1. Home
  2. Case Study
  3. Akshay Urja Bhawan

Akshay Urja Bhawan

The Department of Renewable Energy/HAREDA, has constructed its office building “Akshay Urja Bhawan” on an institutional plot measuring one acre, at sector 17 Panchkula. This building is one of its kind in the country in having energy autonomy by incorporating the latest and futuristic energy efficient concepts. It is the first building in the government sector which is being constructed in compliance with the Energy Conservation Building Codes (ECBC). Moreover this building also complies with the 5 star rating, which is the highest rating of GRIHA rating systems for Green buildings of Govt. of India.

This building has been constructed based on solar passive design techniques having Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system of 42.50 KW capacity, solar chimney, evaporative cooling, cavity walls, use of Fly ash based bricks water recycling and energy efficient lighting etc.

The incorporation of these features has resulted in achieving an internal temperature of about 28 deg. centigrade without air conditioning.

This is the one of its own kind of building with 25% reduced lighting energy need and annual energy consumption at 3.48 units per sq, ft. against 18.5 units per sq. ft. of a conventional building.

Location Panchkula, Haryana
Building Typology Office
Climate Zone Composite
Date of Completion 2012
Site Area 3,900 sqm
Build-up Area 5,111 sqm
Number of Floors G+5
Project Coordinator Ar Siddhartha Wig, The Elements
Principal Architect Ar Siddhartha Wig, The Elements
Landscape Architect Ar Jitesh Malik, Brick & Green
Structural Consultant Ar Sanjay Prakash, Sanjay Prakash and Associates
Electrical Consultant Mahesh Babu, Ashok A Sanadi, MCD Built Environment Research Laboratory Pvt. Ltd
Green Building Design and Certification Mahesh Babu, Ashok A Sanadi, MCD Built Environment Research Laboratory Pvt. Ltd
Project Management Consultant Mr Dheeraj Gupta
Green Rating GRIHA 5-star
EPI 30 KWh/m2/year
Total RE Installed Capacity 42.5 kWp + 600 L solar water heating
Energy Savings 61% reduction in EPI
CO2 saved 77,785.2 ton/annum
Building Form and Fenestration

The site is well oriented and with building aligned along cardinal directions. Glazing is coordinated to take advantage of building orientation. South glazing is provided with horizontal shades. Almost no east and west openings are provided. There is reasonable north glazing with vertical shading.

All workspaces of the building are day lit. There is efficient lighting with 25% reduced lighting energy use.

The courtyard is covered with angled louvers that maximize winter sun on the south face of the north wing and shade the atrium in the summer while allowing diffused daylight in.

Ventilation:

The south face has solar chimneys to aid ventilation in some of the non-air-conditioned spaces which are cooled by misting installed in the central atrium.

Building Envelope and Construction Materials

Cavity walls with PUF insulation with double glazed windows are provided in the envelope of the building to reduce heat gain. 50% of Cement replaced with flyash in reinforced concrete and plaster masonry, AAC blocks with fly ash in non-structural application.

HVAC Air Conditioning

Spaces to be cooled are divided into zones as per desired temperature set points. Thermal comfort conditions in apex zones are maintained through mechanical air conditioning. Controlled zones are cooled in summer and chilled in monsoon. Passive zones are cooled in summer and ventilated in monsoon.

Artificial Lighting and Controls

Automatic controls for HVAC systems and artificial lighting systems

32% Energy demand for internal artificial lighting capacity is met by on site renewables, reducing energy load.

42.5 kWp solar generations achieved at site with panels installed at roof top, further + 600 L solar water heating plant also installed which meets 100% of hot water requirements at site.