Although it's winter in Mumbai, the daytime temperature in the city is hovering around an average maximum of 30 degrees Celsius. However, a few buildings remain in the city that can actively resist heat, and they are heritage structures. Founder of Panasia Engineers Surendra Shah, has now developed a modern solution that mimics the age-old techniques used in constructing heritage buildings.
"The reason heritage buildings like Taj Mahal, Lotus Temple and Gol Gumbaj ensure a cooler clime inside is that they have thick walls that act as a barrier to heat. The scale of construction was always grand, resulting the structure acting as a heat capacitor. And a water body close to the building drains the heat stored inside," said Shah, an 81-year-old mechanical engineer with a degree from Clemson University, USA.
Since it isn't feasible or wise to build such grand structures anymore, Shah has used modern technology to provide a viable cooling solution that is energy efficient. It involves laying joint less polypropylene pipes on the roof and walls with water flowing through them and are connected to a circulation tank.
These pipes can then be covered with screed or tiles. Water will pass into the tank through a radiator, which releases the heat stored in the water into the atmosphere and recirculates cooler water through the house, resulting in temperature of the structure being brought down.
"The system is energy efficient because the only energy used is by the small pump and fan in the radiator, which can be easily run by adding a solar panel supplying 300watts. In winters, an additional solar panel can help increase the temperature within," said Udit Shah, son and present owner of Panasia Engineers.
The average cost of the system – Thermodrain – is quoted at Rs100/sq ft. The company has equipped nearly 29 domestic as well as commercial spaces with this system.
Santosh Saraf, a trustee, Swatantraveer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak, Shivaji Park, Dadar, said: "Ranjit Savarkar, our executive director, had this system installed at the smarak three years ago. We then switched from a 72-ton AC system to a 42-ton one, saving a lot of money. However, in humid cities like Mumbai, it would not be as effective as humidity also increases the ambient temperature."
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