Systemic approach towards energy conservation

“We have been able to help our clients in managing their investment at various stages in the project, advising right from the conceptual design stage till the hand over of the project stage,” remarks Rumi P Engineer, Head – Green Building Consultancy Services and Energy Conservation, Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd.
 Godrej & Boyce assists in green design, energy simulation, lighting simulation, BIM, testing adjusting and balancing of system at the commissioning stage and energy end-use assessment post occupancy. In an exclusive interview with ACE Update, Rumi P Engineer — who has been involved in more than 400 green building projects — talks about his passion on energy-efficient buildings.
Judging energy-efficiency performanceIn order to judge whether a building is energy efficient or not, one needs to have sub-system level energy data, map the trend, and work out the Energy Performance Index (EPI) as per the BEE norms. Equipment level as well as system level energy efficiency need to be worked out and compare with the design efficiency which will help determining the energy-efficiency performance of the building.
Designing approachThere is nothing as perfect design for energy efficiency. It is contextual. One has to understand the end-use application of the building and appropriate design needs to be worked out. Design stage is the very crucial to build in energy efficiency in the project. It is an integrated approach, wherein all the stakeholders (client, architect, MEP design consultant, PMC) play important roles in aligning the design inputs.
‘Energy harvest’ vs ‘energy conservation’In simple terms ‘energy conservation’ is reduction in end-use energy. ‘Energy harvesting’ is making use of natural resource for end use energy, e.g. daylight harvesting, solar photo voltaic energy harvesting, converting waste to biogas, among others.
Energy harvesting has remained challenging which requires technical intervention as well as investment. Comparatively energy conservation is simple to implement wherein low cost/no cost energy saving potentials can be identified in the operations and maintenance practice in the building. There are plenty of opportunities available to implement energy conservation.
Passive solar buildingsA robust building envelope design can go a long way in curtailing the heat gain in the building, resulting in substantial reduction in energy demand of air-conditioning system — be it commercial or residential project. In recent past, most of the projects have experienced positive result and understood the merits of the same, hence energy simulation at the design stage helps architects and MEP design professionals understand the energy end use which leads to informative decision making process in selection of material like glass, insulation, and energy efficient chillers, and pumps.
Challenges to build energy efficient buildingsChallenges are plenty but at the same time manageable. Energy-efficient build environment commences from the conceptual design stage where in passive architecture, building envelope, selection of material exhibiting good thermal properties, high-efficiency chillers, fans, blowers, pumps, and integration with building management system needs to be integrated.
One also needs to understand the building end use and then select appropriate technology and equipment to suit the requirement.
Godrej & Boyce and energy-efficient buildingsGodrej & Boyce is assisting its clients in green design, energy simulation, lighting simulation, BIM, testing adjusting and balancing of system at the commissioning stage and energy end-use assessment post occupancy. The organisation also undertakes retro-commissioning assignments.
Godrej & Boyce selects the best equipment and technology for a project, though selection alone does not ensure energy efficiency in the project because a lot of equipment forms a ‘system’. Hence it requires a ‘systemic approach’ for integrating all the equipment to ensure the performance and have positive results towards energy conservation.
Godrej & Boyce has been able to help its clients to in managing their investment at various stages in the project, advising right from the conceptual design stage till the hand over of the project stage.

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