Coolblack5 at 19:14, 22 March 2026

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Indira Paryavaran Bhawan
| awards = [[LEED]] India Platinum, GRIHA 5 Star
| address = 166, [[Jor Bagh metro station|Jor Bagh Road]], Block 17, [[Lodhi Colony]] [[New Delhi]], [[Delhi]] 110003, [[India]]
| construction_start_date = {{start date and age|January 25, 2011}}
| completion_date = {{start date and age|October 31, 2013}}
| inauguration_date = {{start date and age|February 28, 2014}}
| owner = [[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change]]
| cost = [[Indian rupee|INR]]209 [[Crore|Cr]]
| floor_area = 32,000 sq.m
| floor_count = G+7 (+3 basements floors)
| parking = 330 Cars
| references = <ref>{{Cite web|date=August 2018|title=Brochure - Indira Paryavaran Bhawan|url=http://moef.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Environment-Broucher1.pdf|website=[[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change]]}}</ref>
| building_type = Office
| elevator_count = 7
| architecture_firm = [[Central Public Works Department]]
}}

'''Indira Paryavaran Bhawan''' is [[India]]'s first [[Zero-energy building|on-site net-zero]] building located in [[New Delhi]], [[India]]. The building houses the [[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change|Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)]] accommodating three ministers and their offices along with about 600 officials. The building, designed and constructed by the [[Central Public Works Department|Central Public Works Department (CPWD)]], was completed in 2013 at a cost of [[Indian rupee|INR]] 209 Crore.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=11 September 2020|title=Indira Paryavaran Bhawan Brochure|url=http://moef.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Environment-Broucher1.pdf|website=[[Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change]]}}</ref>

The inauguration of the building, 28 February 2014, was conducted by the then prime minister [[Manmohan Singh|Dr. Manmohan Singh]].<ref name=":0" /> The building is rated as a five-star [[GRIHA]] (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) by [[Ministry of New and Renewable Energy|MNRE]] and [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]] India Platinum by [[Indian Green Building Council]] (IGBC) rating. The building has its own solar power plant, sewage treatment facility, fully automatic robotic multi-level car parking system facility & puzzle parking facility, and [[Geothermal heat pump|geothermal heat exchange]] system.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ramachandran|first=Smriti Kak|date=25 August 2012|title=A green revolution in letter and in spirit|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/a-green-revolution-in-letter-and-in-spirit/article3820306.ece|access-date=15 June 2018}}</ref>

== Details ==
Indira Paryavaran Bhawan consists of two blocks within the premises connected through a corridor. Each block is a G+7 storey structure with 3 basements. The total floor area of the campus is 32,000 sq.metre. Each floor consists of office spaces, meeting rooms, conference rooms etc. The building consists of 7 elevators and a central atrium located in between the two blocks.<ref name=":0" />

Indira Paryavaran Bhawan is located in a composite climate zone, a mix of hot, dry, humid, and cold climatic conditions, and the design involves multiple active, passive, and renewable strategies to achieve [[Carbon neutrality|net zero]] goal.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} The building is divided into 5 sections: Vayu (Wind), Agni (Fire), Jal (Water), Prithvi (Earth), and Aakash (Space) depicting the 5 elements that all matters are composed of, as per Hinduism. Indira Paryavaran Bhawan is a set example that impinges on society's consciousness towards environmental awareness for adopting green building concepts in India.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 2014|title=Indira Paryavaran Bhawan|url=http://spaenvis.nic.in/index2.aspx?slid=1377&sublinkid=850&langid=1&mid=6|website=[[ENVIS Center on Human Settlement's]]|access-date=17 December 2020|archive-date=3 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203044226/https://spaenvis.nic.in/index2.aspx?slid=1377&sublinkid=850&langid=1&mid=6|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Union environment ministry is facing a challenge of a garden variety - bird droppings, soiling the courtyard of Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, which houses it, and is amongst the India's highest green-rated buildings. Individuals or organizations which will offer the best solution will be awarded an amount of ₹1 lakh.

== Design ==

=== Passive Design Strategies ===

==== Orientation ====
The orientation of the building is set towards north south direction, to accommodate natural daylight and air movement in the building, a central [[Atrium (architecture)|atrium]] and corridor provide cross ventilation within the building.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

==== Landscaping and [[Horticulture]] ====
More than 50% of the area outside the building is covered with plantations, to conserve as many existing trees as possible, out of a total of 79 trees, only 19 trees are cut and 11 trees are transplanted. The pathways and circulation roads in the building are made with grass paver blocks for ground water percolation and ground water recharge. The 7th floor of building also consists of a [[terrace garden]].<ref name=":0" />

==== [[Daylighting (architecture)|Daylighting]] and [[Ventilation (architecture)|Ventilation]] ====
The building is designed to ensure daylight in more than 75% of the floor space and to reduce dependency on active lighting devices. The central atrium located between the two blocks allows natural movement of air due to stack effect. The provision of windows further enhances the process of cross ventilation.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

==== Building Envelope and Fenestration ====
The building envelope construction comprises heavy weight construction. The external wall consists of 30 cm thick [[Autoclaved aerated concrete|Autoclave Aerated Concrete]] (AAC) block, 7 cm thick [[mineral wool]] insulation, 12 cm thick air gap and 12 cm thick 'Fal-G' [proprietary blend of [[fly ash]] (Fa), [[Limestone|lime]] (L) and [[gypsum]] (G)] block brick, and has a [[R-value (insulation)|U-value]] of .221 W/m2K. The external roof of the building consists of 2 cm thick clay tile, 6 cm thick cement mortar, 4 cm thick [[List of polyurethane applications|PUF insulation]], 6 cm thick [[brick bat coba]], 6 cm thick cement mortar,10 cm thick concrete. High reflectance terrace tiles are installed on the building roof for roof cool treatment - low heat ingress, high strength and hard wearing. Windows installed in the building with uPVC (Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride) frame are hermetically sealed [[Double-glazed|double glazed]] with gas filling with a U-Value of 0.26 W/m2K and [[Solar gain|SHGC]] of 0.32 and aluminium frame.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Buildings Guide: Services - Buildings Example: Indira Paryavaran Bhawan ∙ bigEE - Your guide to energy efficiency in buildings.|url=https://bigee.net/en/buildings/guide/services/examples/building/35/#construction|access-date=2020-12-17|website=bigee.net}}</ref>

==== Material and Construction technique ====
Fly ash bricks and heat-insulating Autoclave Aerated Concrete blocks along with fly ash-based mortar and plaster are used for walls. Low energy materials and locally available stones are utilized for flooring. Bamboo jute composite that is rapidly renewable is used for door frames and shutters. Low [[Volatile organic compound|VOC]] paints are used to improvise indoor air quality.<ref name=":0" />

=== Active Design Strategies ===

==== Lighting Design ====
Energy efficient lights are provided in the interior and exterior lighting system of the building. To maximize [[Efficient energy use|energy efficiency]] in lighting, the artificial lighting in the building is regulated using a lux-level sensor. The lighting power density is kept close to 5 W/m2 which is 50% more efficient than the [[Energy Conservation Building Code|Energy Conservation Building Code 2007]] requirement (Lighting Power Density = 11 W/m2).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Indira Paryavaran Bhawan Case Study|url=https://nzeb.in/case-studies/nzebs-in-india/nzebs-in-india-case-studies-list/ipb-case-study/|access-date=2020-12-17|website=NZEB|language=en-US}}</ref> The lighting load is supplied by the [[Building-integrated photovoltaics|building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) power plant]].<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Manmohan Singh at the dedication ceremony of the Indira Paryavaran Bhawan to the Nation, in New Delhi. The Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Environment and Forests.jpg|thumb|329x329px|Manmohan Singh at the inauguration ceremony of Indira Paryavaran Bhawan in New Delhi.]]

==== Optimized [[Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning|HVAC]] System ====
The building is centrally air conditioned. Chilled beam system technology is used to meet 160 TR air conditioning load of the building. The process of air conditioning happens by convection currents rather than air supply by ducts. The chilled beams are used from second to sixth floor and this system has reduced energy utilization by up to 50% as compared to the conventional system. Integrated building management is utilized to control HVAC equipment and to monitor related systems. For energy efficiency, the room temperature is maintained at 26 ±1 °C.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Indira Paryavaran Bhawan - First On-site Zero Net Energy Building of India|url=https://www.nbmcw.com/tech-articles/case-studies/38475-indira-paryavaran-bhawan-first-on-site-zero-net-energy-building-of-india.html|access-date=2020-12-17|website=www.nbmcw.com|language=en-gb}}</ref>

=== [[Geothermal heat pump|Geothermal Heat Exchange]] System ===
To minimize the load on the HVAC system, a vertical closed loop system of geothermal heat exchange system is implemented. This is the first time it has been adopted on a large scale in a government building in India. The system takes advantage of the difference between the [[Room temperature|ambient temperature]] and the temperature below the ground level.<ref name=":2" />

The vertical closed loop system consists of 180 vertical bores all over the premises to a depth of 80 meters. A minimum distance of 3 meters between any two bores is retained. Every bore has a 32mm outer diameter HDPE pipe U-loop and is connected in the central air conditioning plant room to the condenser water pipe system. A single U-Loop with a heat rejection capacity of 0.9TR results in a heat rejection capacity of 160TR from 180 vertical bores, resulting in reduction of cooling tower load and subsequent reduction in water consumption.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

=== Renewable Energy Systems ===
A [[Building-integrated photovoltaics|building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) Power Plant]] has been installed on the entire roof surface of the building and court area. This clean and green renewable energy system has helped in meeting the energy demand of the building to achieve the target of net-zero energy.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+
Indira Paryavaran Bhawan Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant Specifications<ref name=":0" />
|'''Parameter'''
|'''Quantity'''
|-
|Capacity of Power Generation
|930 kW Peak
|-
|Annual Energy Requirement
|14,00,000 Unit (kWh)
|-
|Annual Energy Generation
|14,00,000 Unit (kWh)
|-
|Net Energy Consumption
|ZERO
|-
|Total area
|6000 m2
|-
|Total area of Solar panels
|4600 m2
|-
|Type of Photovoltaic panel
|Mono Crystalline

20% efficiency
|-
|Number of panels
|2844
|-
|Nature of Power Generation
|Grid Interactive
|}

=== Robotic Car Parking ===
[[Automated parking system]] is used on all 3 levels of the basement. The first basement is designed for the lobby and puzzle parking system for car entry and exit. The second and third basement floors use robotic dolly parking systems. The capacity for the first basement is 49, the second basement is 126, and the third basement is 170.<ref name=":2" />

=== Water Management ===
The landscape and horticulture design of planting native species along with efficient irrigation systems are utilized leading up to 50% reduction in water requirement. The remaining water demand is met by recycling and reusing wastewater, and by implementation of rainwater harvesting systems. Additionally, low discharge and efficient water fixtures are installed including sensor urinals and dual flow cisterns.<ref name=":0" />

== Savings ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
Conservation Scenario of Conventional Design vs Indira Paryavaran Bhawan<ref name=":0" />
!Annual Consumption
!Conventional Design
!Indira Paryavaran Bhawan
!Saving
|-
|Electricity
|22,00,000 kWh
|14,00,000 kWh
|40%
|-
|Water
|20,000 kL
|9,000 kL
|55%
|}

== Awards ==
The building has received the following awards.<ref name="PIB">{{cite web|date=25 February 2014|title=Prime Minister Inaugurates "Paryavaran Bhawan" Bhawan is India's First on Site Net Zero Building|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=104214|access-date=23 May 2014|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Month, Year !! Award
|-
| February 2013 || The Project received an award from Adarsh/GRIHA of MNRE for exemplary demonstration of Integration of Renewable Energy Technologies
|-
| January 2014 || The Project was accorded 5-Star Green Building Certification by GRIHA under MNRE
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{coord|28.585|77.218|type:landmark_region:IN|display=title}}

[[Category:Low-energy building]]
[[Category:Sustainable building]]
[[Category:Energy economics]]
[[Category:Environmental design]]
[[Category:Environment of India]]
[[Category:Government buildings in Delhi]]
[[Category:Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change]]

Indira Paryavaran Bhawan - Revision history

Coolblack5 at 19:14, 22 March 2026