Energy-Conscious Building Design
A necessity for the country

India exhibits a wide variety of climates, resources, buildings and human responses. Traditional buildings have, in some form or other, taken into account natural factors, and various types of vernacular architecture and rooted in the land. The designers (often anonymous) of this common sense architecture do not explicitly state that climatological expediency or energy efficiency are the prime goals of their work, but it is obvious that traditional building designs have evolved in this manner.

The jharokhas (Balconies) and chajjas (overhangs) of the desert, the wide verandahs of the coastal areas, the thick walls and roofs of the Gangetic Plain, the unique earth buildings of cold, dry Ladakh - all exhibit traditions which weave ornament, function, climate and ritual into one integrated whole. The traditional home was climatically responsive, requiring no mechanical systems to keep it cool. The modern apartment block or congested squatter settlement is not so. Age-old rural methods are fading, and energy-intensive steel, cement and fired-brick construction is now the norm.

Heating techniques are a widely researched area in the West. Yet "heating only" type concepts are not sufficient to ensure thermal comfort throughout the year in all regions in India. Passive or otherwise energy-efficient cooling also needs more research. There is some activity on evaporative cooling, but interest infiltration is low. The energy component of the design problem is how maximum comfort can be achieved in the present context, without relying upon mechanical systems (which may cost as much as the building itself).

More attention needs to be given to non-mechanical solutions such as proper building orientation, cross ventilation, insulation, and use of sunlight and shade.

Fortunately, a new trend is emerging. Students of architecture all over the country are becoming interested in energy-conscious building design, natural lighting and climatic design. In many places, "Climatology" has been included in the undergraduate syllabus. Thermal simulation software is being developed for use on powerful micro-computers. Many architectural and design competitions are now using minimum running energy costs, passive space conditioning and climate-conscious design as some of the criteria for evaluation.

It is evident that there is a growing awareness about the problem of fossil energy shortages and the need to use energy-conserving materials in construction in India. Work in this field still has a long way to go if any headway is to be made to conserve the ever-depleting stocks of fossil energy sources and to ensure people’s comfort and well-being.


Sanjay Prakash

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