Future of Green Buildings in India
Though green buildings are relatively a new concept in India, our country is well known for environment-friendly houses, natural items like bamboo, clay, etc. The idea of green buildings started in India in the 1990s, and gained momentum in the last decade. As per the experts, green buildings that would have minimum impact on the environment are expected to come to the mainstream replacing the conventional buildings.
But before looking at the green building scenario in the country, let us first know what green building is and what its features are.
What is a Green Building?
According to the World Green Building Council:
A green building is a building that, in its design, construction or operation, reduces or eliminates negative impacts, and can create positive impacts, on the climate and natural environment. Green buildings preserve precious natural resources and improve our quality of life.
Any building, whether it is commercial, residential or industrial can be considered as a green building if it meets the criteria. Some of the features of a green building include energy efficiency, water management, superior air quality, abundant natural light, noise control, adaptability to the changing environment, etc.
Green Building Market Scenario in India
India is one of the fast-growing countries in terms of the construction of green buildings. The green building market in India, including the commercial and residential segments, is expected to become USD 39 billion by the year 2025. The green buildings market in India is primarily driven by the commercial segment with considerable contribution from the residential segment.
The government under the NDCs of Paris Agreement aims to have 200 million sq. meters of certified green buildings by 2022. Though there exist some green building policies across various states, the rate of adoption of the green buildings has been very slow due to lack of awareness and the absence of a level playing field. However, the situation is expected to change with rapid urbanization and growing environmental concerns and increasing awareness towards green buildings in the country. GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) provides ratings for green buildings in the country. The Indian Green Building Council working in collaboration with the industry leaders provides services like certifications and training programs, etc.
Some of the Top Green Buildings in India
As India is one of the top green buildings markets in the world, let us look at some of the best green buildings in the country that have been awarded by the LEED, an internationally recognized green building certification system developed by the US Green Building Council.
- ITC Green Center, Gurgaon
- Suzlon One Earth, Pune
- Patni Knowledge Center, Noida
- Olympia Tech Park, Chennai
- Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, New Delhi
- ITC Maurya Hotel, New Delhi
- Infosys Campus, Hyderabad
- Cisco Building, Bangalore
- CII- Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, Hyderabad
- Infinity Benchmark, Kolkata
These green buildings in India which are LEED-certified are known for their low energy and water consumption, less carbon dioxide emissions, better air quality and conservation of natural resources, with no negative impact on the environment.