INTELLIGENT… BUT GREEN BUILDINGS……PREM NATH AT CONSTRU INDIA 2008
Architect Prem Nath delivered an enthralling seminar on Intelligent Buildings on Friday, 17th Oct.’08 at CONSTRU INDIA 2008 – 10th International Summit & Expo. It exhibited Indian construction & infrastructure industry. CONSTRU India 2008 focus on six major segments, viz. Construction Engineering & Design, Intelligent Buildings, Build with Steel, Construction & Building Materials, Electrical in Building & Construction and Construction Equipment & Machinery.
This international summit was a unique platform for participants to keep themselves abreast of developments. It also highlights the enormous investment opportunity in the industry. Delegates from all over the world attended the seminar, which also included Chairman of Builders Association of India- Mr. Mahesh Mudda, Mr. Indra Mohan, President, India Tech & VP (Engineering) of Era Building Systems Ltd.-Dr. Abhay Gupta.
Mr. Nath enlightened the audience with the precise notion of intelligent building, which is very misunderstood today. With the charms of an orator & finesse to make the most difficult of concepts seem easy, Architect Prem Nath spoke about the necessity of not just intelligent but also Green Buildings.
Being a member of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) & the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), Architect Nath explained how green spaces can not only be accommodated around the structure but also on the structure, by giving examples of basement and roofs gardens.
Prem Nath explained how the term “intelligent building” has evolved from just being a high-tech building in the yesteryear to being SMART – Energy-Smart & Eco-Smart.
He stressed on the following to introduction environment friendly aspects in construction:
- The aesthetics use of solar panels as the ‘skin’ for buildings
- The use for wind turbines for Power generation.
- Low e-glass in exterior façade, as double glazed coated glass reduces heat transmission by about 40%
- As Traditional power station do not use heat emitted during the process of electric power production. The combined Heat & Power Generation Technology allows the heat to be utilized which leads to significant Higher Fuel Economy.
- Lighting Control sensors on each floor & premises to minimize energy wastage by use of Intelligent Integrated Building Management System (IBMS).
- Passive cooling – It is scientifically discovered that at any point of time & at any part of the earth, temperature of the soil below 4 meter level is 25°C irrespective of the ambient temperature on the surface. Thereby rendering lesser load on the HVAC compressor.
- Fly ash block can replace traditional red bricks.
- Rain water harvesting – water collected by this means can reduce water requirement to practically half
