BIT – The Green Campus
BIT – The Green Campus
“A Young Mind Emerges Greatly In A Clean Environment And Under Clarion Sunshine.”
Given the option, would you rather survive in an energy hog of a dorm with bad ventilation and very little natural light or a dorm that preserves energy with a green roof and water efficient amenities and drains?
Even if you don’t envision yourself an ecologist, it’s crucial to recognize that the programs and policies a college embraces can greatly change your quality of life.
There are so many things to take care of at college: studies, relationships with fellow students, making time for your job, homework and partying. The list is far from being complete. Nevertheless, one thing appears to be missing: paying attention to the world around you. In fact, you can apply an environmentally-friendly mindset in different spheres of your college activities. Plus, you may even have fun with it!
Green colleges make a case to consider for a sustainable living when designing and operating their buildings. Many of the facilities in BIT incorporate natural lighting, improve air quality, and reduce energy and water use.
On BIT campus every street and road inside the college campus are adorned with tall trees bearing emerald green leaves and attractive flowers to devise a homogenous feel amongst everyone within the campus.
Living roofs absorb rainwater and provide insulation while lights on timers save college money as well as energy.
BIT believes that food tastes better when it’s local and organic. We forego long distance, low-grade outside food and offer students fresh and local cuisine, from campus farms or markets.
You’ll cherish how sustainable dining often alters to varied nutrition options.
In turn, these attributes foster more welcoming academic and social communities on our campus and result in buildings that are better places to live, learn, and play.
Trees are a significant part of college students’ daily lives. Therefore, trees on campus deserve attention.
Increasing the number of trees on the college campus is one of BITs’ Designed Environment Campus Initiatives.
The building architecture is sketched in such a way that permits the free flow of air and allows natural light to reach all the corners of the building. The abundant natural light bypasses the usage of the lights in the corridors and rooms.
In BIT…
- Trees have been planted behind banks to refresh student gatherings for social and study activities. In a few times, these trees will grow in height and width to give a continuous shaded pathway.
- The reclining branches of the large spreading trees create a canopy of speckled light, providing pedestrians with shade and relief from the heat.
Towards Cleanliness:
By reinforcing the Prime Minister’s “Swachh Bharat Mission”, we will train the students about community cleanliness and make them keep their instant neighbourhood clean.
We also adhere to the Union Government’s resolution to ban smoking in public areas and have made the campus a no smoking zone.
Sustainability and Green Campus initiatives by BIT:
“Just being around living green things has an effect mentally and emotionally,”
– Linda Kruger
Bannari Amman Institute of Technology has adopted many green cover initiatives, thereby embellishing the eco-friendly ambiance of the Campus.
Members of Faculty and students take up various initiatives to save electricity by implementing the outcome of Energy Audits and developing a policy for reducing the consumption of electricity.
A number of Green Initiatives have been implemented on the Campus.
Bio gas:
With a view to conserving the environment, the Bannari Amman Institute of Technology has installed two biogas plants (120 m³ & 90 m³ capacity) to make use of human and kitchen wastes. Both the plants have been functioning well since 2010 and the gas generated is used for cooking.
Solar:
33% of BIT’s energy demand is met through Solar Power. The Campus is powered by 1000 kWp Solar Panels.
Solar Power Details:
Solar PV system capacity – 1000 kW
Battery backup system- 100 kW
Local grid tie up system – 900 kW
Power generation – Average 4500 units/day
Tree Census:
To increase the green cover area of the campus, more than 14,000 flowering trees, shrubs, herbs have been planted and landscaped in over 20 acres. BIT has implemented Miyawaki Method of tree plantations with 4250 native tree species in the Campus.
We also plan to introduce the planting of saplings by the students for adducible greenery within the college and also instill awareness towards nature in their brains.
Bio Composting:
Bannari Amman Institute of Technology produces bio-compost from the plant leaves and kitchen vegetable wastes collected in the campus. Once in three months, 5 to 6 tonnes of bio-manures are prepared and used for the cultivation of organic vegetables.
We have also installed a naturally ventilated polyhouse in 400 sq.m area and cultivating high value vegetables like cherry tomato, colour capsicum, medicinal herbs etc.
Kitchen Garden:
Bannari Amman Institute of Technology is cultivating various vegetable crops in 10 acres of land under the organic method of cultivation by Agriculture Engineering students.
Vegetables such as Greens, Tomato, Green Chilly, Brinjal, Ladies Finger, Bottle Gourd, Snake Gourd, Mints, Lablab, Cluster Beans, Coriander, Beetroot, Radish and Drumstick are harvested and used in the hostel mess to the tune of 7 – 9 tonnes per Month.
Special field training and demonstrations on the various packages practices are organized to the B.E Agriculture Engineering students.
Training Programmes are organized on Soil Solarisation, Mulching, Fertigation Techniques, Designing of Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation, Irrigation Automation and Farm Machinery, Crop Protection, Post Harvest Operation and Value Addition of Agricultural Produces.
Naturally Ventilated Polyhouse in 1480 sq.m area has been installed in two locations for cultivating high-value vegetables like Cherry Tomato, Lettuce, Broccoli, Cabbage, Celery, Colour Capsicum and Medicinal Herbs.
Sustainable and Livable area:
Strolling among green giants gives us balance and perspective. That calming peace we find in woods is one cause we seek out natural areas for healing and renewal.
For those with an inclination for forests, it may come as no wonder that these natural hallows hold the ability to strengthen and heal us.
There are so many ways in which trees support & make our campus more sustainable and tenantable:
- Provide shade that reduces energy costs
- Decrease heat impacts, makes the campus cooler, more livable, walkable and bikeable.
- Absorb rainwater that lessens stormwater runoff and the need for stormwater retention
- Enhance air quality by purifying particulate matter, removing CO2 and producing O2
- Contribute to preservation and stabilization of topsoils by diminishing erosion and contribute to topsoil improvement from decomposition of leaves
- Provide a kinship with nature and promote our mental and physical wellbeing.
The green buildings of Bannari Amman Institute of Technology have taken the leading role in the construction in order to reduce resource consumption, save money in the long run, and instill the importance on environmental sustainability on their students.
We consider that a fresh, green and a pollution free environment provides a primitive backdrop for an effective learning experience. We have therefore left no stone unturned in the growth of a green ecosystem to store enrichment in the mind, heart and soul of the students.
Students need contact with nature to lead a healthy, balanced life. It is a better way to motivate a new generation to live a sustainable life.
It’s no surprise, that The Green Campus at BIT shows how some of the most successful sustainability initiatives begin as volunteer, grassroots efforts. With the idea of sustainability growing in importance and more campuses embracing it as a guiding principle, the road to adoption and success should grow easier. Awareness, though, remains a crucial step.
If you don’t normally walk in the areas inside the BIT campus which are mentioned above, we invite you to visit and take a stroll under the trees and enjoy all that they have to offer.
