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.

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The Big Payback: Achieving Green Results
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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.

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It's About Professional Consciousness
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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.

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Momentum for Change in the Embassy Community
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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.

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Further on Down the Green Road
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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.