‘Green buildings’ for greener, eco-friendly world

Energy saved is energy generated. Green Building norms are receiving a lot of attention since features of building design, such as appropriate orientation, insulation, and shading - what is referred to as ‘passive solar architecture’ - can reduce energy requirements by about 10%, and day-lighting and energy-efficient lamps can bring them down by another 25%.

A green building is one which uses less water, optimises energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional building.

A relatively new concept, green building is gaining momentum and there are several registered bodies working for the cause of reducing the environmental impact of buildings for better ecological consciousness. Several seminars and workshops are being conducted worldwide to promote these concepts with the aim that the architects, engineers and builders forum adopt these energy-saving measures.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED-INDIA) has a Green Building Rating System which is a nationally and internationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED-INDIA provides building owners, architects, consultants, developers, facility managers and project managers the tools they need to design, construct and operate green buildings.
The Indian Green Building Council has a vision to usher in a green building movement and facilitate India in emerging as one of the world leaders in green buildings. 

According to TERI (The Energy And Resource Institute), “If energy efficient techniques developed by TERI are applied to just 10% of the buildings constructed in cities every year, India can expect enough savings to light 20 million rural households.” TERI can provide innovative solutions to promote energy efficiency in any building or group of buildings - old, new, or yet to be constructed.

Energy-efficient buildings require a higher investment of Rs29,500 per square metre, as compared to Rs19,000 per square metre for a non-energy efficient building, but they offer substantial savings in energy consumption. There are several energy saving methods, to name a few, time-turn off switches (that switch on and off at regulated hours) sensory switches that turn off if there is no one in the room, controlling air leakages in air-conditioned room and using appropriate shower heads to save water. Switching to high energy saving options is a time-consuming process, it needs detailing and customisation.  Appropriate energy saving solutions can reduce electricity bill by nearly 15-20%.

Web-based applications like Green Building Studios help architects and engineer by doing a comprehensive and powerful energy analysis for more efficient, even carbon neutral, building designs. The aim is to have higher efficiency of resource use - energy, water, and materials - while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment during the building’s lifecycle, through better design, construction, operation, maintenance, storm water management and solid waste management. This is going to be future sustainable technology for the building and construction business.

There are several worldwide sustainable building alliances that are non-profit, non-partisan bodies pioneering changes as core green building catalysts to promote a healthier world. The Indian Green Building Congress is an annual forum that addresses the green building needs in India. The impact of green buildings is so substantial and tangible that the world is already talking in terms of Green Cities. The Green Cities Conference to be held at the Melbourne Convention Centre in February 2010 may just be the first step towards conceptualising a Green World.