The two day conference has been organized by TERI in association with ADaRSH(Association for Development and Research of Sustainable Habitats). It is being attended by a plethora of eminent luminaries including renowned architects, public works departments, international agencies, financial institutions, state nodal agencies, public sector units.
Setting the theme, Dr. R. K. Pachauri, Director General, TERI said, “It is critically important for the world to move in the right direction to protect the environment. It is important for us to educate the young with sustainable practices such as energy efficiency, water conservation from the very beginning. In addition to ECBC, it is necessary to consider holistic and performance oriented rating systems such as GRIHA also. Incentives should be provided by the Government for efficient buildings, because buildings stay for longer period of time.”
Mr T V Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Manipal Global Education Services, suggested that it is important for us to relook into the current standards and practices followed. The current assumptionsare based on old data. More research in India should be encouraged into it. In the current scenario, where systems are overdesigned it is necessary for us to set unreasonable targets, challenge architects, consultants & everybody connected, question every assumption to ensure right engineering and design.
Delivering the special address, Dr. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairman and Managing Director, Biocon Limited, opined “Sustainability is the most important global debate today. Sadly, today’s sustainability is all about trade-offs and it is not right for an economy like ours. Today, the world is spiraling out of control when it comes to energy and growth. It’s time to look at sustainability in innovative ways and India should set the benchmark.” Dr. Mazumdar adds, “In the current scenario of waste management in Bangalore recycling and sustainability should go hand in hand, avoiding which, could lead to serious repercussion. Bio-technology has a huge role to play in waste management, renewable energy and is focusing on innovative solutions. We should not just aim at adopting certifications but develop metrics to ensure development and measure efficiency. Bangalore must be an experimental lab to be a sustainable city for the world to emulate. ”
The conference aims to highlight research and innovations to achieve sustainable habitats thorough architecture, selection of materials, facade structural systems, landscape design and innovation water and waste management; disseminate research being carried out in various universities/institutes to mainstream sustainable habitats; awareness generation on tools/mechanism that are available to predict and monitor real time performance of sustainable habitats; mainstream sustainability through green lifestyle where eminent professionals will share their lifestyles and approach to achieve sustainability through everyday living experience; Demonstrate sustainable large developments and showcase of on ground realities in implementation of sustainable habitats by GRIHA rating and focus on innovations and implementations of innovative building energy systems which shall include lighting, HVAC, controls and integration of renewable energy both on site and off site.
K Jairaj, Former Additional Chief Secretary and Guest Faculty IIM, addressed the issue of sustainability and the need to conserve the resources for future. To implement demand side management practices and focus on switching from conventional energy to renewable energy. He suggested that mandate should be there and Government should bind it with bye-laws for all buildings to become green and GRIHA certified.
The first day focused on the theme Research and Innovations in green design and green lifestyle.The second day will focus on ground realities in implementation of sustainable habitats and innovations in buildings energy systems.
The two day conference will witness the presence of eminent luminaries which includes Dr. R. K Pachauri, Director General, TERI, Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairman and Managing Director, Biocon Limited, Mr. P. R Dasgupta, Distinguished Fellow & Director, TERI, Southern Regional Centre, Mr K Jairaj, IAS (Retd.), Guest Faculty, IIM Bangalore, Mr T V Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Manipal Global Education Services, Ms Mili Majumdar -Director- Sustainable Habitat Division, TERI and Secretary, ADaRSH, , Mr Amit Maheshwari, Director - Marketing & Strategy, Carrier India, and Mr. Aromar Revi, Director, IIHS.
About GRIHA
GRIHA, an acronym for Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment, is the National Rating System of India. GRIHA has been conceived by TERI and developed jointly with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. It is a green building 'design evaluation system', and is suitable for all kinds of buildings in different climatic zones of the country.
About The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
From microbiology to global climate change, from smoke-filled rural kitchens to plush corporate boardrooms, from schoolchildren to heads of state, no sphere of human endeavour is unfamiliar to TERI. Headed by world-renowned economist and Nobel Prize winning climate scientist, Dr. R K Pachauri, TERI is best described as an independent, not-for-profit research institute focused on energy, environment, and sustainable development and devoted to efficient and sustainable use of natural resources.
