The Regional Gas Management Centre of the Gas Authority of India (GAIL) in Kochi has been given a three-star rating by Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) for its environment-friendly features.
The building is compact and structurally safe for Seismic Zone IV conditions and it features the use of efficient air-conditioning system and LED lighting in the interior, photovoltaic street lights and a rainwater harvesting system. Fly ash bricks have been used and there is application of recycled factory made green materials, GAIL sources said.
The building at Kalamassery has been designed to suit the climatic conditions in Kochi and has a total covered area of 3,000 sq m. The remaining area of 3,039 sq m will be be constructed later.
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The external walls of the building are slightly tapered outward from its base floor to reduce the impact of harsh rays of sun falling directly on the surface of the walls. Double skin structural glazing and insulated aluminium composite panels have been used to avoid penetration of heat through radiation into the building. This has reduced the burden on air-conditioning during the summer months.
The design has also achieved maximum design efficiency by way of spatial arrangements of office areas.
The sources said the most visible impact was the reduction in energy consumption. The Regional Gas Management Centre building is spread over 3,000 sq m area and the average monthly expenditure for electricity is less than ₹1.5 lakh.
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