What rating system supports green buildings in India.?

• A green building is an environmentally friendly building in harmony with nature that uses land, materials, energy and water efficiently and reduces maintenance costs

• Green buildings improve energy efficiency, limit water consumption and maximize the use of recyclable, recyclable and non-toxic materials. The construction process will also generate as little waste as possible.

• Green building includes methods, resources and skills associated during construction with the sole purpose of reducing adverse environmental impacts.

In India, the rating systems that support green buildings are the Green Rating of Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA), the Green Building Council of India (IGBC) and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). India's green building market is currently in the early stages of development, with only 5% of buildings classified as green.

Green Building Council and Certification

The LEED rating (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognized system for certifying environmentally friendly buildings.

In India, the rating systems that support green buildings are the Green Rating of Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA), the Green Building Council of India (IGBC) and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).

Green Building Concepts in India

• India's green building market is currently in the early stages of development, with only 5% of buildings classified as green.

• India's green building market is expected to double to reach nearly 10 billion square feet by 2022, worth between $35 billion and $50 billion.

• According to the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), India has achieved a 'green building footprint' of 7.17 billion square feet.

• With nearly 6,000 green projects and more than 5.77,000 acres of development projects in the country, it said it would help reach its goal of a 75% green building footprint two years ahead of its actual target date.

• Maharashtra ranks first for green buildings in India, followed by Karnataka, Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, according to a study by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-GBC India.

There is no doubt that increased awareness of green buildings and their long-term benefits will drive green building construction.

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised people's awareness of health, well-being and comfort, with homeowners increasingly preferring to live in buildings with better ventilation systems, plenty of natural light and fresh water. It is a part of the Paris Climate Agreement, India is working to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030, reducing its CO2 emissions by around 3 billion tonnes. The Housing for All Plan in India offers an opportunity to integrate affordable and environmentally friendly housing, thereby enabling a lasting change in the Indian housing market.

To promote green buildings, India needs standardization of standards, attractive incentive schemes and a workforce with sufficient skills and knowledge to construct green buildings.