Publications
Renewable Energy: Harnessing the last three 'horses of energy'
Article
| January 22, 2018
India's tryst with renewable power goes back decades. In the past few years, it has grown even more ambitious regarding the share of renewables in its energy mix.
From lab to room- how I integrated renewables in my life
Article
| January 22, 2018
Our researcher put theory into practice and made reduced carbon footprint a way of life Before solar power became a buzzword, thanks to the plummeting electricity tariffs under the National Solar Mission, it was a part of a silent revolution at my home.
Energy efficiency: The balancing act between industrial growth and pollution control
Article
| January 22, 2018
Industries, both big and small, require energy efficiency to not only meet pollution control norms but also stay competitive in a global market by reducing energy costs Industry, the key to national development in many countries, is the powerful engine that drives economic growth, spurs innovation and entrepreneurship, and provides direct and indirect employment to vast number of people. Industry is also among the largest consumers of energy, for instance in India, the industrial sector accounts for nearly half of the nation’s commercial energy consumption.
Creating framework for climate resilient building materials in Himalayan region
Research Paper
| January 20, 2018
Construction sector accounts for about 25% of the carbon emissions in India. With constant increase in the rate of construction, it is important that the sector identifies and applies sustainable construction and production practices. The sustainability index (SI) of building materials created as part of the study in the Himalayan region of South Asia will help create low-cost, climate resilient structures based on local climate and available resources. This implies customization as per regional needs when scaling up in other topographies.
Energy Management Controls in Cooling Plants
Article
| January 20, 2018
With cooling systems accounting for maximum energy consumption, a monitoring and controlling system can help reduce costs and consumption. In India, the building sector accounts for approximately 35% of the total energy consumption and is growing at a rate of 8% annually (Bureau of Energy Efficiency). Commercial buildings in India account for nearly 8% of the total electricity supplied by the utilities. Electricity usage in the sectors has been growing at about 11%–12% annually. Building energy consumption has seen an increase from14% in the 1970s to nearly 33% in 2004/05.
Resettling India's urban poor sustainably
Article
| January 20, 2018
In a bid to resettle the urban poor, local governments are rapidly constructing houses using cheap, energy-inefficient material causing discomfort to the occupants in the long run. Given this, can participation from the private sector and deployment of local resources help in providing smart, affordable housing to them?
An Assessment of Ground Water Potential for state of Kerala, India: A Case Study
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
The southern state of Kerala in India, known as ‘God’s Own Country’, is blessed with plenty of water resources that include chains of backwater bodies, rivers, reservoirs, lakes, ponds, springs and wells. Although, the state receives abundant rainfall throughout the year, the region’s topography and soil characteristics, combined with rapid urbanization are causing significant stress to its ground water level. Therefore, it has become imperative for researchers, scientists, administrators, and policy-makers to analyze the present ground water situation of the state.
Applications of microalgal biofilms for wastewater treatment and bioenergy production
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
Microalgae have shown clear advantages for the production of biofuels compared with energy crops.Apart from their high growth rates and substantial lipid/triacylglycerol yields, microalgae can grow in wastewaters (animal, municipal and mining wastewaters) efficiently removing their primary nutrients (C, N, and P), heavy metals and micropollutants, and they do not compete with crops for arable lands.
Bioelectrochemical enhancement of direct interspecies electron transfer in upflow anaerobic reactor with effluent recirculation for acidic distillery wastewater
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
Methane production in the upflow anaerobic bioelectrochemical reactor (UABE) treating acidic distillery wastewater was compared to the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB), and the electron transfer pathways for methane production were also evaluated in the effluent recirculation. The methane productions from reactors were influenced by the low pH of influent wastewater. However, the methane production rate and yield of the UABE were 2.08 L/L.d and 320 mL/g CODr, which were higher than the UASB.
Characteristics of the Ozone pollution and its health effects in India
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
Surface level ozone is one of the important air pollutants. It is formed by the reaction of atmospheric pollutants in the presence of sunlight. The surface ozone shows temporal and spatial variations in the country. The levels are maximum during summer and minimum in monsoon seasons. The levels are maximum during daytime and minimum during night or early morning. In India, surface ozone levels are above the recommended threshold of 8 hour average of 100 μg/m3 for air quality monitoring at various stations. Exposure to high levels of surface ozone causes number of health problems.