Green Building Movement – Need and Approach for Transition from Voluntary to Mandatory phase

Even though with the rise in an enormous number of issues like global warming, water scarcity, heat island effect, water pollution, waste management and indoor health issues arising due to rapid urbanization, the society can’t stop development but however only can mitigate the impacts. Some of the key construction stakeholders are trying to cope with the same by implementing necessary strategies like the use of low flow fixtures, STP for treatment of wastewater and reuse, use of high reflective paints, proper waste segregation & management and adequate indoor air quality measures.

As we all know, any kind of measure without a proper assessment is of no use. Similarly, the buildings which are implementing the green strategies must be evaluated and assessed. Hence, organizations like USGBC, IGBC, GRIHA, etc. have developed different rating systems and certified buildings as platinum rated, gold-rated, silver-rated or certified based on their performance.

The ratings are not only applicable for commercial buildings but also applicable for other buildings like residential, healthcare, transportation, and educational institutions. Green certification is not only limited to new construction but also covers existing buildings.  The rating level based on performances makes organizations proud, but it also indirectly benefits the environment. Higher the rating, the higher the level of benefits.

Assume a case where a new construction project wants to go green at the design stage and the project team has planned a wide variety of green measures to make it sustainable. If cost constraint arises midway through the project, the project team would immediately curtail some of the green measures. But in case the project team is looking for green certification, that would restrict them from cutting down green measures and will maintain the goal of the project intact by opting for low-cost green measures. Also, a green certification makes the project cover all key aspects starting from sites, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials optimization, Indoor air quality maintenance etc.

At the present stage, the Green Building certification is just a voluntary scheme in India. Only the high-end building stakeholders like major corporates and construction companies are opting for their projects for green certification. 

•  According to IGBC, 7.17 billion sqft of building footprint is certified green so far in India and they have set a target of 10 billion sqft of building footprint to be certified green by 2022.
•   According to the GRIHA council, another certifying body, 525.028 million sqft of building footprint has been certified.

Only 10 – 15% of the total construction footprint is opting out for green certification in India. If this case goes on with the level of rapid urbanization going on in India, the country will never utilize the benefits of green buildings just because of the unsustainable buildings.

Even though some of the state governments in India offer stimulus to buildings by opting for green as an option by providing Excess FAR ratio, faster clearance etc. The Green building movement has not paced up to expectations.

In order to resolve issues related to the environmental impacts of urbanization, the government should set up a long-term goal of mandating the green certification of buildings sector-wise (commercial, residential etc.) just as they did for the implementation of the Energy Conservation Building Code in India.

As a green building consultant, some of the critical factors to be identified to shortlist and mandate green buildings certification sector-wise in India are listed below

•  Minimum development footprint 
•  Occupancy 
• Type of Use

Some of the key constraints for mandating green building certification in India are mentioned below

1. Availability and costing of sustainable materials in the market
2. Lack of appropriate technologies
3.  Initial investment upfront cost
4. Capacity building of Certified Professionals to cater for the entire industry
5. Necessary Awareness to be created to explain the long-term benefits
6. Integrated Approach among various consultants from the design stage

If the government is able to address all the key constraints raised above with appropriate measures, schemes, research etc., and mandate green buildings, India can be a front runner and a prominent reference among the various nations of the world for a sustainable built environment. It would also benefit the government by serving the triple bottom line; environment, economy and social Responsibility.

Reference

1. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/real-estate/india-aims-green-buildings-footprint-of-10-bn-sqft-by-2022/article29531384.ece
2. https://www.grihaindia.org/

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