The Hindu : New Delhi News : A `platinum' building for Delhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

A `platinum' building for Delhi

By Lalit K. Jha

NEW DELHI, JUNE 22. The Capital's first and the country's second eco-friendly building with Platinum certification -- the highest ranking given to any building for being self-sufficient in various aspects like power and water by the U. S. Green Building Council -- is all set to come up near the historic Old Secretariat in Civil Lines.

When completed in about two years from now, the command-cum-training centre of the North Delhi Power Limited is expected to become one of the towering landmarks of the city and a major tourist attraction for innovations that would make it self-sufficient in power and water.

Coming up on a 2.6 acre plot near the Delhi Assembly with a built-up area of 35,000 sq. feet, the four-storey building will not only generate electricity for its own consumption, but also export the surplus power to the grid. It would have the distinction of being the first in the Capital to have a small hydro-generating station and windmills besides using solar power cell to generate electricity. Micro turbines would be installed at the water canal of Chandrawal Water Works passing through the plot.

"Being in the business of energy, we decided that the company should take the lead in energy conservation and show to the entire nation how a building can be made self-sufficient not only in electricity generation and water, but also ensure that disturbance to nature is minimal during its construction," said Anil Sardana, the NDPL chief executive officer.

Besides the massive use of rainwater harvesting technique, the NDPL building, plans for which were approved by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi only last week after long deliberations of more than an year, would make use of several innovative technologies for conservation of water and its recycling for further use. For instance, the building that is likely to cost about Rs. 7 crores would have waterless toilets.

Mr. Sardana said a team of senior NDPL officials had recently gone to the U.S. to study the concept of such buildings. The Confederation of Indian Industry and Sohrabji Godrej Green Building Council have jointly prepared a feasibility report of the project, while the TERI has been appointed as consultants for this purpose, he said.

Other features of the building include temporary landscape to avoid soil erosion, storm water management to ensure zero run-off of water to the drain, installation of sewerage and rain water treatment plant for zero discharge and reuse, voltage controller for lighting circuit and installation of sensors.

It is for these reasons that the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has agreed to give such a ranking to the building, he said. The first Platinum building of the country came up in Hyderabad recently, which was constructed by the CII and the Godrej Green Building Council. "That is a demonstration building. Ours would be a functional and the biggest Platinum building in the world," Mr. Sardana claimed. Based on a large number of parameters, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) of the USGBC gives Platinum ranking (highest certification) to buildings, which are self-sustainable in terms of energy, he said.

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