Rajasthan Secretariat to be converted into a Green building

In what would set an example for other states, the state secretariat in Jaipur is getting converted into a green building which is expected to reduce energy consumption by 30% and save 40% of water used.

As part of the green initiative, the cooling system is now being retrofitted with the energy efficiency motors. Measures for water conservation, use of green housekeeping chemicals, indoor environmental quality measurement system are on the drawing board. “The state chief minister has already allocated Rs 5 crore and the project, which has been under implementation since four months ago, would be completed within a year,” said Anil Saboo, chairman, CII Rajasthan.

Besides the secretariat building, more than 100 green buildings from Rajasthan have been registered with CII-IGBC (Indian Green Building Council), out of which 28 eco-friendly buildings are fully functional, which consume nearly 30-40% less energy and about 40% less water as compared to conventional buildings.

There is a belief among the builders that green buildings cost exorbitantly high because of costlier eco-friendly raw materials. But some say that if green practices are adopted from the initial stage of designing and planning, the cost is not actually as high as it is perceived.

_{^{source: The Times of India}}