Relevance: GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Key phrases: Green building, GRIHA, CII, TERI, BEE-ECBC, LEED, sustainable future,

Why in News?

• The intangible benefits of new green buildings include enhanced air quality, excellent daylighting, health of the occupants, and conservation of scarce resources.

What is Green Building?

• A ‘green’ building is a building that, in its design, construction or operation, reduces or eliminates negative impacts, and can create positive impacts, on our climate and natural environment. Green buildings preserve precious natural resources and improve our quality of life.
• Green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction.

Characteristics of Green Buildings:

To evaluate a building's sustainability, LEED certification establishes a points system based on various sections, which we will review below, related to design and construction:

• Location and transport: Do not build in environmentally sensitive locations and provide public transport to reduce private car use.
• Sustainable sites: Protect and maintain the natural habitat, reduce pollution and the use of natural resources and facilitate interaction with nature.
• Efficient use of water: Minimise the use of water during construction and provide mechanisms to reduce the building's water footprint.
• Energy and atmosphere: Reduce energy consumption, use renewable energy and increase energy efficiency to reduce pollution.
• Materials and resources: Incorporate recycling systems, use sustainable materials and save as many resources as possible during construction.
• Indoor environmental quality: Address the quality of the space for its occupants, such as air cleanliness, thermal control and noise pollution.
• Design innovation: Implement innovative sustainability strategies during its construction.
• Regional priority: Achieve improvements for the place where it is located in terms of the environment, social equity and public health.

Benefits of green building:

Environmental Benefits:

• Reduces Wastage of Water and Energy: Green buildings certified by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) results in water savings of 20 – 30% and energy savings of 40 – 50% compared to conventional buildings in India.
• Conserves Natural Resources: The building sector has the largest potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions significantly compared to other major emitting sectors. The building sector has the potential to make energy savings of 50% or more in 2050, in support of limiting global temperature rises to 2°C (above pre-industrial levels) – UNEP, 2016.
• Improves Air and Water Quality: Research suggests that better indoor air quality that is low concentrations of CO2 and pollutants, and high ventilation rates can lead to improvements in the performance of up to 8 percent.
• Protects Biodiversity and Ecosystems: Green building supports ecosystems by promoting the efficient use of energy, water and other resources. It also uses renewable energy, such as solar energy. Measures are usually taken for reducing pollution and waste and also enabling re-use and recycling of the materials. Materials that are used are non-toxic, ethical and sustainable

Economic Benefits:

• Reduces Costs and Increase Value: These buildings lower construction costs and higher property value for building developers; global energy efficiency measures could save an estimated €280 to €410 billion in savings on energy spending. Green buildings, whether new or renovated – command a 7 percent increase in asset value over traditional buildings – Dodge Data & Analytics, 2016.
• Improves Occupant Productivity: Green Building focuses on creating buildings that are not only good for the environment but also support healthier, happier and more productive lives. These include cost savings on utility bills for tenants or households through energy and water efficiency.
• Creates a Market For Green Product and Services: Different countries and regions have a variety of characteristics such as distinctive climatic conditions, unique cultures and traditions, diverse building types and ages, or wide-ranging environmental, economic and social priorities, all of these shapes up the green building and make green buildings best suited to their own markets.

Social Benefits:

• Improves the Quality of Life: In green buildings, the quality of life of occupants is considered in design, construction and operation. It Improves occupant health and comfort. Research suggests that better indoor air quality (low concentrations of CO2 and pollutants and high ventilation rates) can lead to improvements in the performance of up to 8 percent.
• Minimizes Strain on Local Infrastructure: Green buildings work with local governments and utilities to provide training and incentives for green building and energy efficiency. They also offer free classes, public forums and technical training that can minimize strain on local infrastructure.

Way forward:

• India is yet to build most buildings that will exist in 2040. The country will need over 50 billion square metres of residential floor space in the next 20 years due to urbanisation, as per International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) India Energy Outlook 2021 report. An estimated 270 million people are likely to be added to India’s urban population between now and 2040.

Source: The Hindu

Mains Question:

Q. What do you understand by Green building? Is Creating a sustainable future with green buildings necessary for India? Illustrate.