WORKSHOP SUMMARY MAY 25, 2018
CONTENTS
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Introduction
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Carbon Decadence vs Carbon Poverty : Vikrom Mathur
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Eating Local : Ashmeet Kapoor
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Does One Size Fit All? : Gaurav Shorey
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Food Systems
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Lighting and Appliances
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Mobility
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Water Distribution
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Heating and Cooling
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Conclusion
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Participant list
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The Clean Energy Briefing Jam held on 25th May 2018 at WeWork Bristol Chowk Gurugram, saw UnBox and What Design Can Do bring together a group of experts and participants to identify the most pertinent problems related to climate change and energy use faced by Delhi - National Capital Region (NCR). This is the first step in a year-long Climate Action challenge initiated by What Design Can Do (WDCD) to tackle urban energy issues. Held simultaneously across the world in five different cities; SĂŁo Paulo, Mexico City, Nairobi, Amsterdam and New Delhi, the goal of this day-long Jam was to bring people from various backgrounds, skills, expertise and perspectives together at an early stage. Through facilitated discussions, the group helped identify and define the energy concerns and opportunities in their city that innovators then can address during the challenge. For the jam, energy use was considered through five aspects of urban living: 1) Heating and cooling in the city 2) Food systems in the city 3) Mobility in the city 4) Water distribution in the city 5) Lighting & appliances in the city This report attempts to highlight some of the key issues raised by experts and participants, that will help define the Clean Energy challenge for the present day energy concerns of Delhi - NCR. 4
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CARBON DECADENCE vs CARBON POVERTY VIKROM MATHUR: FOUNDER OF TANDEM RESEARCH & SENIOR FELLOW AT THE OBSERVER RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Vikrom’s expertise lies in studying the political and economic impacts of climate change, climate resilience and climate policy in India. He emphasised that the current framing of the challenge as ‘carbon decadence’ is a conundrum in India’s context. According to him such a concept may not be understood or even relevant in the context of India, as more than half its population does not have reliable access to energy and is in fact living in ‘carbon
VIKROM MATHUR
poverty’. The complexity of equitable distribution & variable access to energy in context of India negates this way of framing the question. Vikrom went on to point out a few perspectives to consider while framing the brief which included aspects like localisation of the problem, measures of climate resilience, and energy dignity. We need to localise how we address problems of climate change and energy because citizen action is a challenge. He highlighted the need for grassroots behavioural links to bring about large scale change. Are there climate actions, adaptations
As almost every form of alternative, renewable resource comes with its own set of limitations and challenges (e.g. the extensive amount of energy required to manufacture solar panels), it is evident that there is no one solution to solve such a colossal problem and any approach must be a multifaceted one.
and mitigation strategies that people have adapted to deal with everyday climate issues? Can we look into changing values & consumption patterns? There is a strong need to create new values around energy consumption that encourage behavioural change amongst people. Climate Resilience is the capacity for the Indian socio-ecological systems to absorb stresses and function in the face of climate change disasters and to adapt, reorganize, evolve and improve the sustainability of the system, leaving it better prepared for future climate change impacts. He also introduced the concept of ‘energy dignity’ for Delhi NCR. Energy dignity is the right for every individual to have fair and equal access to energy. While there are multiple, emerging opportunities to redress the issues of clean energy, there is at the same time a need for us to think about the aspirations of the rising rural populations whose need for energy is rapidly growing. On the governmental front, India is looking to push a policy on distributed solar energy in which every building and home would need to install solar rooftops, smart meters and smart grids. Though he felt that these efforts may be met with the challenge of regulatory inertia, the potential of impact is still an exciting prospect. 6
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EATING LOCAL ASHMEET KAPOOR: FOUNDER & CEO OF I SAY ORGANIC
Ashmeet’s founding vision for I Say Organic was to make sustainably grown, ecological food the norm and not the exception. In its five years since inception, I Say Organic has demonstrated that organic food & farming can lead to equitable income for the farmers and is a sustainable model to which other farmers can switch over to.
ASHMEET KAPOOR
I Say Organic has adopted several best practices to ensure its business model is environmentally sustainable, such as using vegetable ink for printing labels, solar powered warehouses and extensive planning around consumer demand to minimize refrigeration needs. I Say Organic has managed to reduce fresh food waste to 10% as compared to the national average of 40% thanks to its ‘farm-to-fork’ model. That 10% is further reduced via food processing to make condiments, preserves, sauces etc. This direct supplier-toconsumer model has also allowed farmers to earn a larger margin of 30 - 40% of retail price, increasing their income significantly. The company holds in high regard, not only the health of its consumers, but also of its farmers and makes this a central theme in their organisational culture.
The current system of mainstream agricultural production itself is falling short of the city’s rising demands. Some of the opportunity areas that the ensuing Clean Energy challenge could focus on was creating a sustainable value chain and decentralised distribution systems (using already existing systems instead of building new independent ones). On a behavioral level, opportunities lie in encouraging in-season consumption of vegetable and fruits and of eating local produce.
Ashmeet, however admitted that the organic farming model has its fair bit of challenges such as its dependence on labor intensive techniques, affordability, dependence on unpredictable weather and rain conditions, inaccessibility to wholesale markets, and a need for biodegradable, non toxic packaging alternatives. When asked by a fellow attendee about ways to certify if a product was truly organic, Ashmeet talked about the rigorous certification procedures carried out by governmental bodies. He also spoke about measures that I Say Organic takes at an organisational level, which includes meticulous soil testing as an on-boarding process for farmers as well as random checks that are held every quarter, on all farms from which food is being sourced. The big question was whether organic farming can feed a billion people? The short answer was ‘no’! There needs to be a significant shift in both production and consumption patterns.
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DOES ONE SIZE FIT ALL? GAURAV SHOREY; FOUNDER 5WARAJ & DIRECTOR PSI ENERGY
Gaurav Shorey has a B. Arch. Degree and a post-graduate diploma in advanced construction management. He is the founder and president of ‘5waraj’, a NGO which sensitizes children and adults towards the connection between local culture and climate. Mr. Shorey is also currently the director of Psi Energy Pvt Ltd., and visiting faculty at the school of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, ECBC Master Trainer and Faculty for green building training programs. He has worked on over a hundred green buildings and energy efficiency projects across India and internationally. Gaurav started his presentation by highlighting the diversity and complexity India encapsulates - there are 29 climate zones in the world of which India alone has 17. India also has 21 agro-ecological zones, with 31 distinct food-types and 155 soil types. The country has an incredible lingual, cultural variation and biodiversity to match. In light of this diversity, Gaurav explored the question of whether a one-size solution can fit all? There is
GAURAV SHOREY
no standardised definition of development that is suitable for all of India. Instead, he posited the need to train future generations to tackle climate challenges at a local level. He cited the example of a local tribe in the state of Rajasthan, the Churu tribe, that has used time-tested, traditional methods of environmental resilience against desertification. This emphasized the need to look contextually for Delhi’s energy issues and not import solutions from other
and urban societies. He thus posited the need to look at our own traditions for answers to questions that
geographies without due consideration.
our societies are trying to tackle today. Much like every debate in sustainability, traditional techniques
Gaurav went on to talk about his organisation, 5waraj’s (pronounced Swaraj) approach
solutions suited to one part of India will be suitable for another, but then again it is highly unlikely that
of looking at sustainability through the lens of local dialects, clothes, dwellings, dances, deities and diets. He elaborated on how language influences a culture of sustainability. In comparing Western dialects to those of the East, it is found that the former is more individual centric as opposed to the latter which emphasize family and community (for e.g. in Hindi, almost every familial relation has a unique word to describe the nature of relationship, as opposed to English which has a generic word - uncle and aunt - for most extended relations). This corroborates with the prevalence of joint family structures in Eastern cultures which may have been a more economically viable and environmentally sustainable structure of living as opposed to current nuclear family trends popular in cities 10
come with their own set of challenges - the biggest one being scalability. It may not be possible that there is one answer to the multitude of problems the world is currently facing. So what steps can we take today? We could start with demanding better policies - such as Japan’s “Cool Biz Policy” that requires all official building to limit temperature control to 28 degrees. The campaign resulted in a 460,000-ton reduction in CO2 emission, the equivalent volume of CO2 emitted by about 1 million households for one month. We need to look at the problems and solutions as an integrated system of a larger whole and not in isolation. We also need to look for solutions inter-generationally and design effective feedback loop structures to build strong support systems for implementation of these solutions. 11
Other opportunities included a need for the government to support climate resilient agricultural practices as well as large scale behavioural change campaigns that can change how Delhi- NCR eats. For example - encouraging residents of the city to start eating more in-season food, and support local initiatives and small scale farmers through more farmer markets etc. The opportunities for reducing plastic packaging would require behaviour changes in our food ordering habits, our dependence on plastic cutlery, straws, plastic plates etc and the need to demand better alternatives from our suppliers. This could contribute to waste reduction and thereby also reduce the carbon footprint of the city. The team drew attention to a few initiatives like the edible cutlery company, Bakeys, that make spoons and forks from a variety of different whole grains as well as the countless companies coming up with straw alternatives like paper straws, foldable steel straws, pasta straws. Other than requiring a change in the consumers, such initiatives would need the support and buy-in of agribusinesses, farmers, organised and unorgtanised retailers such as the “local mandis�, sustainability experts, policymakers, experts in the food processing industry, data scientists, agriculture experts, climate experts and researchers - all contributing to efforts around shifting how we eat as a city.
REFRAMING THE CLEAN ENERGY CHALLENGES Food Systems For food systems within Delhi- NCR, the group identified food waste management and the lack of alternatives to plastic for food packaging as their main focus areas. The group identified opportunities in creating effective feedback loop systems that enabled optimal supply chain planning and can reduce food waste by understanding customer demands. Adopting wide-scale farm to table initiatives by encouraging hydroponic units, vertical gardens and urban gardens could reduce dependence on refrigeration, and lower fresh food waste.
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REFRAMING THE CLEAN ENERGY CHALLENGES Lighting and Appliances Under the theme of lighting & appliances in Delhi-NCR, the group highlighted the lack of accessibility to power grids in congested areas due to unplanned urban growth, dependency on appliances such as air conditioning due to poor building design, and discontinuation of traditional methods of construction that used to be climate appropriate. The over-reliance on current cooling systems and backup power systems, that are heavily dependent on fossil fuels, further exacerbates the issue. ‘Smart’ technologies are still too expensive and inaccessible to a large mass of the population. The other issues were related to the energy demands of a growing population, the aspirations of an upwardly mobile economy and inadequate monitoring and managing systems to meet those demands and expectations. The opportunities emerging from these challenges were multi-fold. Sustainable building design needs to be prioritised with energy generation (through renewable methods such as solar panels) built-in as part of the infrastructure. Technology based solutions such as applications that can monitor individual carbon footprint, smart devices and automation can be effective if this ‘smart tech’ is made affordable and available. Large scale policy change and better implementation at the state level is required to help efficient technology reach the masses along with subsidies to make the technology as affordable as possible. Other opportunities lie in systemic change such as promoting scalable, decentralised grids; encouraging traditional practices and learning from past knowledge systems; incentivising behaviours geared towards power conservation; and encouraging and recognizing early adopters of sustainable models. Communication strategies are required for bringing about behavioural change and spreading more awareness about different renewable energy alternatives. Like any other effort, finding a suitable solution would require multiple stakeholders to come together such as developers and builders, MCDs (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) that can
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oversee effective implementation and regulation, experts working with different renewable energy techniques who can provide training to contractors, solar power businesses, engineers, architects, designers, policy makers, the State Government and marketers and advertisers to help shift awareness and mindsets. Currently, some of the initiatives towards better energy management are Governmental effort like EESL (Energy Efficiency Services Limited) which is a joint venture of four National Public Sector Undertakings – NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation Limited, Rural Electrification Corporation Limited and POWERGRID Corporation of India Limited, set up under Ministry of Power. It is the world’s largest ESCO (Energy Service Company) and has already reduced India’s carbon footprint, peak energy demand, and electricity bills through energy efficiency intervention projects worth INR 43 billion in municipal water pumps, fans, buildings, tube lights, air-conditioners, and other appliances. On 14th May 2018 The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced a new National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy that provides a framework for the promotion of large grid-connected windsolar Photovoltaics (PV) hybrid systems for efficient utilization of transmission infrastructure and land. The policy also aims at reducing the variability in renewable power generation and achieving better grid stability. According to the Ministry scheme for new hybrid projects under the policy are in the pipeline. A number of technology based companies in India like Tiny Tech Plants, Avi Solar Tech to name a few, are producing parabolic solar concentrators, others are manufacturing solar cooking systems, solar lamps, green rooftops, smart meters and plugs. Delhi power distribution company (discom) BSES initiates an air conditioner (AC) replacement scheme which will allow consumers to save up to Rs 7,500 annually depending on the type of AC. At a community level are the green living practices being adopted by people in smaller, conscious, intentional communities such as Auroville, as well as by individuals on an everyday personal basis. There are also advertisements and behavior change communication that promote the use of LED bulbs in mainstream media.
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REFRAMING THE CLEAN ENERGY CHALLENGES Mobility Improving last mile connectivity along with better public transport which is not only accessible and affordable but also comfortable is what the group identified as the biggest opportunity areas. The problem with mobility and energy is cross cutting transport and the ease with which it is accessible has a lot to do with urban planning and architecture. A sprawling city cover like that of Delhi makes last mile connectivity extremely challenging, while compact structures like most gridded cities makes connectivity more easy and effective. The lack of last mile connectivity makes it harder for people to get to points of access to public transport which encourages them to invest in private transport instead. This in turn leads to rises in fares to meet structural demand, which in turn leads to a lack of use of public transport, thereby highlighting the interdependence of these issues. The stakeholders that would need to be involved in making significant changes in how Delhi-NCR travels are the government, corporate policy makers, public (the existing and potential commuters), industry and infrastructure experts, city planners, engineers and architects. The government has also set out targets in this area: 2018-19 will see 1000 electric buses in use for which the budget has already been approved. By 2022, the 4th phase of Delhi Metro is to be under way. Other than these larger goals here are some smaller initiatives that are already in play to improve mobility in the city, such as the provision of metro cycles. Private initiatives by companies like HCL (Hindustan Computers Limited) provide cycles at metro stations for employees to use. On the governmental front, the subsidised fares for students & elder in public transport have encouraged a large population of people in Delhi to use public transport thereby reducing their carbon footprint.
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REFRAMING THE CLEAN ENERGY CHALLENGES Water Distribution One of the biggest challenges the group identified was over-dependency on other states and lack of more efficient ways of using water supply. Majority of Delhi - NCR’s water comes from other states (Haryana) and from ground water. Delhi’s water needs is about 1100 mgd (million gallons per day) of which 300 mgd comes from groundwater while 600 mgd is imported. The area faces a deficiency of 200 mgd, water leakages at government infrastructure and individual levels contribute significantly to the water deficiency. Another challenge is the toxicity of water leaving Delhi wherein the BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) index is of ~60. There a perennial problem of water pollution and the challenge of keeping our water sources and rivers clean. There is a shortfall when it comes to reaching off-grid communities and settlements on the outskirts of the city. Other challenges are around lack of sense of responsibility regarding distribution and uneven and inconsistent zoning influenced unduly by a block’s affluence. So what are the opportunities that can help tackle these challenges? The team outlined the need for tools and strategies for limiting conspicuous consumption, spreading awareness about water consumption patterns and behaviour, and better systems of agency over access to water. Incentivising rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling to bring about behavioural change could have a significant impact. Outliers such as A R Shivakumar, a Bangalore resident who hasn’t paid for water in over 23 years and who believes planned water harvesting can effectively sustain the cities (Bangalore) water supply are great hopes in mitigating the water crisis. Other questions that arose from the discussion were around the scale at which these problems need to be tackled. The fact that water bodies exist beyond arbitrary state lines raise concerns of how one can solve cross border conflicts in water distribution as the stakeholders are varied and with different political affiliations, making it a really complex problem
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The people who would play a pivotal role in working on a locally based solution are the community elders and local artisans, academicians and professionals (architects, sociologists, anthropologists), experts working close to natural systems, strategists, designers and marketers and of course policy and government officials engaged directly with implementation and monitoring. Some of the national milestones the team noted were the Energy Conservation Building Code - which states that all public buildings had to be green rated. The use of “breathing materials” are to be made mandatory across India by 2018-19, of which 18 states are complete. The Housing for all Mission is to be implemented by 2020. A few initiatives already working towards these national goals are: organisations such as Gram Power, that provides smart meters and systems of electricity monitoring and regulation, and 5waraj, which is working towards reviving faith in traditional knowledge and systems.
REFRAMING THE CLEAN ENERGY CHALLENGES Heating & Cooling When it came to heating and cooling in the city, some of the challenges identified by the group were around poorly designed infrastructure that were “power guzzling” as opposed to power conserving. Another was around mindsets of development and social progress such as attitudes around car ownership. And finally a big challenge around the contextual relevance and scalability of already existing solutions and innovations. In response to some of these challenges the group saw a big opportunity in learning from traditional knowledge systems and adapting them to current problems. As one of the biggest challenge in this method is the contextual nature of traditional processes, the group felt there was no one solution that could fit all, and finding an answer to the problems DelhiNCR faces may actually be unique only to this city.
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Though each group had to tackle the different spectrums of the clean energy crisis, there were commonalities in looking for solutions: 1. The need to look at problems through a complex, connected web of systems as opposed to siloed units. 2. The potential of traditional practices - what is it that we can re-learn and re-work from our past to fit our current context. 3. Scalable solutions versus local contextualised answers 4. Design as a systems and behavioural change tool With the government’s focus on meeting energy demands responsibly, there is an opportunity for design to deliver solutions that can have a large scale impact. The national milestones that the state and country are working towards are; National: A 6.75% RPO (Renewable purchase obligations) by 2019, which is to be increased to a 8.75% RPO by 2020. By 2022, we aim to have 175 GW solar & wind capacity. In the target submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention (UNFCCC), India has pledged to cut the intensity of its carbon emissions by 33-35 per cent and boost it’s nonfossil-based power capacity to 40 per cent by 2030. The government intends to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 level. State: Delhi is to implement a solar policy with the aim of making the national capital a solar city with the installation of 1 GW solar power capacity by 2020. This is to increase to 2 GW by 2025. (Delhi Solar policy 2016) 25
NEW DELHI PARTNERS
UNBOX TEAM
GLOBAL PREMIUM PARTNER
RESEARCH PARTNER
ACCELERATION PARTNER
ENDORSED BY
Ayush Chauhan Ayangbe Mannen Hugo Pilate Sukanya Deepak Srishti Sehgal Dennis Francis Theo Aanchal Sodhani Tuli
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