The concept not only benefits
the ecology, but also increases the productivity of people in terms of health
and happiness.
As soaring demand of energy in
India is projected to increase by 2027, there is also a surging demand to raise
the energy efficiency of buildings in cities across the country. Awareness for
building energy efficiencies in buildings is now showing a perceptible leap. The
country has already taken a decisive role in that direction by creating the Energy
Conservation Building Code (ECBC) which incorporates efficient technologies,
materials and construction techniques into new and removed commercial building
structures. To preserve natural resources and reduce environmental wastes, many
builders and design professionals have started utilizing green building
methods.
Sustainable building
Green Building promotes the
efficiency of buildings with regards to the use of water, energy and materials
while reducing the building’s impact on individual’s health and the environment
through better design, construction, operation, maintenance and removal. Hence,
Green building is all about the complete building life cycle, it is also
regarded as sustainable building or environmental building.
Safe environment
The term ‘Green Building’ is
often used in combination with ‘high-performance building’, ‘sustainable design’
and ‘preserving precious resources’. The concept of green building will set the
precedent in the construction industry tomorrow as the world will be more wary
on using its limited resources. It not only benefits the ecology, but also and
happiness. The concepts of sustainable development and sustainability play an
integral part in green buildings. Green buildings help reducing operating costs
and increase productivity. They provide a healthy, comfortable and safe
environment to reside in.
Key benefits
Efficient technologies: Green
buildings incorporate energy and water efficient technologies that are not as
readily available in traditional buildings.
Easier maintenance: Green buildings typically
involve less maintenance.
- Improved indoor air quality: With green buildings, the indoor air quality is improved via natural and healthy materials.
- Energy efficiency: Green building methods make the most out of energy, resources and materials.
Health considerations
A burgeoning population,
escalating economic development and internal migration to urban centres from
rural areas has resulted in India’s cities facing with numerous environmental
problems, which negatively impact the health and well-being of its residents. The
increasing scarcity of environmental resources has transformed them into
economic goods with people willing to pay more for better environmental
quality.
Existing loopholes
Even though India is taking
huge steps to make the country a healthier place to live in, there are some
loopholes to be filled. Ways by which the ‘Green building’ concept can be
enhanced is by creating incentives for builders to make energy efficiency
investments in new construction – by offering property tax rebates, creation of
special economic zones, increasing floor space index and expediting permit
processes – in order to encourage widespread adoption of energy efficiency
practices.
