An Introduction to National Rating System - GRIHA

(An evaluation tool to help design, build, operate, and maintain a resource-efficient built environment)

Why Green Buildings?

1. Global Perspective
Construction sector poses a major challenge to the environment. Globally a) b) c) About 42% of global water consumption by construction industry. Building industry consumes about 17% of fresh water available in the world. About 50% of the global consumption of raw materials is consumed by buildings when taking into account the manufacture, construction, and operational period of buildings. About 25% of wood harvested is consumed by construction industry. 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.

d) e)

2. Indian Perspective
a) In 2004-05, addition to commercial and residential spaces: 1% of constructed floor area around the world Estimated annual addition in the coming years: 10% Building Energy Consumption In 1970: 14% In 2004-05: 33%

b)

What is a Green Building?

Buildings have major environmental impacts during their life. Resources such as ground cover, forests, water, and energy are dwindling to give way to buildings. Resource-intensive materials provide structure to a building and landscaping adds beauty to it, in turn using up water and pesticides to maintain it. Energy-consuming systems for lighting, air conditioning, and water heating provide comfort to its occupants. Hi-tech controls add intelligence to inanimate buildings so that they can respond to varying conditions, and intelligently monitor and control resource use, security, and usage of fire fighting systems and other such systems in the building. Water, another vital resource for the occupants, gets consumed continuously during building construction and operation. Several building processes and occupant functions generate large amounts of waste, which can be recycled for use or can be reused directly. Buildings are thus one of the major pollutants that affect urban air quality and contribute to climate change. Hence, the need to design a green building, the essence of which is to address all these issues in an integrated and scientific manner.

What is a Green Building?

A green building depletes the natural resources to a minimum during its construction and operation. The aim of a green building design is to minimize the demand on non-renewable resources, maximize the utilization efficiency of these resources when in use, and maximize the reuse, recycling, and utilization of renewable resources. It maximizes the use of efficient building materials and construction practices; optimizes the use of on-site sources and sinks by bioclimatic architectural practices; uses minimum energy to power itself; uses efficient equipment to meet its lighting, air conditioning, and other needs; maximizes the use of renewable sources of energy; uses efficient waste and water management practices; and provides comfortable and hygienic indoor working conditions

Green Building Team

It is evolved through a design process that requires input from all concerned the architect; landscape designer; the air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, and energy consultants; construction engineers; and others to work as a team to address all aspects of building and system planning, designing, construction, and operation. They critically evaluate the impacts of each design decision and arrive at viable design solutions to minimize the negative impacts and enhance the positive impacts on the environment.

In sum, the following aspects of a green building design are looked into in an integrated way:
Site planning Building envelope design Building system design (HVAC [heating ventilation and air conditioning], lighting, electrical, and water heating) Integration of renewable energy sources to generate energy on-site Water and waste management Selection of ecologically sustainable materials (with high recycled content, rapidly renewable resources with low emission potential, and so on) Indoor environmental quality (maintain indoor thermal and visual comfort and air quality)

Benefits of Green Building

A green building has lower resource consumption as compared to conventional buildings. Green buildings consume 40% to 60% (depending on the range of measures adopted) lesser electricity as compared to conventional buildings. This is primarily because they rely on passive architectural interventions in the building design, and high efficiency materials and technologies in the engineering design of the building. Green Buildings also attempt to work towards on-site energy generation through renewable energy utilization to cater to its energy needs. For instance, solar thermal systems can help generate hot-water and replace the conventional electrical geyser in buildings. Solar PV panels can help generate electricity which can reduce the buildings dependence on grid power. Green buildings consume 40% to 80% (depending on the range of measures adopted) lesser water as compared to conventional buildings. By utilizing ultra lowflow fixtures, dual plumbing systems, waste-water recycling systems and rain-water harvesting, green buildings not only reduce their demand for water use but also look at on-site supply options to cater to its internal and external (landscape) water demands.

Benefits of Green Building

Green buildings generate lesser waste by employing waste management strategies on site. They may also employ waste to energy or waste to resource (like manure, or compost) strategies on site, to minimize their burden on municipal waste management facilities and land fills. Green buildings generate lesser pollution both during construction as well as while in use. Through best-practices such as proper storage of construction materials, barricading of the site to prevent air and noise pollution during construction, proper storage and disposal of waste during construction and operation, and so on, ensures reduced impact on the surrounding environment. Green buildings ensure proper safety, health and sanitation facilities for the labourers (during construction) and the occupants (while in use). Green buildings restrict the use of high ODP (ozone depleting potential) substances in their systems as well as in finishes. Green buildings offer higher image and marketability.

Green Building Rating System

A green building rating system is an evaluation tool that measures environmental performance of a building through its life cycle. It usually comprises of a set of criteria covering various parameters related to design, construction and operation of a green building. Each criterion has pre-assigned points and sets performance benchmarks and goals that are largely quantifiable. A project is awarded points once it fulfils the rating criteria. The points are added up and the final rating of a project is decided. Rating systems call for independent third party evaluation of a project and different processes are put in place to ensure a fair evaluation. Globally, green building rating systems are largely voluntary in nature and have been instrumental in raising awareness and popularizing green building designs.