The future of buildings lies in going green-Mr. Ajit Jainath Singh, Area Sales Director – Commercial Building Services, INDO and Sub-Saharan Africa Region, Grundfos

According to the 2020 Global Status Report for Building and Construction, building operations accounted for 28 per cent global emissions while construction-related industries added another 10 per cent . This ultimately resulted in the building sector emitting more than a third of global energyrelated carbon dioxide (CO2) — a record 10 gigatonnes (Gt) in 2019 .
India is no different, the infrastructure and building industry here has also seen a rapid rise across the country, including the commercial segment.However, what has changed is that today, both developers and consumers are conscious of their carbon footprint and are not only looking for comfortable spaces with modern features but are also demanding green buildings integrated with sustainable solutions.
Green buildings or sustainable design and architecture yield multiple benefits, from environmental, economic to social. Such buildings are in tune with nature and take an eco-friendly approach to construction. By incorporating the latest technologies in science and engineering, green buildings make the most of what the environment has to offer. From adopting renewable energy,energy efficient technology to strategic placements of high-tech, silver-coated windows that reflect heat and let natural light into using smart building systems such as timers and motions sensors that cut down on energy consumption and more . Every aspect that goes into the making and operating of a building can be made sustainable and efficient.
These buildings also promote efficient use of water and energy and even enhance the health and comfort of its occupants.It reduces water consumption and increases wastewater efficiency through intelligent systems eventually reducing the strain on our water resources.Also, by incorporating a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) approach, such buildings have an improved use of resources and expand onsavings.In terms of HVAC systems, green buildings focus on the use of evaporative cooling systems to save on energy. It utilises non-potable water that is not sent out but recycled and reusedagain and again. Building owners have reportednew or renovated green buildings showan increase by 7 per cent in asset value over traditional buildings.
Using technology for sustainable benefits
Industry 4.0 technologies are playing a crucial role in the traditional HVAC space to augment its existing utility. To truly optimise system performance in buildings and its applications, it’s time to look beyond individual components to intelligent solutions that take care of the entire system. Today, intelligent pumps, cloud connectivity and digital services are all working seamlessly together to reach a new level of performance with high energy efficiency, reduced complexity and low life-cycle costs and more.
Intelligent pumping solutions with smart sensors can be used to collect data such as indoor and outdoor temperature to provide actionable insights. These insights can even help the HVAC system to identify temperature changes on a real-time basis and make the necessary adjustments. This will ensure that energy is consumed optimally on a demand basis and that there is no waste of resources. The sensors can also provide information associated with potential downtime through its predictive maintenance capabilities to mitigate unexpected maintenance costs and improve the overall lifecycle of the HVAC system.
Technologies such as Grundfos’ iSOLUTIONS, can truly help in aiding this cause. This solution enables real-time monitoring, remote control, system optimization, fault prediction and preventive maintenance to achieve the highest level of performance and savings in cost, energy and resources used like water through E-pumps. For example, the Confederation of Indian Industries’ (CII) Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, demonstrated immense energy saving of 50% and 75% water efficiency with the installation of iSOLUTIONS and the Grundfos CRE pump for the building’s air-conditioning systems.Such technological developments have the potential to be cost efficient as well as energy-efficient in the longer run. From hotels and hospitals to office towers and airports, commercial buildings have vastly different requirements. Grundfos offers a complete range of pumping solutions that ensures optimal comfort and safety in any application while providing cutting-edge energy efficiency.
Investment in our future
The potential return on investment (ROI) on green buildings is noteworthy, both in terms of environment and economy. From creating healthier spaces for communities, providing great service to consumers and positively impacting the environment, green spaces are the best investment for the future.
The trend definitely is pushing the building and construction industries to go green. There is a strong business case for this as well – green buildings help save on costs and enable the efficient use of resources like energy and water. It is a win-win for the environment, the industry and the end-users.