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Green buildings mandatory to meet energy demands: MoEF
Binny Sharma
New Delhi
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Photo: Naval Hans
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INDIA NEEDS to design and construct ‘green buildings for bridging the growing gap between energy demand and supply’ while sustaining the steady migration of people from rural to urban areas, said JM Mauskar, special secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forests on Tuesday.
At the same time, ‘business houses must use technology innovations in a cordial manner to developmental goals and environmental protection’, he said at a conference organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) on Tuesday. Mauskar said that there should be optimum use of infinite resources like land and power generation while constructing buildings with least carbon footprint. “There is increased need of building infrastructure that can sustain the ever-increasing exodus from rural to urban areas. Urbanisation must go hand-in-hand with environmental sustainability measures.”
The country has 23 cities with a population of over 10 lakh. By 2050, two-thirds of people will be living in urban areas. On the other hand, area occupied by environment-friendly buildings has increased from 20,000 square metre in 2004 to 2.3 crore square metre now.
Rapid industrialisation and infrastructure development coupled with population growth and urbanisation have exerted tremendous pressure on the environment. “Thus there is a great need of employing methods and techniques to prevent potential harm to environment,” said Mauskar.
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‘Business houses must conceive innovative technology towards environment protection and use resources wisely’
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Meanwhile, director general at the Bureau of Energy Efficiency Ajay Mathur said that there is need to change current practices in design and construction of buildings besides spreading social consciousness on the subject. Energy performing indices and rating systems should be dynamic in nature, he said.
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