Every year the World Environment Day comes and goes and almost like a drill concerns about deteriorating state of affairs of our habitat are aired. The recent decision of the Union Government to develop smart cities encompassing advanced infrastructure and sustainable real estate hopes to offer some relief from the ill-effects of failed planning. On the ground though, we still see real estate giants competing with each other to turn every square foot into a living area leaving little space for natural air to flow and flora to bloom. Glass continues to be their favourite material increasing the cost of air conditioning and with many consumers going for looks rather than functionality, there seems little awareness about green housing.
Architect Nilanjan Bhowal, who won top rating from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) for designing a green house in Delhi, feels attitudes are changing and architects and designers should be concerned about environmental sustainability . “In many instances clients are unaware. On explaining, they were open to it and accepted having perceived the long run saving it brings in not just for them but also the overall environment.”
Veteran architect, M.N. Ashish Ganju, who taught at Delhi’s School of Planning and Architecture and Indian Institute of Technology, agrees with him. “You will be surprised how much convincing power architects have. Over decades I have managed to do it with clients, one more adamant than the other. That includes journalists,” he quips. He recalls the initial opposition to his design of New Delhi’s Press Enclave. Ironically, the residents much later felicitated him celebrating the 25th anniversary of the complex. “At that time the green home concept was unheard of and I called it energy efficient structures which entailed correct orientation of the building, proper choice of materials, mutual shading of walls, careful air movement through the whole complex and the houses, and methodically planned green areas.” On pointing out that green building concept is yet to catch up and limited to the elite and well-off, Bhowal says that it may have been true in the past but not now. “It is gradually becoming popular. Almost 50 per cent of my clients want energy saving measures. I sense a new found sensitivity and responsibility among people towards environment.” He agrees on the need to creating awareness about green measures and their affordability. Ganju points out that the concept is not new to India as its indigenous architecture and artisans were essentially green in outlook and concept. So labour is not an issue, intent is.
Prohibitive cost?
Even among the educated and those aware of green buildings, the extra expenses play a crucial part. It is not uncommon to find many who want to adopt the green concept turn to conventional designs because of the cost factor. Ganju feels that instead of active greening of buildings through equipments, architects ought to turn to passive methods. It is achievable by simple techniques namely selecting materials which respond to seasonal changes; proper ventilation generating interior comfort; using louvered openings to let in outside air in a controlled manner; and precise positioning of glass windows allowing required amount of light. He cites example of his residence which has sloping clay tiled roof to ensure air passage and nine inches thick walls built using rat trap practice (that is leaving enough gap to insulate and saving 20 per cent bricks required). “I have used insulating fabric below it for sealing to check excessive heating. It costs half of RCC expense and helps in efficient heat dissipation in the evening.” In active procedure, the dependence on gadgets adds to construction cost, cost effective over a period but inhibiting clients with limited budget. “For the common people the initial cost is forbidding. That is why it makes sense to use the passive method,” underlines Ganju.
Legislation for green houses
Real estate development sector mired in controversies in India for many years hardly believes in self-regulation. Builders and developers find loopholes to provide maximum covered area as an incentive to the buyers who in turn fall for it. Bhowal feels it is a fit case for positive intervention by authorities by making green structures across the country mandatory. He emphasises the need for legislation to change the specifications for construction of public housing and including energy-efficient materials and technology to bring about change in the construction process.
Hope lies in smart cities?
It is predicted that India will need about 500 new cities to accommodate rural-urban area migration. The decision to promote smart cities is to take care of this influx. As a new concept many feel it will help in reducing carbon footprints by cities which use excessive energy . Referring to it as just a slogan, Ganju believes that smart cities concerned with the improvement of urban environment should insist on green buildings . Bhowal laments the lack of clarity. “Ecological concerns and energy-efficiency or for that matter the physical aspect of the city has been totally ignored. Besides physical planning, architecture and green designing issues have not been addressed.”
All is not lost
If you have woken up late to green house concept, here are some of the easy retro-fit measures
Replace external doors/windows with double-insulated glass windows
Insulate external walls, specially the west-side walls and roof
Use heat-reflective tiles on the terrace Treat waste water for landscaping use.
Harnessing and recycling rain water.
Use energy-efficient lighting
Use low-flow water saving fixtures
