Most trending green features a smart home can incorporate

01 Nov 2019 CW Team

S Raghupathy, Chair, Asia Pacific Network (APN) and Deputy Director General, CII, highlights the most trending green features a smart home can incorporate:

Daylighting: The best strategy to be energy-efficient in daytime is to have access to natural light in living spaces. This again depends on how the building is oriented and openings designed. This would allow energy savings of close to 60 per cent in lighting alone, when it is integrated with lighting sensors. These sensors form an important component of security, home control, energy-efficiency, automated lighting control, and other helpful systems. In spaces where daylighting from windows cannot penetrate, projects can make use of the 鈥榣ight pipe鈥� innovation.
Appliances: The use of LED lighting and star-rated appliances can help reduce energy consumption to a greater extent, as can the use of smart devices that regulate appliances and lights to minimise the amount of electricity they consume.
Temperature control: Computerised thermostats can minimise the carbon footprint; for instance, by allowing the regulation of temperature through a mobile device.
Going net-zero: These are projects that achieve 20-30 per cent energy savings by design over the energy benchmarks of Energy Conservation Building Code-R and meet the balance 70-80 per cent through on-site renewable energy systems to achieve self-sufficiency in energy without depending on the main grid. Simply put, the annual energy consumption of the project should completely be met through on-site renewable energy systems.
Metering and monitoring: Sub-metering of outdoor lighting, water pumping, EV charger, etc, can help analyse the electricity use pattern and further improve energy-efficiency. Building automation can help monitor the complete consumption pattern on one screen and make it easier for data accessibility and analysis. Smart water metering for every dwelling unit is the new trend in residential buildings.

- SERAPHINA D鈥橲OUZA

Ideally, a green home designed holistically would address key parameters such as energy-efficiency, water reduction, sustainable materials and resources, site selection and indoor air quality. A green home with upgradation on technologies, automation and renewable energy sources is a smart home with IoT, BMS, automation, lighting sensors and renewable energy integrated with smartphone applications, allowing flexibility to occupants to verify energy and water savings in real time. Smart homes can be evaluated under IGBC Green 亚博体育官网首页s ratings system Ver 3.0, the latest edition launched in September this year. S Raghupathy, Chair, Asia Pacific Network (APN) and Deputy Director General, CII, highlights the most trending green features a smart home can incorporate: Daylighting: The best strategy to be energy-efficient in daytime is to have access to natural light in living spaces. This again depends on how the building is oriented and openings designed. This would allow energy savings of close to 60 per cent in lighting alone, when it is integrated with lighting sensors. These sensors form an important component of security, home control, energy-efficiency, automated lighting control, and other helpful systems. In spaces where daylighting from windows cannot penetrate, projects can make use of the 鈥榣ight pipe鈥� innovation. Appliances: The use of LED lighting and star-rated appliances can help reduce energy consumption to a greater extent, as can the use of smart devices that regulate appliances and lights to minimise the amount of electricity they consume. Temperature control: Computerised thermostats can minimise the carbon footprint; for instance, by allowing the regulation of temperature through a mobile device. Going net-zero: These are projects that achieve 20-30 per cent energy savings by design over the energy benchmarks of Energy Conservation Building Code-R and meet the balance 70-80 per cent through on-site renewable energy systems to achieve self-sufficiency in energy without depending on the main grid. Simply put, the annual energy consumption of the project should completely be met through on-site renewable energy systems. Metering and monitoring: Sub-metering of outdoor lighting, water pumping, EV charger, etc, can help analyse the electricity use pattern and further improve energy-efficiency. Building automation can help monitor the complete consumption pattern on one screen and make it easier for data accessibility and analysis. Smart water metering for every dwelling unit is the new trend in residential buildings. - SERAPHINA D鈥橲OUZA

Infrastructure Transport

18 Jun 2025

GRSE Lands Rs 5.9 Billion Deal to Build Two Coastal Research Vessels

Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) has secured a major contract to build two coastal research vessels (CRVs) for the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The award marks a major step forward in India鈥檚 efforts to enhance domestic marine research capabilities through indigenous shipbuilding.The contract, valued at approximately Rs 5.9 billion covers the design, construction and delivery of two advanced 62-metre vessels. GRSE is expected to complete the project within 36 months, as part of its expanding portfolio of mission-specific vessels.Each vessel will be powered by diesel-elec..

Infrastructure Transport

18 Jun 2025

NHAI Limits Project Allocation per Engineer to Ten

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced a new policy limiting the number of active projects assigned to each engineer to a maximum of ten. The decision aims to enhance supervision, improve construction quality, and eliminate delays across the national highway network.Rapid infrastructure expansion has increased the workload on NHAI鈥檚 engineering teams, leading to uneven oversight. Under the new directive, no engineer will be responsible for more than ten projects simultaneously, ensuring focus and detailed attention to each assignment.By reducing the project load per en..

Infrastructure Transport

18 Jun 2025

AVP Infracon Bags Rs鈥�162鈥痬illion ROB Contract in Tamil Nadu

AVP Infracon Limited has secured an Rs鈥�162鈥痬illion contract to build a new road鈥憃ver鈥慴ridge (ROB) on Thaneerpandal Road in Tamil Nadu. The project will replace a level crossing between Singanallur and Peelamedu railway stations, aiming to reduce traffic congestion and improve commuter safety.The ROB will be constructed at kilometre 0.6 of Thaneerpandal Road and is scheduled for completion within eighteen months. The structure will be designed in full compliance with approved engineering standards and constructed by the company鈥檚 in鈥慼ouse workforce using its technical expertise.With..