Energetica India 89 - May 2020

SMART CITIES Important Key Features for Planning and Building an Energy Efficient City One of the most important features of an economy is infrastructure. When there is deployment of sturdy infrastruc- ture in the country, it creates much needed connectivity and nourishment of economic activities. When multiple smart cities will be made to connect with one another, it will create easier transportation of resources, humans and information, to and fro, which is one of the most remarkable parameters of a successful smart city. Since pre and post-independence times, man used to depend on his daily income for his basic necessities. However, we have definitely come a long way to acquiring as many luxuries with our ever-increasing disposable income owing to our country’s eco - nomic and technological development. Technology has certainly changed the way we live and smart city expertise is about to change it further and for the better. While there is no universally accepted definition, according to the Government of India, it varies from area to area and country to country, depending on the level of growth, willingness to transform and reorganize, along with the difference in resources and aspirations of the city residents. A smart city in Indiathus would be different from one in Europe or elsewhere. Therefore, while planning smart cities, urban developers should keep the main four pillars- institutional, physical, social and economic infrastructure in mind to ensure maximum benefit for citizens as well as the country. We all know that technology nowadays is combining smart features along with energy efficiency in the view of the global energy crisis being faced by us collectively. Entities like cor - porates have influence in shaping our society. If they use this opportunity to imagine a new corporate vision in building of smart energy efficient cities along with campaigning smarter energy efficient technologies, this renewed sense of purpose will end up creating smooth-functioning smart cities. Moreover, at a local level, people do play a role in building such cities especially with having energy efficient homes. From using new technologies such as improved challahs to installing energy efficient fans to even having smart home systems – all lead to creating an energy efficient infrastructure. A single building that incorporates smart solutions becomes a smart building further igniting change in the surrounding areas making it a smart block. When more blocks join this effort, expanding the overall awareness, it results into a smart neighborhood. From there, one smart neighborhood expands, blanketing an entire city thus successfully converting it into a smart city. The journey to a complete smart ecosystem lies in ensuring that its building blocks are smart too. Hence, one should focus on building smarter buildings and even smarter homes that link together to form smart cities. The following are a few ways in which a smart city can be built: • Creating healthy and sustainable homes: While ensuring all blocks are smart, the most overlooked block is the residential home. When made sustainable by using ener - gy efficient products, it not only reduces electric bills but also increases energy conservation. Today, ceiling fans with BLDC technology not only provide superior cooling experience but also help in saving 50% more energy than a conventional fan. Thus, they not only increase power savings and help save precious energy but also lead to cutting your electric bills in half which helps in maximizing electricity cost savings. Moreover, since everyone wants their homes to also be a healthy and safe haven for themselves and their family, one must go for LED bulbs that are anti-bacterial in nature. They not only kill up to 85% germs in the room but also provide a great lighting option. Thus, switching to energy efficient appliances at home can help in building a safe and sustainable city. • Energy efficient inverter- based building equipment: Most of our electric consumption stems out of cooling and light - ing purposes. Inverters that are fueled via hydro-plants, solar panels or any other renewable energy, can fuel a whole building or area and can be used to substitute conventional electric consumption. Small decisions like powering the building/area every day, for one half of the day through these inverters can potentially save 50% of electric consumption without making compromises or significant changes in lifestyle. • Efficient waste disposal system: There are lakhs of tons’ worth of waste generated every year. 26 energetica INDIA- May_2020 Sanjeev Agrawal Vice President – Innovations, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Limited