Drirotors, Author at DRI Rotors

Evaporative cooling imparting an economical cooling solution for warehouse

By Varun Pahwa, President, DRI- Desiccant Rotors International | Added 06 July 2022

Quality air solution to cool down warehouses is of utmost importance given to the inherently large space it poses. These areas have high ceilings; where all kinds of goods from lightweight cartons to heavy-load goods are stored. It forms an essential part of the logistics where goods are stockpiled to be moved from one place to another.

The warehouses are majorly managed by an on-ground workforce who use a mix of manual as well as heavy-weight machinery for the smooth movement of the goods. Given to the nature of work being carried inside tremendous amount of heat is invariably generated within the vicinity of the warehouse. Unfortunately, this gives rise to high temperatures making the working conditions unsuitable for people within the warehouse. Exposure to excessive heat can lead to a condition of heat stress which can acutely intervene with the working efficiency of the individuals and negatively affect their productivity. Therefore, temperature control is one of the most important and efficient factors required for the maintenance of the warehouse.

Considering the large area, Industrial Evaporative Cooling is the most economical cooling solution for warehouses. Cooling down a large warehouse at times becomes very tricky as going for conventional methods consumes a lot of energy. Compounding the problem, a lot of energy is wasted because of the extra space. In such instances, evaporative colling requires minimal capital cost for installation and the average cost to set up the system is one-fourth as compared to the air conditioning option.

Additionally, it is an energy-efficient mechanism making use of natural resources that further reduces the running costs of the machines. The best part of installing innovative cooling solutions are that it is being backed up with high saturation efficiency and highly adsorbent materials that amplify the efficiency of the system. This results in minimized consumption of energy accounting for 80 percent less electricity usage as compared to other alternatives.

As stated above as evaporative cooling utilizes natural resources it is highly environmentally-friendly in its approach. It works by taking 100 per cent natural fresh air from the surroundings for cooling down the large warehouse and at the same time also ensures that there is a continuous supply of oxygen within the premises. The mechanism is well adept at the influx and circulation of fresh air in the otherwise packed and sultry warehouse. This plays an instrumental role in effectively reducing the temperature by 10° C to 12° C by simply directing hot, dry air through the water-saturated cooling pads for filtration. As a result, the water evaporates which induces the formation of cooling vapor. This in addition to cooling down the warehouse also eliminates the stagnant indoor air which if left unattended can encourage the growth of viruses and bacteria. In the process, it gets rid of the fumes, odor, carbon dioxide & other airborne impurities, and built-in dust from the enclosed air and consequently improves the indoor air quality at the same time. Cumulatively, it is a given that industrial evaporative cooling is helpful in reducing the carbon footprint.

In addition to the above-stated benefits, the cooling solution is vital to ensure the smooth functioning of the machines which could potentially be damaged due to the overheating of the parts. On the other hand, maintaining a cool temperature helps the employees to deliver error-free work that boosts their morale and productivity, which adds to the profitability of the company.

The advantage of working with an established brand like ARCTIC is the deep understanding and expertise in duct designing, specially designed cooling pads, exhaust design systems for stale hot air displacement and allowing cool fresh air to be introduced effectively & economically; all coming from decades of knowledge. This in turn leads to repeat business orders and long-term relationships for the ARCTIC brand.

Recognizing Poor Indoor Air Quality Menace with the Onset of Summers

This content has been authored by Varun Pahwa, President, Desiccant Rotors International (DRI)

With low pangs of summers already being felt, people will be more prone to spend time indoors to beat the heat outside. There will be many who will be taking a sigh of relief thinking that now they will be free from the poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) menace prevalent during winters. But in reality, the issue of poor IAQ is a persistent issue all-round the year. It only gets worsened in summers with centralized air conditioning systems in the enclosed spaces that leave no space for the influx of fresh air and only stale air keeps circulating in the building.

The impact is felt even more starkly in industries like healthcare, construction, factories, hotels, airports, given to their packed, and complex structure that deteriorates the air quality within the premises. Moreover, these places often being huddled with large crowds compounds the problem.

As a result, there have been rising instances of ‘Sick Building Syndrome’ which is a serious threat to the health and overall wellbeing of the person. Additionally, the poor IAQ is also responsible for a wide range of issues like breathing problems, lethargy, pain in the eyes, and other long-term illnesses.

In order to arrest the issue, people need to be aware that the indoor air can easily get influenced by the outdoor air and is 10 times worse and more harmful because of restricted airflow in the enclosed area. It is not just the metropolitan cities that get affected but even the surrounding cities face the menace of poor indoor air quality.

Hence, highly efficient building management systems must be installed in centrally conditioned spaces such as office complexes, homes, malls, hotels, restaurants, auditoriums, and various other closed premises to not just deal with the contaminants/pollutants generated indoors but ensure that outdoor pollution like PM 2.5, PM10, VOCs as well other gaseous contaminants are not brought inside enclosed spaces through conditioning systems.

Understanding that the major cause of poor IAQ is the lack of clean fresh air in the buildings which only worsens with the presence of moisture, ensuring proper ventilation is the best solution to improve indoor air pollution. It dilutes the contaminated air indoors by utilizing the fresh air from outside. With the help of this approach, one can thoroughly clean the outside fresh air and introduce it into the building, maintaining positive pressure inside the building.

Here, HVAC&R systems are highly efficient in ensuring proper ventilation and are backed up with a wide range of advantages. It not just renders acceptable indoor air quality but also provides thermal comfort in the enclosed space. The system employs advanced desiccant technology that uses hygroscopic substances to suck moisture from the air in order to maintain the proper RH and cool down the indoor spaces. One of the primary benefits of this technology is that it tones down the air according to the requirement of the given space. The Energy Recovery systems ventilate the conditioned spaces without compromising on air conditioning load. Owing to this mechanism there is substantial reduction in the use of energy and utility costs.

Along with HVAC&R system installation, people must also be agile enough to adopt green building designs. Green Building Councils across the globe are playing a critical role in promoting awareness and certifying the importance of Indoor Air Quality in our day-to-day lives. The advanced buildings help in striking the right balance in the indoor air quality that does not compromise on the comfort of the people but at the same time coherently contribute to reducing the energy consumption of the building with the help of green products. These buildings are the most viable solution as it highly maintains proper relative humidity (RH) and prevents any growth of mold, mildew in the enclosed atmosphere.

With advanced systems in place and efficient air purifying systems, maintaining good indoor air quality, even in large spaces has become a cost-effective and doable affair.

IAQ literacy: A new angle in controlling the pollution holistically

Rahul Aeron, Assistant Vice President, Desiccant Rotors International | Construction Week | March 3, 2022

Over the years there has been much conversation around the alarming pollution levels in the air. From government policies to academics, huge steps have been taken to create awareness and curb the menace of pollution. But just countering the outdoor air pollution is not enough. The issue of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) has always been there and in recent years has emerged as a potential threat to human health. As people are highly conscious of outdoor air pollution it is time to focus on IAQ as well. It is potentially more detrimental than outdoor air pollution and to control the holistic issue of pollution it is equally imperative to counter the problem of poor IAQ just like the outdoor pollution.

As a large amount of time is spent indoors, quality IAQ containing breathable air, free from all pollutants adds to the higher quality of life by lowering risks associated with respiratory illness and also reducing the risk of chronic conditions. Poor IAQ has a damaging effect and can negatively impact health. Research has shown that people continuously exposed to a certain level of carbon dioxide have reduced cognitive performance by 50%. Health conditions like asthma, respiratory illness, throat, and nasal illness, coughing, scratchy throat, headaches, fatigue are common symptoms arising from poor IAQ. In certain cases, it can also lead to Sick Building Syndrome and complications of lung and heart conditions. Consequently, long-term exposure can be precursors of serious conditions. It may either exasperate the pre-existing conditions or may give rise to new health issues.

People might think that closing the windows and doors will protect them from pollution. But various elements within the closed premises deteriorate the air quality. There are various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like synthetic building material, furnishing, cleaning supplies, aerosols, dust present in the building. They add to the pollutants already present in the air and meddle with the decision-making capacity and productivity of the person. In addition to this, the presence of humidity can further worsen the condition. It harbors mold and mildew responsible for the musty odor, condensation, and other conditions which are not visible to the eyes. The situation gets even worse in commercial and large buildings due to their complex structure and probability of being huddled with a large crowd of people.

This necessitates the removal of pollutants from the air for improved environmental benefits and public health. Here, ventilation can significantly lower the pollution level. But simply depending on natural ventilation will not give the desired results. They do not have enough power to move the air consistently. It also mixes the fresh air coming from outside with the contaminated indoor air and does not guarantee an air change rate.

Highly advanced ventilation is required. Mechanical ventilation systems must be installed for this purpose. It ensures a steady flow of fresh air throughout the building. It not just removes the stale indoor air but filters pollutants coming in from the outdoor air. An Energy Recovery Ventilator in the air conditioning system can provide a simple solution to all ventilation issues. The system improves IAQ by ventilating the space and flushing out harmful pollutants.

All this is done while being highly conscious of energy. There is minimum wastage of energy as the system utilizes waste heat of exhaust air to cool the incoming air. The ERV plays an instrumental role in saving energy which reduces the operational costs of HVAC systems. It is efficient enough to ventilate even the conditioned spaces without compromising on the air conditioning load.

The detrimental consequences of poor IAQ necessitate IAQ literacy at every stage of life as it affects each and every one, irrespective of age and place. Proper knowledge can better help people to be aware of the inherent threat lingering inside the building and deploy the necessary technologies to combat the effect of poor IAQ.

Bry-air And DRI bring about education unification ahead of International Day of Education

Bry-Air | Sucess Insights India | January 22, 2022

Ahead of the International Day of Education to be observed on the 24th of January, Bry Air and DRI, the flagship companies under the Pahwa Group bring about the unification of providing quality education to children and improving the employability of youth through skill development programs.

Under the initiative of the Education program, the companies have been working relentlessly throughout the pandemic to ensure seamless continuity of learning. They have provided the students with laptops and tablets which helped them to pursue their education without any hindrance during the lockdown. Looking at the disruption due to immobility, they switched to digital mode through Gyantantra Digital Dost that connected approximately 400 students together.

Bry-Air and DRI along with their NGO partner, Literacy India have adopted a few learning centers to provide free-of-cost education to underprivileged children. Operating as Bry-Air Pathshala and DRI Pathshala in Dharam Colony and Carterpuri village respectively, the centers facilitate holistic child development by stimulating a healthy and secure learning environment. The centers create a primary school environment conducive for non-school-going children and have been operational since 2011 and 2014 respectively. The centers come with the backup of a computer lab, a library and support the students with learning aids such as books, stationery, etc. They also conduct remedial classes for school-going children who are weak in their studies.

Bry-Air and DRI are also providing various skill development courses in diversified fields (like Electrician Training, Computer Training, Spoken English, Beautician and Tailoring) for the youths in Gurugram, Udaipur and Moga for their gainful employment. The youth (including the women workforce) is provided training through DRI Udaan Skill Development Center for Computer Training, DRI Spoken English Course, DRI Udaan Skill Development Center Dr Mathra Das Pahwa Learning Center for Beauticians & Tailoring and Bry-Air Udaan Skill Development Center for Electricians etc.

To date, the initiative by the Pahwa Group has provided primary education to 6000+ children, scholarships to 100+ students, and has rendered 2000+ youth skilled in electronics, computer training, beautician, and tailoring and benefiting 700+ students from the library facility.

Speaking on the occasion, Anandita Pahwa, Head -CSR Initiative, Pahwa Group said, “We want to render a progressive society by imparting quality education to the underprivileged and securing a bright future ahead for the children and youth”

Clone of Air quality matters and all that is inhaled

Varun Pahwa, President, Desiccant Rotors International | Times of India | January 19, 2022,

Varun Pahwa is President DRI. DRI is a global provider of components & systems for Energy Recovery, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Evaporative Cooling, Dehumidification & Green Buildings.

With the coming of the winters the issue of poor air quality has again become a huge concern for people across India. Also, with Covid-19 hitting the world, people are spending more and more time indoors to protect themselves from the deadly virus. The fog coupled with smoke forms smog envelopes the city with bad air quality. Due to the chilly winter air, people resort to spend maximum time indoors to protect themselves from cold weather as well as the poor air quality outside.

But staying indoors is not that easy, the way it looks. Due to the poor ventilation, or presence of molds have increased the chances of developing ‘Sick Building Syndrome’ that gives rise to serious health issues and overall wellbeing. It is also responsible for wide range of issues like breathing problems, lethargy, pain in the eyes, and other long-term illnesses.

People need to be aware that the indoor air gets easily influenced by the outdoor air and is 10 times worse and harmful because of restricted air flow in the enclosed area. It is not just the metropolitan cities which get affected but even the surrounding cities face the menace of poor indoor air quality.

Industries like healthcare, construction, factories, hotels, airports, are more likely to experience poor air quality due to their packed, and complex structure which does not support the influx of fresh air. Moreover, being commercial spaces, often these places are huddled with large crowds which further deteriorates the IAQ.

As we spend more and more time indoors, mostly in centrally conditioned spaces such as office complexes, homes, malls, hotels, restaurants, auditoriums and various other closed premises, building management systems are dealing with not only contaminants/pollutants generated indoors but also have to ensure outdoor pollution like PM 2.5, PM10, VOCs as well other gaseous contaminants are not brought inside conditioned spaces through conditioning systems.

Given that the major cause of poor IAQ is the lack of clean fresh air in the buildings which only gets worse with the presence of moisture, ensuring proper ventilation is the best solution to improve the indoor air pollution. It dilutes the contaminated air indoors by utilizing the fresh air from outside. With the help of this approach, we thoroughly clean the outside fresh air and introduce that into a building, maintaining positive pressure in the building.

To ensure proper ventilation, HVAC&R systems must be installed which offers wide range of advantages. It not just renders acceptable indoor air quality but also provides thermal comfort in the enclosed space. The system employees advanced desiccant technology that uses hygroscopic substances to suck moisture from the air in order to maintain the proper RH and cools down the indoor spaces.

One of the primary benefits of this technology is that it tones down the air according to the requirement of the given space. The Energy Recovery systems ventilate the conditioned spaces without compromising on air conditioning load. Owing to this mechanism there is substantial reduction in the use of energy and utility costs.

In addition to the installation of the HVAC&R system, people must be agile enough to adopt green building designs. Green Building Councils across the globe are playing a critical role in promoting awareness and certifying the importance of Indoor Air Quality in our day to day lives. The advanced buildings help in striking the right balance in the indoor air quality that does not compromise on the comfort of the people but at the same time coherently contribute to reduce the energy consumption of the building with the help of green products. These buildings are most viable solution as it highly maintains proper relative humidity (RH) and prevents any growth of mold, mildew in the enclosed atmosphere.

With advanced systems in place and efficient air purifying systems, maintaining good indoor air quality, even in large spaces has become a cost effective and doable affair.

Air quality matters and all that is inhaled

Varun Pahwa, President, Desiccant Rotors International | Construction Week | July 22, 2021

Varun Pahwa, President, DRI-Pahwa Group, jots down a few points on ways to adopt environmental control solutions.

Green products used in the HVAC industry, their importance and accessibility

The primary focus of any green building is to reduce the energy consumption of the building. HVAC systems have the largest consumption of electricity in the building. To reduce the energy consumption of the HVAC system. In hospitality industry, the entire focus is on guestâ€™s comfort and well being. To strike the right balance between comfort and energy savings, wide range of green products are available. These could be high efficient chillers, providing variable frequency drives on motors, high efficient fans etc.

Apart from energy consumption, the second most important parameter of green building is Indoor Air Quality. DRI specializes in various systems that maintain good indoor air quality in hospitality sector. These include Energy recovery systems for ventilating the conditioned spaces without compromising on air conditioning load. DRI Energy Recovery systems are focused on Enthalpy Wheels based systems. Our FlexAir range of ERVs and TFAs incorporate Enthalpy Wheels for Energy Recovery.

In hospitality industry maintaining proper relative humidity (RH) is important to prevent any growth of mold, mildew, which causes foul smell in guest rooms. DRI provides systems that maintain proper RH in hospitality sector to prevent this problem. These systems help in reducing the operating costs of HVAC systems & maintain good indoor air quality. DRI is an Indian company & all its products are made in India. Accessibility of these systems are not an issue.

Ways to conserve energy, lower costs and increase productivity through arctic coolers

Arctic Coolers are aimed at cooling large industrial and commercial buildings, where initial and running cost of air condition systems is expensive. Using Arctic Evaporative Coolers with EcoCool Evaporative Cooling Pads with high saturation efficiency, long life, self-supporting, highly adsorbent and can be easily cleaned.

Especially in the case of industrial and commercial buildings, with the increasing cost of power and energy, choosing an efficient air treatment system that is also environment friendly, is an important decision.

Arctic coolers are capable of lowering the air temperature by at least 7-12 degrees and also facilitate cool fresh air to circulate through a building. Arctic Innovative Evaporative Cooling system is a solution, which offers completely natural way of delivering refreshing and cool air. Arctic coolers are trusted cooling solution provider for industries and commercial applications.

Unlike traditional air conditioning which operates on re-circulated air, the Arctic Innovative Evaporating Cooling system uses fresh air and works as part of a well-balanced ventilation system. This becomes even more relevant in todayâ€™s context, with Covid-19 concerns at the forefront. A better air quality environment also leads to better comfort & productivity and better health which are leading concerns for businesses today.

Adaptation of green building solutions by architects

Green building could be defined as â€œthe practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use energy, water, and materials, and reducing building impacts on human health by providing better indoor environment Quality (IEQ).

With progressive economy, new building technologies began to transform the urban landscape.

The Green Building movement is driving the HVAC community to look at innovative solutions for reducing the energy cost and better IEQ (Indoor Environment Quality). The ventilation and air conditioning system which is a key component in Green Building design is on the verge of a paradigm shift.

This shift is providing designers opportunities to explore energy efficient designs. The new initiatives are aimed at improving health, comfort and productivity.

Integration of DOAS (Dedicated Outdoor Air System)/Treated Fresh Air Units: TFAs, with parallel terminal system offers a migratory path from the single all-air variable air volume systems.

Bad indoor air quality, their effects, and solutions

Poor indoor air quality leads to an increased incidence of health related symptoms, which in turn can lead to an increase in absenteeism and a loss of productivity. Some of most common symptoms can be related to “Sick Building Syndrome”.

Health effects from indoor air pollutants fall into two categories those that are experienced immediately after exposure and those that do not show up until years later.

The lung is the most common site of injury by air borne pollutants. Acute effects, however may also include non-respiratory signs and symptoms, which may depend upon toxicological characteristics of the substances and host of related factors.

In recent years, the attention of environmental researchers has been focused on indoor air pollution, as a result of reports of symptoms or specific diseases that occur mainly in air conditioned and mechanically ventilated buildings. Studies have proved that level of contaminants in the indoor air can be often several times higher than outdoor air. This combined with the fact that people tend to spend 90% of their time indoors, proves the point that a person’s major source of exposure to airborne contaminants can be indoors.

The solution to the problem of pollution is dilution or increased ventilation, runs contrary to the energy conservation guidelines being followed by air conditioning designers. In hospitals and nursing homes, the ventilation standards require 100% fresh air and higher number of air changes per hour.

Air quality can be improved by designing systems that provide air virtually free of dust, dirt, odors, chemical and radioactive pollutants, bacteria, virus and humidity buildup. Designers while planning air conditioning systems need to keep these design criteria in mind.

Hotels with good IAQ in demand post covid

Varun Pahwa, President, Desiccant Rotors International | ET Hospitality World | July 11, 2021

According to the World Health Organization, indoor air is often more seriously polluted than outdoor air. When it comes to the hospitality industry, maintaining good Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is important for the hotel environment for many reasons, some of which are potentially significant for the propertyâ€™s growth. With COVID-19, wildfires and overall poor air quality, there has been a pent up demand for the hotel industry to provide options for rooms with better filtration and purification. Clean air automatically leads to higher levels of well-being allowing travellers to feel more energized during and after their vacation.

We spoke to Varun Pahwa, President of Desiccant Rotors International Pvt. Ltd. (DRI) to know the importance of a good HVAC system in the hotels and how his company is aiding the demand.

ETHospitalityWorld (ETHW): What are the green products used in the HVAC industry, their importance and their accessibility for the hospitality sector?

Varun Pahwa: The primary focus of any green building is to reduce the energy consumption of the building. HVAC systems have the largest consumption of electricity in the building. To reduce the energy consumption of the HVAC system. In the hospitality industry, the entire focus is on guestâ€™s comfort and well-being. To strike the right balance between comfort and energy savings, a wide range of green products are available. These could be high efficient chillers, providing variable frequency drives on motors, high efficient fans etc.
Apart from energy consumption, the second most important parameter of green building is Indoor Air Quality. DRI specializes in various systems that maintain the good indoor air quality in the hospitality sector. These include Energy recovery systems for ventilating the conditioned spaces without compromising on air conditioning load. DRI Energy Recovery systems are focused on Enthalpy Wheels based systems. Our FlexAir range of ERVs and TFAs incorporate Enthalpy Wheels for Energy Recovery.
In the hospitality industry, maintaining proper relative humidity (RH) is important to prevent any growth of mold, mildew, which causes foul smell in guest rooms. DRI provides systems that maintain proper RH in the hospitality sector to prevent this problem. These systems help in reducing the operating costs of HVAC systems & maintain good indoor air quality. DRI is an Indian company & all its products are made in India. Accessibility of these systems is not an issue.

ETHW: Ways to Conserve Energy, Lower Costs and Increase Productivity through Arctic Coolers in Hotels?

Varun Pahwa: While the hospitality industry for starred hotels is well organized, there is a large number of hotels in mid-size or B class towns which cannot afford air conditioned systems because of the initial cost as well as the running cost. For them, air cooling is the best solution. ARCTIC coolers are designed with high efficient evaporative cooling pads to provide comfort to the guests.
Hybrid HVAC systems which use Eco friendly technology like evaporative cooling along with air conditioning are also being applied in hospitality industries in areas like kitchen, laundry etc. Arctic Innovative Evaporative Cooling system is an environment friendly solution, which offers a completely natural way of delivering refreshing and cool air. Arctic coolers are trusted cooling solution providers for industries and commercial applications.

ETHW: Tell us the ways of adaptation of Green Building Solutions by architects for hotels?

Varun Pahwa: The hotel industry has been moving towards green designs, Environmentally-friendly construction practices shifted focus on conserving resources, water, energy and started to overall help and contribute to saving the environment. The importance and need to conserve has become evident due to the current situation in the world. Architects designing hotels are being forced to consider the green building concept, everything from designing, construction, operations to the demolition of the building. Providing a better and healthier environment is also one thing that tops the list in a green building, along with the LEED green building rating system.

Some considerations that help the architects in hotels are sustainable site planning, solar orientation, storm water management, high-efficiency HVAC system, green supply materials, waste reduction and management, use of recycled materials, etc.

ETHW: How can bad indoor air quality affect hotels?

Varun Pahwa: Indoor air quality in hotels has been a huge concern, especially in a post-Covid scenario as restrictions move towards relaxation. Even before the pandemic, in the hospitality sector, the experience and comfort of the customer has always been key. If the indoor air quality is not maintained, it will not only affect the staff but also the guests. Foul smells are common in hotel rooms.

Bad indoor air quality can lead to multiple issues including affecting both employees and customers, which can have a negative impact on a hotel’s reputation. The safety of guests is a serious responsibility. Bad air can cause many issues including breathing problems, lethargy and other long-term illnesses. Even for the hotel staff, if the air quality is not good, apart from health issues of working in such a space, their productivity will also decrease massively. However, with advanced systems in place and efficient air purifying systems, maintaining good indoor air quality, even in large spaces is possible.

Desiccant Rotors International does its bit for ‘Ecosystem Restoration’

Desiccant Rotors International | IndiaCSR | 5 June 2021

NEW DELHI: DRI has organized a drawing competition among the children studying at DRI and Bry-Air Pathshalas to celebrate. Desiccant Rotors International (DRI) is a global provider of products and systems for energy recovery, IAQ, fresh air treatment, evaporative cooling, and green buildings.

DRI along with Bry-Air, flagship companies of Pahwa group, has been focusing on restoration of our EcoSystem through various initiatives, viz plantation drives, reclaiming and reforestation, to increase green cover and thus improving quality of air.

The latest is the afforestation in Kadooki village, Alwar, Rajasthan where a forest of more than 500 medicinal and fruit-bearing trees is under development. This will help in re-greening of the area as well as being able to provide fruits for the locality.

1500 pomegranate trees were planted in the arid region of Barmer, Rajasthan which are now providing sustenance to the farmers, who sell the fruit and earn their livelihood.

Almost 7 acres of Sanjay Van, Delhi was restored in order to:

Restore and conserve the native Aravali vegetation with the plantation of local species of trees like Dhak, Khair, Khejri, etc.

Trees raised – existing native trees (approx. 25,000) by dispersing seeds, nurturing / transplanting germinated saplings.

Selective planting of Fauna friendly vegetation

Cleaning of discharged sewage water/ effluents from ponds

Emphasis to plant appropriate vegetation all around water body

Introduction of bird friendly fishes in ponds

The Pahwa Group CSR is also active in various WASH activities to provide clean drinking water and sanitation to the communities they serve. This includes installations of Community Water Centres, CWCs, in various villages in Haryana and Rajasthan. The clean and cool drinking water obtained from these plants helps to eradicate water-borne diseases, and also provides a livelihood to the villagers who are able to sell the water for various events like marriages in the surrounding villages.

DRI and Bry-Air are in the process of building more community WASH facilities, as well as setting up check dams, which will help to prevent soil erosion and support groundwater recharge, especially in arid regions. In keeping with UN SDGs, the group has also installed 15 CUM size Rainwater Harvesting Structures at Literacy India Vidhyapeeth premises. This rainwater harvesting structure is helping to save over 5.89 lac liter per year. This is additional to the companies’ water harvesting activities at their own locations.

One of the core objectives of the company is to directly impact communities through CSR initiatives. These mainly focus on Vision (Eye Care), Education, Environment and Sustainability. Bry-Air & DRI in association with their NGO partners have touched over 56,000 lives in the last 10 years, directly impacting and enhancing quality of life.

Anandita Pahwa, Group CSR Head mentioned that “The theme of World Environment Day 2021 is ‘Ecosystem Restoration’ and that has been our special focus this year by conservation and restoration so that the green cover around us is increased and quality of air we breathe is less polluted.”

Social Responsibility is deeply ingrained in our company culture.

On this World Environment Day, we would like to highlight environment and sustainability as a hugely important aspect of the work we do. It is our job to conserve and safeguard our resources for future generations, actions small and big all count towards achieving this goal.

She also released a video showcasing these initiatives and development work in the field of Environment.

Bry-Air and DRI sets up vaccination camps for employees and worker

Sonali Dutta, VP-Corporate Affairs and HR, Bry-Air | BW People | April 08, 2021

The vaccination drive was initiated as per the government protocols; vaccination for 45 yrs and above. The company tied up with Medanta Hospital for the programme, which covered their manufacturing plants and offices; Gurgaon and Manesar.

Bry-Air and Desiccant Rotors International (DRI), the two flagship companies of the Pahwa Group announced in their New Year Message 2020 that as soon as the vaccine will be available in the open market, they would make it available to the employees, in a quick and graded manner.

So, as promised the companies organised camps for Covid-19 vaccination for its employees and workers in Delhi NCR. The vaccination drive was initiated as per the government protocols; vaccination for 45 yrs and above. The company tied up with Medanta Hospital for the programme, which covered their manufacturing plants and offices; Gurgaon and Manesar.

The Pahwa Group, which has 4 companies under its umbrella, Bry-Air, DRI, Delair and Technical Drying Services (TDS) made available the vaccine free of cost.

Speaking on the initiative, Group Chairman Deepak Pahwa said, “Vaccination is important to create a safety net and develop immunity against the virus. The health and well-being of our employees is our top priority, we want to assure that our employees are inoculated and protected from COVID-19 disease.”

We are amazed at the response. Most of the employees in the prescribed age voluntarily came forward and participated enthusiastically in the vaccination drive. Corporate culture goes beyond just working together, and aligns with positive values and goals and establishing a culture of caring. Vaccines will help us achieve a new normal, as India quickly seeks to return to post pandemic goals, said Sonali Dutta, VP

– Corporate Affairs & HR.

Rise of Green Architecture Buildings: Leveraging the sustainability buzz for India’s future generations

What makes green architecture buildings important in today’s world? Spanning the world at large, green buildings and green architecture are gaining momentum across the world.

What makes green architecture buildings important in today’s world? Spanning the world at large, green buildings and green architecture are gaining momentum across the world. Take for example, Australia’s iconic Pixel building, which is the country’s first carbon neutral office. At first glance, the green building sported panels with eye popping colours that maximized daylight while providing shade and supported wastewater processing, a roof that captured rainwater and had vertical wind turbines.

Another notable example is the world’s tallest building – yes, the Shanghai Tower, known to be not only an architectural wonder but a sustainable green building model which uses less power than other skyscrapers and also comes with a platinum LEED certification.

So, what’s creating the buzz for green architecture in India?

And more importantly, for the Indian context that is riddled with multiple challenges at various levels, what exactly does green architecture imply?

What is Green Building Architecture?

According to Varun Pahwa, President, Desiccant Rotors International (DRI), “Environment-friendly ‘green’ sustainable designs, architecture and construction have become institutionalised with the availability of several building certification programs. These certifications provide a framework and targets of energy footprints to be achieved. We can now measure outcomes in real time and validate how green a building is. The adoption of new technology, tools and software with the aim of enhancing productivity and providing innovative energy smart solutions has become an essential part of ‘green’ architecture, as the need to reduce carbon and emissions footprints continues. This is valid across residential, commercial and industrial projects.”

Why is Green architecture important?

According to Dikshu C. Kukreja, Managing Principal, C. P. Kukreja Architects, which ranks among the world’s top 100 architecture firms, “Green architecture uses sustainable design practices for construction, utilizing locally available building materials and climatologically responsive techniques to derive best possible design solutions. This approach has significantly gained momentum in the past few years with a growing concern of harmful effects of building construction on the environment.

He adds, “As we look around, we realize that more and more cities across India are very soon going to be unlivable. I believe it is as much the responsibility of an Architect to design a new building as it is to be able to disseminate information and knowledge across society, on pertinent issues which affect us today or shall, in times to come.”

Notably, India’s hospitality industry is taking new strides in this regard. Recently, ITC Hotels became the world’s first hotel to achieve LEED Zero Carbon certification! This is a stellar example of how India’s hospitality industry is demonstrating excellence in reducing carbon footprints and nurturing impactful, sustainable practices.

Setting the global context on reducing carbon footprint and highlighting the role of technology in achieving sustainable golds, Varun Pahwa, President, Desiccant Rotors International (DRI) told Financial Express Online, “With the focus the world-over on control of emissions, there is growing recognition that resources are scarce, and the move towards reducing carbon footprints is no longer an option but a necessity. Innovation and technology are playing key roles in achieving these goals, right from the conceptualisation and design stage and in compliance with international standards and norms. Indian markets have already seen growth in sustainable solutions across sectors. As the move towards achievement of UN SGD goals becomes more pronounced, ‘green’ is the need of the hour.”