By 2011, solar photovoltaic plant will be used to create electricity to power air-conditioners and computers in the building
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, April 13, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2010041320100413032502990e9a42788)
Model of the proposed building shows countless windows that will let in natural light and air, reducing dependence on electricity
Currently, functioning out of at R C Technical Institute near Sola, Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University will shift to its own campus near Nirma University by 2011. What’s news is that it will be set up in a ‘green building’.Being built at a cost of Rs 23 crore, the building will incorporate a host of eco-friendly measures including rainwater harvesting and maximising use of natural light and air.
Vice-Chancellor Manoj Soni said, “Work has begun on the building. It will be ready by next year.” The top soil, being removed for construction, has been kept aside. “It will be used to landscape the gardens. Gravel, sifted from the sand used for construction, will also be used while landscaping,” said an official.
However, the most important move is to set up a solar photovoltaic plant. The German technology involves the use of mirrors or reflectors to focus sunlight falling over a huge area onto a small set of PV cells, which then provide high power output and hence high power efficiency. PV cells are also often equipped with trackers following the position of the sun to direct sun rays onto the reflector panel and then towards the array of PV cells.
The energy will be used to heat up water. The steam will power turbines to create electricity. “This power will be used for air-conditioners, computers, lights and fans whenever necessary. We will have an input and output connection with the Gujarat Electricity Board.
The input connection will help on days we may need electricity from them. If we create surplus electricity, we can plug it back in the grid through the output connection,” said Soni. Work on the PV plant will begin in June. This will garner carbon credits for the university. The officials also plan to apply to the Indian Green Building Council for certification once the building is ready.
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, April 13, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2010041320100413032502990e9a42788)
Currently, functioning out of at R C Technical Institute near Sola, Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University will shift to its own campus near Nirma University by 2011. What’s news is that it will be set up in a ‘green building’.Being built at a cost of Rs 23 crore, the building will incorporate a host of eco-friendly measures including rainwater harvesting and maximising use of natural light and air.
Vice-Chancellor Manoj Soni said, “Work has begun on the building. It will be ready by next year.” The top soil, being removed for construction, has been kept aside. “It will be used to landscape the gardens. Gravel, sifted from the sand used for construction, will also be used while landscaping,” said an official.
However, the most important move is to set up a solar photovoltaic plant. The German technology involves the use of mirrors or reflectors to focus sunlight falling over a huge area onto a small set of PV cells, which then provide high power output and hence high power efficiency. PV cells are also often equipped with trackers following the position of the sun to direct sun rays onto the reflector panel and then towards the array of PV cells.
The energy will be used to heat up water. The steam will power turbines to create electricity. “This power will be used for air-conditioners, computers, lights and fans whenever necessary. We will have an input and output connection with the Gujarat Electricity Board.
The input connection will help on days we may need electricity from them. If we create surplus electricity, we can plug it back in the grid through the output connection,” said Soni. Work on the PV plant will begin in June. This will garner carbon credits for the university. The officials also plan to apply to the Indian Green Building Council for certification once the building is ready.
