RETREAT MODEL OF SUSTAINABLE

HABITATSUBMITTED TO :-PREETI GUPTA MA’AM

SUBMITTED BY :-SOUMI BERA

PROJECT DETAILS

• BUILDING NAME : RETREAT (RESOURCE EFFICIENT TERI RETREAT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND TRAINING)

• SITE ADDRESS : GUL PHARI, GURGAON• BUILDING TYPE : INSTITUTIONAL• ARCHITECTS: SANJAY PRAKASH AND TERI• CONTRACTORS AND SYSTEM SUPLLIERS : CONFOSS

CONSTRUCTION PVT. LTD. (CIVIL), JANUS ENGINEERING PVT. LTD. (ELECTRICAL), PYROTECH ELECTRONICS PVT. LTD. (BMS), SUVIDHA ENGINEERS INDIA LTD. (HVAC), SHIVA FURNISHERS (INTERIORS), THERMAX (HVAC AND ROOT ZONE SYSTEM), TATA BP SOLAR (SOLAR PHOTOVOLTATICS), JAIN IRRIGATION (SOLAR HOT WATER)

• YEAR OF START/COMPLETION : 1997/2000• CLIENT/OWNER : TATA ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, NEW DELHI• COVERED AREA : 3000SQ.M.

PROJECT DETAILS

• COST OF THE PROJECT : CIVIL WORKS – Rs. 23.6 MILLION, ELECTRICAL WORKS – Rs. 2.5 MILLION

• COST OF VARIOUS TECHNOLOGIES : Rs. 18.54 MILLIONBREAK-UP EARTH AIR TUNNEL SOLAR CHIMNEY 10.7 kW SOLAR PHOTOVOLTATIC SYSTEM STAND-ALONE PV STREETLIGHTING

SYSTEM ROOT ZONE SYSTEM SOLAR WATER HEATING SYSTEM BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AMMONIA ABSOPTION COOLING SYSTEM

ALONG WITH GAS BANK AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM (HVAC)

TOTAL (COST OF TECHNOLOGIES)

- Rs. 1.68 MILLION- Rs. 0.28 MILLION

- Rs. 7.40 MILLION

- Rs. 0.28 MILLION- Rs. 0.85 MILLION- Rs. 0.25 MILLION- Rs. 2.30 MILLION

- Rs. 3.10 MILLION- Rs. 2.40 MILLION- Rs. 18.54 MILLION

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TERI DEVELOPED THIS COMPLEX AT GUAL PAHARI, GURGAON, AS AN EXAMPLE OF SUSTAINABLE HABITAT.THE GUAL PAHARI CAMPUS IS SITUATED 35 KM SOUTH OF DELHI, AT GURGAON, HARYANA, COVERING AN AREA OF 36.5 HECTARES OF BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED SURROUNDINGS. WHEN TERI BOUGHT THE LAND, IT WAS TOTALLY ROCKY AND DEVOID OF ANY VEGETATION. INTENSE PLANTATION ACTIVITIES WERE UNDERTAKEN BY SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS FOR IMPROVING THE FERTILITY OF THE LAND AND TODAY IT IS COVERED WITH LUSH GREEN FORESTS AND GARDENS FULL OF BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS. AMIDST THIS GREENERY AND BEAUTY LIES THE RETREAT -- FOR THE RESOURCE-EFFICIENT TERI RETREAT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND TRAINING -- A MODEL OF SUSTAINABLE HABITAT.

TERI HAS SUCCESSFULLY BUILT THIS HABITAT, WHICH INTEGRATES VARIOUS FORMS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND IS AN IDEAL EXAMPLE FOR ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, AND OTHERS FOR THE PROMOTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN THE COUNTRY.THIS CLIMATE-RESPONSIVE BUILDING IS INTENDED TO SERVE AS A MODEL SUSTAINABLE HABITAT, BASED ON NEW AND CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES.

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CONTRUCTED OVER THREE YEARS, AND WITH A BUILT-UP AREA OF 3000 SQ.M., THIS 30 ROOM TRAINING HOSTEL BOASTS OF CONFERENCE FACILITIES FOR 100 PEOPLE, DINING SPACE AND KITCHEN, RECREATIONAL AREA, COMPUTER ROOM, AND LIBRAY. WHAT MAKES RETREAT UNIQUE IS ITS TOTAL INDEPENDENCE OF THE CITY.S GRID SYSTEM AND NEAR-COMPLETE FREEDOM FROM THE CITY SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE. INTERESTINGLY, ENERGY PLANNING IN THE BUIDING HAS LEAD TO A REDUCED LOAD OF 96KW (PEAK) FROM 280KW (PEAK), SHOWING A SAVING OF 184KW (PEAK).

RETREAT WAS CONSTRUCTED AT AN ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT OF 25% AND SPENDS 40%-50% LESS ON ENERGY. LESS THAN 10 KILOWATTS OF ENERGY IS USED TO LIGHT THE ENTIRE COMPLEX, WITH THE AID OF SPECIALLY DESIGNED SKYLIGHTS, ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTS, AND A SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM OF MONITORING AND CONTROLLING THE CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRICITY. A CONVENTIONALLY DESIGNED BUILDING OF THE SAME SCALE WOULD USE CLOSE TO 28 KILOWATTS TO PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF LIGHTING. MOREOVER, THE ESTIMATED CO2 SAVING IS ABOUT 570 TONNES/YEAR.

VISION

RETREAT IS A OMBINATION OF TECHNOLOGY AND ACHITECTURE IN A MANNER THAT THE BEHOLDER’S UNDERSTANGING OF THE ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY, AND BUILDING DEEPENS. AN INTERGRATED DESIGN ELEMENT, THE SOLAR PASSIVE ARCHITECTURE, RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY, CONVENTIONAL AND NON-CONVENTIONAL HEATING AND COOLING AND ENERGY-SAVING FEATURES- ALL STAND OUT IN AN ASTONISHING BLEND OF THE TRADITINAL AND THE MODERN.BASICALLY, THREE IMPORTANT THINGS WERE CONSIDERED IN THE CREATION OF THE COMPLEX. FIRSTLY, THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE BUILDING, AND TRYING TO SEE HOW ENERGY IS USED IN IT. SECONDLY, THE DESIGN OF THE COMPLEX MINIMIZES DEMANDS OF ENERGY IN THE BUILDING BY ARCHITECTURAL INTERVENTION THROUGH PASSIVE CONCEPTS LIKE SOLAR ORIENTATION, LATTICEWORK FOR SHADING, INSULATION, AND LANDSCAPING. THRIDLY, THE SPACE-CONDITIONING AND LIGHTING DEMANDS ARE MET THROUGH ENERGY-EFFICIENT SYSTEM WHEREAS THE ENERGY DEMANDS ARE FULFILLED BY RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.

VISION

SIDE VIEWSITE PLAN

REAR VIEW OF BUILDING

BACKSIDE VIEW

DESIGN FEATURES

• VARIOUS PASSIVE DESIGN FEATURES OF THIS COMPLEX ENABLE REDUCTION OF SPACE CONDITIONING LOAD BY 10%-15%.

• THE ROOF IS INSULATED WITH VERMICULITE CONCRETE TOPPED WITH CHINA MOSAIC FOR OPTIMAL HEAT REFLECTION.

• WALLS ARE INSULATED WITH 40-MM THICK EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE INSULATIONS. 

• THE ENTIRE COMPLEX IS SOUTH-FACING, AND DECIDUOUS TREES ALL AROUND IT PROVIDE SHADE DURING SUMMER WHILE LETTING IN THE SUN’S HEAT DURING WINTER BY SHEDDING THEIR LEAVES.

• SOUTH PART OF THE BUILDING IS SUNKEN INTO THE GROUND IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GROUND STORAGE AND THEREBY STABILIZE INTERNAL TEMPERATURE.

• EAST AND WEST WALLS FACING WALLS ARE DEVOID OF OPENINGS AND ARE SHADED.

• SHADING DEVICES AND FENESTRATIONS ARE DESIGNED TO BLOCK THE SUMMER SUN AND LET IN THE WINTER SUN

• GLARE FREE DAYLIGHT HAS BEEN ADEQUETLY PROVIDED IN THE CONFERENCE HALL, LIBRARY AND RECEREATION HALL

DESIGN FEATURES

• LANDSCAPING HAS BEEN ADEQUETLY DESIGNED SO THAT THE WIND DIRECTIONS ARE FAVORABLY ALTERED.

• THE NORTH BLOCK IS MADE SLIGHTLY CONCAVE TOWARDS THE FRONT, WHILE THE SOUTH BLOCK FORMS A HYBRID CONVEX SURFACE FACING THE WINTER SUN.

• THE POINTS OF THE SOUTH BLOCK BROADLY FALL ON THE SURFACE OF LARGE IMAGINERY CONES THAT GENERATED THE SLIGHTLY FREE GEOMETRY AND THIS ALLOWS THE ARCHITECTURE TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE GRID IRON APPORACH THAT IS ASOCIATED WITH “SOLAR ARCHITECTURE” NORMALLY.

SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY

• TERI’S GUAL PAHARI CAMPUS IS INTENDED TO SERVE AS A MODEL OF SUSTAINABLE HABITAT BASED ON NEW AND CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES. THEREFORE, IT MAKES FULL USE OF THE MOST ABUNDANT SOURCE OF ENERGY, NAMELY THE SUN, BY TAPPING THE SUN’S ENERGY IN DIFFE-RENT WAYS, BOTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY. SOME OF THE INNOVATIVE WAYS OF TAPPING SOLAR ENERGY AND USING ENERGY MORE EFFICIENTLY AT RETREAT ARE (1) SOLAR WATER HEATER, (2) PV (PHOTOVOLTATIC) PANELS, (3) GASIFIER, (4) UNDERGROUND EARTH TUNNELS AND (5) WASTE WATER RECYCLING.

Solar Water Heater

• AN ARRAY OF 24 SOLAR WATER HEATERS FORMS A PART OF THE PARAPET OF THE LIVING QUARTERS. THE SYSTEM CAN DELIVER UP TO 2000 LITRES OF HOT WATER (AT 65OC) EVERY DAY. IN WINTER, WHEN THE DAYS ARE SHORT AND THE SUN LESS INTENSE, A 9 KW ELECTRICAL HEATING COIL SERVES AS A BACK-UP SOURCE OF HEAT THE WATER. THE HEAT GIVEN OFF WHEN THE STAND-BY GENERATOR IS RUNNING IS ALSO COLLECTED AND UTILIZED IN THE SOLAR WATER HEATER, AS A BACK-UP SOURCE.

SOUTH VIEW OF BUILDING SHOWING SOLAR WATER HEATING PANELS AND SOLAR CHIMNEY

 Photovoltaic-Gasifier hybrid Power Plant

A SERIES OF PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS CAPTURE SOLAR ENERGY AND STORE IT BY CHARGING A BANK OF BATTERIES. A NUMBER OF PANELS, EACH MEASURING 1.1 BY 1.2 METRES, ARE JOINED AND FORM AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING. THE PANELS CAN GENERATE UP TO 10.7 KILOWATTS PEAK OF ENERGY, WHICH IS FED INTO A 900 AMPERE-HOUR/240 VOLT BATTERY BANK. 

 Photovoltaic-Gasifier hybrid Power Plant

INDEPENDENT PANELS POWER MOST OF THE LIGHTS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE BUILDING. EACH SUCH LIGHT HAS A PAIR OF SMALL PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS (ROUGHLY A METRE WIDE AND HALF A METRE TALL) AND IS THUS A SELF-SUFFICIENT ‘STAND-ALONE’ UNIT. A PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL ALSO POWERS THE WATER PUMP.

The biomass Gasifier

THE BIOMASS GASIFIER IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF POWER DURING THE DAY. FIREWOOD, DRIED LEAVES, TWIGS AND CROP RESIDUES ARE USED FOR FUELLING THE 50KW GASIFIER. THIS GASIFIER RUNS A GENERATOR, WHOSE DIESEL REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN CUT DOWN TO 30% AFTER APPROPRIATE MODIFICATIONS.

THE BATTERY BANK IS THUS SERVED BY TWO SOURCES OF POWER - THE PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS AND THE GASIFIER. A CONTROL DEVICE, THE ‘POWER MANAGER’, CONSTANTLY WORKS OUT THE MOST EFFICIENT COMBINATION, DECIDING WHICH IS THE BEST SOURCE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THE SYSTEM CAN FUNCTION FOR 25–30 YEARS; THE BATTERIES HAVE A LIFE OF 6 YEARS.

Underground Earth Tunnels

THE LIVING QUARTERS (SOUTH BLOCK) ARE MAINTAINED AT COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE (APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 20OC TO 30OC) AROUND THE YEAR BY CIRCULATING NATURALLY CONDITIONED AIR USING EARTH AIR TUNNEL SYSTEM, SUPPLEMENTED WITH THE SYSTEM OF ABSORPTION CHILLERS POWERED BY LPG IN HUMID SEASON AND AIR-WASHER IN DRY SUMMERS. 

UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES ARE NOT EXPOSED TO THE SUN AND THUS DO NOT HEAT UP AS MUCH. SECONDLY, THE SURROUNDING EARTH INSULATES THEM, WHICH HELPS IN MAINTAINING A MORE OR LESS CONSTANT TEMPERATURE. TEMPERATURES RECORDED AT ROUGHLY 4 METRES BELOW THE SURFACE SHOW THAT THEY ARE STABLE AND REFLECT THE AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE OF A PLACE.

Underground Earth Tunnels

HOWEVER, THE COOLER AIR UNDERGROUND NEEDS TO BE CIRCULATED IN THE LIVING SPACE. EACH ROOM IN THE SOUTH BLOCK HAS A ‘SOLAR CHIMNEY’. WARM AIR RISES AND ESCAPES THROUGH THE CHIMNEY, CREATING AN AIR CURRENT; THE COOLER AIR FROM THE UNDERGROUND TUNNELS TO RUSH IN TO REPLACE THE WARM AIR. TWO BLOWERS INSTALLED IN THE TUNNELS SPEED UP THE PROCESS. THE SAME MECHANISM SUPPLIES WARM AIR FROM THE TUNNEL DURING WINTER.

Absorption Chillers

A SET OF ECO-FRIENDLY CHILLERS, WHICH RUN ON LPG AND REQUIRE MINIMUM ELECTRICITY, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COOLING WHEN NEEDED. AS LPG IS A NON-RENEWABLE SOURCE OF ENERGY, EFFORTS

ARE UNDER WAY TO RUN THE CHILLERS ON PRODUCER GAS GENERATED BY THE WOOD-BASED

GASIFIERS. THE CONFERENCE CENTRE, WHICH ACCOMMODATES UP TO 100 PARTICIPANTS, IS CONDITIONED BY MEANS OF AMMONIA-BASED

ABSORPTION CHILLERS.

Energy-efficient Lighting

ENERGY EFFICIENT COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMPS ARE USED IN THE RESIDENTIAL QUARTERS, CORRIDORS,

LOBBY AND TOILETS.ENERGY EFFICIENT TUBE-LIGHTS WITH ELECTRONIC

CHOKES ARE USED IN CONFERENCE HALLS, RECREATION ROOMS, COMPUTER ROOMS, DINING HALL AND IN

ADMINISTRATION AREAS.GLARE-FREE DAYLIGHTS ARE PROVIDED IN THE

CONFERENCE HALL, LIBRARY AND RECREATION HALL THROUGH THE USE OF SPECIALLY

DESIGNED SKYLIGHTS.

Waste Water Recycling – Root Zone System

IN THE RETREAT, WASTE WATER IS RECYCLED USING THE ROOT ZONE TECHNIQUES. IN THIS NATURAL TECHNIQUE, ROOTS OF PLANTS WITH SPECIAL CAPABILITIES ARE USED TO CLEAN THE WATER WHICH IS USED FOR IRRIGATION AND VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES. IT IS NATURAL WASTE WATER TREATMENT PROCESS BASED ON AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC DECOMPOSITION OF THE CONTENTS IN THE ROOTS OF THE REEDS AND MICROBIAL ORGANISM. THIS SYSTEM CLEANS (5 M3 PER DAY) FROM TOILETS AND KITCHENS, ETC. 

BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• MONITORS BUILDING PARAMETERS ( TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY, CONSUMPTION, ETC)

• MONITORS ELECTRICITY GENERATED FROM EACH SOURCE• DECIDES ON LOAD-SHARING AND LOAD-SHEDDING TO OPTIMIZE

ENERGY USAGE• RECORDS AT REGULAR INTERVAL – IN WINTER AND IN SUMMER, ON

BRIGHT DAYS AND ON CLOUDY DAYS, AT VARYING LEVEL OF OCCUPANCY, AND SO ON.

• THE ELABORATE, EXTENSIVE, AND SENSITIVE NETWORKS OF SENSORS, LINKED TO A CENTRAL STATION, MONITORS EVERY HEARTBEAT OF THE SYSTEM 24X7 A YEAR.

• THUS THE FACILITIES IS ALSO A FIRST-RATE SOURCE OF IMMENSE QUANTITIES OF SCIENTIFIC DATA THAT CAN POWER MANY MORE EXPERIMENTS AND INDEED INFLUENCE THE DESIGN OF OTHER SUCH FACILITIES THE WORLD OVER.

S PECIAL

RED STONE JALI USED FOR EXTERNAL

FACINGTERI RETREAT WATCHING

TOWER

LAXMAN JHULA AT TERI RETREAT

HALF NORTH BLOCK WITH RED STONE JALI AND

LANDSCAPING

S PECIAL

MARBLE FLOORING INTERIOR OF

COMPUTER ROOM AT TERI RETREAT

NURSERY TO UTILIZE WASTE RECYCLED

MATERIAL FROM BIO-GASIFIER PLANT

WASTE WATER RE-CYCLING BY ROOT ZONE SYSTEM

CONCLUSION

A GREAT DEAL OF THOUGHT AND PLANNING HAVE GONE INTO THE CONSTRUCTION OF RETREAT, BUT IT IS NOT JUST A FACILITY: IT IS A CONCRETE REAFFIRMATION OF TREI’S FAITH IN ITS RESEARCH AND OF ITS COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – IT IS TERI’S GIFT TO HUMANKIND IN THE 21ST CENTURY.