Combating urban heat with sustainable design and green solutions

As the summer heat is kicking in, the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect will be felt across major Indian cities. UIH  is a phenomenon where urban areas experience significantly higher temperatures than their surrounding rural areas due to factors like reduced vegetation, increased impervious surfaces, and heat generated by human activities. While cities are notably warmer than their surroundings, this effect can be mitigated through green engineering—specifically by incorporating green infrastructure like green roofs, green walls, and increased green spaces. These solutions provide shade, promote evapotranspiration, and improve air quality.

In this episode of Mind Your Earth, architect Anurag Tamhankar discusses sustainable architecture and green  buildings. He  is one of the directors at the Biome Environment Selections, a Bangalore-based firm that works on ecological architecture, intelligent water and sanitation devices. Anurag and his team make lovely homes and offices that are eco-friendly and sustainable across the country. In this episode, Tamhankar discusses the Eklavya Foundation Building, designed by his firm. The interesting building  is located in Bhopal and it aims to integrate sustainable and environmental practices. The building caters to office, residential, workshop, and storage spaces for the foundation. The design emphasises a collaborative environment for various departments, while prioritising strategies that close energy, water, material, and food loops. This approach demonstrates a unique way of building sustainably with a focus on environmental consciousness.

Tamhankar explains the passive design techniques incorporated early in the planning stages to ensure comfort in the building. Bhopal's climate required strategies to reduce heat in the summer and maximise warmth in the winter. The building is orientated east-west to reduce heat gain, with the storage unit placed on the west side to shield the work areas. Deep balconies provide shade for large windows, allowing daylight into the workspaces. The roof design features a green roof for growing food, a white roof to reflect heat, solar panels, and deck insulation to reduce heat gain.

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