Logo

Buildings Guide


ACC Cement House

Low-Energy Building
Year None
Municipality Chruchgate
Location Mumbai, India | OSM
State Maharashtra
Area (TFA) 8012 m2
Dwellings None
Cost 524 EUR/m2
Consumption 120 kWh/m2/year (primary energy)
Specific Primary Energy Demand in KWh/m2a

Cement House, an iconic and stately old building, is the registered office of ACC Limited, India’s leading cement manufacturer. Built during 1939-43, this classic Art Deco building was renovated and transformed in 2009 into a Green building qualifying for Gold certification in the (LEED) New Construction & Major Renovation rating of the Indian Green Building Council. It is the first project in the country to be registered under the criteria of major renovation of an existing building. The building has also received the 5 star rating under the BEE rating program for existing office buildings. Cement House is located opposite Mumbai’s busy Western Railways terminal also known as Churchgate.


Overall performance

The energy performance index of the building is 120 kWh/m2/year which is calculated based on the actual energy consumption of the building for the year 2014.

Cost and effectiveness

The total cost of refurbishment of building is 4,200,000 Euros.

Building basics

Number of units None
Number of occupants None people
Elevation 14 m

Building areas


Special features

  1. All the water fixtures installed in the building are sensor based water efficient plumbing fixtures.
  2. Sewage treatment plant (STP) is installed in the building, that recycles the used waterand is being used in the terrace garden, landscaped areas.
  3. Rain water harvesting is being utilized in the building.
  4. Integrated building management system has been installed in the building to monitor temperatures, power supply, lighting, water and security of the entire building.
  5. Efficient air-conditioning system comprising of air cooled Variable Refrigerant flow system has been installed in the building.

Optical and motion sensors provide automatically controlled lighting based on occupancy. The air-conditioning systems regulate the flow of cool air depending on ambient temperature and occupancy in different office spaces. The use of solar water heaters together with daylight harvesting, intelligent lighting and cooling systems help reduce overall energy consumption by 25 per cent.

All sinks in the building are fitted with sensor based water efficient plumbing fixtures. A sewage treatment plant recycles used water which is then diverted for use in terrace gardens, landscaped areas and water closets Indoor plants are selected for their low water intake. Rainwater is harvested.


The highlight of the refurbishment is a grand central atrium which is a central shaft in the building’s core. Storage and utility areas on each floor are aggregated and located as a common facility, leaving substantial space for use as open corridors, lounges and just open spaces. The exposed roof of the building comprises of EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) insulation to minimize the heat gains. The external wall of the building has cavity wall which have higher thermal resistance as compared to the conventional brick wall.

The three unused terraces in the building have been converted into green roof gardens with native plant species that conserve water. Amenities include a spacious new canteen, a mini-gymnasium, breakout areas and coffee lounges on every floor. The new layout comprises a vast open office on each floor with open workstations and workspaces of various sizes that allow free access to air and light. The only covered spaces are conference rooms for each floor. The office spaces on all floors overlook the imposing central atrium.

Type of construction Middle
Thermal bridging No
Air tightness No
Shading Internal blinds

Ground floor
U-value 2.156 W/m2K
Total thickness 32.30 cm
Total area m2
Material Thickness Thermal conductivity λ
Brick 12.50 cm 1.270 W/mK
PCC Slab 15.00 cm 1.740 W/mK
Cement Mortar 4.00 cm 0.719 W/mK
Ceramic Tile 0.80 cm 1.372 W/mK
(From outside to inside)
Basement walls
U-value 2.830 W/m2K
Total thickness 31.00 cm
Total area m2
Material Thickness Thermal conductivity λ
RCC wall 30.00 cm 1.580 W/mK
Cement Plaster 1.00 cm 0.721 W/mK
(From outside to inside)
External walls
U-value 1.107 W/m2K
Total thickness 53.00 cm
Total area m2
Material Thickness Thermal conductivity λ
Cement Plaster 1.00 cm 0.721 W/mK
Brick 23.00 cm 1.270 W/mK
Air Cavity 5.00 cm None W/mK
Brick 23.00 cm 1.270 W/mK
Cement Plster 1.00 cm 0.721 W/mK
(From outside to inside)

Windows

U-value window 1.70 W/m2K
Total area 745 m2
Glass infill
Coating/Tint Yes
Solar heat gain coefficient 0.34
U-value glass None W/m2K
U-value window frame None W/m2K

Passive strategies

The new interiors maximize the use of daylight rarely seen in large buildings of this kind with 85% of the interiors being directly day-lit.

Energy efficient systems have been installed in the building. There is no requirement of heating in the building. Centralized cooling system has been installed in the building. The solar based hot water system and photovoltaic system is also installed in the building.

Indoor design temperature summer 24 °C
Indoor design temperature winter None °C

Heating system

There is no requirement of heating in the building.


Cooling system

The centralized cooling system comprising of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system has been installed in the building. The total capacity of the installed system is 1442 kW(thermal). The COP of the installed VRF system is 3.38.


Hot water system

Evacuated tube type solar hot water system has been installed in the building rooftop. The capacity of the hot water storage tank is 5 cubic meter.


Ventilation system

The building spaces are air conditioned through a centralized system that includes a ventilation system. A separate exhaust air system has been provided for the basement ventilation.


Power generation

The rooftop solar photovoltaic system of 10kWp capacity is installed in the building. The electricity generated through solar photovoltaic is being utilized in the building itself.

Detailed information on installed power generators not known.


Auxiliary systems

Smart building systems: all the water fixtures in the building are sensor based water plumbing fixtures. Sewage treatment plant is installed in the building that recycles the used water and further being used in the terrace garden, landscaped area. Rainwater harvesting is being utilized in the building. Integrated building management system has been installed in the building.

Energy Efficient Lighting and Appliances: energy efficient lighting fixtures with automatic controls have been installed in the building.


The major part of energy consumed in the building is provided through the grid supply, however captive energy is also being generated through the photovoltaic cells installed in the building. The annual energy consumption of the building based on the actual energy consumption data of year 2014 is 9,61,876 kWh.

Primary energy consumption 961876.00 kWh/year
Primary energy consumption (ref. building) 1602400.00 kWh/year
Specific primary energy consumption 120.00 kWh/m2/year
Specific primary energy consumption (ref. building) 200.00 kWh/m2/year
Differentiated specific primary energy demand and production

Accumulated specific primary energy demand and production

The total cost of refurbishment of building is 4,200,000 Euros.

Total investment costs 4200000 EUR
Cost: 524.20 EUR/m2
Yearly energy costs 110616 EUR/year

Investment cost

Absolute building investment costs

Specific building investment cost

Annual Costs

Absolute annual costs
Specific annual cost

Assumptions

Local Currency INR

Energy prices

Electricity 0.1360 EUR/kWh

Was this page helpful?   50% of our visitors found this helpful.