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Salesian College Grabs UK Environmental Project

By CM Paul |

In a keenly contested environmental energy efficiency project presentation a college in the Darjeeling hills is among four selected out of 22 applicants for the Residential Environments Project (known as RESIDE). It is a four-year research project that aims to evaluate the impact of urban design on energy efficiency. 

“It is a matter of pride for us to partner in knowledge creation in the field as the only undergraduate college selected for the task,” says Saleisan College Principal Dr George Thadathil. 

Dr Thadthil adds, “One research scholar will be funded by the project during its first phase.” 

Further explaining the implications of the project Dr Thadathil says, “The college is the survey partner. The scholar and select students will conduct surveys in Darjeeling which is selected as one the five cities where the data collection is due.” 

The project will be implimented in Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Darjeeling. 

“Salesian College Sonada is the only college among the selected five, while others are MNIT Jaipur, IIT Hyderabad and other industrial partners from Mumbai and Delhi,” says Dr Thadathil. 

The EVS (Environmental Studies) assistant professor Mr Samar Thapa (extreme right in photo) at Salesian College Sonada whose PhD research was on this theme was instrumental in bringing this collaboration proposal through Prof Jyotirmoy Mathur of Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur (MNIT) to Principal Salesian College Fr. (Dr.) George Thadathil (fourth from right in photo).

RESIDE (Residential Energy Saving Industrial Design Engineering) ie., residential building energy demand reduction in India is a four-year research project that aims to evaluate the impact of urban design on energy efficiency plan.

The Inaugural meeting of the project with partner institutions and industry partners took place at Ibis International Hotel, Aerocity, New Delhi on 1 November 2017.

“The project aims to measure over a four year period the comfort level of housing units in five different climate zones of India. It will propose policies to streamline construction industry on minimum standards as to save on energy consumption,” SCS Principal Dr Thadathil explains.

The project also consists of POE (post occupancy evaluation) on 40 different aspects of room temperature and energy utilities.

The SCS project was among the four selected from among 22 applications by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India, and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) by Newton-Bhabha UK for funding.

The Newton Bhabha Fund aims to bring together the UK and Indian scientific research and innovation sectors to find joint solutions to the challenges facing India in economic development and social welfare.

Salesian College Sonada (SCS) established in 1938 is situated 6,500 feet above sea level at Gorabari village on NH55 – Siliguri Darjeeling Hill Cart Road – just two kilometers before Soanda town.

SCS is entering into its 80th year celebrations with a National Colloquium on “Future of Christian Higher Education and Contemporary Transitions in India,” inviting five Catholic Universities of India for a colloquium on 16 November 2017 in Kolkata.

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