Training on the theme of green building techniques with focus on self-built housing

The habitat team conducted a training on the theme of green building techniques with focus on self-built housing. The training was attended by over 40 CPWD officials over a course of 3 days.

The first day began with Mr. Rajneesh introducing participants to the issues of sustainability in the built environment followed by how these issues have been dealt with in the past with traditional design principles and wisdom. This was followed by Mr. Sugeet’s session on integrated green design which talked about interpreting climate data to in order achieve sustainable site. The next session introduced participants to the phenomenon of urban heat island effect, this included ways to influence microclimate around a dwelling and mitigating the impact of rising heat, this included a case study of CSE’s Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute (AAETI) that brings all aspects of usutainable site planning and micro-climate planning together.

The next day began with Mr. Sugeet’s session on thermal comfort and how the various components that affect it. The next session dedicated to form design and material properties emphasized on the thermal properties of materials and how insulation and thermal mass (which was traditionally used in self-built housing) both play a part in meeting energy efficiency and comfort standards. The session borrowed from CSE’s research on traditional construction technologies in self-built housing context. The last two sessions were taken up by Mr. Naman Singh who introduces audiences to various aspects of energy conservation measures in a building and how the design of a dwelling changes completely in response to its local climatic conditions.

The first half of the third day taken up by Mr. Hari Krishnan delved on resource circularity and efficiency on a building and neighbourhood scale. This was followed by a session from Ms. Mitashi Singh on greening of the entire construction chain and introducing circularity into the system. The last session by Mr. Rajneesh Sareen introduced ‘New Vaastu’ as the applied science that combines the address to ecological balance, well-being and passive energies when approaching the habitat.