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HINDUSTAN UNIVERSITY GREEN-YUVATHARANG ( HUGY ) Hindustan University Chennai A Green Sustainable Campus
In the course of long strides towards Rapid Development (that was witnessed particularly after SecondWorld War), some blunders are committed by us. We failed miserably in maintaining balance between Development and its Not so Good Side Effects It is a vicious circle Fast development demands more goods, materials, fuel and artificial Energy.More Industrial production needs more Energy or Fossil based fuel that results into over exploitation of Non Renewable Resources. More industrialization generates more Effluent, dangerous Waste and Environmental Pollution. In the process the Four Global commons- Land, Water, Air or Environment and Green cover are adversely affected to dangerous level.Recent environment studies have shown thick layer of Brown clouds over south Asia. Causes are not exactly known but signals are alarming. This paper deals and suggests the possible measures. Adopting and implementing Environment Friendly Policies in Educational Campus (as in case of Hindustan University Campus)can certainly save or at least control the damage already done.

Landscaping around University Building

Introduction:

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Every Indian wants to see India as a developed nation by the year 2020. We might be successful in attracting many Multi-National Companies and huge Direct Foreign Investment but do we have the energy to feed and support their operations? Can we become a developed nation by frequent disruption in power supply and Load shedding? Can we imagine a developed country and strong economy where, industries have machines that are stand still? Where essential services have broken down? Where streets and homes are dark? Certainly not! We need power in the form of electricity to convert dreams into reality. Energy saved is energy produced. And it is proved that power can be saved in buildings and in built environment by adopting energy efficient Design and Specifications.

Thick Vegetation in Hindustan University Campus

Preservation and protection of the Global Commons is the major concern. Ever increasing energy demand and consumption have resulted in over utilization of resources. Excessive exploitation of natural resources have disturbed ecological balance and damaged the global commons water, soil, forest and air. There is considerable amount of Embodied Energy in hundreds of Items and materials used in campuses daily by students, faculty and by administrative staff. It is important to minimize Embodied Energy not only in Construction/Furnishing materials but also in other items used by us in our day today life. In addition huge amount of waste is generated, we must find out ways to possible reduction in Waste Generation and its Safe disposal.Sustainable and Eco friendly Green Educational Campuses ispossible by reducing our dependency on Artificial Energy and by controlled exploitation of Natural resources.

Restricted Vehicular movement-Shaded Parking in Hindustan University Campus

Main Issues How much ashamed we feel when Foreign Tourists or Foreign Students in our campus are exposed to uncollected heaps of filth and Garbage. How can we expect Healthy conditions inside the Campus when in its immediate vicinity one can find polluted water channels choked with garbage? How can we supply clean potable Water when untreated Sewer is directly dumped in the river? Land in urban Areas is mostly covered with Man made surfaces. Rain water is not allowed to percolate underground to recharge Underground Water Tables. Men made surfaces are also contributing in Creation of Urban Heat Islands.

Protection from Solar heat using Green elements-Reduce Cooling Load

Loss of Green Cover and Water bodies due to fast Urbanization is another area of concern. India will have more than 68 towns with more than one million populations by the year 2030. Increase in Urban Areas is adversely proportionate to Green Cover. Green Cover plays major Role in:

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Filtering the Air/Environment Reduction of the Temperatureinthe Ambiance. Minimizing Surface Temperature by blocking Direct Solar Radiation from reaching the Ground Surface and due to absorption of Solar Radiation. Evaporative cooling. Providing Shades. Soothing and releasing Mental/Physical Stress. Increasing Efficiency and Output of students, faculty and others. Aesthetical appeal Control of extreme Micro Climatic Elements.

There is lot of waste of Electricity resulting in excess consumption. Nobody is against the justified use of Electricity but it is moral crime not to save Electricity for more important usages where it could be.Many fold increase in Vehicles and Industrial activities have major role in Environmental pollution. Exhaust emitted from ill maintained vehicles is dangerous. Our Public Transportation systems are inefficient and cannot be relied upon. Vehiclesparticularly ill maintained ones are also adding to the problem.

Hindustan University Campus: Alternative Source of Energy WIND the Green Energy

Green Campus - Possible Solutions

The Phrase GG i.e. Go Green is probably the only solution for whatever is wrong related to Environment but why campuses only? Certainly not! Every premise irrespective of the activities inside is important and has to be Green but it is the Educational Campus where future generation will trained and will be shaped and this is one of the reasons for selecting Educational Campus for our study. For promoting economic development, availability of energy is essential. Government of India has taken a lead by stressing on Development of Urban areas as economically efficient, socially equitable and environmentally sustainable GREEN entities.

Key words associated with Go Green are- Reduce Reuse and Recycle. In addition there are many more issues required to be discussed but in depth discussion might be beyond the scope of this Paper. A penny saved is a penny earnedin the recent past, there is significant increase in energy cost and price. With ever increasing energy bills, commoners are getting affected. Ongoing agitation in Delhi is only the Tip of the Ice Berg. For them it is becoming difficult to make both ends meet. All the above factors have made it more significant to save energy and to preserve and protect the Global Commons especially in developing countries. Built Environment in Hindustan University Campus is designed and developed with Passive methods (incorporated at various levels) to create Healthy,CleanLow Energy, Environment friendly campus. Green Academic, working and living conditions are created with better Thermal comforts without excess burden on Energy Grid or adversely affecting the Global commons. This could be done by treating Local Climate as one of the main factors to base and select Planning and Architectural design proposal. The selected and adopted Planning/ Design solutions and specifications result into Thermal comfort and Clean Environment. Designers do not produce Energy but certainly they can design and create Built Environment that will consume less energy and will not affect the Environment. In order to make Educational campuses GREEN,it is one of the important steps to reduce dependency of Educational Campuses on Electric Power Grid or Fossil based fuels. Consideration at Planning, Design and Operation Stages The following factors were given due consideration for making Built Environment in Hindustan University campus, Energy Efficient, Environment Friendly sustainable and Green.

Nature of Ground Surface Vegetation and Green cover Orientation of Internal Roads and Pathways ConstructionMaterials and Specifications Environment friendly, Fuel efficient Internal (within campus) mode of Transportation Use of Alternative Energy sources. Effective Water management Recycling and Reuse of resources and Materials De centralized Waste Management

Internal Road Orientation is changed to Protect Existing Trees

Nature of Ground Surface: In Hindustan University Campus where ever possibleattempt has been made to reduce area under Man made surfaces. In paved areas Compressed stabilised Earth/ Mud Blocks with minimum Embodied Energy are used. In some places where necessary Concrete Inter locking Paving Blocks with open joints (to allow percolation of Rain water) are also used.

Paving by Environment Friendly Compressed Stabilised Earth Blocks in the Campus

Vegetation and Green Cover: Right in the planning stage itself it was decided to adopt the Policy of Preserving and protecting existing Green elements unless and until, unavoidable. As a result Hindustan University campus is lush Green, full of full grown Banyan, Mango and other type of thick, ever green ordeciduous treesshrubs and plants. Open spaces are covered with One of the remarkable features of the Campus Planning was Site Planning was done keeping in mind the location of existing tree and other green elements. Setting and design of buildings, Lay out and orientation of internal roads and pathwayswere altered to protect Green elements. Advantages of Green cover are already discussed above.

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Environment friendly, Fuel efficient Internal (within campus) mode of Transportation Vehicular movements are restricted up to Parking lot, provided near the Main Entrance, opposite the Administrative block. Baring exceptional cases in general vehicular movements are discouraged in rest of the campus. One can either use bicycle or simply walk down to his destination within the campus. For needy persons a battery driven, electric vehicle (developed and made by the Automobile Department) is available for internal movement within the campus. Use of Alternative Energy sources Prime academic, tutorial, administrative and other spaces in all buildings are designed to take maximum advantage of ample Day Light and Cross Ventilation available outside free of cost. All Residential Blocks and Hostels are equipped with and regularly use Solar Water Heaters and Cookers. Ample use of Solar Photo Voltaic cells can be witnessed in the campus to generate Solar Power. Being a coastal region required velocity of Wind is available and Hidustan

Energy saving Devices are used in the campus : Light with Reflector and Solar Lamp

University has wisely made use of this wind. AWind Mill has been installed with a well to pump water from the well. Effective Water management In view ofnon availability of Municipal Water connectionand diminishing Ground Water Table to dangerous level, necessary measures are incorporated to collect Rain water to recharge existing wells and a water pond/lake inside the campus. In addition used water is also recycled and used for watering the garden and flushing the toilets. This feature is resulted in considerable saving of Water.

Rain Water is collected and used from this natural pond

Recycling and Reuse of resources and Materials Following are some of the measure adopted by Hindustan University to make the campus Green. Used paper is recycled. Computer printouts are minimized. Printing is done from both sides. Use and throw and Disposable items are avoided. Encouragement to use recycled materials and items. Less use of Plastics De centralized Waste Management Decentralized Waste management policy adopted by Hindustan University is proved quite affective and economical. Instead of one single unit small multiple Sewage Treatment Plants are provided in the campus. This reduces the costly transportation from the place of generation to the place of treatment. At present the waste from Cafeterias Kitchens and other sources is effectively used for making manure. It is planned and steps are being initiated to set up BioGas Plant.

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De-Centralized Sewage Treatment Plant

Conclusion Implementation of various measures at Planning, Building Design/Construction and Operation level, and with due care and cooperation from the users in Hindustan University, Chennaihave resulted into:
Efficient use of Water, Energy and other resources Reduced Waste generation, Pollution and Environment Degradation. Climatically Comfortable, Clean academic, working and living conditions. Release of mental and physical stress. Increase in Efficiency and Output.

Every individual must contribute wherever and whatever one could. And above all it is important to bring awareness about advantages of Green and Sustainable campuses among students, faculty, administrative staff and others.