The Energy and the Resource Institute (TERI), established in 1974, is a global organisation that addresses environmental issues in the fields of energy and sustainable development. Their focus is on healthy and sustainable development through the advocating of the concept of green buildings. As a manifestation of its dedication to the cause of sustainability, TERI has constructed eco-friendly buildings in several locations, including Gurgaon, Bangalore and Mukteshwar.

TERI has also introduced GRIHA, a rating system to adjudge the 'greenness' of buildings, in order to popularize this initiative.

The TERI buildings

1. Southern Regional Centre, Bangalore
2. Himalayan Centre, Mukteshwar
3. RETREAT (Resource Efficient TERI Retreat for Environmental Awareness and Training), Gurgaon

1. Southern Regional Centre

The Southern Regional Centre of TERI is an office-cum-guest house is in Dolmur, Bangalore, India. This is a set of buildings that host an office block with a capacity of 75 workstations, a small guest house and several interaction spaces, such as conference rooms, a library and laboratories. The design of this building is dictated by the landscape surrounding it. It is flanked by roads in the north and the east, an open ground in the west and a 9 m open drain in the south. As a result, entry to the building is from the road on the northern side, which is not as busy as the one on the east.

The office block is towards the east, close to the main road for high visibility and the guest house is located on the quieter western side. An open space exists between the office and the guest house.

The architectural design of the building lies of the natural forces such as wind, fire, earth and water. It opens towards the northern side facilitating access to glare-free light. A solar wall towards the south (drain side) of the building directs the flow of the breeze over the building, which, in turn, creates a negative pressure and pulls fresh air from the north into the building.

Natural ventilation

Building is designed in such a way to allow hot air to rise towards the top. Natural ventilation occurs with the air flowing from the ground floor to the terrace because of the open nature of the volumes.

Lighting

Atrium spaces with skylights, sections of the Centre are designed to permit the natural daylight enters into the heart of the building. This considerably reduces the dependence on artificial lighting. And this is supplemented by a skylight roof and energy-efficient artificial lighting.

Water heating system

A solar water heating system is installed to meet the hot water requirements of the kitchen and the guest rooms. In addition to basic filtration and aeration, it has been proposed that certain impurity-absorbing plants be planted in the vicinity of the drain, improving its condition in terms of sanitation and aesthetics. Investing in such a long term, yet permanent solution is necessary if the building is to eventually open towards the drain as well.

2. Himalayan Centre

Himalayan Centre of Teri is located in Mukteshwar, India. As the Himalayan centre is 2300 metres high above the sea level, it is shining as a place of refreshment. Yes, this green building is ideally designed for purposes of repose and research. This centre consists of the residential wing, state-of-art conference hall, meeting area, rest rooms and internet facility.

The architecture of the building reflects the local style. Practical considerations of locale and availability of resources also determined its design. Trees are planted on the northern side of the building to provide a buffer against cold winds. Fibreglass panels in the ceilings and walls act as insulators, preserving heat and improving acoustics.

Lightings

The general orientation of the building is south-east, ensuring that all major openings are in line with the sun. This positioning allows for optimal use of daylight for purposes of lighting as well as heating. Furthermore, each suite comes attached with unique solar passive features known as ‘sun-spaces’. These enhance heat gain by day and emit it by night, when it is required. Planned corridors in front of the habitable spaces minimize the glare of the sunlight, while trapping solar radiation to be emitted at night.

Solar panels

Photovoltaic solar panels have been integrated into the roof of the utility building and conference hall to meet a portion of the electrical requirements. An effective solar water heating system is in place to meet the hot water requirements of the building’s inhabitants. In the absence of sufficient sunlight, battery banks provide a power back-up of three days.

Water management

This area faces a severe shortage of potable water, despite of the ample rainfall. Thus twin-chambered water tanks are deployed in the harvesting and subsequent filtering of rainwater for human consumption.

The Himalayan Centre was designed with the basic purpose of disseminating relevant technological information at the grassroots level. A purpose it adequately fulfills by training farmers and villagers as to the latest techniques in agriculture. It is proposed that the water harvesting system used here be popularized amongst the locals in order to facilitate the conservation of the precious resource of water.

3. RETREAT

Resource Efficient TERI Retreat for Environmental Awareness and Training is part of the 36-hectare Gual Pahari campus of TERI. This is located about 30km south of Delhi, in the state of Haryana. Once a degraded wasteland, it is now an epitome of green practices and sustainability.

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