Similarly, all the storm water is diverted through ‘grass swales’ to sedimentation traps or basins, which prevent soil runoff beyond the site. The entire waste water generated in the building is treated by ‘Root Zone Treatment’, which involves a body of weeds, which cleanse the waste before diverting it to a water body on site. This system of recycling water, takes care of the irrigation requirements of the site. Such a high degree of water efficiency is achieved by careful selection of species of plants and trees, which consume minimal water. The faucets and fixtures in the toilets are also selected after careful analysis of water consumption. This project is also one of the very few ones in the country to have ‘waterless urinals’.

The selection of materials for construction is also a crucial aspect of an energy efficient building. The benchmarks for thermal properties of masonry units, roof assembly and glazings were set by conducting energy simulations of the building design. TERI, who are the energy consultants for the project, ran these simulations so as to determine the fenestration size, location and design of shading devices.

All the windows and glazings have a low-e, double glazing with argon gap for maximum benefit.

While designing the openings, one also has to consider the issue of ‘daylight and views’ - this is extremely important for a healthy and productive indoor environment.