A few days back, I read a news that more than two-thirds of Grade-A office spaces in India are now green certified. Green Building and sustainability are getting much traction and actually it is need of an hour. Let’s delve into the specifics of Green Building certification.
Sustainability is the new norm nowadays. Where rapid development was seen as a barrier for sustaining mother nature, the modern integrated approach ensures the smooth transition to the technological world while also nurturing the natural bounties of earth. Same is the case with the Indian real estate sector which is also shifting towards sustainability. The trend is moving towards environmentally conscious construction practices.
If you are a developer or property owner in India, it is important to understand the concept of green building certification to crave your space in the contemporary market. This guide will explain the process of green building certification along with highlighting benefits for your projects.
What is Meant by Green Building Certification?
The concept behind green building is to design and use materials for construction in a way that the negative impacts on nature are minimized, while also affirming the positive changes on the natural environment. Similarly, green building certification validates the design, construction, and operation of a building with minimal environmental impact. This comes as an assessment and rating procedure to see the performance of a building from a sustainability point of view.
This green building certification assess various factors to validate any building or infrastructure:
- Efficiency in energy
- Water conservation
- Reducing water wastage
- Indoor air quality
- Use of sustainable materials
Key Green Building Certification Bodies in India
In the context of India, the primary organizations that provide green building certification include:
- Indian Green Building Council– Premier certification body.
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design– Globally recognized certification body.
- Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA)– A national rating system body.
Who Needs Green Building Certification and Why?
When it comes to applicants for green building certification, it is open to real estate developers, contractors, commercial and institutional building owners.
Once you are certified with green build certification, you can get various advantages:
- Cost effective: When it comes to green building, they usually consume less energy and water. With this efficiency, operational costs are lowered over time.
- Market Effective: Buyers and tenants usually prefer green-certified properties which leads to higher occupancy rates.
- Healthier Spaces and Environment: The best feature of green buildings is ensuring better indoor air quality and comfort, which leads to productive spaces, and healthier environment.
- Legal Compliance: Green certifications ensure you adhere with environmental regulations, along with meeting current and future standards.
- Public Appeal: Green building certification enhances your company’s image and appeal among environmentally conscious stakeholders.
The Green Certification Process
While the process for different certification programs may be different, but the general process often includes:
- Registration: The first step is to submit your project details to the respective certification body.
- Submitting documents: You need to prepare and submit documentation that enlists the features and strategies related to sustainable measures.
- Evaluation: After proper documentation, a qualified professional will conduct on-site evaluation to verify the compliance as per certification criteria.
- Review and certification: After evaluation, the certifying body will go through your submitted materials and evaluation report to finalize your certification.
Eligibility and Costs
When it comes to green building certification eligibility criteria, it includes:
- Innovative design solutions minimizing negative environmental impact
- Efficient resource management including use of energy, water and materials
- Enhanced air quality and comfort
- Sustainable land use and development
When it comes to the cost, it can vary depending on the size and type of the project, along with chosen certification level and body. The overall expense can depend on various factors like registration fees, documentation and evaluation costs, and consulting services.
Conclusion
Adopting sustainable construction practices is becoming significantly important in India. With this, there is a need for green building certification. In this way, you will not only support environmental conservation, but also ensure long-term success for your business.