City’s residences and commercial building emit more CO2 than cars and buses
Photo Credits: GREEN PANAJI
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ON CARBON 'ATOM' BOMB
* Residential, commercial buildings emit 80,609 tonnes of CO2
* Road transportations account for 55,406 tonnes of emmission
* All sectors put together, 114,599 tonnes of CO2 clogs Panaji
* Green house gases from dwellings accounts for 36,345 tonnes
* Commercial buildings emit 44,264 tonnes of green house gases
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HOW TO CUT GAS EMISSION
To reduce CO2 emission by 27,331 tonnes, the city will have to resort to the following changes:
* Cool-roof technologies to reflect heat
* Install BEE star rated fans and ACs
* Adopt public bicycle share system
* Introduce hop-on, hop-off buses
* Centralised cooling systems for buildings
* Implement smart parking in capital city
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A recent report finalised by the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has shown that housing and commercial establishments emit more CO2 than vehicles coming to the city.
Based on the low emission development strategies for Panaji city prepared by consultants ICLEI, residential, commercial and institutional buildings collectively account for 80,609 tonnes of CO2 emission.
Emission due to on road transportation accounted for 55,406 tonnes of CO2 in the city. The total amount of CO2 emission from all sectors including manufacturing and construction and waste totals 114,599 tonnes.
Green house gases (GHG) emission from residential buildings in the city accounted for 36,345 tonnes of CO2 while commercial and institutional buildings and facilities account for 44,264 tonnes.
The city has a total of 10,548 residential households including those occupied or unoccupied, owned or rented, single family or multifamily housing units and low income housing also include 200 low income households. Their main energy source for this sector is electricity, LPG, kerosene and diesel.
Commercial buildings, would include non-manufacturing business establishments such as hotels, restaurants, wholesale businesses, retail stores, warehouses, banks, and healthcare, social facilities, educational institutions and public buildings. This segment accounts for 30.6 percent of CO2 emissions.
Of the recommendations also submitted in the report, ICLEI has asked for the implementation of smart building energy management solutions with smart meters, occupancy and motion sensors that would manage load and efficient energy use.
They have also recommended a centralized cooling system such as absorption cooling and chillers using CFC free refrigerants as well as the recommendations made under residential houses.
Of the structural measures recommended by ICLEI, the concept of cool roof technologies in residential and low income housing schemes would help to reduce cooling demands. Replacement of conventional ceiling fans and air conditioners with Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) star fans and air conditioners.
The concept of cool roof technology according to the company is to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. This can be achieved by using highly reflective paint, a sheet covering or highly reflective tiles or shingles.
Also part of the report were several municipal recommendations like public bicycle share system that aims to reduce the cumulative potential GHG emission by 27,331 tonnes of CO2.
