Expert for zero-energy buildings

The Tribune , Monday, July 20, 2009
Correspondent : Rakesh Lohumi /Tribune News Service
Shimla, July 19

With zero-energy buildings becoming a reality, the developing world and advanced countries need to focus on energy-efficient structures to help reduce carbon footprint crucial for combating climate change, according to Robert Angioletti, an expert from the French Environment and Energy Management Agency.

“Zero-energy buildings, that produce as much energy as they consume, are now a realistic option with the state-of-the-art energy-efficient construction and solar, wind and other renewable energy systems in place. In fact, structures producing an energy surplus are now possible and being encouraged in European countries. India should not repeat the mistakes committed by the western world and adopt green technology at the outset,” Angioletti, who was here in connection with a meeting convened by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, told The Tribune in an interview.

France had set a target to switch over to zero-energy buildings by 2020 and in case a structure generated more energy than it consumed on-site, the surplus was fed in the public grid. The surplus energy was purchased at six times the rate at which the consumer was charged for the energy supplied from the grid as an incentive to encourage energy-efficient buildings. A unit of energy saved on-site actually resulted in saving of 2.58 units, taking the plant-load factor, transmission and distribution losses from the generation plant to the building into account, he explained.

Apart from incorporating solar architecture in the building design, measures like energy-efficient electrical devices and reduction in standby power enable to bring down energy consumption drastically to achieve zero-carbon level. In standby mode computers, printers and other peripherals, TVs, set-top cable boxes, re-chargers and various audio-visual equipment are big energy guzzlers. By switching off the devices, precious energy could be saved.

Angioletti saw a vast scope for collaborative research and development efforts in the field of energy-efficiency in the state and was already working with Dr SS Chandel, head of the energy and environment unit, NIT, and the State Council for Science and Technology, for formulating a project. French funding agency could consider providing soft loan, besides technical expertise, for the proposed project.

 
SOURCE : Monday, July 20, 2009
 


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