Issues This Week

High Rises to Turn Over Green Leaf, Get Energy –Efficient:-

By law Simplified use of energy efficient glass, that cut down use of lights, ACs to get Mandatory:

New Delhi: High Rises in the capital are all set to become greener. It may soon become mandatory for high rises in Delhi to use “Energy –Efficient glass” on their exterior that allow ample sunlight in but keep the heat out, cutting down on use of lights and air-conditioning.

The Delhi Urban Act   Commission (DUAC) has sent a proposal, among others, to the Urban Development ministry for approval. “This is a part of the proposal on simplified building by Law for Delhi”, said a senior official.

DUAC chairman Raj Rewal said the plan for any building will have to ensure use of energy-efficient glass, apart from other measures, DUAC had also recommended extra floor area for ration for green building as an incentive.

The NCR is also going green. In fact, Gurgaon is way ahead of the capital with 15 such buildings. Five of them have highest “Platinum certification of the US” Green buildings Council’s Leadership in Energy and environment Design (LEED).

One of these, the headquarters of the Institute of Rural Research and Development (IRRAD) is built as green as possible. The building has 7,000 Litre strong tanks to save rainwater and solar panels that produce 35kw of electricity per annul, enough to take care of the building’s need.

But some external feel that just using energy-efficient glass won’t make a building ‘Green’ ”Eight percent facade of most buildings is enveloped by the glass, which lets in a lot of heat. We need design interventions, “ said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director, Center for science and Environment.  

Green FAQs

What is green Building?

A green building is one which uses less water, optimises energy efficiency, let’s in enough sunlight conserves natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for its occupants as compare to a conventional building.

What are its benefits?

An energy efficient building can lead to 30-50 per cent energy saving and 20-30 per cent water savings. Not only will you save to lot of money in power and water bills, you’ll also get a healthier environment to live in. And of course, it’s good for environment!

Are Green buildings more costly to construct?

The incremental cost depends on the building’s design. Thought it might cost more than a conventional building, it will be made up by the fact that you will save more annually in energy and water costs.

Does it make more time to construct a green building?

It doesn't take more times, especially if design parameters are frozen at one go then only a little more additional effort is required. The rating of the building also has no impact on the project time schedule

Could only Large-sized building be green buildings?

For a building to be rated a green building many parameters have to be followed. All of these may not be replicable in your house. But you can adopt a lot of energy-savings and environment-friendly measures in your house and lifestyle.

After Purchase, Keep cash receipt safe:

Consumer Focus:

Several studies in the past have shown that Indian consumer do not insist on the cash receipt when they make purchases. Has this consumer attitude changed in recent times?

Not really. A recent survey on the ‘buying behavior of consumers” conducted by the Indian Institute of Public administration has shown what only 26 percent of the consumer demand of the cash receipt when they make a purchase. But even this percentage varies, depending on the awareness and assertiveness of the consumer.

While 47 percent of the consumer in Karnataka demand a cash receipt when they buy goods, this percentage is as low as 9 percent in Tripura and between 11-12 percent in Uttar Pardesh and Odisha. The survey which was part of a larger study n the impact of the Consumer Protection Act, covered ten districts of five states – Gujrat, Karnataka. Odisha, Tripura and Uttar Pardesh.

The Study unfortunately did not look at a related facet – do those consumers who collect the cash receipt keep them safe? A probe into this aspect of consumer behavior, I am sure, would throw up another important issue –the need to keep the receipt safe. I often come across consumers who start searching for that have problem and then find out the have lost the receipt. Forget going to the consumer court, even the retailer will behave differently when he knows that you have no receipt and therefore no proof of purchase.

So, do collect the receipt and always keep it safe- the Duration depending on the life of the product. Of course, for the receipt to be of value, it should be mention the name and address of the seller, the date of the sale and clearly describe the product being sold and its price. It is equally important to collect and preserves receipt of after sales services because in case of a dispute, they provide crucial evidence – proof of defect in the product or the fact that despite repeated repairs, the problem could not be rectified. So do maintain a file and keep the receipts safe.

Meanwhile, consumers would do well to demand that state government take the responsibility of ensuring that all traders. Irrespective of the volume of sale, issue cash memos to consumers.

Most client say: it is difficult to take a receipt or cash memo for items such as milk, cool drink, etc so in such situation when retailers charge more than the maximum retail price, how does one raise a complaint?

Without a receipt – proof of purchase – you cannot really lodge a complaint against the retailers either before the department of legal metro logy (the enforcement agency in case) or the consumer court. So do insist on a cash receipt, whatever the item initially, shop keepers may resist and even ask you to go and buy elsewhere, but if consumers persist, they will be forced to issue proper cash receipts. Also remember that you have a right to ask a receipt and insist on it.

We must mention here that under the proposed amendments to the Consumer Protection Act (which is before the parliament), failure to issue a bill for any payment made towards services or goods becomes services becomes an “unfair” trade practice And the Consumer Protection Act gives consumers the right to be protected against unfair trade practices and the right to be compensated for any loss or injury caused on account of an unfair trade practice, So consumer can file class action suits against retailers who do not issue receipts.