Sustainability Outlook Headlines

For IBM, smart is green

In the hundredth year of its existence, IBM believes that it still needs to do reinvent the business it is in. In line with this philosophy, IBM is taking a fresh look at the entire data center ecosystem. That involves not just looking at energy utilization of IT hardware but taking a holistic look at the physical infrastructure- particularly buildings.

So, how does this smart buildings strategy work for IBM? Typically, IBM officials point out that a facility consumes 42% of electricity. IBM feels strongly that in a smart building, systems are not managed separately — they will... Read more..

Energy House attracts Indian interest

alford University's experimental terraced-style house built inside a lab is at the centre of a new partnership backed by the Indian government.
The partnership between the University of Salford and the India Green Building Council is endorsed by the Indian Government, and has been signed ahead of the university's second conference on energy conservation in construction, Retrofit 2012.

The agreement, which will include the development of a joint Masters programme in green and sustainable management, was signed at the India Green Building Congress, the country's flagship event... Read more..

JNNURM can help develop cities:Prithviraj Chavan

The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) has changed the face of many cities in the country and can also help develop the cities, said Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today.

He was speaking at a stone-laying foundation ceremony of the Nashik Municipal Corporation's (NMC) proposed building in Panchavati area of the city. NMC mayor Nayana Gholap Walzade presided over the function.

Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat, Agriculture Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, MPs Manikrao Gavit, and Samir Bhujbal, MLA Manikrao Kokate and former Minister... Read more..

Waste segregation test for Khar ALM

Segregation of waste has been a major headache for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). In a bid to raise awareness about waste segregation, the Khar Residents' Association (KRA) has decided to launch a "biodegradable bag project" from Tuesday. The advanced locality management (ALM), in association with the civic body, will supply biodegradable bags to the residents of 17th Road, Khar, for a period of 10 days.

Around 39 buildings, with an average of 10 flats per building, will be given the bags.

Residents will dump wet waste generated in the kitchen, which will be... Read more..

Road ahead for urban renewal

The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission will complete its first phase of seven years in March 2012. What next? Though there is no indication yet as to whether there will be a second phase, there is a distinct possibility that JNNURM will be continued, and that this will be reflected in the Five-Year shape and form it will take, the changes made on the basis of the experience so far, and the size of the mission — all these are unknown factors.

But considering the enthusiasm it generated and the dire need for improving the basics of our 7,985 cities and towns, with almost... Read more..

India solar power costs could fall by 40pct by 2015

Reuters reported that India's solar power costs could fall by more than 40% by 2015, allowing the industry to compete against domestic oil and gas firms without the help of state subsidies.

Mr V Saibaba head of Lanco Solar told Reuters that solar technology could provide a kilowatt hour of power at about INR 7 to INR 8 a unit in the next few years, down from the current INR 11 to INR due to surging global capacity.

That would enable solar power to become a more viable option to coal, which costs around INR 2 a unit, in fuelling Asia's third largest economy and the world's... Read more..

India-Canada aims to strengthen ties in energy sector

India and Canada want to triple their bilateral trade and are banking on alliances and investments in energy sector. Both countries are aiming at increasing bilateral trade to $ 15 billion by 2015 from $ 4.2 billion in 2010.

Canadian minister for international trade and the Asia Pacific Gateway Edward Fast is on visit to India to interact with local industrialists. He met representatives from Essar, Adani, Suzlon and various state ventures in Ahmedabad today. "We have just scratched the surface and the bilateral trade can grow beyond $ 15 billion by 2015 if we do our groundwork well... Read more..

NRI to bring solar-powered health centres to Indian villages

A Germany-based NRI scientist plans to introduce solar-powered health centres in remote Indian villages, aimed at helping rural people meet their immediate medical needs and popularising the use of renewable energy.

Amal Mukhopadhyay, chief of Hanseatic India Forum e.V. based in Hamburg, has initially planned to set up three such centres in Sunderbans in West Bengal with an estimated cost of 45,000 euros.

"In remote villages in India, particularly in Sunderbans, many children, men and women die because of snake-bite and non-availability of anti-snake-venom serum. The solar-... Read more..

Green channel permissions for high-rises soon

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will introduce green channel for granting building permission for high-rises within two weeks.

Empanelment of engineers and architects would be taken up on the lines of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu said on Thursday.

Speaking at the GHMC general (ordinary) council meeting, the commissioner said stern action would be taken to prevent illegal constructions. "GHMC has been demolishing only ongoing unauthorised structures. Buildings that have already been constructed... Read more..

Renewable Energy Certificates trading gaining momentum at IEX

Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), the platform for trading Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) have witnesses rapid growth in trading in October with the bourse cornering 97% of the trade in the month with the open access and captive power consumers purchasing significatn number of RECs, IEX informs.
 
On 27th October, the exchange received purchase bids of 201,532 Non Solar RECs against the sell bid of 135,424 Non-Solar RECs. The traded volume increased from 41, 385 in September session to 92,303this session, i.e. a increase of 125%.

The price discovered was Rs2,700 /REC,... Read more..

First battery-powered ferries being built in Scotland

Scottish shipbuilders are developing low carbon, hybrid ferries that will be the first of their kind in the world. The passenger vessels, which are set to make their inaugural voyage in spring 2013, will be able to carry about 150 people, 23 cars or 2 HGVs. This reflects an important step in reducing pollution in the industry because ferries are still allowed to use high-emissions diesel and not held to the strict fuel standards that apply on land.

The battery-powered ships would use cleaner fuels and significantly cut carbon emissions by employing the diesel-electric technology... Read more..

Swedish govt team shows interest in developing Mihan

Vidarbha's ambitious project Mihan may get some financial and technological support from the Swedish government. A four-member Swedish team expressed interest in the project during their visit on Wednesday. They were also keen to extend technological support to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) in four other projects.

Pravin Darade, NIT chairman and joint managing director of Mihan, said the Swedish team visited Mihan and went through all projects. He added that they were very happy with the detailed information about Mihan which was given to them. "The Swedish government is an... Read more..