By Solar Times Bureau
Pune, December 12th, 2016: The Tata Central Archives (TCA), the corporate business archive of the Tata group, has been awarded the prestigious ‘Platinum Rating under Indian Green Building Council’s (IGBC) Existing Building Operations and Maintenance Rating System.’ TCA has received this rating for continuously implementing measurable strategies and solutions in five categories: site and facility management, water efficiency, energy efficiency, health and comfort, and innovation.
TCA was launched by J.R.D. Tata on January 7th, 1991, and serves as a central point of information and a centre for research, for Tata companies, researchers, and the public on the rich history of the House of Tata.
Mr. Farokh N. Subedar, Chairman, Tata Services and Chief Operating Officer, Tata Sons said, “The Tata Central Archives is the custodian of the Tata Heritage, and receiving a platinum certification from IGBC is a proud milestone for us. We have an added responsibility to create and maintain a repository of Tata records that will motivate and inspire generations to come. The state-of-the-art facilities preserve invaluable historical material which helps understand the group ethos and appreciate the quality of the people who shaped it.”
Some of the sustainable practices being followed by TCA are:
– Energy savings: As compared to the specific energy consumption (SEC) on base buildings in similar categories, the energy performance in the building has improved by more than 32 percent.
– Reduction in water consumption: The building is equipped with smart retrofits like waterless urinals, smart metering, measurement, and verification which have reduced the consumption of domestic water supplied water by 40 percent. Also, a unique soil bio-technology STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) has been installed to recycle grey water for landscaping reuse.
– Use of renewable energy: To promote the use of renewable energy, the building has an on-site grid tied solar photovoltaic (PV) installation which generates 54,000 KWh (electrical units) annually.
– Waste Management: TCA follows a stringent segregated waste management policy leading to best practices in solid waste management including a tie-up with SWAACH, an e-waste processing NGO under the Pune Municipal Corporation. On-site dry waste including waste paper is sent out for paper pulp conversion and on-site vermicomposting helps in composting food, kitchen and landscaping waste.
– Conservation of resources: A green policy has been introduced to promote the conservation of resources. Also, a continuous measurement and verification system has led to savings in electricity, water, and other resources.
Further, the futuristic building is equipped with several key features including portable fire extinguishers with clean agents, power saving VRF air conditioning units, LED installations and solar panels. In 2006, TCA became the first business archives in the country to receive the ISO 9001:2000 certification.
The project was implemented with the support of Tata Services along with Eco First Services Limited, the sustainability arm of Tata Consulting Engineers Limited, which works in the area of Integrated Design Services, Building Retro Commissioning and Green Building Certification.