Q- How can buildings attain optimum zero energy levels?

A- Buildings can achieve zero energy levels in two steps. One, reduce demand through
commercially viable energy efficiency technologies such as geothermal air conditioning and
LED lighting. And two, harvest energy on site to meet the already reduced demand by using
technologies such as solar cells, wind turbines, and solar thermal collectors connected to
thermal storage equipment.
Q- What will be the difference in investments in energy of a conventional
building and a zero-energy building?
A- Pursuit of a zero-energy building without reducing demand first can be disastrous,
resulting in very high investment costs, poor payback, significant usage of open space and,
most importantly, disillusionment towards zero energy concepts. It's important to create a
roadmap that in its first phase focuses on reducing demand to the highest extent possible
with technologies and strategies that are commercially viable. To understand this concept,
imagine a building consuming 100 units of energy a year. Let's say 65 units is consumed by
the air conditioning system, 10 units by the boilers to generate hot water, 15 units by
lighting and 10 units by other equipment. The building will need to harvest 100 units of
energy through supply-side solutions and make capital investment for this requirement. On
the other hand, demand can be reduced through ultra-efficient commercially viable
technologies such as geothermal air conditioning. In the above scenario, the building has
implemented demand-side technologies first, thereby reducing demand from 100 to 45
units. Now, the building will need to harvest only 45 units of energy through supply-side
solutions and invest only for this amount.

Q- How can the concept of zero-energy buildings catch up in India?

A- A lot of awareness needs to be created on the process and the path to achieve zero energy
to ensure that building owners take up demand-side initiatives before introducing supply-
side solutions. Since air conditioning accounts for more than 60 per cent of the energy
consumption in most building verticals, commercially viable solutions with payback of less
than two years such as geothermal air conditioning must be made a mandate to meet the
base load demand in all commercial and industrial buildings. Other supply-side
technologies have to be made commercially viable by manufacturers and market players
rather than through government subsidies and accelerated depreciation benefits.