Seems like every time I check my feeds in the last month or so, there’s another story about sustainable development and green building in India. Today, I came across this article from India’s Financial Express gives an overview of green business development in the country, with a detailed overview of the Grundfos Pumps India Pvt Ltd new manufacturing plant. Among the plant’s features:
• Energy and atmosphere: Double skin brick wall with 25 mm air cavity, double-glazed low U glass to minimise the heat ingress into the building. HFC (hydrofluorocarbon)-based chillers of high COP thermal storage system to minimise energy consumption of the building and support electricity demand thereby enabling reducing the energy consumption by 25% as compared to conventional buildings.
• Indoor environmental quality: Continuous monitoring and maintaining fresh air in all occupied areas — around 15 to 20 CFM (chloro- fluoro methane) per person. Sensors have been placed at various locations inside the building to monitor the carbondioxide level. Low emitting materials such as VOC sealant/ carpets/ composite woods/ paints have been used to maintain the indoor environmental quality. Smoking is not allowed in the entire building complex.
• Built in a manner that 95% daylight penetrates through windows for at least 95% regularly occupied areas.
• Under the material and resource feature, more than 10% of the building materials are refurbished/salvaged from old offices to minimise the use of virgin materials and more than 60% of the materials used in the building have got high percentage recycled content — acoustic ceiling, steel, glass, ceramic tile and MDF wood.
• On the water efficiency, the company has enabled zero discharge building (100% water recycling and irrigating native plants) to minimise the water requirement. By installing sprinkler and drip irrigation system and dual flush toilets, sensor-based and waterless urinals, low-flow fixtures, the company has been able to save up to 43% of water consumption.
One fact I found particularly encouraging:
According to [Chief Executive officer N.K.] Ranganath, following these dramatic changes at the manufacturing plant, Grundfos was not only able to provide a clean and green atmosphere to its workers, but also was able to generate 15% to 20% more productivity at its factory in Chennai. “At Grundfos, we understand the significance of responsibility to the environment and to the people we live, work and deal with,” he says.
In other words, it’s “people-friendly,” a feature of green building that we often overlook.
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