Firstgreen project Sustainable architecture case study- JK Lakshmi Cement vocational training center in Sirohi -An excellent example of sustainable building design.
JK Lakshmi Cement, a leading Indian cement manufacturer, is establishing a vocational training center in Sirohi, Rajasthan, with a focus on providing job-oriented training to nearby rural youth. The facility has been designed by Firstgreen Consulting, a green building consultancy firm, to incorporate sustainable design features and minimize its environmental impact. It features innovative green technologies and design elements that help to reduce its carbon footprint to a great extent.
Let’s delve deeper into the architectural design of this net-zero building and understand the green features that make it stand out:
- Solar Power: The building is equipped with a 30 kWp rooftop solar power system that meets all its energy requirements. The system comprises 60 high-efficiency solar panels that generate electricity during the day, and the excess energy is stored in a battery bank for later use.
- Rainwater Harvesting: The building also features a rainwater harvesting system that collects rainwater from the rooftop and stores it in an underground tank. The harvested water is used for landscaping and other non-potable purposes.
- Heat Island Mitigation: To mitigate the heat island effect, the roof of the building is painted with a high Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) paint that reflects the sun’s rays and reduces the surface temperature.
- Low-Flow Fixtures: The building is equipped with low-flow fixtures that help to conserve water by reducing its consumption.
- High-Efficiency Lights with Daylighting Features: The building features LED lights that consume less energy and provide better illumination. It also features a daylighting system that uses natural light to illuminate the interiors, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day.
- Building Orientation: The building’s orientation has been optimized to maximize solar heat gains during the winter and minimize them during the summer, thereby reducing the energy required for heating and cooling.
- Landscaping: The landscaping of the building has been designed in a way that minimizes water consumption and enhances the aesthetic appeal of the building.
- Cool Bricks: The building uses locally sourced cool bricks, which are made without any plaster, to reduce its carbon footprint.
- Use of Natural Stones: The building design features a unique combination of local Kota stone, Jaisalmer stone, and sandstone, which enhances its aesthetic appeal while minimizing its environmental impact.
- Circular Design: The building features a circular design that provides open spaces for student activities and an amphitheater for events.
- Zero Waste Campus: The campus has been designed to be a zero-waste facility, where all the waste generated by the students is segregated and recycled.
The net-zero energy vocational training center by JK Lakshmi Cement at Sirohi is a perfect example of sustainable architecture. It showcases the company’s commitment to sustainability and its efforts to minimize its carbon footprint. The building’s innovative green technologies and design elements serve as an inspiration for others in the construction industry to follow suit.