Real Soft Green Initiatives

India’s economic liberalization over the past 6-7 years has brought with it not only tremendous growth, but also an ever-increasing demand for infrastructure and higher per capita income, increasing an individual’s purchasing power. This, in turn, has led to tremendous growth in every sector, such as in agriculture, industry, the Indian Stock Market and Real Estate. Real Estate is broadly defined in terms of requirements of land parcels, requirements of housing units (both low-cost as well as high-end) and requirements of commercial Office space etc. This growth in every sector has put immense pressure on the basic infrastructure availability such as electricity, water, sanitation and roads.

Requirement of electricity and clean & safe water is increasing at an alarming rate. An interesting fact is that the per capita consumption of electricity in India is 660 kWh per annum, compared to the world average of 2500 kWh per annum. This low consumption in India is due to lack of power infrastructure development over the past years; leaving almost 600 million Indians deprived the proper amount of electricity. India has the 4^th largest installed capacity of wind power in the world, but the mainstay of power generation is Coal based. This adds to environmental impact due to release of GHG (Green House Gases). Thus, over the past couple of years, there has been a major thrust to develop clean energy such as hydro-electric, solar, wind etc.

Buildings in general account for about 65% of electricity consumption and are the largest consumers of water. Thus, for the last decade or so, there has been a major thrust towards reducing this percentage so that there is some respite of resource demands. World over, Governments are emphasizing the need to “go green” in this segment, be it home, Offices or industries). Moreover, this sector has the capability to achieve lower consumption patterns and hence achieve desired consumption levels.. All of this has led to a revolution known as “Green Building.”

A Green Building (alternatively called sustainable buildings) is an end result of a philosophy which focuses on higher efficiency in use of resources like energy, water and materials. The Green Building focuses on reducing building impacts on human health and our environment throughout its life cycle. This can be achieved through proper site selection, design, construction, operation and maintenance. The impact of building on the human health and environment is also reduced by:

• Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
• Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity
• Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation
• Use of recycled and environmentally friendly products

The appearance of a green building is similar to that of any other building except that a green building provides greater comfort to humans, is safer in terms of air quality, increases human productivity and increases the life span of the fast depleting natural resources. Another differentiating factor is the reduced cost of operation and the maintenance of the Green Building.

‘A Green building should create delight when entered, serenity and health when occupied and regret when departed’ – Perhaps this is one of the most inspiring definitions of a Green building, articulated in the book ‘Natural Capitalism’ (Ref IGBC Article – Green building movement in India)

Green Building design philosophy broadly emphasis on:

• Site selection and building orientation including its shape.
• Indoor Air quality in the building
• Energy efficiency for the entire building
• Use of recyclable materials
• Water efficiency
• Innovative design

There are different agencies across the world providing ratings to the Green Buildings. Some of the popular agencies are:

• USGBC (United States Green Building Council) rating system known as LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design).
• BREEAM (BRE Environment Assessment Method), popular in UK.
• GRIHA is indigenously developed by TERI (The Energy Research Institute), India and is adopted by the Government of India as officially recognized rating system.
• There are many other rating systems followed by different countries developed indigenously but the most popular among all is the USGBC – LEED rating system.

There are different methodologies in rating a Green Building. LEED rates the building as “Certified / Silver / Gold and the highest being Platinum.” GRIHA rates the building as “One star / Two stars / Three stars / Four stars and the highest being Five stars.” Higher the rating better is the building in terms of Green Building design philosophy, construction, operation and maintenance.

Benefits of a Green Building: A Green Building has both tangible and intangible benefits. The most immediate tangible benefit is  the immediate reduction in operating energy and water costs. The energy savings could range from 25 – 40 % depending on the extent of green specifications. Other tangible savings would be reduction in first costs and enhanced asset value. Intangible benefits of Green Buildings include increasing productivity of occupants’ health, safety benefits and a green corporate image. Several Corporate are now seeing Green Building Rating as a tool to enhance marketability (Ref IGBC Article – Green building movement in India).

The Green building movement in India and all over the world has gathered pace through the years and as of now there are over 410 buildings registered for certification and over 50 certified buildings in India alone, totaling to over 275 million square feet of Green Building footprint.

RSI’s involvement in the Green Building Movement

The commitment and dedication of RSI’s Senior Management in making our workspaces more environmentally friendly is apparent during the construction of our own new facility. We have taken it upon ourselves to ensure that our facility meets the highest rating (Platinum) under the LEED building ratings, as part of our green initiative. It is also our endeavor to make this building one of the best in Bangalore’s anrchitectural landscape. Some of the salient features being planned for the facility are:

1. Contemporary architecture, with greater emphasis on energy efficiency.
2. Building is oriented towards north such that heat ingress in the building is minimized.
3. Maximum harnessing of day light into the building.
4. Building uses environmental friendly materials.
5. Energy efficient central air conditioning and electrical system.
6. Building security system.
7. In-house treatment of sewage for re-use in the building.
8. Common facilities such as cafeteria, gym, etc are being considered.
9. Energy efficient glass facade is being planned to further reduce heat ingress in the building.

Authored By,

Chakrapani H.

<!–[if !mso]>

The India’s economic liberalization over the past 6-7 years has brought with it not only tremendous growth of our country, over the past 6 to 7 years but also an ever increasing demand for infrastructure and higher per capita income, thereby increasing the purchasing power of an individualan individual’s purchasing power. This, in turn, has lead to tremendous growth in every sector, such as be in it agriculture, industry, or the blue eyed boy of the Indian Stock Market the Real Estate and Real Estate.. Real Estate is broadly defined in terms of requirements of land parcels, requirements of housing units (both low cost as well as high end) and , requirements of commercial Office space etc. This growth in every sector has put immense pressure on the basic infrastructure availability such as electricity, water, sanitation and roads.

Requirement of electricity and clean & safe water is increasing at an alarming rate. An interesting fact is that the per capita consumption of electricity in India is 660 kWh per annum, against compared to the world average of 2500 kWh per annum. This low consumption in India is due to lack of power infrastructure development over the past years; leaving almost 600 million Indians deprived the proper amount ofof proper electricity. India has the 4^th largest installed capacity of wind power in the world, but the main stay of power generation is Coal based. This adds to environmental impact due to release of GHG (Green House Gases). Thus, over the past couple of years, there has been a major thrust has been to develop clean energy such as hydro electric, solar, wind etc.

Buildings in general account for a consume about 65% of the electricityof electricity consumption needs and are the largest consumers of water. Thus, for the last decade or so, there has been a major thrust towards reducing this percentage so that there is some respite of the capacityresource demands. World over, the Governments are emphasizing the need to “go green” in this segment, particularly (be it home, Offices or industries). Moreover, this sector has the capability to achieve lower consumption patterns and hence achieve desired consumption levels. the thrust. All of this has lead to a revolution known as “Green Building.””.

A Green Building (alternatively called sustainable buildings) is an end result of a philosophy which focuses on higher efficiency in use of resources like energy, water and materials. The Green Bbuilding focuses on reducing building impacts on human health and our environment throughout its life cycle. This can be achieved through proper site selection,, design, construction, operation and maintenance. The impact of building on the human health and environment is also reduced by:

• Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
• Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity
• Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation
• Use of recycled and environmentally friendly products

The appearance of a green building is similar to that of any other building except that a green building provides greater comfort to humans, is safer in terms of air quality, increases human productivity and increases the life span of the fast depleting natural resources. Another differentiating factor is the reduced cost of operation and the maintenance of the Green Building.

‘A Green building should create delight when entered, serenity and health when occupied and regret when departed’ – Perhaps this is one of the most inspiring definitions of a Green building, articulated in the book ‘Natural Capitalism’ (Ref IGBC Article – Green building movement in India)

Green Building design philosophy broadly emphasis on:

• Site selection and building orientation including its shape.
• Indoor Air quality in the building
• Energy efficiency for the entire building
• Use of recyclable materials
• Water efficiency
• Innovative design

There are different agencies across the world providing ratings to the Green Buildings. Some of the popular agencies are:

• USGBC (United States Green Building Council) rating system known as LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design).
• BREEAM (BRE Environment Assessment Method), popular in UK.
• GRIHA is indigenously developed by TERI (The Energy Research Institute), India and is adopted by the Government of India as officially recognized rating system.
• There are many other rating systems followed by different countries developed indigenously but the most popular among all is the USGBC – LEED rating system.

There are different methodologies in rating a Green Building. LEED rates the building as “Certified / Silver / Gold and the highest being Platinum.””. GRIHA rates the building as “One star / Two stars / Three stars / Four stars and the highest being Five stars.””. Higher the rating better is the building in terms of Green Building design philosophy, construction, operation and maintenance.

Benefits of a Green Building: A Green Building has both tangible and intangible benefits. The most immediate tangible benefit is in the immediate reduction in operating energy and water costs right from day one, during the entire life cycle of the building. Thecosts. The energy savings could range from 25 – 40 % depending on the extent of green specifications. Other tangible savings would be reduction in first costs and enhanced asset value. Intangible benefits of Green Buildings include increasing productivity of occupants’ health, safety benefits and a green corporate image. Several Corporate are now seeing Green Building Rating as a tool to enhance marketability (Ref IGBC Article – Green building movement in India).

The Green building movement in India and all over the world has gathered pace through the years and as of now there are over 410 buildings registered for certification and over 50 certified buildings in India alone, totaling to over 275 million sq.ft.square feet of Green Bbuilding footprint.

RSI’s involvement in the Green Building Movement

The commitment and dedicationand zeal of RSI’s Senior Management in making our workspaces more environmentally friendlylivelier is apparent by the series of steps initiated whichduring the construction has led to the start of constructing our own new facility. Though the design for the facility is under progress, weWe have taken it upon ourselves to ensure that our facility meets the highest rating (Platinum) under the LEED building ratings, as part of our green initiative. It is also our endeavor to make this building one of the best in the Bangalore’s anArchitectural landscape. Some of the salient features being planned for the facility are:

1. Contemporary architecture, with greater emphasis on energy efficiency.
2. Building is oriented towards north such that heat ingress in the building is minimized.
3. Maximum harnessing of day light into the building.
4. Building uses environmental friendly materials.
5. Lot of landscaping is planned in and around the building.
6. Car park ratio is the best in the industry.
7. Energy efficient central air conditioning and electrical system.
8. Building security system.
9. In– house treatment of sewage for re-use in the building.
10. Common facilities like such as cafeteria, gym, etc is being explored to beare being considered. incorporated into the building.
11. Energy efficient glass façade is being planned to further reduce heat ingress in the building.

Work culture at RSI

Real Soft, Inc. (RSI) offers growth opportunities to its employees through challenging assignments. We recognize that our employees are the life-line of our organization. Many organizations merely recognize employees’ roles and responsibilities, but at RSI, we recognize their value. This could be a reason why our employee retention rate is very high compared to industry standards.

Our winning culture is focused on cross-functional and cross-cultural teamwork. We aim to create the kind of working environment that genuinely motivates people and supports an energizing culture in which employees have the freedom to question, challenge and carve out a unique niche. We encourage employee involvement at all levels which results in a rich exchange of ideas / concepts that helps us give more to our customers. The different ideas that rise out of these exchanges lead to superior business solutions for RSI and in value for our clients.

If you have an appetite for challenges, read on to understand why RSI boasts as one of the least attrition rate company across the industry.

Opportunities

One of our most appealing benefits which our employees value, is the amount of opportunities that are available to them. Some of them include the:

• Opportunity to take on challenging work assignments in clients’ projects and product development in cutting-edge technologies

• Opportunity to receive the training and experience to build new skills and achieve full career potential

• Opportunity to move to different domains and functions within the organization that interest you, so that your experience is broadened rather than narrowed

• Opportunity to travel to client locations on a long-term or short-term assignments for an onsite experience

RSI offers a wide range of career possibilities that will expand your technical, professional and business skills and broaden your career objectives. Thus, we offer ample opportunities to diversify your experience within our organization. I believe for this reason in particular, we have a lower attrition rate compared to the industry standard.

Recognition & Rewards

RSI recognizes and rewards the team and individuals for their contributions, which helps to motivate employees and thus add a sense of achievement to our culture. We have a number of initiatives to reward & recognize those who make a difference in contributing to our client’s satisfaction. These initiatives include Awards, Bonus, Salary Increments, Gift coupons, Dinner Invitations, etc. The main criterion for deciding the best performing team is the Clients’ feedback. These helps establish to the team members that their efforts are always recognized.

Fun at RSI

Being with RSI doesn’t mean working all the time. We believe that the best environment at the workplace incorporates recreation as well. We organize fun events where the employees are able to de-stress and unwind from the routine activities of the office. These activities are organized on a monthly and yearly basis and include company outings with family members, exclusive employee dinner parties, Fun Friday’s (last Friday of every month) and inter-departmental sports. These are just some of the ways in which employees are encouraged to relax and enjoy their workplace, bringing a unique and enjoyable atmosphere to RSI.

Hear from our People

I recently celebrated my 8th anniversary at RSI. I truly believe that RSI is an excellent IT Product & Solutions company to work with. It has given me the opportunity to work on product development and client projects. I also got an exposure working with large US based client at their onsite location.

Moreover, the company is large enough to breed creativity but small enough so employees know each other. RSI has provided a place where we can work together as a team in a fun and comfortable environment.

Ruchi Gupta

Technical Lead

*******************

I joined RSI few years ago as a trainee engineer and the company has proved to be a right fit from the beginning. RSI has given me the right platform to work on demanding areas and cutting edge technologies with a global team.

Considering the high average experience level of the employees, I as a trainee never felt there was a gap because of their amicable nature. My interactions with them have helped me to hone my skills at the faster rate. RSI has provided me the flexibility where I can balance my work and personal life.

I am very proud that I work for RSI.

Purvi Lad

Software Engineer

*******************

For me, it has been challenging yet enjoyable to work with Real Soft for 5 years. At RSI, my performance is rewarded and I find the sense of responsibility and maturity within each one of us to improve the company’s performance and help our clients.

Working at RSI has provided me excellent learning opportunities. I never found it difficult to get a new tool, equipment or technology in diagnosing the issues.

Binu Jose

Sr. System Administrator

*******************

I have been working with RSI for the past 5 years and involved in product development as well as client project. For the last 4 years, I have been working on a project from a fortune 500 financial company.  RSI is a fast moving company with high ambitions. I feel that RSI is a great place to work because of the people I work with. My current core team consists of people who have a positive attitude that helps us to achieve excellent team results.

Thejesh Mallesh

Tech Lead