made of earth, although it is a more sustainable and durable material. The blame lies solely on the advent of industrialization and a widespread demand for cement houses. At Wallmakers, we have devoted ourselves to the cause of using mud and waste as chief components to make structures that are both utilitarian and alluring," Daniel says.

A sustainable home inspired by Laurie Baker's design philosophy in Trivandrum. Photographs courtesy of Jino Sam/The Wallmakers

Pirouetting beehive forms, fire engine red bricks and an illusion of undulating, near-constant movement: this is the facade of the Pirouette House. The decision to employ the Rat-Trap bond masonry technique proved fruitful, as the site did not offer the opportunity for soil excavation to make mud blocks. Using the Rat-Trap bond technique, Daniel and his team layered bricks vertically, rather than horizontally, to create wall cavities pointed at increasing thermal efficiency, minimizing total brick volume, and concealing structural members and service ducts. “The idea was further developed to form a series of slanting walls that danced left and right, converging only to support the ferrocement shell roof. We also used MMT ferrocement shells. These wafer-like structures are steel-reinforced, arched shells with an effective thickness of 2.5 centimetres. By taking on loads akin to RCC slabs, they reduce the overall cement consumption by 40 percent and steel consumption by 30percent,” he explains.

Brickwork walls create a cocoon in the living room, proving consonant with the wooden scrap pieces that have been polished and panelled over the floor. The cane treatment is of particular note, as it finds expression in the furniture and grillwork, with the latter doubling as a partial screen for privacy.

These wafer-like structures are steel-reinforced

A circular screen—apparently salvaged from waste metal—adds character to the wall, as is echoed in equal spirit by the cement oxide ceiling. Says Daniel of the home's orientation, "The design is inward-facing, aligned in the east-west direction, with all spaces funnelling into the central courtyard. The openings facilitate maximum cross-ventilation."

The cane treatment is of particular note, as it finds expression in the furniture and grillwork, with the latter doubling as a partial screen for privacy.

A Home in Ghaziabad That Works With Nature

Whether you gaze at the Rajasthan 'baolis' that create a cooler microclimate around the monument, Kathiawadi jali lattice work that replaces window frames, or most famously, the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur—North India's long-established historic architecture is known for providing cool indoor climatic conditions to its occupants using passive and natural cooling methods. Architect Sachin Rastogi, the founding director at ZED Lab—a Delhi-based research-driven architecture and interior design studio specializing in net-zero energy buildings—has used said design principles to build the Cantilever House , a standalone home located in Raj Nagar, Ghaziabad.

The house responds to the hot and dry climate of the region through a host of design interventions and passive cooling techniques. By placing the living areas in the north and the east to allow sufficient daylight, and by allocating space for private areas in the west and the south, the house records minimal heat gain throughout the day. The windows on the south are shaded by a pergola to ensure that the south face remains comfortable throughout the year. So, even in peak summer, only the fans are switched on in this home.

The structure employs a series of mechanisms that minimize resource consumption. Photograph courtesy of André J Fanthome/ZED Lab

The residence employs a series of mechanisms that minimize resource consumption and reduce the building's environmental impact, while enhancing the residents' thermal comfort. For example, the double-height lobby is flanked by the summer court on the north and the winter court on the south to enable stack ventilation at all times. The night-time spaces are characterized by optimum thermal mass to protect the day-time spaces from the south and west sun. The north face of the house is glazed to admit diffused daylight and avoid heat gain and glare. The facade is fitted with double-glazed units with low e-coating for thermal resistance. Nearly all of the glass surfaces for the day-time spaces are designed to open into the water court, envisioned as a transitional area between the harsh outdoors and the ambient indoors.

Interstitial spaces in the property are reinterpreted by enabling seamless movement from the inside to the outside. For instance, as one walks into the house through the double-height lobby on the east-facing entrance porch, they are pleasantly surprised by the garden's view with a water body. Greenery in the interiors establishes a strong visual connection with the outdoor landscape, while the integration of landscape features with the built envelope ensures a cool microclimate for the residents. The water court on the north serves as a heat sink; the plants and vertical garden also contribute to thermal comfort while purifying the air, trapping dust and pollutants. The front and rear lawns along with the water court also serve as recharge pits for adequate rainwater harvesting. The residents' hot water requirements are met by evacuated tube solar hot water systems installed on the rooftop.

By Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar

Photography by Moriq

By Nolan Lewis

Photography by Isha Shah

By Avantika Shankar

Photography by Studio Noughts and Crosses | Andre J. Fanthome

By Arman Khan

• Case Studies
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• Bayer Case Study

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Eco Commercial Building (ECB) Bayer Material Science

Energy Efficient Design Features

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.

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 m 2  (24 tons for 9,600 ft 2 ).
• 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.
• 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

• An energy-efficient lighting system with daylighting controls is used.
• Energy-efficient fixtures and bal­lasts contribute to a 37% reduction in lighting energy compared to ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004.
• The building uses a combination of energy-efficient T5 linear fluores­cent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps.
• Occupancy sensors in normally unoccupied areas like storage areas, toilets and mechanical rooms mini­mize lighting use.
• Lighting controls ensure minimum internal heat gain and reduced air-conditioning load in those spaces.
• 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/m 2  (0.67 W/ft 2 ) in all occupied spaces is significantly lower than the ASHRAE Standard 1-2004 baseline of 11.8 W/m 2  (1.1 W/ft 2 ).
• The building uses energy-sav­ing technologies associated with the electrical power supply sys­tem/building management system

Optimized Energy Systems / HVAC system

• Chilled beams for radiant cooling eliminates energy that would be used for supply fans.
• Chilled water is supplied at 15°C (59°F) rather than at the conventional 7°C (45°F).
• Based on indoor design conditions of 24°C (75°F) and 55% relative humidity, the room dew-point tem­perature 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 

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• DOAS recovers heat from the building’s exhaust air.
• 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.
• The energy recovery wheel reduces the ventila­tion load by 80%, minimizing operating energy and the size of air-conditioning equipment.

Commissioning

• The project incorporated ASHRAE-recommended commissioning meth­odology, and used a third-party commis­sioning agent and energy auditor.
• Design phase commissioning provided early input for incorpo­rating monitoring mechanisms to facilitate successful operation and maintenance by building staff.
• Construction phase commissioning ensured proper implementation of mechanical and electrical systems.
• Acceptance phase commissioning required contractors to dem­onstrate the operation of the equip­ment as per design intent.
• Occupancy phase commissioning focused on proper operation of the systems by the operation and maintenance (O&M) staff.
• Ongoing commissioning peri­odically verifies operational methods and equipment performance.
• Metered systems include the main incoming power supply, chillers, internal lighting, external lighting, air-handling units,  water supply system, sewage treatment plant and the solar PV system

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.
• http://www.hpbmagazine.org/attachments/article/11842/13F-EcoCommercial-Building-Noida-Uttar-Pradesh-India.pdf

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Examples of Climate responsive architecture in Indian cities

Nature is facing the brunt of human actions. The consequences of said actions have given rise to problems that affect the world of design either directly or indirectly. Climate change is one such issue. It is not a foreign concept as it is one of the greatest challenges faced by human society. Architects themselves have begun focusing on creating structures that have a lesser impact on the environment. Climate responsive architecture is one such design practice that functions in adherence to the climate of the location it is in. Its application in design reflects the weather conditions of the location the structure is built in and reduces its dependence on artificial energy.

India is home to a variety of climatic regions and has its own share of energy-efficient and climate responsive designs. The climate of India can be segregated into 6 climatic zones: Hot and Dry, Warm and Humid, Moderate, Cold and Sunny, Cold and Cloudy, and Composite. Based on the climatic zones, architecture and design elements have gone through various modifications to create comfortable spaces.

Here are a few interesting examples of climate-responsive architecture that is found in Indian cities.

1. Solar Passive Hostel, University of Jodhpur (Hot and Dry)

The structure was part of the research project undertaken by the Centre of Energy Studies, IIT Delhi. Designed by architect Vinod Gupta, the building was an attempt to test as well as exhibit methods that would provide thermal comfort in the hot and dry climate of Rajasthan. The building houses 14 double room suites as accommodation for married students. The suites are split between the first and ground floor, which is partially sunk into the ground to take advantage of the natural insulation of earth.

Stonemasonry, the local material was used for the walls as it helps balance out temperature variations. The roof was treated with small inverted terracotta pots to combat the summer heat gain. A wind tower that connected both floors supplied cool air to the units and helped aid ventilation by expelling hot air during the evenings and night. The design makes use of favorable orientation, massing, external finishes and elements such as deep sunshades to create a structure that not only conserves energy but also makes use of passive methods to the best of its ability.

2. Silent Valley, Kalasa (Warm and Humid)

Designed by architect K. Jaisim, the Silent Valley Resort is an eco-friendly holiday home that consists of several cottages that were constructed with a herbal theme. The resort fuses modern demands with ecological balance by creating a sustainable habitat with a minimum footprint. The cottages adopt circular plans as well as forms, which helps reduce solar gains from the building envelope and windows.

The usage of materials like solid mud blocks, timber, and Mangalore tiles as well as the position of the cottage i.e partially sunk into the ground further help in aiding energy efficiency. The resort merges with the natural landscape and adopts sustainable measures such as water harvesting, biomass, energy-intensive spaces, etc.

3. TERI SRC Building, Bangalore (Moderate)

The Energy and Resources Institute was designed by architect Sanjay Mohe. Set in a location with a moderate climate, the design depicts an interplay of the five elements of nature i.e. air, water, earth, sky, and fire (sun) with the built form to attain aural, thermal, and visual comfort. The simplest measure taken to tackle the climatic conditions was the orientation of the building, which is along the east-west axis.

While the building opens up towards the northern wall and takes advantage of glare-free light, the south walls allow the breeze to flow over the building. To minimize heat gain from the roof, insulation techniques that consisted of filler slabs and roof gardens were applied. The fenestrations and integration of atriums were designed after detailed studies to minimize the usage of artificial lighting in a day. The air chimneys help enhance the convection currents in the building. An efficient rainwater system also helps preserve water, which in turn is used for landscaping as well as in the toilets.

4. Degree College and Hill Council Complex, Leh (Cold and Sunny)

Designed by Arvind Kishan & Kunal Jain, the institution is built on a rectangular site that is along the north-south direction and is surrounded by snow-capped ranges on all sides. The individual structures are oriented in various directions and treated specifically based on their orientations. However, the buildings on the north side of the complex have thick walls to minimize heat loss and those on the south side maximize heating and daylight distribution.

The openings have been maximized to tap into natural light sources and the double glazing helps control loss of heat without condensation. Ventilation is achieved through a connective loop activated by buoyancy and it is also coupled with cross ventilation through the eastern-western fenestration. The usage of Trombe walls, glass, and insulation on the roof allows the building to attain internal thermal comfort based on the conditions outside.

5. Residence of Mohini Mullick, Nainital (Cold and Cloudy)

The residence is an example of traditional hill architecture and maximizes solar energy to meet its operational needs. The structure is load-bearing in nature and has a timber-framed roof. While the compact shape of the cottage reduces heat loss, the living spaces on the south maximize solar gain. The walls are made of thick random rubble. The roof system is clad with local stone and insulated with rock wool.

6. Monama House, Hyderabad (Composite)

The underlying ideology behind the design was to generate minimum environmental impact. Due to the high solar radiation and ambient temperature in the summer, the windows on the west wall were made smaller or replaced with other solutions. The openings are oriented specifically to attain continuous ventilation after careful consideration of pressure differences and wind direction.

The open plan allows full movement of air throughout with little to no internal resistance. Evaporative cooling is attained with a system that consists of a water pond and a fan. The structure also reduces energy load whenever possible, and reverts to renewable sources to attain energy efficiency.

With a notebook and pen in her bag and an arsenal of questions in her mind, Arathi Biju has always had a keen interest in telling a story. Currently pursuing her degree in architecture, she has always been a strong advocate of expression be it through art, architecture or words.

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