What Is a Green Building in India?
Green buildings are sustainable, energy efficient & have a low carbon footprint, but are yet to become popular in India
A green building is ecologically designed so that it is responsible to the environment and uses natural resources efficiently in all the processes throughout its lifespan. Therefore, the planning, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and demolition of a green building is conducted in an eco-efficient manner. In India, green building certification is given by bodies such as the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and Green Rating for Habitat Assessment (GRIHA). However, the reality is that till date, very few buildings have been certified as green buildings by the IGBC and GRIHA.
2. Water management
Efficient methods should be employed to reduce the overall consumption and wastage of water within the building. This can be achieved by installing water-efficient plumbing fixtures.
An efficient rainwater harvesting system should be integrated within the design of the roof and the outdoor areas of the site. The rain water should be diverted into the groundwater table through recharge trenches or recharge pits.
A wastewater recycling plant should be set up in the premises for recycling waste water instead of sending it directly into the sewer. The recycled water is then used for purposes such as flushing toilets and gardening.
Find an architect on Houzz to design your green home
Efficient methods should be employed to reduce the overall consumption and wastage of water within the building. This can be achieved by installing water-efficient plumbing fixtures.
An efficient rainwater harvesting system should be integrated within the design of the roof and the outdoor areas of the site. The rain water should be diverted into the groundwater table through recharge trenches or recharge pits.
A wastewater recycling plant should be set up in the premises for recycling waste water instead of sending it directly into the sewer. The recycled water is then used for purposes such as flushing toilets and gardening.
Find an architect on Houzz to design your green home
3. Energy efficiency
The building should be energy efficient and it should have low operation costs, air-conditioning costs and maintenance costs in the long run.
The energy consumption of the building can be reduced by using renewable energy sources such as natural lighting, solar heaters which use solar energy to heat water, and solar panels that harness solar power.
Other passive cooling strategies that prevent indoor heat gain include the insulation of the building walls by constructing them with hollow bricks and insulating the roof with a reflective roof coating or a roof garden that keeps the home cool through the summer months.
Water bodies can be introduced to cool the surrounding air by evaporative cooling. Growing plants within and outside the home ensures cooling by transpiration, where the leaves release water vapour and cool the surrounding temperature.
The energy efficiency of a building is audited by energy auditors who are registered with The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). This government body has developed the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), which is used to rate the energy efficiency of the building.
Browse these photos of courtyards for ideas
The building should be energy efficient and it should have low operation costs, air-conditioning costs and maintenance costs in the long run.
The energy consumption of the building can be reduced by using renewable energy sources such as natural lighting, solar heaters which use solar energy to heat water, and solar panels that harness solar power.
Other passive cooling strategies that prevent indoor heat gain include the insulation of the building walls by constructing them with hollow bricks and insulating the roof with a reflective roof coating or a roof garden that keeps the home cool through the summer months.
Water bodies can be introduced to cool the surrounding air by evaporative cooling. Growing plants within and outside the home ensures cooling by transpiration, where the leaves release water vapour and cool the surrounding temperature.
The energy efficiency of a building is audited by energy auditors who are registered with The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). This government body has developed the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), which is used to rate the energy efficiency of the building.
Browse these photos of courtyards for ideas
4. A healthy indoor environment
The comfort and well-being of the occupants within the building can be achieved by bringing in adequate natural light and ventilation through a combination of windows and open courtyards, which also allow cool air to flow in.
Exhaust fans should be installed in moisture-laden areas of the home, such as kitchens and bathrooms, to extract foul odours, indoor air pollutants and dampness from indoors.
Materials such as low-VOC paints, adhesives and sealants, which do not emit toxic gases or cause indoor air pollution, should be used.
The indoor and outdoor noise levels of the building should be within an acceptable limit. According to the National Building Code (NBC) of India, the acceptable indoor noise levels are 55 dB during the day and 45 dB during the night for residential buildings, 65 dB during the day and 55 dB during the night for commercial buildings, and 75 dB during the day and 70 dB during the night for industrial buildings.
Fighting Pollution: How to Keep Your Indoor Air Clean
The comfort and well-being of the occupants within the building can be achieved by bringing in adequate natural light and ventilation through a combination of windows and open courtyards, which also allow cool air to flow in.
Exhaust fans should be installed in moisture-laden areas of the home, such as kitchens and bathrooms, to extract foul odours, indoor air pollutants and dampness from indoors.
Materials such as low-VOC paints, adhesives and sealants, which do not emit toxic gases or cause indoor air pollution, should be used.
The indoor and outdoor noise levels of the building should be within an acceptable limit. According to the National Building Code (NBC) of India, the acceptable indoor noise levels are 55 dB during the day and 45 dB during the night for residential buildings, 65 dB during the day and 55 dB during the night for commercial buildings, and 75 dB during the day and 70 dB during the night for industrial buildings.
Fighting Pollution: How to Keep Your Indoor Air Clean
Accessibility should be provided for persons with disabilities, with wheelchair-accessible ramps, elevators and bathrooms.
Note: Vernacular or regional architecture used local materials, local construction techniques and planning strategies that suited the climatic conditions of that particular region. One of the traditional vernacular elements was the internal courtyard, which ensured maximum air ventilation, plenty of natural light in the rooms and a comfortable indoor environment. Jalis were used in hot arid climates: when hot outdoor air blew in through the small, cone-shaped apertures, it was compressed by them, and then expanded indoors, cooling down the room within. The best part about vernacular Indian architecture is that the traditional strategies of building design form the basic concepts of green building design.
Lessons From Vernacular Architecture That Apply Even Today
Note: Vernacular or regional architecture used local materials, local construction techniques and planning strategies that suited the climatic conditions of that particular region. One of the traditional vernacular elements was the internal courtyard, which ensured maximum air ventilation, plenty of natural light in the rooms and a comfortable indoor environment. Jalis were used in hot arid climates: when hot outdoor air blew in through the small, cone-shaped apertures, it was compressed by them, and then expanded indoors, cooling down the room within. The best part about vernacular Indian architecture is that the traditional strategies of building design form the basic concepts of green building design.
Lessons From Vernacular Architecture That Apply Even Today
5. Building materials and resources
The building should use sustainable green materials that are locally sourced and easily available. This reduces the need for transportation and makes the material more cost-effective. Some of the sustainable materials include brick, bamboo, rammed-earth, terracotta, wood (of fast-growing trees farmed for the purpose) and so on, which are natural and renewable materials or made of them.
There should be a minimum amount of wastage during construction. This can be achieved by using recycled materials such as fly ash, which is a by-product of thermal power plants, recycled metal, reused building materials such as wood that are salvaged from old structures, and so on.
Additionally, there should be an efficient segregation of construction waste into categories such as concrete, soil, steel, wood, plastics, bricks and mortar. According to the C&D waste management of India, these materials should be sent to a C&D (construction and demolition) waste recycling facility.
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The building should use sustainable green materials that are locally sourced and easily available. This reduces the need for transportation and makes the material more cost-effective. Some of the sustainable materials include brick, bamboo, rammed-earth, terracotta, wood (of fast-growing trees farmed for the purpose) and so on, which are natural and renewable materials or made of them.
There should be a minimum amount of wastage during construction. This can be achieved by using recycled materials such as fly ash, which is a by-product of thermal power plants, recycled metal, reused building materials such as wood that are salvaged from old structures, and so on.
Additionally, there should be an efficient segregation of construction waste into categories such as concrete, soil, steel, wood, plastics, bricks and mortar. According to the C&D waste management of India, these materials should be sent to a C&D (construction and demolition) waste recycling facility.
Look for building materials in Houzz products
6. Innovation
Extra points are given to a building for the inclusion of innovative technology and systems that are effective in reducing the carbon footprint of the building.
One of the recent innovation is replacing incandescent bulbs with LED lights, as they use less power and have a longer lifespan.
Energy-efficient air-conditioners and air-conditioning systems form an imperative part of innovative green building design.
Low-emissivity-coated glass can be installed to prevent indoor heat gain through glass facades or windows.
Extra points are given to a building for the inclusion of innovative technology and systems that are effective in reducing the carbon footprint of the building.
One of the recent innovation is replacing incandescent bulbs with LED lights, as they use less power and have a longer lifespan.
Energy-efficient air-conditioners and air-conditioning systems form an imperative part of innovative green building design.
Low-emissivity-coated glass can be installed to prevent indoor heat gain through glass facades or windows.
IGBC
The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), which was formed by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in 2001, has developed a green building rating system that conforms with the LEED certification of the US Green Building Council, which is a globally recognised green building rating system.
The IGBC rating system has a scoring system of 100 points for new buildings. These points are divided into various categories, where it is essential for the building to meet the specific requirements to secure points.
The certification level is as follows: the building must secure minimum 50 points for a certified rating, 60 points for a silver rating, 70 points for a gold rating, 80 points for a platinum rating and 90 points for a super platinum rating.
The IGBC rating system is based on modules including sustainable architecture and design, site selection and planning, water conservation, energy efficiency, building materials and resources, indoor environment quality, innovation and development.
The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), which was formed by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in 2001, has developed a green building rating system that conforms with the LEED certification of the US Green Building Council, which is a globally recognised green building rating system.
The IGBC rating system has a scoring system of 100 points for new buildings. These points are divided into various categories, where it is essential for the building to meet the specific requirements to secure points.
The certification level is as follows: the building must secure minimum 50 points for a certified rating, 60 points for a silver rating, 70 points for a gold rating, 80 points for a platinum rating and 90 points for a super platinum rating.
The IGBC rating system is based on modules including sustainable architecture and design, site selection and planning, water conservation, energy efficiency, building materials and resources, indoor environment quality, innovation and development.
GRIHA
Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA), which was formed by the Government of India in 2007, is India’s own green building rating system. Only buildings that have a total area of more than 2500 square metres can be certified under GRIHA.
The GRIHA rating system comprises a checklist of 31 criteria and a scoring system of 100 points. The building earns points for meeting the specific requirements.
The building is awarded a rating that ranges between 1-star to 5-star. The building has to secure a minimum of 25 points for a 1-star rating, 41 points for a 2-star rating, 56 points for a 3-star rating, 71 points for a 4-star rating and 86 points for a 5-star rating.
The GRIHA rating system is classified into categories that include site planning, construction management, occupant comfort and well-being, energy efficiency and innovation.
Read more:
How to Design a Home That is Not a Burden on the Environment
Fighting Pollution: How to Keep Your Indoor Air Clean
Tell us: Did this article inspire you to take some measures to make your home more sustainable and environmentally friendly? Share your thoughts in Comments below.
Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA), which was formed by the Government of India in 2007, is India’s own green building rating system. Only buildings that have a total area of more than 2500 square metres can be certified under GRIHA.
The GRIHA rating system comprises a checklist of 31 criteria and a scoring system of 100 points. The building earns points for meeting the specific requirements.
The building is awarded a rating that ranges between 1-star to 5-star. The building has to secure a minimum of 25 points for a 1-star rating, 41 points for a 2-star rating, 56 points for a 3-star rating, 71 points for a 4-star rating and 86 points for a 5-star rating.
The GRIHA rating system is classified into categories that include site planning, construction management, occupant comfort and well-being, energy efficiency and innovation.
Read more:
How to Design a Home That is Not a Burden on the Environment
Fighting Pollution: How to Keep Your Indoor Air Clean
Tell us: Did this article inspire you to take some measures to make your home more sustainable and environmentally friendly? Share your thoughts in Comments below.
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1. Site selection and planning
The site should preserve all the natural features, such as trees and vegetation, on the site and skillfully integrate them with the architectural design of the building.
The building design should use passive architecture techniques, which include orienting the building according to the position of the sun, the placing the windows according to the direction of the wind, and integrating passive cooling methods within the design.
Another factor is that the building should take care of the well-being of the construction workers by providing adequate sanitation and safety features that prevent accidents on site.