GOING GREEN AND SAVING MILLIONS: ENVIRONMENTAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000802 SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/PCI, OES/EGC, AND SCA/INS STATE FOR STAS DOE FOR INTERNATIONAL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV ENRG TRGY ECON KGHG IN SUBJECT: GOING GREEN AND SAVING MILLIONS: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS AT EMBASSY NEW DELHI ¶1. SUMMARY: Embassy New Delhi has achieved significant success in energy efficiency and environmental sustainability through a focused "going green" effort. Embassy New Delhi has been a pioneer in rainwater harvesting, solar technology, and energy conservation. Post has realized more than half a million dollars in cost savings per year, and has achieved one of the lowest rates of energy consumption per area and per person in the world. Post's success down the "green road" is a result of innovative thinking and a high level of environmental consciousness which permeates all major facilities and housing decision-making. The green achievements at Embassy New Delhi demonstrate the ability for overseas missions to leave a cleaner environmental footprint while realizing significant financial results. END SUMMARY. -------------- The Big Payback: Achieving Green Results -------------- ¶2. Embassy New Delhi's green initiatives over the past several years have seen outstanding environmental and financial results, particularly in the areas of water management, energy efficiency, and recycling. Post has realized approximately $550,000 in cost savings per year through a variety of energy conservation measures. According to a recent Overseas Building Operations (OBO) report, Post has one of the lowest rates of energy consumption per area (meters squared) and per person (full time equivalents) in the world. ¶3. Rainwater harvesting: Mission India is a leader in water conservation and, in particular, rainwater harvesting. With drought afflicting much of northern India, water outages are common in New Delhi for much of the year. To help meet this challenge, Embassy New Delhi completed a rainwater harvesting project in 2005, which now captures, filters, and recycles nearly 2.4 million gallons of water per year. This recaptured water helps to recharge aquifers and thus improve the region's ground water table. ¶4. Energy efficiency: Energy efficiency has been a key driver in all of Post's major facilities projects, and the impact has been tremendous. In 2002, the enclave compound's three electricity-run chillers (185 tons of refrigeration each) were replaced with environmentally appropriate CFC-free Vapor Absorption Machine chillers (325 tons of refrigeration each),which have allowed Post to save nearly 1.7 million kilowatt hours per year. The Embassy recently completed installation of variable frequency drives on all nine mechanical HVAC pumps and three air handling units at the enclave housing compound and realized savings of $70,000 from this $50,000 project in the first year alone. Post also replaced 600 old split A/C units with new energy efficient split units in residences, and has seen annual savings of nearly $263,000. There are currently no incandescent lamps in the Chancery office buildings - all bulbs are fluorescent. Additionally, Embassy New Delhi has replaced every electrical ballast in the Chancery compound, installing nearly 9,000 electronic ballasts which use up to 50% less energy than conventional ballasts. ¶5. Post has implemented the following additional energy-saving initiatives: 1) replacing electric stoves with compressed natural gas stoves in all 54 enclave apartments; 2) installing motion sensor lighting at the Chancery, Annex Building, and enclave compound; 3) installing insulated glass doors/windows and Inverted Roofing Membrane Assembly (IRMA) roofing; 4) installing more energy-efficient water pumps; 5) replacing 200 old style fan coil units with new energy efficient fan coil units in residences and office buildings; and 6) replacing one hundred 500-watt halogen fixtures with 130-watt high-pressure sodium fixtures for area lighting. ¶6. Embassy New Delhi is also a leader in implementing solar technology. Since 1994, Post has installed 119 solar hot water heaters on USG-owned residences. These new solar heaters have led to an estimated reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 6.15 tons/year as well as annual savings of more than $28,000. Solar technology is a Mission-wide priority, and solar hot water heaters have been installed at U.S. Consulates in India with similar results. ¶7. Recycling: Recycling in India is largely undertaken by the informal sector, which includes rag-pickers, middlemen and transporters, who collect trash and sell it to re-processors. Until last year, trash at Post was collected and hand-sorted on Embassy NEW DELHI 00000802 002 OF 002 grounds for onward distribution to re-processors. To reduce the health and sanitary risks posed by garbage accumulating within the Embassy compound, Post implemented a new recycling program in 2008, through which all trash is now collected at minimal cost by selected contractors who take waste offsite for sorting and re-use. Nearly all of Post's waste is now recycled, including paper, plastic, metal, and construction and gardening debris. Post estimates that a very low percentage of its trash winds up in landfills. -------------- It's About Professional Consciousness -------------- ¶8. In the words of the Embassy Senior Facilities Manager, "Energy savings and environmental sustainability permeate our professional consciousness at Post." This typifies the successful approach to change that has made Embassy New Delhi a leader in green initiatives. Post's greening efforts have evolved over years with clear commitment at all levels, from top management through local staff and contractors. Post contributes to ongoing OBO sustainability initiatives and to local and nationwide collaborative projects; however the real success has been at a more granular level. In every major facilities or housing decision - whether it involves site selection, water/energy usage, material selection, or ongoing operations - energy efficiency and sustainability have been critical factors. -------------- Momentum for Change in the Embassy Community -------------- ¶9. With sustainability now engrained in the Mission's culture, change has begun to occur at all levels. Embassy-affiliated organizations such as the American Women's Association, American Embassy School, and Community Liaison Office have become active in the going green effort. Today on Earth Day, the Embassy School is inviting various NGOs to sell their eco-friendly products and educate students on environmental issues. The Embassy's Entry-Level Professionals (ELPs) have recently formed an "ELP Green Committee" to support Post's ongoing environmental awareness efforts by assisting with recycling drives and raising consciousness throughout the Embassy community about proper energy use in homes. Recognizing the critical role of youth in India's society - nearly 70% of the population is under age 35 - the ELP Green Committee is working on a series of outreach events to local schools to speak with children about environmental sustainability and encourage this youth audience to get involved. -------------- Further on Down the Green Road -------------- ¶10. Building on the success of the new chillers on the residential enclave, Post aims to install new energy efficient chillers at the American Center in New Delhi, and is currently working with OBO to complete a preliminary survey and meet with potential vendors. The Facilities Management Section (FMS) hopes to install motion sensors on all non-residential switches throughout the compound. FMS is also looking into replacing solid diffusers with electronic ballast diffusers on all incandescent lights, a move which would yield immediate payback. ¶11. COMMENT: Through its various green measures, Embassy New Delhi has not only met GOI standards for water/electricity management, but has demonstrated environmental leadership among the diplomatic community. Post will continue to explore ways to raise awareness throughout the Embassy community about energy conservation in our residences and offices. These are just a few of the many measures under way to continue Post's leadership in environmental sustainability. END COMMENT.