India's Green Idea Lab

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Bangalore-based Biodiversity Conservation India recently announced its Green Idea Lab (GIL), which is expected to provide sustainable design and consulting services to individuals and organizations engaged in building projects.

GIL said it has more than 14 years and one million square feet of green and sustainable architectural experience. The company said its goal is to help companies transcend beyond architecture into effective resource management.

Chandrashekhar Hariharan CEO told the Cleantech Group there are six technology factors that figure centrally into GIL's green design and consulting services. Those six factors are materials, air, water, waste, energy and biomass.

Can you explain how the Green Idea Lab would work with a company on its green design and construction efforts?

The Green Idea Lab (GIL) is a design and consulting firm. In the case of companies giving us the contract, we offer only design services, or a complete Design and Build (D&B) Model. If the companies want us to work through their architects, we offer to serve as of a ‘green’ consultant
to the architect.

What is unique about GIL approach versus other design and consulting services companies?

GIL is strong on green practices, which they have involved over the last 14 years. GIL has also developed some innovative products, which have been used in their internal projects.

We now offer all of these practices, approaches, products and technologies to clients. We think of our company as a one-stop-shop for ‘green’ consulting while others are generally limited to some aspects of green. For example, GIL has a six strand model, which analyses all aspects through the entire life-cycle of the project.

Additionally, GIL is very conscious about economic sustainability as well, and undertakes cost-benefit and scenario analyses before recommending solutions.

What is the Innovative Buildings Management systems which is expected to be available in the next three to four years?

We provide the following air & thermal comforts:

• Automatic humidity control systems.
• Data logger to continuously monitor humidity.
• Automatic CO2 monitor logger & controller.
• Respiratory suspended particle monitoring & alert system.
• Temperature comfort zone control monitoring logging system.

And in the area of water, we provide the following:

• Continuous monitoring and logging of water utilization at various flow points.
• Continuous water quality monitoring

In the area of energy, the company also has a broad offering, which includes the following:

• Energy utilization & pattern analysis at various utilization points
• Mapping of utilization with energy needs in the building
• Energy efficiency analysis and conservation recommendation system
• Identify and examine renewable energy applications
• Provide a visual comfort monitoring system.

In terms of sustainability assessment, the company uses monitoring systems that provide carbon footprint analysis of the building along with continuous assessment.

How is GIL's design approach different (from other design firms) with its focus on the following six factors in sustainable building water, air, biomass, material, waste and energy?

• The design approach is holistic rather than technology strand specific
• Mainstreaming sustainability is a key part of the agenda, which ensures economic sustainability is always mapped
• Each technology strand is analyzed at a very granular level in relation to the specifics of the project