The global movement toward sustainability has changed the way that buildings are planned, constructed, and operated. A key component of this trend is green building certifications, which encourage environmentally friendly practices and reduce the harmful impact of structures. Green building projects are becoming more popular in India as customers and investors become more aware of every project’s environmental effects. We may discover several instances of the implementation of green building practices in a variety of structures, including airports, schools, offices, residences, and hospitals.
Green building rating systems are becoming increasingly important as more nations and organisations shift to greener construction and development. This encouraging trend is also evident in the rising compliance and ongoing improvement of global standards. This blog explores the importance of green building certifications, different green building rating systems and their effects on the construction sector, with an emphasis on green building certification in India.
What is a Green Building?
A building is considered green if its design and functionality prioritise the natural environment. A resource-efficient construction and development method that takes human health and the environment into account is called “green building”. Green building features the use of eco-friendly building materials and focuses on the efficient use of natural resources, such as water and air, to ensure proper ventilation and cooling while lowering energy costs. There must be intentional measures taken to reduce the quantity of non-biodegradable waste generated. Throughout the whole building lifecycle, from planning to demolition, sustainability is included into green building projects.
Like living things, a building has an effect on the natural world. During their whole life cycle, green buildings do not hurt or stress the environment. For the sake of both ecological and tenant well-being, sustainability must be the focal point of innovative architectural and design concepts.
What is Green Building Certification?
Projects that integrate sustainable, energy-efficient, and ecologically conscious methods are recognised by green building certification. Buildings are assessed based on criteria such as resource conservation, indoor air quality, water efficiency, and energy use. A dedication to minimising environmental effect and improving well-being of the occupants is demonstrated by obtaining such environmental certifications.
Importance and Benefits of Green Building Certification:
There are several certifications available to support and confirm green buildings. Green building rating systems grade and certify buildings based on a variety of criteria. These ratings and certifications validate a project’s pro-environmental claims and lend it legitimacy. This is a useful tool for investors or buyers seeking sustainable buildings to comprehend the building’s environmental impact.
Green building certification has become important as it:
1. Encourages Sustainability: Green building practices like rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient HVAC systems, and solar panels are adopted more readily when they are certified.
2. Promotes Energy Efficiency: Significantly lower energy consumption by certified buildings reduces operating expenses and lessens dependency on non-renewable resources.
3. Increases Market Value: Certified structures, such as LEED certified buildings, fetch higher real estate prices and draw environmentally aware purchasers and renters.
4. Advances Government Objectives: A lot of nations, including India, have set high goals for sustainability. Certifications for green buildings support these objectives and facilitate the application of policies.
Criteria to Get Green Building Certification:
The following list of criteria is used by Indian green certification organisations to assign a project a rating.
1. Effective utilisation of water and energy resources
This is a crucial criterion for getting a green building certification. Techniques that emphasise water conservation include rainwater collection and recycled water usage. Additionally, a green building preserves its natural hydrological sources. In a similar manner, appropriate designs can reduce the need for artificial lighting and even the expense of air conditioning, saving energy. Since resources like water are limited, conservation measures must be taken.
2. Utilising clean energy
A building’s carbon footprint can be decreased by using renewable resources to meet its energy needs. Therefore, new energy solutions that run on wind or solar power continue to be essential components of a green project.
3. Strategies to Reduce waste and pollution
Waste production is supposed to be low in a green building. It should emphasise the reduction of non-biodegradable trash and encourage the recycling and reuse of resources.
4. High Indoor Air Quality:
For optimal air quality, indoor areas must be designed with effective ventilation. The designed structures ought to permit unrestricted airflow and cross-ventilation. Given the amount of time residents are expected to spend indoors, the quality of the air has an effect on their health and well-being. Thus, a smooth airflow has the potential to reduce pollutants.
5. Using non-toxic substances:
The type of materials utilised in maintenance and construction are important. Green buildings should be made of materials that are free of pollutants and, ideally, recyclable. Paints that include poisons or ingredients that are bad for the environment, for instance, should be avoided.
6. Design, building, and operation of the Structure with an eye toward the environment:
The layouts should be planned with the effects on the environment in mind. It is important to preserve and avoid harming the natural ecosystem. Not only is site selection important, but it also considers transportation. Consider whether there will be any environmental effects from the use of cars of the potential occupants of the structure to get from the project site to other areas of the neighborhood.
7. Taking into account the standard of living of the occupants:
Efforts must be made to maintain appropriate temperatures and adequate daylight in every unit of the structure, in addition to maintaining good air quality. A green design also heavily relies on aesthetics and visual appeal. Energy expenses are reduced and tenant health is improved when there is adequate daylight available.
8. Innovation
Green building rating systems consider creative approaches and strategies and awards more points. New innovations are rewarded, such as smart meters and new technologies. Additionally, a rating agency may use other standards to make its evaluation.
Green Building Certification in India:
The three most well-known green building certifying organisations in India are the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA), and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
IGBC Ratings:
The creation of sustainable surroundings was the driving force behind the creation of the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) supports the IGBC rating system, which is run by the Indian Green Building Council, a Hyderabad-based organisation founded in 2001. According to the defined ratings—certified, silver, gold, and platinum—buildings are evaluated. Buildings with IGBC certifications are assessed on site management, material utilisation, and energy and water efficiency.
The Hyderabad and Bengaluru campuses of Infosys, Suzlon One Earth Campus, Pune, and ITC Green Centre, Gurgaon, are examples of IGBC certified buildings in India. The eco-friendly designs of residential complexes like Godrej Green Glades have also earned them IGBC certification and hence are in the list of green building in India.
GRIHA Ratings:
The GRIHA rating system was created in India by the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). The Government of India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy supports it. To obtain the Green Building Certification, 30 criteria have been divided into eight standards.
Five stars denote the highest ranking in the star-based rating system used by GRIHA. With one star worth 25–40 points, two stars worth 41–55 points, three stars worth 56–70 points, four stars worth 71–85 points, and five stars worth 85 points and more, each star has a specific number of points. Examples of GRIHA-rated projects include the Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University Academic Block in Uttar Pradesh, Academic Complex of IIT Madras, Bihar Museum, IIM Kozhikode, Nalanda University Campus, Manipal University Campus in Jaipur, and the Indira Paryavaran Bhawan in New Delhi. These are some of the popular green buildings in India.
LEED India Ratings:
One of the most widely used certifications for green buildings in the world is the LEED rating system. Founded in 1993, the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) is in charge of its administration. It rates projects according to a variety of factors, such as energy efficiency, water use, and reliance on sustainable resources. In India, high-performance commercial buildings are designed and guided under the LEED India green building rating system.
A building with a platinum rating receives the highest possible score. Dhirubhai Ambani International Convention, DLF Camellias, The American Embassy School in Delhi, the Anna Centenary Library Building in Chennai, and Terminal 3 at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi are a few of the LEED certified buildings in India.
Conclusion:
India is moving closer to a sustainable future by adopting certifications like LEED and IGBC and focusing more on green building projects. Adopting green building principles guarantees a legacy of environmental care, regardless of your role as a developer, architect, or building owner. We can create a healthier, greener world for future generations by including green construction elements into designs and working toward certifications.
There are clear and significant advantages to green building and sustainable architecture for both current and future generations. A larger budget and cheaper maintenance costs might result from developing such initiatives, and the resources saved can be used for other purposes, such as marketing and other operational expenses. A building’s performance or footprint is evaluated and analysed from a sustainable perspective in order to obtain Green Building Certification.