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Background |
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Gurgaon is a fast growing urban centre located on New Delhi’s
outskirts, and is facing a construction boom. Today, Gurgaon’s
skyline is an unruly display of multi-storeyed structures that
use highly energy intensive materials such as steel and glass.
Such buildings require huge quantities of energy during their
construction, and also consume a large amount of energy after
they are built. They contribute significantly to greenhouse
gas emissions and, consequently, climate change. In an area
such as Gurgaon, it is of utmost importance to promote and adopt
the principles of sustainable building design. |
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Prime
concerns |
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There is a widening gap between demand and supply of electricity
as annual demand and consumption are both increasing at 17%
while supply is increasing only at 5% to 7%.
About a quarter of the electricity supplied (20% to 25%) is
lost in transmission and distribution.
The water table is dropping at an alarming rate as ground water
is being increasingly exploited in the absence of an adequate
water supply infrastructure.
Most commercial and high-rise residential buildings are operated
on 100% captive power plants run on high-speed diesel, which
has led to increased air pollution and levels of particulate
matter.
Management and treatment of sewage is inefficient and improper. |
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Likely
causes |
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Lack of awareness
leads to buildings that do not take into consideration the climate
of the area. Building design does not incorporate energy efficiency
measures or renewable energy technologies.
Choice of
inappropriate building material which makes it necessary to
use air-conditioning throughout the year leading to high recurring
energy costs.
Lack of communication
and coordination between stakeholders leading to ineffective
management, supply, use and conservation of resources.
Sporadic
development in isolated pockets distributed over large areas
which has led to large-scale losses of vital resources such
as electricity and water during transmission and distribution..
Lack of a
suitable policy-framework, including building bye-laws, making
it difficult to incorporate and support sustainable building
design. |
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Beneficiaries |
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The main groups benefiting from the project will be :
Local authorities and policy makers
Building practitioners (architects, planners, builders)
The project
activities will indirectly benefit the local community in
Gurgaon, along with local authorities, policy makers and building
practitioners in other localities of India, UK, and Spain. |
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Sustainability
of project |
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The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES), a
national level ministry has several ongoing programmes and
policy frameworks in place, which could support and sustain
these activities after the EU funding comes to an end. For
example, the Solar Buildings Programme under the Solar Thermal
Energy Programme initiative of MNES could promote the implementation
of sustainable energy options in buildings.
Building bye-laws have made the use of renewable energy technologies
(solar water heating systems) and water conservation measures
(rain water harvesting) compulsory in Gurgaon. The Energy
Conservation Act, 2001, passed by the Government of India
made the inclusion of sustainable design options mandatory
to all buildings. The findings of this project will help to
implement this Act.
All partners can upgrade their existing knowledge base of
sustainable design and also develop new techniques that can
be adopted in Europe as well as other developing countries.
With the knowledge obtained through manuals, CDs, web sites,
seminars, and workshops, building practitioners will able
to design, evaluate, and execute sustainable building projects.
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