Sustainable architecture is all about seeking to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by using a conscious approach to Energy and ecological conservation in the design of the built environment. So, when Team BigSwitch India was provided the opportunity to retrofit a Solar PV Plant atop an existing building structure that had natural inclines, we grabbed it with both hands.
This building is a 09-storeyed structure, located less than 650 meters from the shoreline of Mumbai and exposed to excessive wind-speeds and high levels of salinity. A traditional Solar installation would mean plonking the Solar panels and structure onto the terrace RCC slab at a point with maximum exposure to the incident sunlight, and away from any shadowing of the terrace boundary-walls. However, it was paramount to keep the Solar panels as low to the mounting base as was possible, to preserve the architecture of the location and prevent wind shears from uprooting the structure.
A recce of the building by Team BigSwitch India revealed that natural slopes of the building architecture could be utilized for installation of the Solar panels. What resulted, was a Solar PV installation raised just 04 inches off the building slab, and optimally tilted at 18 degrees to the South to capture maximum sunshine during Operational hours. This allowed for the entire terrace floor RCC-slab area to be left untouched, for residents to socialise, exercise and engage in other activities for their well-being.
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Unlike traditionally installed Solar PV plants, this one does not stick out like a sore thumb, nor announce its arrival by shouting off the rooftop. Instead, it is a powerful, silent performer that has quietly subsumed itself into the building façade, integrating itself with building architecture, yet making a significant dent into the Energy consumption of the building. It is a definitive example of how Renewables can be successfully integrated into existing building structure by careful planning and execution, and choosing the right balance between form and function, both of which are strong pillars of modern architecture and design.
At BigSwitch India, design is a core component in our strategy to enable Clients adopt renewables without compromising on aesthetics. This is evidenced not only through the visual medium, but also through our choice of electrical, mechanical and civil-work components that have proven their mettle through actual deployment in the field. Our partnerships with industry-leading equipment manufacturers and suppliers ensures we employ only industry-leading components that can withstand the onslaught of heat, rain, wind and cold – day after day, season after season. Every Solar Plant by BigSwitch India carries the distinction of being a Renewable Energy solution, built with robustness and one that provides for years of trouble-free Operations and ownership.