Foundation Day - Glazing Society of India & GSI 1st AGM
19th April 2010 - Ahmedabad
On 19th April this year, the Building Envelope Community and Glazing Society of India (GSI) celebrated their First GSI Foundation Day in Ahmedabad.
Dr.Ajay Mathur, Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was the Chief Guest. Dr.R.N.Vakil, Director, CEPT University delivered the keynote address.
Dr.Ajay Mathur, Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency
& Dr.R.N.Vakil, Director, CEPT University
Mr.R.Subramanian, Chairman of the Glazing Society of India, in his welcome address pointed out how GSI was addressing an important need in the market - that of being an authentic and independent body for Standardization & Certification for Building envelope products. He enumerated the achievements of the past year and listed the key priorities for 2010-11.
Speaking on this occasion, Prof Rajan Rawal of CEPT University elaborated the BEPL’s testing facilities, benefits to Building Envelope community and the progress of the Lab.
Mr.Bipin Shah, President -WinBuild Inc., Consultant for US-Department of Energy and National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) who played the role of a catalyst in the coming up of the GSI gave his best wishes through a recorded presentation.
Dr. Satish Kumar, Chief of Party, USAID ECO-III Project, in his address on the occasion emphasized the GSI’s role in aiding the implementation of ECBC and also urged the need for using a Compliance tool at the Building design stage to work on the Energy efficiency of the Buildings.
In his keynote address, Dr.R.N.Vakil, Director, CEPT University thanked all those who helped in the coming up of the BEPL facility at CEPT and expressed firm commitment on behalf of the University, to establish and run the BEPL to international standards and to continue to be in the forefront of Building envelope Product performance testing.
The Chief Guest, Dr.Ajay Mathur, Director General of BEE in his address emphasised the importance of energy efficiency in the building sector for a country like India. He observed that having Building Envelope Products Performance testing and certification facilities is an essential element in achieving enhanced energy efficiency in Indian buildings. Dr. Mathur also urged the Stake Holders to introspect into the practices, policies as well as shortcomings besides planning for the future keeping in mind the national and local needs of the Building Envelope Segment. He reiterated that challenges have to be addressed at the national level and invited all present to a Stake Holders Meeting for Buildings Energy performance & Efficiency to be convened by BEE in May/June 2010.He further expressed happiness that there is a heartening change in the trend and appreciated the initiatives taken by GSI.
After the address from Dr.Ajay Mathur, the Agenda setting session for GSI happened. There was active participation from the gathering and exchange of ideas helped to work out a list of things of immediate priority for GSI.
The GSI First Foundation day celebration ended with Vote of Thanks. Post that the BEPL visit was organized by GSI with the help of CEPT University for all the participants so that they may have an idea about the testing facilities and equipments at BEPL, Ahmedabad.