The New Town authorities are trying to introduce a system where air-conditioning units can be run on solar power. The Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (Hidco) is in talks with the Kawasaki Rikuso Transportation, a Japanese company, to set up solar panels and battery systems that are powerful enough to power air-conditioners.

A Hidco officer said that Nazrul Tirtha has been chosen as the first building where the air-conditioners will be run on solar power.

Air-conditioning units on the western wing of the building on the second floor and on the third floor will be connected to a solar grid from where they will draw power.

According to a Hidco official, the company has already been handed the construction plan of the building.

“The drawings have been handed over. They are studying them as well as the building to have a clear idea of where to install the solar panels. The timings of the air-conditioning units have also been shared with them.”

According to the official, more than two dozen solar panels that are weatherproof will be set up first.

“The Japanese engineers are chalking out how to place the maximum number of panels on the building without ruining its aesthetics,” said the official.

The panels would then be connected to series of maintenance-free batteries and a high-power converter. The electricity will reach the air conditioners through a control unit.

Keiichi Higuchi, president of Kawasaki Rikuso Transportation, and other officials inspected a portion of Nazrul Tirtha and then recently held a meeting with senior Hidco officials.

Debashis Sen, the chairman of Hidco, said that the idea was to reduce power consumption from conventional sources.

“We want to cut down on usage of electricity from conventional sources. We get a lot of sunlight and it should be used in the best way possible. This way we can reduce dependency on conventional sources and shift to greener forms of energy generation,” said Sen.

According to him, if the project turns out to be a success it will be replicated in community halls and auditoriums across New Town.