The Importance of Green Buildings in India

With rising levels of urbanization and a large number of people living in cities, the construction industry is booming. There is always some new construction going on in the neighborhood or in the suburbs to accommodate more and more working populations in Indian cities. However, a large number of buildings are built callously without any regard for their carbon footprint. Did you know buildings are also sources of pollution? Currently, only 5% of Indian buildings are green and if not built with emission norms in mind, conventional buildings could constitute ~70% of emissions in India, by 2050. The country is planning to reduce its carbon footprint aggressively and these numbers are alarming in the Indian context. Hence the importance of constructing green buildings in India.

Also, read How to Build Energy Efficient Hospitals

What are Green Buildings

Green buildings are energy efficient, self-sustainable, and less polluting buildings. Buildings consume a large amount of energy on heating, cooling, ventilation, water, power, etc. If buildings could source power in eco-friendly ways, they could save a large amount of energy. Planting green plants on terraces, balconies, and rooftops could also go a long way in reducing heat and cooling the surroundings. The government is also promoting “Green Buildings”. For instance, it is mandatory for government buildings to obtain at least a 3-star rating from GRIHA. GRIHA or the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment is a rating tool that helps in assessing the performance of buildings against national benchmarks. Many states are promoting green buildings through measures such as reduction in property taxes and stamp duty, subsidies on capital investment, etc.

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With people becoming more conscious about health and the environment, a large number are now preferring investing in properties that are built keeping these aspects in mind. Many new buildings from reputed builders now have a large number of trees, green areas, open spaces, etc. in order to be more environmentally appealing. A few of these buildings have also installed filters for air and water for cleaner living. Newly constructed buildings are also installing EV charging stations for easy charging of resident electric cars. Solar energy is used to light common areas and there is a provision for rainwater conservation. So, all these are basic pointers to make your buildings green. Not only will they result in better resource management, and lower environmental impact, but they are also low maintenance and will promote healthy lifestyles for residents. These buildings are also estimated to have higher ROIs. Better air quality is the need of the hour and the COVID-19 pandemic has further stressed the importance of having healthy lifestyles. So, more and more people are opting for investing in homes having these green credentials. Builders should stress these parameters while constructing new buildings and existing ones should also be retrofitted with such facilities to reduce emission levels and promote better living conditions.