First onsite net zero energy green building of India

Central Public Works Department has constructed a net zero energy building for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, first of its kind in India, generating onsite solar power as per its total requirement. To make net zero energy building, the demand was optimised by using energy-efficient materials and equipments and then providing rooftop solar power panels on courtyard, rooftop and extended cantilever mild steel structures. To make the building energy-efficient, various green building features were adopted in this centrally air-conditioned building including geothermal heat exchange system. The building has ground plus seven-storey reinforced concrete framed structure with three basements for car parking and installation of essential services. The building was planned and executed as five star green building conforming to green rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) council of India. Green building features included architectural, civil, electrical and mechanical, landscape and horticulture criteria. The paper discusses the measures adopted to get five star green rating and details of onsite net zero energy building.