The Hindu : 'Green building' planned

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 20, 2003

National

National

'Green building' planned

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI JUNE 19. An arm of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is setting up a "green building" in Hyderabad as a demonstration facility, targeted especially at industries, to establish that eco-friendly construction systems could also be economically-friendly.

It will be a model building for the country and will inspire other corporates to go for eco-friendly constructions," the chairman of the CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre (CII-GBC), Jamshyd N. Godrej, said at the inauguration of the `Green Power 2003' conference here today.

The demo building, which will house the CII-GBC, is being constructed using flyash cement and bricks (to reduce cement content), and will feature an eco-friendly airconditioning system, roof gardens, waste management, rainwater harvesting and waste water recycling facilities. To promote renewable energy concepts, it will also include a 20 kw grid connected solar PV. "Even simple things like how far a car has to go to be parked have been taken into account," Mr. Godrej told reporters later.

"Green building concepts are economically viable and no longer expensive. In fact, in the long run, running costs from green facilities turn out to be lower than conventional systems," he said.

That the 15,000 sq ft building, being constructed over five acres at a cost of Rs. 5 crores to Rs.6 crores, is located near the Hi-Tech City in Hyderabad, will help take it closer to the industries. The centre will also encourage the government to adopt green building practices.

Once the facility is constructed, the CII-GBC will apply to the U.S.-Green Building Council for a platinum rating, which, Mr.Godrej said, only two buildings worldwide had achieved till now. The building is expected to be ready by October.

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