Avikal Somvanshi

Author Directory | Avikal Somvanshi

Architect and urbanologist; Programme Manager, Sustainable Cities Programme, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, India

India Energy Efficiency Green Buildings Urbanisation Delhi Buildings Construction Industry Energy Air Pollution Building Materials

Environment

Lockdown 2.0 vs lockdown 3.0: NO2 levels spike in Delhi

A change in 24-hour average between the two weeks showed that the overall weekly average level increased by 19%

Air

Delhi air less toxic amid COVID-19 lockdown

Average PM 2.5 level during 4 weeks of lockdown lowest on record outside monsoon since 2016

Economy

COVID-19: What about housing for poor?

Union government’s housing scheme tragets derailed; low-income house buyers face increasingly volatile financial markets

Energy Efficiency

COVID-19 candle plan: Delhi power demand dropped 37% in 25 min

Delhi’s power demand fell down to 1,257 MW at 9:10 pm from 2,008 MW at 8:45 pm on April 5

Air

Air during COVID-19 lockdown: March’s last week cleanest so far in Delhi

This is the first time since 2016 that March in spring has recorded lowest pollution levels

Air

COVID-19 flattens peak-hour pollution

The flat rates of peak-hour pollution due to the lockdown proves why strong action is needed to reduce traffic volumes and cut tailpipe emissions …

Pollution|Water Pollution

कुंभ के बीच बेचैन करते सवाल

अब समय आ चुका है कि धरती की सबसे महान नदियों में से एक के त…

Sanitation|Waste Management

मलबे के ढेर में दबता देश-1: कानून की नहीं है किसी को फिक्र

देशभर में नई इमारतों के निर्माण और तोड़फोड़ से निकले मल�…

Sanitation|Waste Management

मलबे के ढेर में दबता देश-2: दलदली भूमि पर किया जा रहा है डंप

देशभर में नई इमारतों के निर्माण और तोड़फोड़ से निकले मल�…

Sanitation|Waste Management

मलबे के ढेर में दबता देश-3: दोबारा इस्तेमाल से निकलेगी राह

दिल्ली सरकार ने नगर निगमों को एडवाइजरी जारी की है जिसमे�…

Air

Will Delhi become a gas chamber again?

The national capital has been in the ‘severe’ AQI category since Diwali night

Air

On Diwali, Delhi-NCR gets season’s first severe pollution episode

CSE’s analysis shows a ten-fold jump in PM2.5 on Diwali evening due to bursting of firecrackers

Governance

After Ozone layer, cooling industry now burns the whole planet

It first drilled a hole in the ozone layer and is now damaging the entire environment with large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions

Waste

India drowns in construction, demolition debris

Waste is piling up across the country. Regulations are in place, but recycling is yet to gain momentum. Down To Earth breaks down the …

Environment

Indian cities are simmering in their own waste heat

Cities in northern plains used to cool down during night, but nowadays they are trapping this heat overnight sending their citizens into a …

Environment

Overflowing pitcher of disquiet

It is high time to start investing and investigating ecological cost of holding the Kumbh

Climate Change

India's National Action Plan on Climate Change needs desperate repair

India's National Action Plan on Climate Change has been slow to start and its sectoral missions are not aligned with the schemes the government …

Air

Yes, Delhi Metro is more unaffordable than the New York City Subway

My own experience shows that the Delhi Metro pinches the minimum survival expense of a well-off Delhite at least twice as hard as the NYC subway …

Energy

Don’t get dazzled by these stars

Bureau of Energy Efficiency has just updated star rating standards for refrigerators and ACs, but the Indian rating system, especially for ACs, …

Energy

The fault in our stars

ISEER, the new system of rating and labeling ACs that began this year, seems designed to serve industry interest rather than consumer or climate …

Science & Technology

Murky science of comfort part 5: Here’s how being mindful is good for the environment

We cannot wish away air-conditioning in today’s world, but we can be reasonable in choosing where, when and how to resort to the energy guzzlers

Climate Change

Debunking science behind 'comfortable' temperature

What is a comfortable temperature? The question seems benign at surface but the answer has far reaching ecological consequences

Climate Change

Murky science of comfort part 4: If you are poor, then simply tolerate heat

This is the expectation of the National Building Code, which defines standards for ‘comfortable’ temperatures for buildings in India

Science & Technology

Murky science of comfort part 3: Industry defined standards make us feel uncomfortable without ACs

The Heat, Ventilation and Air Conditioning industry has made sure that we get used to heating and cooling appliances by setting arbitrary …

Science & Technology

Murky science of comfort part 2: Why we feel suffocated in a building even when it is pleasant outside

Humans are built to get used to local environments but unfortunately industry interests have come to define what ‘comfortable’ room …

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