Energy Conservation in Buildings: A Case of WALMI, Bhopal

-Parag Khare
B.Plan, Student, Dept. Of Arch. & Planning Maulana Azad National Institute Of Technology, Bhopal
Email: parag@qq.com

ABSTRACT: By energy conservation, we mean the efforts made to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources. As we are running out of energy, energy conservation has become the need of the hour, Looking to the dwindling sources of energy and the danger of climatic deterioration caused by high carbon emissions, energy efficient buildings are the necessity of today. This paper enumerates the various methods of bringing in energy efficiency. Energy can be conserved through design of energy efficient buildings. Energy conservation can result in increased financial capital, environmental quality, national security, personal security, and human comfort. It introduces the Bureau of Energy Efficiency BEE (a national body) and presents an overview of the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC). In this paper a case study of WALMI (Water and Land Management Institute), Bhopal has been presented in detail. Despite its huge campus spread over an area of 10800 square meters surprisingly, it uses only electricity which is generated locally in its campus through use of photovoltaic. It is planned to virtually eliminate electric lights during day time. There is no municipal disposal on the site and is being managed by the two gobar gas plants. The bio-climate consideration of the building design along with thoughtful incorporation of passive measures would ensure thermal and visual comfort in the building round the year with minimal energy usage. Some more Energy Efficient buildings of India are also mentioned. Efficiently design homes and offices can cut energy bill substantially. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency, the relevant code and the Star Rating program, will go a long way to encourage energy efficiency. This program will help identify the careless owners who are frittering away the precious sources of energy. Continued support from the State Governments and the private sector is essential for the success of the program. In view of fast depleting energy reserves, energy conservation is need of the hour. Thus, we need to wake up and act and -act very fast before it is too late. Keywords: BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency), ECBC, Energy Conservation Building Code

INTRODUCTION:The Building Energy Rating Certificate (BER) is part of the Energy Performance of Buildings EU Directive. The aim of the Directive, which first came into force in Ireland on 4 January 2003, is to make the energy performance of a building transparent and available to potential purchasers or tenants. Then it became a practice in India also, from 27th may 2007. The BER is simply a check to see how good your house is at using energy and will measure how much energy and carbon your house may typically use or produce over a given year. It is only concerned with the fabric of the dwelling and does not take account of occupant behaviour.

Some possible ways for bringing in energy efficiency:Reduce consumption of conventional sources of energy. (Electricity, coal, petroleum, gas, wood). Use of C.F.L., L.E.D. etc.; Use renewable sources of energy ( Sun, wind, tides, waterfalls, Gobar-gas); Construct Solar-Passive

buildings. Solar Passive Architecture means, provision of sun-breakers, roof-sheds, deep verandahs, Insulated ceilings, Use of upward draft of warm air for ventilation. Use of Venturi effect of winds parallel to ground, for natural ventilation of buildings. Use of underground tunnel around the building, for cooling the input of air by colder temperatures below the ground level. Day light integration for various spaces; Green environment. Use of trees for obstructing solar heat. Absorption of solar heat during photosynthesis, by the leaves of neighboring plants. Certification of Energy Efficient buildings :- A Star Rating is given by BEE indicating the relevant level of efficiency. The star rating label is depicted on the next page.

Environmental Performance Index :EPI - The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is a method of quantifying and numerically benchmarking the
environmental performance of a country's policies.

ENERGY CONSERVATION BUILDING CODES:Energy conservation building codes are mechanism to prescribe energy use/conservation in commercial buildings. These codes are formed to comply with energy consumption norms and standards and to prepare and implement schemes for its efficient use and conservation state governments have power to amend building codes to suits local and regional climatic conditions. Energy conservation building codes set the minimum energy efficiency standards for design and construction at the same time in encourage energy efficient design without constrain on the building function comfort health or the productivity of the occupants with proper regard for economic considerations. These codes promotes participation of various stake holders like building industries, manufacturers, professional, government agencies, etc. the code was launched by honble union minister of power on 27th may 2007 after consideration of comments on a draft version. A stringency level for each code was established after stringency analysis through detail energy and life cycle cost analysis. Base case simulation models where develop on the basis of extensive data of construction types and materials, glass types, insulation materials, lighting (indoor and outdoor), building envelopes (walls, roofs, windows), solar water heating and pumping, electrical systems (power factors and transformers), heating ventilation and air conditioning equipment. The codes aim at maximizing building envelops benefits to encourage better design and at the same time addresses local design conditions and construction practices. As per the codes its compliance requires three types of approaches i.e. component based (prescriptive); system based (trade-off); whole building design analysis.

WALMI Bhopal
Conjecturing the case of WALMI, Bhopal the building was designed by Mr Sen Kapadia ,a renowned architect from Mumbai who has also won an international award .Apart from the traditional and conventional methods of energy conservation it also uses several other measures to enhance upon its BER . Firstly it uses thermocol sheets about 40 mm thick on to the ceiling with a cladding of tiles to prevent excess penetration of heat down the roof. Furthermore the building is surrounded by large airy corridors on all sides with large windows for the proper ventilations of air and light saving during the day time .In addition there lies a central cooling channel wherein water flows throughout the building which helps bring down the temperature inside by 2 to 3 degree centigrade .

It uses two large biogas plants to generate electricity for all its purposes ,thereby making it a self sustained bulding . The building is half submerge in ground and is half above the ground which help maintaining three different levels of temperature on the building . The underground portion experiences lower temperature , the portion above the ground has higher temperature and the superstructure of the building maintains a moderate temperature which further strengthens the base of the building as the setting temperature of cement at 100% strength is 11degree centigrade .