Date:20/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/04/20/stories/2008042051110500.htm

Back More developers opt for green buildings despite higher costs

Demand for eco-friendly materials to reach $4 b/year by 2010

New storeys
Projects to go up to over 2,000 by 2012 (from 164 now).
Industry estimates spread of 3,04,800 sq m by 2008 end.
Call for benefits from Government to facilitate growth.

R. Savitha

Pune, April 19 After the US, Australia and Canada, India has emerged as the hottest destination for green buildings.

The construction industry is estimating a spread of 3,04,800 sq m by this year-end, a huge increase from 6,000 sq m of green building space in 2003.

As per the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), the demand for green building materials and equipment would reach $4 billion a year by 2010.

Cover all segments

Similarly, the number of green building projects in India is also expected to go up from the current 164 to over 2,000 by 2012. And this growth will not be restricted to any single segment but spread across residential complexes, exhibition centres, hospitals, educational institutions, laboratories, IT parks, airports, Government buildings and corporate offices.

About 40-48 per cent of the total energy is consumed by buildings and 35 per cent by lights, 40 per cent by HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioner).

The oil reserve in India is estimated to last for another 19 years.

Catching on

Talking to Business Line Mr Emmanual Cantagrel, General Manager, Somfy India Pvt Ltd, a player in motors and controls for openings and closures in buildings, noted that the concept of green buildings is fast catching up in India as the people have been educated on their many energy-saving benefits.

He pointed out that considerable research had been carried out with regard to the costs, which could be slightly higher than that of a conventional building, but the return on investment could be achieved within five years.

He noted that more and more developers were going in for green buildings which despite being costlier by five to ten per cent, was generating a positive response.

Government role

Mr Cantagrel said the concept was in its preliminary stages and noted that for it to catch up faster, the Government should take the initiative to provide benefits to the different segments involved.

He said Somfy’s solution, Animeo, a building management system, has been utilised at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad — the only green airport in Asia. Animeo automatically controls openings and closures of all possible combinations of shading and opening devices.

The first phase of the airport, spanning 1,05,300 sq m of area to handle 12 million passengers per annum, has commenced its operations in March 2008.

Government role

Mr Cantagrel said the concept was in its preliminary stages and noted that for it to catch up faster, the Government should take the initiative to provide benefits to the different segments involved. He said Somfy’s solution, Animeo, a building management system, has been utilised at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad — the only green airport in Asia. Animeo automatically controls openings and closures of all possible combinations of shading and opening devices.

The software reacts in accordance with the set time scheduling and/or climatic conditions as relayed by the weather sensors. It also provides for manual control through switch or remote control RTS (radio technology somfy). The first phase of the airport, spanning 1,05,300 sq m of area to handle 12 million passengers per annum, has commenced its operations in March 2008.