The commitment of Danfoss India to water conservation and sustainability has been recognised with the LEED Zero Water certification for its Chennai campus. The project team has implemented several measures and strategies to achieve the certification.

The Chennai facility has embraced several practices that encourage a circular economy of water and optimal use of the available water resources within the campus. Rainwater and treated water captured within the campus cater to a significant portion of the buildings’ potable and process water requirements, minimising reliance on municipal water supply. Although a minimal amount of water is procured from the municipality during summers, excess rainwater is treated and shared with it on rainy days, ensuring a water balance status of zero.

The water sustainability practices on the campus, including a rainwater harvesting pond, IoT-based measures to reduce domestic water leakage, low-flow aerators equipped with auto-sensor taps and effluent treatment plant (ETP) and sewage treatment plant (STP) systems, facilitate the treatment and reuse of domestic wastewater. The campus also has zero liquid discharge (ZLD) plants and sprinkler and drip irrigation systems to minimise water usage and discharge.

The IoT-based solution includes the use of over 300 sensors spread across the 50-acre campus to reduce water intensity by about two-thirds over the last four years. Digitalisation efforts in measuring sources and consumption, changing behaviours of users, and technology intervention have all contributed to the success of the initiative.

CW spoke to Ravichandran Purushothaman, President, Danfoss India Region, on the finer aspects of the project and here’s what he told us:

“We place sustainability at the heart of everything we do. Water being a critical resource, it is heartening for us to share that our Danfoss Chennai campus is now water-sufficient and has earned the prestigious LEED Zero Water certification, which stands testament to our sustainability commitments. A number of measures that made this feat possible include:

Water-efficient plumbing fixtures: The project team has installed water-efficient plumbing fixtures in the campus, which have significantly reduced water demand by approximately 55 per cent.

Treated water reuse: The team has also implemented a treated water reuse system, which has saved more than 80 per cent of the total potable water usage. The treated water is sourced from the STP and rainwater pond of about 3,600 kl. This treated water is used for flushing toilets, irrigation and other non-potable uses.

Rainwater harvesting: The rainwater pond of approximately 3,600 kl serves as the main source of water supply for the campus. The rainwater is collected and treated to cater to the campus's daily water needs.

Building-wise water usage monitoring: One of the challenges encountered by the project team was installing and monitoring additional meters to track rainwater usage building-wise. However, they overcame this challenge and met the LEED Zero water certification requirements.

Positive response from occupants: The occupants of the campus are happy and proud to be part of this water-saving movement. Being a factory-based campus, achieving the LEED Zero Water certification was a challenge, but with the support of every occupant, it was possible.

LEED certification: The major buildings in the campus have LEED O+M Version 3.2 4 Platinum rating, which means that the project team has addressed water-efficiency, energy-efficiency, indoor air quality and material selection through a sustainable approach from the concept development to execution and operations.

Annual water savings: The project team has projected annual water savings resulting from the water-efficient features implemented in the project. The implementation of water-efficient fixtures has reduced water demand by approximately 55 per cent and the treated water reuse system has saved more than 80 per cent of total potable water usage.

Sustainability performance: The project team has addressed water-efficiency, energy-efficiency, indoor air quality and material selection through a sustainable approach from the concept development to execution and operations. The team's efforts have continued and they have addressed sustainability aspects to the maximum extent during the operational phase, which paved the path of success to achieve the LEED Zero Water certification.”

Evidently, the project team at Danfoss has gone through several measures to achieve the LEED Zero Water certification but this is not their end goal. They remain dedicated to continuously monitoring the performance of the campus to ensure that the monthly data is updated on the LEED ARC portal. By doing so, they are confident that the annual performance targets will be consistently met, leading to a more comprehensive and sustainable way of upgrading the campus's performance. In the long run, this commitment to sustainability will ultimately benefit the environment and contribute to a better future.