Climatic Zone: Composite

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Residence for Sudha and Atam Kumar, Delhi
Climatic Zone: Composite

Residence for Sudha and Atam Kumar, Delhi
A residenti al house i n a composite cli mate responding to varyi ng
seasonal needs and maintaining comfort levels without any energy-intensive
systems

General description

Thi s i s the i naugural project i n a seri es of EASE (envi ronmentall y
appeal i ng and savi ng energy) houses. EASE i s a concept promoted by Cdr.
C P Sharma (Retd.) as a commerci al l y viabl e method to propagate energy-
effi ci ent houses. Thi s parti cul ar project was sol d to a sol ar energy devi ce
manufacturer and consul tant, who, i nteresti ngl y, was al so the energy
consul tant for of the buil di ng.

The house i s a dupl ex structure wi th a l i vi ng room, ki tchen, three
bedrooms, and a study. There i s an outhouse wi th a servants uni t and
offi ce.
Design features
Envelope design
Site selection
From wi thi n the overal l devel opment, the si te sel ected had a road
to i ts south and west. The l onger si de of the pl ot faced south. The
road on the south was the wi der one, reduci ng possi bili ti es of
shadows from the south i n the future.
Planning of built volumes
The house was pl anned as a dupl ex to further reduce i ts footpri nt
on the pl ot and was shi fted as far north wi thi n the si te, to the
extent feasi bl e, to al l ow for a l arge south open area.
Climatic Zone: Composite

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Residence for Sudha and Atam Kumar, Delhi
Materials and methods of construction
Reflective finish
The wal l s are cl ad i n whi te sandstone provi di ng a textured and
refl ecti ve fi ni sh.
The roofs are fi ni shed i n whi te terrazzo maki ng for good terraces to
si t out on as wel l as excel l ent refl ecti on characteri sti cs.
Recessed jambs
All wi ndows have an i ndented l i ntel , si ll , and jambs, creati ng space
for hangi ng the curtai ns whi l e at the same ti me ensuri ng that when
the curtai ns are drawn, they fal l i n a way that creates a reasonabl y
dead ai r gap between the curtai n and the gl ass, i mprovi ng the
i nsul ati on characteri sti cs.
Passive solar design
South orientation
The house was ori ented such that every habi tabl e room has a
li beral south exposure. Onl y entri es, toi lets, and stai rcases are
wi thout di rect south ori entati on.
The three bedrooms and the l i vi ng room al l have l arge south gl azi ng
for wi nter heat gai n wi th proper overhang protecti on for preventi on
of summer heat gai n.
The south overhang soffi t l evel i s hi gher than the wi ndow l i ntel
l evel so as to ensure that even a part of the wi ndows i s not shaded
i n wi nter. Al l wi nter heati ng needs can be met by the south
gl azi ng.
Solar chimneys
South-faci ng thi n-wall ed and dark-col oured shafts assi st ai r exhaust
i n the summer days.
The shafts are topped wi th fi bregl ass chi mneys. Internal shutters
cut out thi s exhaust when requi red (i n the wi nter).
Climatic Zone: Composite

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Residence for Sudha and Atam Kumar, Delhi
Evaporative wind tower
A mul ti -di recti onal wi nd tower fi tted wi th evaporati ve cool i ng pads
tops the stai rwel l .
Outsi de ai r, cool ed by fl owi ng past the pads kept wet by ci rcul ati on
pump, fal l s down thi s wel l and enters the rooms through permanent
venti l ati on openi ngs above the doors. These openi ngs may be
cl osed wi th shutters i f requi red.
Energy-efficient systems
Insulation and mass
Expanded pol ystyrene (25-mm thi ck) i nsul ati on i s provi ded near the
outer surface of the walls so as to retain the mass of the wall acting in
tandem with the internal space.
Likewise, asbestos powder (40-80-mm thi ck) i nsul ati on i s provi ded over
the roof sl ab. Both these provi de for a hi ghly inert house with high
thermal mass and hi gh insul ati on.
Daylight
All spaces i n the house are properl y l i t by natural l i ght i n the day.
Low energy lights
All l amps and l umi nari es are based on warm col our CFLs (compact
fl uorescent l amps) so as to reduce el ectri cal l oads to the maxi mum.
Overall rationalization of loads
Incl udi ng fans, l i ghts, refri gerator, and a water ci rcul ati on pump for
the cool i ng tower, the runni ng l oads of the house work out to about
400 W. Addi ng a TV/computer or water boosti ng pump (not runni ng
si mul taneousl y), the running load of the house i s about 800 W. If
one heavy appl i ance (el ectri c i ron, washi ng machi ne, etc., not
runni ng si mul taneousl y) i s added, the house can be run at under
2000 W peak al l the ti me.
Climatic Zone: Composite

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Residence for Sudha and Atam Kumar, Delhi
There i s no need to use el ectri ci ty for space heati ng and cool ing,
nor for water heati ng. Usi ng a careful sel ecti on of devi ces, 15 A
ci rcui ts can be el i mi nated from the house al together.
Inverter and future provision of photovoltaic charging
The house has a central i nverter and a battery bank that can
provi de for 8 hours of emergency usage.
It i s pl anned that as soon as affordabl e, the house shal l be put on
photovol tai c chargi ng and progressi vel y made l ess dependent on
the gri d.
Renewable energy systems
Architecturally integrated solar hot water
A 200 l i tre-per-day hot water system i s archi tectural l y i ntegrated
wi th the house.
A sol ar water heater panel i s mounted verti call y on the south wal l
above the ki tchen. Thi s non-standard mounti ng angl e reduces the
probl ems of dust accumul ati on, endemi c to Del hi . It reduces
chances of breakage due to hai l or cats, etc. It al so frees up
terrace space and i s a techni que that coul d be used i n mul ti -
storeyed bui l di ngs to provi de i ndi vi dual hot water systems wi thout
usi ng the roof.
A rooftop i nsul ated hot water tank col l ects the sol ar heated water,
whi ch i s then avai l abl e to al l the toi l ets and ki tchen. A sensi tive
thermostat acti vates the back-up l ow-wattage el ectri cal el ement on
the eveni ng of cl oudy days, but onl y i f manual l y acti vated by the
resi dents.
An i ndependent 100 l i tre-per-day verti cal ly mounted sol ar hot water
system i s provi ded for the outhouse.
Built-in solar cooking
A sl i di ng sol ar cooker i s bui l t i nto the south wal l of the ki tchen.
The pans can be accessed from i nsi de the ki tchen and come out at
counter l evel for ease of use.
Climatic Zone: Composite

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Residence for Sudha and Atam Kumar, Delhi
Bal ance cooki ng i s done wi th conventi onal fuel .
Waste recycling and water conservation
Compost pit
Two pi ts i n the garden can ensure the composti ng of ki tchen
wastes. The ki tchen, i n turn, i s provi ded wi th ampl e space bel ow
the counters to ensure separati on of paper, organi cs, and other
waste and recycl i ng of the fi rst two types.
Low water flushes
The house i s fi tted wi th fl ush val ves and wi thout any ci sterns.
Performance
The thermal systems general l y worked very wel l i n wi nter,
el i mi nati ng the requi rement of heavy qui lts al together.
The dry summer season performance was good except for sl i ght
dropl ets of water spi lli ng over from the wet pads of the cool i ng
tower i nto the stai rcase area.
Monsoon comfort i s dependent on strategi cal l y cl osi ng or openi ng
the wi ndows.
Renewabl e energy systems have worked wel l .
El ectri cal systems are sati sfactory, but hi ghl y stressed due to
errati c power suppl y and extreme vol tage fl uctuati ons i n the area.

At a glance
Project details
Project description Plotted house for a couple
Architect Sanjay Prakash
Sanjay Prakash & Associ ates
F - 25 Basement
Lajpat Nagar III
New Del hi - 110 024
Climate Composite
Climatic Zone: Composite

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Residence for Sudha and Atam Kumar, Delhi
Consultants Atam Kumar (energy) Sunil Arora (structure)
Project period 1995-1996
Size 160 m covered area in a plot of 450 m
Client/Owner Atam Kumar
Promoter Cdr. C P Sharma (Retd)
Builder/Contractor Asian Townsville Farms Ltd

Design features
o The house has been oriented to face south so that every habitable
room has a liberal solar exposure. Shading has been carefully designed
to prevent solar gains during summer and allow the same during
winter
o External wall and roof insulation help the thermal mass to act in
tandem with the inner space
o Reflective finishes of wall and roof for heat reflection
o Multi-directional evaporative wind tower atop stairwell, for cooling of
house during dry summer
o South-facing solar chimneys assist air exhaust during summer
o Architecturally integrated solar water heating system and solar cooker
o Compost pits in garden for composting of kitchen wastes
o Low water flush valves without cisterns
o All rooms adequately day lit and artificial lighting provided with low
energy lights
o Overall rationalization of loads done by careful device selection
o An inverter and battery bank back-up has been provided with provision for
photovoltaic charging in future