A green business in any organization is to ensure that all processes, products, and manufacturing activities adequately address current environmental concerns while maintaining a profit. In other words, it is a business that “meets the needs of the today’s customer with minimum impacts to its environment and without compromising the future generations to meet their own needs

Dr S K Sankar, Programme Director – Eureka Forbes Institute of Environment (EFIE) shares his views with Sandeep Sharma about his company, upcoming projects, indian steel industry, national mining policy and role of steel in the infrastructure development of our country. Edited Excerpts…

What's the cost addition in percentage terms for this building vis-a-vis the conventional construction? How far the benefits outweighs the increase in cost?

All the Green Features added on an initial capital cost exceeding 15%.

During planning for the construction, measures were taken to ensure that the building material used (fly ash bricks) were procured locally as per LEED norms; that the design of the plan would reduce the need for artificial lighting; that in the design of the building natural methods for cooling other than air conditioning was used; that the source of energy was renewable (wind turbine); that water was used efficiently and there was zero discharge; that water recycling is by natural Reed Bed rather than energy consuming membrane based system.

Benefits Of Green Building Initiative

• Reduction in Water Usage by 35%
• Reduction in irrigation water by 65%
• Reduction in Energy Use 45% in Lights alone
• Green Practices becomes part of process
• Improves the Green Corporate Image
• The campus is a LEED GOLD Certified building. It is the world’s 1st Water Purifier Manufacturing Unit that has this status. It is being the world’s largest unit for manufacturing UV Water Purifiers.

On what parameters have you got the LEED Certification for your project?

There were certain criteria based on which Aquamall Green Plant received the LEED Gold rating. This was based on design features incorporated in this building under the five environmental categories plus innovation defined by USGBC (United States Green Building Council) / LEED India, namely sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environment quality, innovation and design process.

What's your advice to business in India who are eager to go green?

A green business in any organization is to ensure that all processes, products, and manufacturing activities adequately address current environmental concerns while maintaining a profit. In other words, it is a business that “meets the needs of the today’s customer with minimum impacts to its environment and without compromising the future generations to meet their own needs.”

What are the main features of AquaMall water Solutions?

Green Features of Aquamall Dehradun: As part of the e-journey of Aquamall, the Dehradun project will be the landmark project which incorporates a list of eco-friendly features viz.,

Geo-thermal air ventilation system: The building is designed with an air cool system. This unique designs supply the conditioned air to the office building without energy requirement. Thus saves energy and reduces the GHG.

Green Power for 100 % utilization: The Aquamall bought the WTG wind power generator at Tirunelveli (in Tamilnadu) equivalent to its projected 100 % utilization of power under its peak performance. Thus reduces the burden of CO2 emission.

Pre-fabricated steel structure: The pre-fabricated steel structure has unique feature of this building. The building was developed with a minimum site disturbance and the materials were effectively used by adopting the design specification based on the internal load requirements. Optimising the use of natural resources. Fly ash based bricks & Hollow blocks: The construction was made with flyash based bricks, cement and concrete blocks. Thus reduces the burden of earths and increases the life of spend materials. In addition, the flyash materials act as a better thermal insulation and increase the physical comfort of the people and environment friendly.

Natural light harvesting: The building is designed with 90% daylight view and adequate day light harvesting in the factory area. Thus saves energy for light requirements.

Thermal comfort at Factory premises: The building is insulated with flyash based bricks, cement and hollow blocks thus resist the external temperature influences. In addition the roof is insulated with special media and to maintain the air circulation Turbo ventilators are installed in strategic locations.

Turbo Ventilators: Unlike the traditional ventilation methods, Turbo vents works up the hot air from inside the building by natural convection. This roof-top wind driven ventilator is cost-effective and run without electricity.

Exemplary performance on water efficiency: The building is fitted with water efficient gadgets that can save upto 70% on usage. The fittings are designed with preset flow and timer. Once you press the water flow for 6 seconds and stops automatically.

Reed-bed waste water treatment: Reed Bed System is a clean, economic and eco-friendly method of domestic sewage treatment as an alternative to the conventional systems. Specially selected plants are made to combine their aeration strength with highly efficient microbial cultures. The treated water will be recycled or reused for watering the landscape gardens. Thus this system reduces our fresh water requirements.

Rain water harvesting: The roof top water will be harvested for; collection in a tank for ‘Use When Available’, excess would be used for bore well recharge. The roof top water from south-western side (distant from bore well) would be recharged into the ground through recharge pits. In this way most of the roof water would be trapped either in the tank or underground.

Dehradun Factory
Aqua Mall