SKUAST-K’s Futuristic Endeavour

The traditional Kashmiri houses were large and tall and most houses in Srinagar had rooftops of birch-bark layered with clay and turf, over which lilies and tulips grew. In his 1992 paper on Kashmir’s architecture, Langenbach writes that Kashmir could have a lot to teach the world about life in balance with nature, but first, it must rediscover the value of its traditions. Modernisation and show-off have been the primary factors for the shift from traditional architecture. In the course, insulation and comfort were trampled for the “cold modernity”.

As a young boy looking out from my window in the heart of Srinagar city an adjoining house was covered with vegetation and soil in the name of the roofing material. I was mesmerised by the beauty of the structure, especially during summers. The green vegetation at the top made it look unique. The whole of countryside was saturated with these structures which formed an integral part of our culture during that period.

However, as durable wood like Deodar became costly, corrugated galvanised iron (CGI) sheets came to replace mud roofs, wood planks, and shingles. The change has been so far-reaching that CGI sheeting now constitutes the most common form of roofing in the region. However, after many years, while writing this article on green infrastructure buildings I can feel that we have completed a full circle with green roofs being termed as “a sustainable building technology that involves covering rooftops with vegetation and soil which not only provides aesthetic and environmental benefits. Green roofs act as natural insulators, reducing the amount of heat absorbed by buildings and lowering the demand for air conditioning.  In winter, they help retain heat, reducing heating costs. Additionally, they enhance air quality by filtering pollutants and capturing carbon dioxide, contributing to the overall sustainability of urban environments.”

As the idea for green infrastructure buildings is being exported from the West, I wonder how many years we have lost in contradicting our rich technical know-how of building climate-resilient structures and not making cosmetic remedies in the unpredictable and fragile environment of Kashmir. The technology that we already had, no doubt it needed some improvements, with certain modifications, research inputs, we could have developed it into a state-of-the-art technology that could have been exported to other parts of the globe.

Jammu & Kashmir like many other regions is already experiencing the impact of climate change.

The growth story of investments in the green initiative for sustainable development between 2012 and 2022 in India has increased from 4.3 billion to 243.5 billion dollars. The data indicates that there has been a steady increase in investments towards green infrastructure since 2012. Hard-core research in this field could also attract investment in the building sector and we could develop a resilient and robust green infrastructure in this part of the world

New Technologies in Green Infrastructure Development

(a)   Green Roof (GRs): GRs are the most practical instrument when it comes to extensive green infrastructure because of the rapid growth in built-up areas and the decreased availability of open spaces. They offer a unique opportunity to combine architecture, ecology, and sustainability.

(b)   Energy-Efficient Building Materials: Bio-based materials, provide an environmentally beneficial substitute for conventional construction materials. These materials offer a possible substitute as they may be utilized to temporarily store carbon while simultaneously lowering a building's energy usage.

(c) Building Information Modelling (BIM): BIM empowers architects, engineers, and construction professionals to visualise and simulate various aspects of a project, including its energy performance, environmental impact, and resource efficiency. For example, BIM can be used to simulate the energy performance of a building, allowing designers to identify opportunities for improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

(d) Smart Grids: Smart grids are an essential component of modern green infrastructure, offering a more efficient and reliable way to distribute electricity. Smart grids can dynamically balance the supply and demand of electricity, ensuring that renewable energy is utilised to its fullest potential while maintaining grid stability.

(e) IoT-Enabled Infrastructure: IoT can be applied to various aspects of urban development, including water distribution, waste management, and transportation. For example, IoT-enabled water distribution systems can monitor water usage, detect leaks, and adjust supply levels to meet demand more efficiently.

(f) Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS): SUDS offers an innovative solution to this problem by mimicking natural hydrological processes to manage stormwater sustainably. SUDS technologies include permeable pavements, swale, detention basins, and constructed wetlands, all designed to capture, store, and treat storm-water

(g)Intelligent Lighting Systems: Energy-efficient lighting innovations have completely changed how we light our buildings, offices, and public areas. Intelligent lighting systems can save energy usage and cut electricity bills by automatically regulating lighting settings.

(h) Green Infrastructure and renewable energy: The proper orientation of the buildings with south-facing rooms during winter, the use of uPVC doors and windows, and bio-material for making them energy-efficient buildings will reduce energy consumption and develop energy efficient structures.

Conclusion

As a technological hub especially for temperate regions of the country, we can prove to be world leaders in green infrastructure buildings by picking up the threads from where we left it so many years ago. Traditional knowledge overlapped with modern technical know-how will result in producing technologies that are affordable, and compact, improving adaptability, efficiency, and environmental harmony. Embracing green infrastructure is crucial for addressing 21st-century challenges and achieving a balance between economic growth and environmental stewardship.

By: Prof Junaid N. Khan

The author is Head, SDCE, CoAET, SKUAST-K