VZCZCXRO6047
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHHM RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHNEH
RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHTM RUEHTRO
DE RUEHNE #0802/01 1121334
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221334Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6301
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC
RUCPDC/NOAA NMFS WASHINGTON DC
RUEAEPA/EPA WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000802 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR OES/PCI, OES/EGC, AND SCA/INS 
STATE FOR STAS 
DOE FOR INTERNATIONAL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV ENRG TRGY ECON KGHG IN
SUBJECT:  GOING GREEN AND SAVING MILLIONS: ENVIRONMENTAL 
CONSCIOUSNESS AT EMBASSY NEW DELHI 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  Embassy New Delhi has achieved significant success in 
energy efficiency and environmental sustainability through a focused 
"going green" effort.  Embassy New Delhi has been a pioneer in 
rainwater harvesting, solar technology, and energy conservation. 
Post has realized more than half a million dollars in cost savings 
per year, and has achieved one of the lowest rates of energy 
consumption per area and per person in the world.  Post's success 
down the "green road" is a result of innovative thinking and a high 
level of environmental consciousness which permeates all major 
facilities and housing decision-making.  The green achievements at 
Embassy New Delhi demonstrate the ability for overseas missions to 
leave a cleaner environmental footprint while realizing significant 
financial results.  END SUMMARY. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
The Big Payback:  Achieving Green Results 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  Embassy New Delhi's green initiatives over the past several 
years have seen outstanding environmental and financial results, 
particularly in the areas of water management, energy efficiency, 
and recycling.  Post has realized approximately $550,000 in cost 
savings per year through a variety of energy conservation measures. 
According to a recent Overseas Building Operations (OBO) report, 
Post has one of the lowest rates of energy consumption per area 
(meters squared) and per person (full time equivalents) in the 
world. 
 
¶3.  Rainwater harvesting:  Mission India is a leader in water 
conservation and, in particular, rainwater harvesting.  With drought 
afflicting much of northern India, water outages are common in New 
Delhi for much of the year.  To help meet this challenge, Embassy 
New Delhi completed a rainwater harvesting project in 2005, which 
now captures, filters, and recycles nearly 2.4 million gallons of 
water per year.  This recaptured water helps to recharge aquifers 
and thus improve the region's ground water table. 
 
¶4.  Energy efficiency:  Energy efficiency has been a key driver in 
all of Post's major facilities projects, and the impact has been 
tremendous.  In 2002, the enclave compound's three electricity-run 
chillers (185 tons of refrigeration each) were replaced with 
environmentally appropriate CFC-free Vapor Absorption Machine 
chillers (325 tons of refrigeration each), which have allowed Post 
to save nearly 1.7 million kilowatt hours per year.  The Embassy 
recently completed installation of variable frequency drives on all 
nine mechanical HVAC pumps and three air handling units at the 
enclave housing compound and realized savings of $70,000 from this 
$50,000 project in the first year alone.  Post also replaced 600 old 
split A/C units with new energy efficient split units in residences, 
and has seen annual savings of nearly $263,000.  There are currently 
no incandescent lamps in the Chancery office buildings - all bulbs 
are fluorescent.  Additionally, Embassy New Delhi has replaced every 
electrical ballast in the Chancery compound, installing nearly 9,000 
electronic ballasts which use up to 50% less energy than 
conventional ballasts. 
 
¶5.  Post has implemented the following additional energy-saving 
initiatives:  1) replacing electric stoves with compressed natural 
gas stoves in all 54 enclave apartments; 2) installing motion sensor 
lighting at the Chancery, Annex  Building, and enclave compound; 3) 
installing insulated glass doors/windows and Inverted Roofing 
Membrane Assembly (IRMA) roofing; 4) installing more 
energy-efficient water pumps; 5) replacing 200 old style fan coil 
units with new energy efficient fan coil units in residences and 
office buildings; and 6) replacing one hundred 500-watt halogen 
fixtures with 130-watt high-pressure sodium fixtures for area 
lighting. 
 
¶6.  Embassy New Delhi is also a leader in implementing solar 
technology.  Since 1994, Post has installed 119 solar hot water 
heaters on USG-owned residences.  These new solar heaters have led 
to an estimated reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 6.15 
tons/year as well as annual savings of more than $28,000.  Solar 
technology is a Mission-wide priority, and solar hot water heaters 
have been installed at U.S. Consulates in India with similar 
results. 
 
¶7.  Recycling:  Recycling in India is largely undertaken by the 
informal sector, which includes rag-pickers, middlemen and 
transporters, who collect trash and sell it to re-processors.  Until 
last year, trash at Post was collected and hand-sorted on Embassy 
 
NEW DELHI 00000802  002 OF 002 
 
 
grounds for onward distribution to re-processors.  To reduce the 
health and sanitary risks posed by garbage accumulating within the 
Embassy compound, Post implemented a new recycling program in 2008, 
through which all trash is now collected at minimal cost by selected 
contractors who take waste offsite for sorting and re-use.  Nearly 
all of Post's waste is now recycled, including paper, plastic, 
metal, and construction and gardening debris.  Post estimates that a 
very low percentage of its trash winds up in landfills. 
 
------------------------------------- 
It's About Professional Consciousness 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  In the words of the Embassy Senior Facilities Manager, "Energy 
savings and environmental sustainability permeate our professional 
consciousness at Post."  This typifies the successful approach to 
change that has made Embassy New Delhi a leader in green 
initiatives.  Post's greening efforts have evolved over years with 
clear commitment at all levels, from top management through local 
staff and contractors.  Post contributes to ongoing OBO 
sustainability initiatives and to local and nationwide collaborative 
projects; however the real success has been at a more granular 
level.  In every major facilities or housing decision - whether it 
involves site selection, water/energy usage, material selection, or 
ongoing operations - energy efficiency and sustainability have been 
critical factors. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
Momentum for Change in the Embassy Community 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  With sustainability now engrained in the Mission's culture, 
change has begun to occur at all levels.  Embassy-affiliated 
organizations such as the American Women's Association, American 
Embassy School, and Community Liaison Office have become active in 
the going green effort.  Today on Earth Day, the Embassy School is 
inviting various NGOs to sell their eco-friendly products and 
educate students on environmental issues.  The Embassy's Entry-Level 
Professionals (ELPs) have recently formed an "ELP Green Committee" 
to support Post's ongoing environmental awareness efforts by 
assisting with recycling drives and raising consciousness throughout 
the Embassy community about proper energy use in homes.  Recognizing 
the critical role of youth in India's society - nearly 70% of the 
population is under age 35 - the ELP Green Committee is working on a 
series of outreach events to local schools to speak with children 
about environmental sustainability and encourage this youth audience 
to get involved. 
 
------------------------------ 
Further on Down the Green Road 
------------------------------ 
 
¶10.  Building on the success of the new chillers on the residential 
enclave, Post aims to install new energy efficient chillers at the 
American Center in New Delhi, and is currently working with OBO to 
complete a preliminary survey and meet with potential vendors.  The 
Facilities Management Section (FMS) hopes to install motion sensors 
on all non-residential switches throughout the compound.  FMS is 
also looking into replacing solid diffusers with electronic ballast 
diffusers on all incandescent lights, a move which would yield 
immediate payback. 
 
¶11.  COMMENT:  Through its various green measures, Embassy New Delhi 
has not only met GOI standards for water/electricity management, but 
has demonstrated environmental leadership among the diplomatic 
community.  Post will continue to explore ways to raise awareness 
throughout the Embassy community about energy conservation in our 
residences and offices.  These are just a few of the many measures 
under way to continue Post's leadership in environmental 
sustainability.  END COMMENT.