22 Green Buildings

Sunil Mittal

1.  Introduction
2. Defining Green Building
3. Goals of Green building
4. Features of Green Building
5. Strategies and Practices for Green Building Construction
6. Benefits of green building
7. Green Building Rating
8. Green Building – Indian Context
9. Steps for designing green buildings
10. Green Building Rating System in India
11. Green Buildings in India
12. Initiatives for Promotion of Green Building Projects in India

1. Introduction

The construction sector poses a major challenge to the environment. An important aim of the building is to provide highest living standards without compromising the environmental and ecological sustainability. Apart from the basic function as a shelter, a building should provide two fundamental physiological ‘comforts’ i.e. Visual comfort (the ability to allow occupants to see clearly for carrying out their daily domestic/ official tasks), and Thermal comfort (the ability to keep occupants cool in the summers and warm in the winters) to its occupants. These ‘comforts’ can be provided either naturally or artificially. Natural means using the naturally available resources such as sun-light, heat energy from sun, natural winds, evaporation, trees, etc.) While saving energy, for visual and thermal comforts. The artificial is use of manmade resources such as electric lighting, ACs, etc involving large-scale energy consumption coupled with huge energy generation leading to pollution and green-house gas emissions. To provide these comforts, a building needs to consume resources for construction and operation. A building can consume unimaginable quantities of resources such as land, soil, trees, plastics, metals, water, electricity etc. With unrestricted glass facades and extensive air-conditioned spaces, today we design buildings that work towards isolating the internal from the external environment, thereby resulting in very high energy consumption. It is imperative we alter that trend to minimize the detrimental impact on the environment and to create a new future for our next generation, children, our towns, cities and our country. The sunlight brings with it heat and glare, which people try to battle by rolling the blinds down and using lots of air-conditioning respectively .All the buildings generate site wastes, organic/inorganic wastes, sewage wastes, waste wastes, e-wasted etc. Globally, buildings are responsible for at least 40% of energy use. An estimated 42% of the global water consumption and 50% of the global consumption of raw materials is consumed by buildings when taking into account the manufacture, construction, and operational period of buildings. In addition, building activities contribute an estimated 50% of the world’s air pollution, 42% of its greenhouse gases, 50% of all water pollution, 48% of all solid wastes and 50% of all CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) to the environment.

However in terms of sale and purchase cost, the areas valued highest for Real Estate sale or purchase, are the greenest parts of a city. This is because, these offer the best quality of life in terms of clean air, cooler climates, ample ground water, rich flora and fauna, natural lighting, ample wind-flow, recreation areas for children and adults, etc. Hence efforts are being made to construct such buildings which pose minimum challenges to the environment, be aesthetic, economical and promote sustainable development. The emphasis should always be on the construction and operation of buildings on sustainable basis.

2. Defining Green Building

As per U.S. EPA “Green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle from sitting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction.

Similarly, World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) defines Green Building as a building that, in its design, construction or operation, reduces or eliminates negative impacts, and can create positive impacts, on our climate and natural environment. Green buildings preserve precious natural resources and improve our quality of life.

3.   Goals of Green building

Ø  To make the earth more sustainable,

Ø   To sustain the environment without disrupting the natural habitats around it.

Ø  To promote a better planet earth for a better life not only for humans, but also for flora and fauna.

4.   Features of Green Building

The Green Building project should produce a building that is going to serve a purpose without compromising with changes in natural environment around the project site. The construction and operation activities should not disrupt the land, water, resources and energy in and around the building and promote a healthy environment for all involved. This building design should also focus on durability, utility, comfort and economy. A green building is expected to have the following features:

Ø   Reducing pollution and degradation of environment

Ø   Optimal demand for water, electrical energy and natural resources

Ø   Minimum excavation of water from environment and Zero discharge

Ø  Minimum generation of waste during various phases of construction and establishment

Ø  Recycle and reuse all its waste on site

Ø  Aesthetic and energy efficient. The design should be such that maximum natural energy can be utilized

Ø  Generate its own electricity through renewable means such as Solar or use of biomass materials

Ø  Use of local materials as far as possible in construction

Ø   Minimum use of wood

Ø   Grow its own food on site leaving some space for kitchen gardening.

Ø   Protecting occupant health and improving productivity

5.  Strategies and Practices for Green Building Construction

i)    Design and Construction Material

Ø  Architectural design should be such that to allow well ventilation to bringing fresh air inside, delivering good indoor air quality.

Ø  Avoiding use of materials and chemicals which produce harmful or toxic emissions.

Ø  Using sustainable building materials like brick from fly ash, air cavity blocks, recycled glass and steel, renewable materials like bamboo and rubber etc.

Ø  Using of water based paints or lower volatile organic compound paints and stains.

Ø  Building design should ensure comfort and enjoyment of their people by creating right indoor temperature and natural light through passive design.

Ø  Constructing green roof systems that offer on-site gardens and protection from the transfer of heat from roof top to building below.

ii) Manage Energy

Ø  The use of energy should be minimized at all stages of a building’s life-cycle

Ø   Installing energy-efficient windows and doors

Ø  Maximizing natural light to save on lighting requirements and keep buildings warm in colder months

Ø  Using renewable energy like installing solar system to power the building

Ø   Use of energy efficient appliances like LED lights, BEE 5 star rating appliances

iii)  Saving water resources

Ø  Minimizing water use in buildings by use of recycled water

Ø  Rain water harvesting to recharge the ground water

Ø  Installing Sewage Treatment Plants to treat the waste water for reuse in landscaping, firefighting, construction activities etc.

Ø  Installing water purification systems to provide safe drinking water

Ø  Considering the impact of buildings on flow of storm water

Ø  The net water balance of the building should be nearly Zero during operation phase i.e. as much water is excavated from ground that much should be recharged.

iv) Minimize waste production and maximize its recycle and reuse

Ø  Using durable materials which generate less waste.

Ø  Accounting for a building’s end of life stage by designing for demolition waste recovery and reuse.

Ø  Engaging building users in reuse and recycling.

v) Keeping our environment green

Ø  Planting trees around the building to add aesthetic value.

Ø  Encouraging use of potted plants to add beauty and greenery.

Ø  Designing green walls and scope for kitchen garden on roof top.

Ø  Looking for ways to make urban areas greener.

6.  Benefits of green building

The green buildings bring multiple benefits not only for environment but also for economy and society. The green building in collective play important role in addressing the environmental issues like global warming, climate change, pollution, depletion of natural resources etc. These may also be helpful in achieving the goals of sustainable development and economic growth. The benefits of green buildings range from individual building to global level. These can be divided into three main categories viz. environmental, economic and social and each category is further subdivided into global, national and local levels. The benefits have been explained from the facts and statistics from various third-party sources.

i)   Environmental

Green buildings offer benefits to our climate and environment. These not only reduce the harmful impacts on the environment but also produce a positive impact on the environment. General benefits of green buildings are:

• Protect ecology and ecosystems
• Reduce wastage of water
• Conserve natural resources
• Improve air and water quality

The facts and statistics of benefits of green building taken from website of World Green Building Council (www.worldgbc.org) are discussed as follow:

a) Global level:

Ø  The building sector has the largest potential for significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to other major emitting sectors – UNEP, 2009.

Ø  This emissions savings potential is said to be as much as 84 gigatonnes of CO2 by 2050, through direct measures in buildings such as energy efficiency, fuel switching and the use of renewable energy – UNEP, 2016.

Ø  The building sector has the potential to make energy savings of 50% or more in 2050, in support of limiting global temperature rises to 2°C (above pre-industrial levels) – UNEP, 2016.

b) Building level:

Ø As per reports of Green building Council Australia, the Green Star certification in Australia have been shown to produce 62% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than average Australian buildings, and 51% less potable water than if they had been built to meet minimum industry requirements.

Ø   As per the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) report, certified green buildings results in energy savings of 40 – 50% and water savings of 20 – 30% compared to conventional buildings in India.

Ø  In South Africa, buildings achieving the Green Star certification have been shown to save on average between 30 – 40% energy and carbon emissions every year, and between 20 – 30% potable water every year, when compared to the industry norm.

Ø   As per US Green Building council report, Green buildings achieving the LEED certification in the US have been shown to consume 25% less energy and 11% less water, than non-green buildings.

ii)      Economic

Green buildings offer a number of economic benefits as discussed below.

• Reduce construction and working costs
• Create market for green product and services Improve occupant productivity
• Green buildings are generally costly than standard buildings

Further, the following facts and statistics taken from website of World Green Building Council (www.worldgbc.org; as discussed follow) prove the benefits of green building from global level to building level.

a). Global level:

Ø  Global energy efficiency measures could save an estimated €280 to €410 billion in savings on energy spending (and the equivalent to almost double the annual electricity consumption of the United States) – European Commission, 2015.

b)     National level:

Ø  Canada’s green building industry generated $23.45 billion in GDP and represented nearly 300,000 full-time jobs in 2014 – Canada Green Building Council / The Delphi Group, 2016.

Ø  Green building is projected to account for more than 3.3 million U.S. jobs by 2018 – US Green Building Council / Booz Allen Hamilton, 2015.

c)      At a building level:

Ø  Building owners report that green buildings – whether new or renovated – command a 7% increase in asset value over traditional buildings – Dodge Data & Analytics, 2016.

iii)          Social benefits:

Green building also offers positive social benefits in terms of:

• Improve quality of life
• Minimize pressure on local infrastructure
• Improve comfort and health

The following contents from website of World Green Building Council (www.worldgbc.org) confirm the same.

Ø  Workers in green, well-ventilated offices record a 101 per cent increase in cognitive scores (brain function) – Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Syracuse University Center of Excellence / SUNY Upstate Medical School, 2015.

Ø  Employees in offices with windows slept an average of 46 minutes more per night – American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2013.

Ø  Park and Yoon, (2011), research suggests that better indoor air quality (low concentrations of CO2 and pollutants, and high ventilation rates) can lead to improvements in performance of up to 8%.

Ø  The World Green Building Council project Better Places for People focuses on creating buildings which are not only good for the environment, but also support healthier, happier and more productive lives.

7. Green Building Rating

As per WorldGBC, Green building rating tools or certification is used to assess and recognize the buildings which meet green requirements or standards as prescribed by the assessing or certifying agencies. These rating tools recognize and reward the green builders. These certifications encourage and incentivize the green builders.

The rating tools vary in their approach depending on the type, purpose, phase of the building. These can be applied to the architectural design, construction, operation, demolition phases of a green building. The green rating tool or certifications in different countries are different and are developed by these countries individually to select a rating tool best suited to their market. WorldGBC in 2015, published “Quality Assurance Guide for Green Building Rating Tools”. The guide provides a step by step guide for the operators of new, emerging and established rating tools to ensure that their development and implementation is robust, transparent and to a good standard.

List of green building rating tools

Below is a list of rating tools (in alphabetical order) that are administered by WGBC in different countries and sectors.

8.        Green Building – Indian Context

India built first green building about 9000 years back, in Mehergarh (part of Harappa) now in Pakistan. Traditionally Indian’s have constructed buildings using local materials, responding to local climate, and displaying architectural and engineering talent which the whole world still holds in awe. But today we mostly build forgettable buildings, where buildings in one city look exactly like ones in other cities.

India too faces the environmental challenges of the construction sector. The gross built-up area added to commercial and residential spaces was about 40.8 million square meters in 2004–05, which is about 1% of annual average constructed floor area around the world and the trends show a sustained growth of 10% over the coming years. With a near consistent 8% rise in annual energy consumption in the residential and commercial sectors, building energy consumption has seen an increase, from a low 14% in the 1970s to nearly 33% in 2004–05. Energy consumption would continue to rise unless suitable actions to improve energy efficiency are taken up immediately. As per The Energy Resource Institute (TERI) estimates, there is an increased demand of about 5.4 billion units (kWh) of electricity annually for meeting end-use energy requirement for residential and commercial buildings, responsible for releasing a significant amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Buildings are major consumers of water during construction and operation (for domestic activities, cooling, landscaping and gardening). The annual per capita water consumption in 1990 was 2464 m3, but by 2025 with an expected population growing to a level of around 1.4 billion, it will almost certainly be in the stress category with less than 1700 m3 per capita per annum. In terms of accessibility to water supply, as per the information received from the State Governments of India, as of March 2004, about 93% of urban population has access to drinking water supply facilities. The coverage figures indicate only the accessibility, whereas adequacy and equitable distribution and per-capita provision of these basic services may not be as per the prescribed norms in certain cases. For instance, the poor, particularly those living in slums and squatter settlements, are generally deprived of these basic facilities. Similarly, the issue of water supply is critical not only for day to day needs of drinking water but also for agriculture and allied activities.

In Indian context, a building is ‘green’ when the following parameters are met;

• It is designed using an integrated approach (as mentioned in National Building Code (NBC), Part 0)
• It provides its users with an “optimal” level of comfort catering to local needs (as per NBC-Part 8)
• It uses minimum resources, sourced locally (as per various IS codes and other local materials). It consumes minimum energy and water (as per energy conservation building code (ECBC) and NBC)
• It generates optimum waste, processed locally (as per Central pollution board, and Ministry of Environment and Forest norms) during its construction, operation and demolition (i.e., over its entire life cycle)

9.   Steps for designing green buildings

A green building can easily be designed, by integrating resource-efficient features into a building’s design from the pre-design stage itself, and by ensuring that the architects, engineers and contractors follow established environmental principles addressing local needs. Designing a green building is easy and fun, and may cost lesser than a conventional building. The following steps may be useful in the design of a green building.

Ø  By adopting the integrated design approach such that the client, architect, engineers, and consultants design the building in a coordinated manner with a common goal – sustainability.

Ø  By following regional development plans (such as the Urban Development Plan Formulation and Implementation UDPFI guidelines, master plans) and local building by-laws

Ø  By following India’s national codes such as NBC & ECBC and standards

Ø  By optimizing site conditions (trees, water bodies, wind flow, orientation, etc.) and harnessing them to cater to the thermal / visual comfort requirements of the building

Ø  By adopting sound architectural practices and taking examples from India’s traditional architecture

Ø  By adopting locally available construction materials and giving impetus to local arts, crafts, architecture and artisans

Ø  By designing precisely-sized energy systems and not basing them on broad thumb-rules

Ø  By reducing the resource consumption of the building and its inhabitants so that the waste generating there-from is reduced

Ø  By adopting energy efficient technologies (EETs) and equipment

Ø  By adopting renewable energy technology (RETs) applications to reduce the demand on conventional energy.

10.    Green Building Rating System in India

In India, pre-dominantly three rating systems exist.

LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Rating is given as Silver, Gold or Platinum on the basis of checklist of credits that can be achieved for 7 major categories i.e.

1)   Sustainable Sites 2) Water Efficiency 3) Energy & Atmosphere 4) Materials & Resources

5)  Indoor Environmental Quality 6) Innovation & Design Process 7) Regional Priority

IGBC: Indian Green Building Council. It is similar to LEED.

GRIHA: Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment. It is a star (1-5) rating system based on 8 major categories ie. 1) Sustainable Site Planning 2) Health & Well-being 3) Building Planning & Construction 4) Energy End Use 5) Energy Renewable 6) Recycle, Recharge & Reuse of water 7) Waste management 8) Indoor air quality.

11. Green Buildings in India

Green Buildings in India account for less than 5% of the total building footprint. As per Dodge Data & Analytics World Green Building Trends 2016 Smart Market Report, the green building industry in India is expected to grow at 20% by end of 2018. Following is a list of some well-known green buildings in India.

Ø   Ansal Esencia, Sector 67, Gurgaon

Ø   Bank of India, Goa

Ø   Biodiversity Conservation India Ltd. (BCIL), Bangalore

Ø   CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, Hyderabad

Ø   Empress Altius, Kolkata

Ø    I-Gate Knowledge Centre, Noida

Ø   Infosys Limited, Mysore

Ø   Infosys, Pocharam, Hyderabad

Ø   ITC Maurya, New Delhi

Ø   Suzlon one Earth, Pune

Ø   TCS Techno Park & Grundfos Pumps, Chennai

12.    Initiatives for Promotion of Green Building Projects in India

Several Central and State Governments have started providing incentives to those who get their building green-certified the list of incentives provided are appended below:

• The         Ministry         of         Environment,         Forest         and         Climate         Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, vide office memorandum in May 2011 has decided that proposals for environmental clearance in respect of building and construction projects which have obtained Green Building rating under GRIHA, IGBC or LEED will get out of turn priority for environmental clearance.
• The Government of Punjab, Department of Local Government (Town Planning Wing) has notified “The Punjab Municipal Green Buildings Incentive Policy-2016”. The policy offers an free incentive of additional 5% Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to thebuildings onplot size above 100 m2 on submission of “Green Building” Certificate from GRIHA (4 or 5 star rating), LEED or IGBC (Gold/Platinum rating).
• The Government of Punjab, Department of Housing and Urban Development through amendment in Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority Building Rules 2014 offered an additional 5% FAR free of charge to the Eco-friendly Buildings certified by BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) or GRIHA or IGBC.
• Government of Himachal Pradesh, Department of Town & Country Planning offers an additional 10% FAR for projects pre-certified by IGBC (Gold / Platinum rating) or GRIHA (4 or 5 star rating).
• The Government of Rajasthan, Urban Development and Housing Department through gazette notification in 2017, has offered additional 5% FAR free of charge for Green buildings certified by LEED or       IGBC with Gold rating or BEE certified.
• Government of Uttar Pradesh (Department of Housing and Urban Planning) has notified an additional 5% FAR free of charge for projects which are rated as Gold or above by LEED or IGBC or 4 stars by GRIHA.
• Government of Jharkhand, Urban Development & Housing Department through amendment in Jharkhand Building (IIIrd amendment) Bye-Laws 2017, offered incentive of 3% FAR for GRIHA 3star or IGBC silver rating; 5% FAR for GRIHA 4 star or IGBC Gold rating and 7% for GRIHA 5 star or IGBC Platinum rating for Green Buildings and sustainability provisions.
• Government of Maharashtra, Public Works Department (PWD), has notified that the development of all new government buildings and renovation of existing buildings shall be carried out as per LEED or IGBC Rating system.
• Government of  Andhra  Pradesh,  Industries  &  Commerce  Department  –“Industrial Development Policy 2015-2020” has offered 25% subsidy to for MSME and large industries for sustainable green measures on total fixed capital investment of the project (excluding cost of land, land development, preliminary and pre-operative expenses and consultancy fees) for buildings which obtain green rating under the IGBC/LEED Certification or GRIHA systems and other green measures mentioned in the policy.
• Government of Andhra Pradesh Municipal Administration and Urban Development through amendment in “The Andhra Pradesh Building Rules, 2017” offered following incentives to those buildings which follow the guidelines issued in the “Andhra Pradesh Energy Conservation Building Code (APECBC)” and obtaining the ratings from the IGBC (Indian Green Building Council) or LEED India or TERI or GRIHA.
  •  20% Reduction on Permit Fees
  • one-time reduction of 20% on Duty on Transfer of Property (If the property is sold within three years) on the submission of Occupancy Certificate issued by the Local Authority
• Government of West Bengal, Department of Municipal Affairs through amendment on 23/9/2015 in Kolkata Municipal Corporation (Buildings) Rules offers additional 10% FAR for projects pre-certified by GRIHA (4 Star rating) or IGBC (Gold or above rating).

Web Links

• http://www.worldgbc.org/
• https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/Cost%20of%20NonWorld%20%20Final%20Report.pdf
• https://www.cagbc.org/News/EN/2016/20160210_News_Release.aspx
• https://www.usgbc.org/articles/leed
• https://www.usgbc.org/articles/greenbuild
•  http://www.saint-gobain.co.uk/media/18079/world-green-building-trends2016f_europe.pdf
• https://chge.hsph.harvard.edu/resource/impact-green-buildings-cognitive-function
• https://aasm.org/study-links-workplace-daylight-exposure-to-sleep-activity-andquality-of-life/
• http://www.worldgbc.org/better-places-people