Build Green

“Anybody can write a book and most of them are doing it; but it takes brains to build a house.”
Charles F. Lummis, United States journalist and Indian rights and historic preservation activist.

But then again, our ancestors, blinded by the glare of industrialization and modernization, flouted what was said and so boomed an age, where green lushes were replaced by concrete jungles which our forefathers saw as a mark of pride and dignity. However, this was short-lived. Inapt use of building materials, absence of proper construction methodologies, failure in optimum execution and maintenance, and lack of research over the past few decades left an ecological footprint of loss and wastage of natural resources and destroyed the splendor bestowed upon this planet and its beings. The environmental impression of concrete, its production and uses, has been multifaceted. Concrete is one of the primary producers of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas.

We are not primitive anymore. We have become aware of the environment, we are wary of the mistakes that our ancestors have made. We vivaciously dream about new technologies and make efforts to mold them into reality.

Nowadays, “GOING GREEN” has become a top priority in our society, and sustainable buildings and design are at the forefront of this green revolution.

What is a green building?

The answer to this is quite simple. A green building is one whose construction and lifetime operation assure the healthiest possible environment while representing the most efficient and least disruptive use of land, water, energy and resources. The optimum design solution is one that effectively imitates all of the natural systems and condition of the pre developed site after development is complete. A green building is a smart building. It senses and reacts accordingly and caters to the needs of user and local environment.

Do green buildings cost more?

Many green strategies, if blended well cost less. However the question is not about the price but its efficacy.  For instance, use of high performance windows and window frames increases cost of building envelope in the first place, but the resulting reduction in building lighting, and temperature and carbon emission can be reduced significantly.

A green building reduces capital costs, maintenance costs, operation costs, risk and liabilities and enhances social and environmental serenity of a place.

Constructing a green building is a complex integrated process in which design elements are re-evaluated, integrated and optimized as a part of the whole building solution.

Which is green and which is not?             

The Toronto based World Green Building Council currently recognizes 20 established green building council around the world.  A couple of them are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), GRIHA (INDIA).

Are there any green buildings in India?

Indira Paryavaran Bhawan is India’s first on site net zero building. The building is expected to qualify as a five-star GRIHA and to have a LEED Platinum rating. The building has its own solar power plant, sewage treatment facility, and geothermal heat exchange system.

Manipal University Jaipur’s academic and administrative buildings have been awarded LEED Platinum Certificate & GRIHA award for water management.