Green Houses, not Greenhouse Gases

Global warming has always been a real issue but its effects have started becoming increasingly evident only in the recent past. 2014 was the warmest year ever recorded and ten of the hottest years in human history have all come after 1998. The root cause of this phenomenon is the increase in greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Some, like methane, are produced through agricultural practices, while others largely result from natural processes like respiration and burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. The inevitable curse of urbanisation Cities consume almost 80 percent of the world’s energy supply and are the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions by way of heating, cooling, food, lighting, entertainment and transportation. Environmentalists opine that buildings should be designed to minimise use of artificial cooling and heating. Given the indiscriminate use of electricity, solar energy could be a prudent alternative to urban power needs, especially in countries like India that are blessed with abundant sunshine throughout the year. India is presently the third-largest annual emitter of greenhouse gases and has shown resistance in the past to calls for limiting emissions. After China and the US - the two largest climate polluters - announced an agreement to curb emissions in late 2014, the focus is back on India, a country particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Its major cities suffer from some of the worst air pollution levels in the world. Homes more damaging than industries The industrial sector has indeed released high levels of pollutants into the atmosphere over the years but our homes are just as responsible. A recent study by the Centre for Ecological Sciences of the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, found that the domestic sector was one of the highest contributors to greenhouse gases in seven cities. The major sources of energy consumption, it was found, were electricity for lighting, household appliances and fuel for cooking. A glimmer of hope amid ominous signs One of the reasons why smart cities hold promise is their small ecological footprint. If designed well, a smart city will renew, recycle and reuse resources to pollute the least. This entails practices like efficient use of land, green practices for disposing waste, or using it as renewable energy. An environment-friendly, suave urban experience will be a worthy legacy for future generations. Intelligent solutions Smart cities come with the promise of all drainage systems, water, electricity and gas utilities and waste management systems being tech-enabled. The master plan will clearly identify industrial, residential, commercial, educational, recreational and shopping areas, and design them in a way that no residence or office is over five minutes from a mass transport system. Minimising the need for private transport will automatically make for a better environment. Energy savings will be significantly improved with Intelligent Building Management Solutions (i-BEMS), which will enable net-zero buildings by steering them from energy consumption to energy generation. Structures built on the i-BEMS framework will lower energy bills and costs of maintenance while extending the life of assets and reducing the carbon footprint. The Narendra Modi government recently set a target to expand India’s solar capacity 30 times by the year 2022. The Prime Minister has also pledged to invest $1.2 billion in 100 smart cities, which would use hi-tech ICT to minimise energy consumption, increase public transportation and limit water usage. Each of the 100 smart cities is expected to house more than a million people. The most important thing here – both an objective and a challenge – is to ensure that such cities, with their host of features and amenities, should also be affordable and environmentally friendly – all with a view to improve residents’ quality of life.