COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS OF GREEN

RATINGS IN ACCERIDATION IN INDIA

BY:- PRIYA GAUR

M Sc PREVIOUS
RMDA.
WHAT IS GREEN RATING?

Green rating is a rating system for existing buildings, based on six environmental crieteria and
four levels of performance.

4 Levels of performance

1 Intrinsic

Evaluated according to the building envelope and installation as originally built.

2 Potential Intrinsic

Predicted performance versus intrinsic value after limited investments.

3 Actual

Assessed based on current occupants and operations.

4 Potential Actual

Potential for evolution based on behavioural improvements and operational adjustments

6 Objective and Tangible Indicators/Environmental crieteria

Energy

Quantitative indicator expressed in kWh/m²/year of final energy use

Represents the energy needs of a building calculated with dynamic and calibrated modelling.

Transport

Qualitative indicator on a scale of 1 to 9

Mainly based on access to public transport and provisions within the vicinity of
the building.

Carbon

Quantitative indicator expressed in kg CO2 eq/m²

Represents the level of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from building
energy use.
Water

Quantitative indicator expressed in cubic meters /m² per year

Represents a property’s water consumption.

Well being

Qualitative indicator on a scale of 1 to 9

Based on the quality of a property’s indoor environment
(air quality, noise, natural light, comfort).

Waste

Qualitative indicator on a scale of 1 to 9

Based on a building’s capacity for waste sorting and related operational practices.

WHY GREEN RATING?

Improving the environmental performance of existing properties is commonly recognised

today as a priority to meet climate change challenges.

Today, the building industry is at the core of sustainability issues:

• it produces 40% of CO2 emissions

• it is responsible for the use of 40% of natural resources
• it is responsible for 40% of the waste produced
• the resultant urbanisation has an impact on the environment
• it has an impact on human health ("sick building syndrome").

WHAT ARE GREEN BUILDINGS?

Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable 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. This practice expands and complements the
classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.

Although new technologies are constantly being developed to complement current practices in
creating greener structures, the common objective is that green buildings are designed to reduce
the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:
 • Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
• Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity
• Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation

A similar concept is natural building, which is usually on a smaller scale and tends to focus on
the use of natural materials that are available locally. Other related topics include sustainable
design and green architecture. Green building does not specifically address the issue of the
retrofiting existing homes such as the Epositivehome project.

Green buildings in India are defined by the performance criteria used by green building rating
schemes. Green rating systems for buildings measure and quantify the environmental
performance of a given building. India currently has two local green rating systems for buildings
that address indicators and benchmarks for performance issues of global concern. They are:
• Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA); and
• Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED)
Even though green rated building may be environmentally friendly, there exist schools of
thought which do not consider rated buildings to be sustainable. However, the prime objective of
these green building rating systems in India is to rate buildings based on their meeting or
exceeding predefined goals and benchmarks24 on the following broad criteria:
• Sustainable site planning
• Optimized energy performance
• Efficient materials and construction practices
• Water and waste management strategies
• Indoor environmental quality
• Rating systems for buildings are popular in India because they enable:
• Quantification of benefits accrued through energy savings, water savings, etc.;
• Decision-making based on life cycle costs;
• Increased motivation for users and owners to fulfil their commitment to the environment;
• Generation of awareness of the need for sustainability through media attention;
• Enhancement of brand image; and
• Stimulation of competition among peers to achieve performance goals.
• Both the rating systems are point-based and rate a building based on energy efficiency,
water efficiency, material efficiency, and indoor environmental quality

Both green rating systems aim to quantify the environmental, economic and socio-economic
benefits of green building design with emphasis on sustainable site planning, optimized energy
performance, efficient materials and construction practices, water and waste management
strategies; and indoor environmental quality. The rating systems also emphasize life cycle cost
analysis so that the client has an option of making informed choices when opting for green
technologies which may have an initial incremental cost with acceptable
GREEN RATING FOR INTEGRATED HABITAT ASSESSMENT
(GRIHA)

It is the national green building rating system for India, endorsed by the Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India (GoI). The rating system acts as an
integrating platform for all relevant Indian codes, standards, strategies and policy instruments for
buildings directed towards our national priorities. It consolidates and builds upon the National
Building Code25 (NBC) 2005, the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) 200726, the
environmental clearance norms and standards mandated for large construction projects by the
Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF)27, the energy labelling programs for appliances by
the BEE, several programs of the MNRE focussed on utilisation of renewable energy sources in
buildings; and the priorities set forth by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) on imple-
mentation of infrastructure projects in sixty three cities under the Jawarharlal Nehru National
Urban Renewal Mission28 (JNNURM).
GRIHA provides a rating of up to five stars for green buildings. Developed for new commercial
and residential buildings, the rating system sets benchmarks for air conditioned and non air
conditioned buildings in five climatic zones, namely hot-dry, warm-humid, composite, temperate
and cold. A major objective of the rating is to promote passive solar techniques for optimising
indoor visual and thermal comfort; where a building is assessed on its predicted performance
over the entire life cycle from inception through operation.
The 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) aims to achieve GRIHA compliance for five million
square metres built up area, out of which about two million square metres of built up area is
registered and GRIHA compliant (as of December 2009).
GRIHA comprises a set of 34 criteria addressing sustainable site planning, optimised energy
performance, use of efficient materials and construction practices, integration of water and waste
management strategies, indoor environmental quality and; health, comfort and safety of human
beings. It is a 100+4 point system where differential weighting is allocated on various criteria
(Figure 11). The 4 points for innovation are over and above the 100 points that a project may
score for compliance with the benchmarks.
GRIHA is an acronym for Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment. GRIHA is a Sanskrit
word meaning – ‘Abode’. Human Habitats (Buildings) interact with the environment in various
ways. Throughout their life cycles, from construction to operation and then demolition, they
consume resources in the form of energy, water, materials, etc. and emit wastes either directly in
the form of municipal wastes or indirectly as emissions from electricity generation. GRIHA
attempts to minimize a building’s resource consumption, waste generation, and overall
ecological impact to within certain nationally acceptable limits / benchmarks.

Going by the old adage ‘what gets measured, gets managed’, GRIHA attempts to quantify
aspects such as energy consumption, waste generation, renewable energy adoption, etc. so as to
manage, control and reduce the same to the best possible extent.
GRIHA is a rating tool that helps people assess the performance of their building against certain
nationally acceptable benchmarks. It will evaluate the environmental performance of a building
holistically over its entire life cycle, thereby providing a definitive standard for what constitutes
a ‘green building’. The rating system, based on accepted energy and environmental principles,
will seek to strike a balance between the established practices and emerging concepts, both
national and international. The guidelines/criteria appraisal may be revised every three years to
take into account the latest scientific developments during this period.

The Context and Development

Internationally, voluntary building rating systems have been instrumental in raising awareness
and popularizing green design. However, most of the rating systems devised have been tailored
to suit the building industry of the country where they were developed.

TERI took the responsibility of popularizing green building by developing a tool for measuring
and rating a building's environmental performance in the context of India's varied climate and
building practices.

This tool has been adopted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. This tool, by its
qualitative and quantitative assessment criteria, is able to ‘rate’ a building on the degree of its
‘greenness’. The rating would be applied to new building stock of varied functions –
commercial, institutional, and residential.
The challenges
The Indian building industry is highly de-centralized with people and/ or groups engaged in
design, construction, equipment provision, installation, and renovation working together. Each
group may be organized to some extent, but there is limited interaction among the groups, thus
disabling the integrated green design and application process.
Hence, it is very important to define and quantify sustainable building practices and their
benefits. It is also important to separate the role of different participants in ensuring that the
building consumes minimal resources over its entire life cycle and leaves behind a minimal
environmental footprint.
The basic features
The system has been developed to help ‘design and evaluate’ new buildings (buildings that are
still at the inception stages). A building is assessed based on its predicted performance over its
entire life cycle – inception through operation. The stages of the life cycle that have been
identified for evaluation are:
• Pre-construction stage (intra- and inter-site issues like proximity to public transport, type
of soil, kind of land, where the property is located, the flora and fauna on the land before
construction activity starts, the natural landscape and land features)
• Building planning and construction stages (issues of resource conservation and reduction
in resource demand, resource utilization efficiency, resource recovery and reuse, and
provisions for occupant health and well being). The prime resources that are considered in this
section are land, water, energy, air, and green cover.
 • Building operation and maintenance stage (issues of operation and maintenance of
building systems and processes, monitoring and recording of energy consumption, and
occupant health and well being, and also issues that affect the global and local environment).

The benefits

On a broader scale, this system, along with the activities and processes that lead up to it, will
benefit the community at large with the improvement in the environment by reducing GHG
(greenhouse gas) emissions, reducing energy consumption and the stress on natural resources.
Some of the benefits of a green design to a building owner, user, and the society as a whole are
as follows:
• Reduced energy consumption without sacrificing the comfort levels
• Reduced destruction of natural areas, habitats, and biodiversity, and reduced soil loss
from erosion etc.
• Reduced air and water pollution (with direct health benefits)
• Reduced water consumption
• Limited waste generation due to recycling and reuse
• Reduced pollution loads
• Increased user productivity
• Enhanced image and marketability

9 Steps to get a building evaluated under GRIHA

Registration

Submission of documentation

Preliminary evaluation by ADaRSH Technical team

Evaluation by panel of experts

Preliminary rating with comments sent to project team

Final submission of documents

Final evaluation by panel of experts

Approval of rating by advisory committee

Award of rating
34 Criteria of the Rating System under 4 Categories
• 1 Site Selection and Site Planning
• 2 Building Planning and Construction
• 3 Building Operation and Maintenance
• 4 Innovation

1. Site Selection and Site Planning

Conservation and efficient utilization of resource

Objective – To maximize the conservation and utilization of resources (land, water, natural
habitat, avi fauna, and energy conservation) and enhance efficiency of the systems and
operations.

Criterion 1 Site Selection

Commitment Site selection is the first step to a sustainable habitat and needs to be done
appropriately, prior to commencement of design phase. Site selection and analysis should be
carried out to create living spaces that are in harmony with the local environment. The
development of a project should not cause damage to the natural surroundings of the site but, in
fact, should try to improve it by restoring its balance. Thus, site selection should be carried out in
light of a holistic perspective of land use, development intensity, social well-being, and
preservation of the environment.

Criterion 2 Preserve and protect the landscape during construction/compensatory depository

forestation.
Commitment To preserve the existing landscape and protect it from degradation during the
process of construction. It involves proper timing of construction, preserve top soil and existing
vegetation, staging and spill prevention to prevent spilling contaminated material onsite, erosion
and sedimentation control, replant the trees that were cut down during construction in the ratio
1:3.

Criterion 3 Soil conservation (till post-construction).

Commitment Conserve topsoil till after completion of construction activity. This commitment
entails proper top soil laying and stabilization of the soil to prevent erosion and maintenance of
adequate fertility of the soil to support vegetative growth.
Criterion 4 Design to include existing site features.
Commitment The natural functions of a plot of land (hydrologic, geologic, and microclimatic)
can be disrupted by the placement of a building on it. The design of a green building will factor
in ways in which the natural site features can be protected or even restored. Layout the site
activities and building requirements after carrying out detailed site analysis so as to ensure
sustainable site development in tune with its topographical, climatic, and ecological character.

Criterion 5 Reduce hard paving on-site and /or provide shaded hard - paved surfaces.
Commitment Reduce hard paving on-site (open areas surrounding building premises) to
minimize the imperviousness of the site and/or provide shade on hard-paved surfaces to
minimize the heat island effect on site.

Criterion 6 Enhance outdoor lighting system efficiency.

Commitment Enhance energy efficiency of outdoor lighting and promote usage of renewable
forms of energy to reduce the use of conventional/fossil-fuel-based energy resources. Meet
minimum allowable luminous efficacy (as per lamp type) and make progressive use of a
renewable energy- based lighting system.

Criterion 7 Plan utilities efficiently and optimize on-site circulation efficiency

Commitment Reduce site disruption due to laying, maintain utility lines, and minimize energy
use by on-site utilities. To reduce transportation corridors on-site, thus reducing the pollution
loads.. Minimize road and pedestrian walkway length by appropriate planning and provide
aggregate corridors for utility lines.

Health and well being during construction

Objective –To protect the health of construction workers and prevent pollution.

Criterion 8 Provide at least, the minimum level of sanitation/safety facilities for construction
workers.
Commitment Ensure the health and safety of workers during construction, with effective
provisions for the basic facilities such as sanitation and drinking water, and safety of equipments
or machinery. Ensure cleanliness of workplace with regard to the disposal of waste and effluent,
provide clean drinking water and latrines and urinals as per applicable standard.

Criterion 9 Reduce air pollution during construction.

Commitment The dust generated by various construction site activities can contribute
significantly to air pollution. Dust and outdoor air pollutants can cause respiratory problems.
Good construction practices involve major mitigation measures for prevention or minimization
of air pollution from construction activities. This criterion aims to reduce air pollution due to on–
site construction. Ensure proper screening, covering stockpiles, covering bricks and loads of
dusty materials, wheel-washing facility, and water spraying.
2. Building Planning and Construction Stage

Objective – To maximize resource (water, energy, and materials) conservation and enhance
efficiency of the system and operations.

Water

Criterion 10 Reduce landscape water requirement.

Commitment Reduce the landscape water requirement so as to minimize the load on the
municipal water supply and depletion of groundwater resources. Landscape using native species
and reduce lawn areas while enhancing the irrigation efficiency, reduction in water requirement
for landscaping purposes.

Criterion 11 Reduce building water use.

Commitment Commitment Reduce water consumption in the building by using efficient fixtures
like low-flow fixtures, etc.

Criterion 12 Efficient water use during construction.

Commitment Minimize the use of potable water during construction. For example, use materials
such as pre-mixed concrete for preventing loss during mixing or use recycled treated water and
control the waste of curing water.

Energy: end use

Criterion 13 Optimize building design to reduce the conventional energy demand.

Commitment Apply solar passive measures, including daylighting, in order to reduce the demand
on conventional energy for space conditioning and lighting systems in buildings. Plan
appropriately to reflect climate responsiveness, adopt an adequate comfort range, less air-
conditioned areas, daylighting, avoid over-design of the lighting and air-conditioning systems.

Criterion 14 Optimize the energy performance of the building within specified comfort limits.
Commitment Optimize use of energy systems in buildings that maintain a specified indoor
climate conducive to the functional requirements of the building. Ensure that energy
consumption in building under a specified category is 10%–40% less than that benchmarked
figure through a simulation exercise of a base case example.

Energy: embodied and construction

Criterion 15 Utilization of fly ash in the building structure.

Commitment Use low-embodied energy industrial-waste fly ash as the construction material. Fly
ash, an industrial waste with properties of cement and very low-embodied energy, is used in
combination with cement that are high in embodied energy. Use fly ash for RCC (reinforced
cement concrete) structures with in-fill walls and load bearing structures, mortar, and binders.

Criterion 16 Reduce volume, weight, and time of construction by adopting an efficient

technology (e.g. pre-cast systems, ready-mix concrete, etc.).
Commitment Replace a part of the energy-intensive materials with less energy-intensive
materials and/or utilize regionally available materials, which use low-energy/energy-efficient
technologies.

Criterion 17 Use low-energy material in the interiors.

Commitment A minimum of 70% of the total quantity of all interior finishes and products used in
each of the categories mentioned below should be low-energy finishes/ materials/ products,
which minimize wood as a natural resource or utilize industrial waste by using products in any
category as listed. The various interior finishes used in the sub-system of the building or the
interior, which serve the aim of the credit, have been divided into the following three major
categories. If any interior finish, acclaimed for credit, falls beyond this classification, the
applicant has to clearly confirm the criteria that meet the requirements of the credit.
1. Sub-assembly/internal partitions/interior wood finishes/ paneling/false ceiling/in-built
furniture/ cabinetry
2. Flooring
3. Doors/windows and frames

Energy: renewable

Criterion 18 Renewable energy utilization.

Commitment Meet energy requirements for a minimum of 10% of the internal lighting load (for
general lighting) or its equivalent from renewable energy sources (solar, wind, biomass, fuel
cells, etc). Energy requirements will be calculated based on realistic assumptions which will be
subject to verification during appraisal. Use renewable energy sources in buildings to reduce the
use of conventional/fossil-fuel based energy resources.

Criterion 19 Renewable energy - based hot- water system.

Commitment Ensure that a minimum 50% of the annual energy requirement for heating water
(for applications such as hot water for all needs, like for canteen, washing, and bath
rooms/toilets, except for space heating) is supplied from renewable energy sources.

Recycle, recharge, and reuse of water

Objective– To promote the recycle and reuse of water.

Criterion 20 Wastewater treatment

Commitment Provide facility for the treatment of waste water generated in the building so as to
have safe disposal and use of by-products.
Criterion 21 Water recycle and reuse (including rainwater).
Commitment Utilize the waste water treated on-site and rainwater for various applications
(including groundwater recharge) where potable municipal water is normally used to reduce the
load on both the municipal supplies as well as the sewerage system and to improve the
groundwater level.

Waste management

Objective –To minimize waste generation, streamline waste segregation, storage, and disposal,
and promote resource recovery from waste.

Criterion 22 Reduction in waste during construction.

Commitment Ensure maximum resource recovery and safe disposal of wastes generated during
construction and reduce the burden on landfill.

Criterion 23 Efficient waste segregation.

Commitment Use different colored bins for collecting different categories of waste from the
building to promote the segregation of waste for efficient resource recovery.

Criterion 24 Storage and disposal of waste.

Commitment Allocate separate space for the collected waste before transferring it to the
recycling/disposal stations to prevent the mixing up of segregated waste before processing or
disposal.

Criterion 25 Resource recovery from waste.

Commitment Employ resource recovery systems for biodegradable waste as per the Solid Waste
Management and handling Rules, 2000 of the MoEF. Make arrangements for recycling of waste
through local dealers to maximize the recovery of resources from the recyclable and
biodegradable waste and to reduce the burden on landfills.

Health and well-being during post-construction occupation

Objective –To ensure healthy indoor air quality, water quality, and noise levels, and reduce the
global warming potential.

Criterion 26 Use of low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints/ adhesives / sealants.

Commitment Building materials such as paints, sealants, and adhesives form important finishes
for the exterior and interior surfaces. They are, however, potential contributors to the poor indoor
air quality and can have a bearing on an occupants’ health. A wide variety of volatiles are
released through oxidation by both solvent-based and water-based paints, and sealants and
adhesives contain toxic chemicals that are released during construction and occupancy.
VOCs - especially formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde, and urethanes - and other chemical
substances contained within the building materials can be injurious to health and can also be
odorous. This measure aims to select materials with low to zero quantities of such chemicals so
as to minimize the source of emission. In selecting low VOC materials, a practical thumb rule is
to choose water-based products with low odour.

Criterion 27 Minimize ozone – depleting substances

Commitment Employ insulation that is ODP (ozone depletion potential) free; HCFC (hydro
chlorofluorocarbon) and CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) free HVAC and refrigeration equipments and
Halon-free fire suppression and fire extinguishing systems to Eliminate or control the release of
ozone-depleting substances into the atmosphere.

Criterion 28 Ensure water quality.

Commitment Ensure groundwater and municipal water meet the water quality norms as
prescribed in the Indian Standards for various applications (Indian Standards for drinking [IS
10500-1991], irrigation applications [IS 11624-1986]. In case the water quality cannot be
ensured, provide necessary treatment of raw water for achieving the desired concentration for
various applications.

Criterion 29 Acceptable outdoor and indoor noise levels.

Commitment Ensure outdoor noise level conforms to the Central Pollution Control Board–
Environmental Standards–Noise (ambient standards) and indoor noise level conforms to the
National Building Code of India, 2005, Bureau of Indian Standards 2005a, Part 8–Building
Services; Section 4–Acoustics, sound insulation, and noise control.

Criterion 30 Tobacco and smoke control.

Commitment Zero exposure to tobacco smoke for non-smokers and exclusive ventilation for
smoking rooms.

Criterion 31 Provide the minimum level of accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Commitment To ensure accessibility and usability of the building and its facilities by employees,
visitors, and clients with disabilities

.
3. Building Operation and Maintenance

Objective – Validate and maintain ‘green’ performance levels/adopt and propagate green
practices and concepts.

Criterion 32 Energy audit and validation.

Commitment Energy audit report to be prepared by approved auditors of the Bureau of Energy
Efficiency, Government of India.
Criterion 33 Building operation and maintenance.
CommitmentValidate and maintain green performance. Adopt and propagate green practices and
concepts.

Ensure the inclusion of a specific clause in the contract document for the commissioning of all
electrical and mechanical systems to be maintained by the owner, supplier, or operator. Provide a
core facility/service management group, if applicable, which will be responsible for the operation
and maintenance of the building and the electrical and mechanical systems after the
commissioning. Owner/builder/occupants/service or facility management group to prepare a
fully documented operations and maintenance manual, CD, multimedia or an information
brochure listing the best practices/do’s and don’ts/maintenance requirements for the building and
the electrical and mechanical systems along with the names and addresses of the
manufacturers/suppliers of the respective system.

4. Innovation

Criterion 34 Innovation points.

Commitment Four innovation points are available under the rating system for adopting criteria
which enhance the green intent of a project, and the applicant can apply for the bonus points.
Some of the probable points, not restricted to the ones enumerated below, could be
Alternative transportation
• Environmental education
• Company policy on green supply chain
• Lifecycle cost analysis
• Enhanced accessibility for physically/mentally challenged.
• Any other criteria proposed by the client

Scoring points for GRIHA

GRIHA is a guiding and performance-oriented system where points are earned for meeting the
design and performance intent of the criteria. Each criterion has a number of points assigned to
it. It means that a project intending to meet the criterion would qualify for the points.
Compliances, as specified in the relevant criterion, have to be submitted in the prescribed format.
While the intent of some of the criteria is self-validating in nature, there are others for example :
energy consumption, thermal and visual comfort, noise control criteria, and indoor pollution
levels which need to be validated on-site through performance monitoring. The points related to
these criteria (specified under the relevant sections) are awarded provisionally while certifying
and are converted to firm points through monitoring, validation, and documents/photographs to
support the award of point.
GRIHA has a 100 point system consisting of some core points, which are mandatory to be met
while the rest are optional points, which can be earned by complying with the commitment of the
criterion for which the point is allocated. Different levels of certification (one star to five stars)
are awarded based on the number of points earned. The minimum points required for
certification is 50. Buildings scoring 50 to 60 points, 61 to 70 points, 71 to 80 points, and 81 to
90 points will get one star, ‘two stars’, ‘three stars’ and ‘four stars’ respectively. A building
scoring 91 to 100 points will get the maximum rating viz. five stars.

Points scored Rating

50–60 One star
61-70 Two star
71-80 Three star
81-90 Four star
91-100 Five star

Evaluation procedure of criterion of GRIHA

List of criteria Points Remarks

Criteria 1: Site Selection 1 Partly mandatory

Criteria 2: Preserve and protect landscape during 5 Partly mandatory

construction /compensatory depository forestation

Criteria 3: Soil conservation (post construction) 4 -

Criteria 4: Design to include existing site features 2 Mandatory

Criteria 5: Reduce hard paving on site 2 Partly mandatory

 Criteria 6: Enhance outdoor lighting system 3 -
efficiency

Criteria 7: Plan utilities efficiently and optimize on 3 -

site circulation efficiency

Criteria 8: Provide, at least, minimum level of 2 Mandatory

sanitation/safety facilities for construction workers

Criteria 9: Reduce air pollution during construction 2 Mandatory

Criteria 10: Reduce landscape water requirement 3 -

Criteria 11: Reduce building water use 2 -
Criteria 12: Efficient water use during construction
1 -
Criteria 13: Optimize building design to reduce 6 -
conventional energy demand
Criteria 14: Optimize energy performance of
building within specified comfort 12 -
Criteria 15: Utilization of fly ash in building 6 -
structure

Criteria 16: Reduce volume, weight and time of 4

construction by adopting efficient technology (e.g.

pre-cast systems, ready-mix concrete, etc.)

Criteria 17: Use low-energy material in interiors 4 -

Criteria 18: Renewable energy utilization 5 -
 Criteria 19: Renewable energy based hot-water 3 -
system

Criteria 20: Waste water treatment 2 -

Criteria 21: Water recycle and reuse (including 5 -
rainwater)

Criteria 22: Reduction in waste during construction 2 -

Criteria 23: Efficient waste segregation 2 -
Criteria 24: Storage and disposal of waste 2 -
Criteria 25: Resource recovery from waste 2 -
Criteria 26: Use of low - VOC paints/ adhesives/ 4 -
sealants.

Criteria 27: Minimize ozone depleting substances 3 Mandatory

Criteria 28: Ensure water quality 2 Mandatory

Criteria 29: Acceptable outdoor and indoor noise 2 -

levels

Criteria 30: Tobacco and smoke control 1 -

Criteria 31: Universal Accessibility 1

Criteria 32: Energy audit and validation Mandatory

Criteria 33: Operations and maintenance protocol for 2 Mandatory

electrical and mechanical equipment

Total score 100

Criteria 34: Innovation (Beyond 100) 4

Total score 104

LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT DESIGN
(LEED)
The Indian Green Business Center (IGBC), under the Confederation of Indian industries (CII) is
facilitating the LEED rating of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Introduction
of the LEED Rating system has stimulated innovation within the building materials supply
industry. High albedo roofing materials, high performance glass, waterless urinals, fly ash bricks
for walls, roof insulation materials, high CoP (coefficient of performance) chillers and energy
simulation services are now being made available in the market.
The IGBC has launched LEED India for Existing Buildings (EB), New Construction (NC), Core
and Shell (C&S) and Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green Homes, which represent the
measurable indicators for global and local concerns in the Indian scenario. Based on the points
achieved, the building may be eligible for LEED certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum Rating.
Weighting of criteria reflects Indian environmental priorities.

These LEED products are currently available:

What are the benefits of LEED certification?

LEED certification, which includes a rigorous third-party commissioning process, offers

compelling proof to you, your clients, your peers and the public at large that you've achieved
your environmental goals and your building is performing as designed. Getting certified allows
you take advantage of a growing number of state and local government incentives, and can help
boost press interest in your project.

The LEED rating system offers four certification levels for new construction -- Certified, Silver,
Gold and Platinum -- that correspond to the number of credits accrued in five green design
categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources
and indoor environmental quality. LEED standards cover new commercial construction and
major renovation projects, interiors projects and existing building operations. Standards are
under development to cover commercial "core & shell" construction, new home construction and
neighborhood developments.

LEED India Green Building Rating

System – Certification Levels

Rating New Core & Shell

Construction (C&S)
(NC)
LEED Certified 26-32 23-27
LEED Certified Silver 33-38 28-33
level
LEED Certified Gold 39-51 34-44
Level
LEED Certified 52-69 45-61
Platinum
Level
LEED India Green Building Rating System
Points for individual Credits

Sl Credits New Core &

No Construction Shell
1. Prerequisites 7 7
2. Sustainable Sites 13 14
3. Water efficiency 6 6
4. Energy and 17 14
Atmosphere
5. Materials and 13 11
Resources
6. Indoor 15 11
Environmental
quality
7. Innovation and 5 5
Accredited
Professional
points
Total 69 61

Which Rating Programme to Apply

LEED Rating Programme Type of Building

LEED for New Construction
LEED for Core & Shell
LEED for Commercial Interiors
LEED for Existing Buildings
All
 new high-rise
buildings
Residential
 buildings of 4
or more habitable stories
Rented / Leased commercial
Buildings
Tenant or self-occupied
Spaces
Existing buildings occupied
for atleast 2 years
Process To Achieve LEED India Rating

Feasibility Study (To ev aluate Design vis-vis Rating requirements)

Appoint Consultants for LEED Facilitation, Energy simulation &

Commissioning

Register with IGBC

Incorporate LEED criteria in building design & site

LEED India templates to devise strategies

Energy simulation results

Selection of green building mater ials, IAQ related equipment & products

Water Balance & Selection of efficient water fixtures

Submission of documentation for first rev iew

Review comments from IGBC

Submission of documentation for final rev iew

Award of rating by IGBC

GRIHA VS LEED

The two rating syatems of India helps to rate how green a building really is. There is the energy
compliance certificate issued by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC or Leed India) and
the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (Griha). The former is benchmarked with
global standards while the latter is home-grown.

Leed is the short form for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, whose standards are
backed by the Confederation of Indian Industry and has been in use in India since 2001.
Meanwhile Griha officials claim that their test is more suited to Indian realities.

This has split the Indian developers down the middle as the two green rating agencies hardsell
the advantages of their respective building certification methods.

Griha officials says that Griha is an easy, yet comprehensive rating system designed for India
whereas The Leed India rating is primarily based on per capita energy consumption in developed
nations like the US which does not work in India since India’s per capita energy consumption is
very low compared to developed nations. One more difference being that The International codes
usually take a hypothetical case while Griha works with an absolute number, which is easily
understood.

Currently The MNRE has made it mandatory for government buildings to obtain a Griha rating
as a precondition for departments to get subsidies and other financial assistance for green
development. There are more than 50 projects being built across India based on Griha guidelines
compared to first-mover advantage that IGBC has enjoyed with 604 buildings registered with it.

Many developers tilt towards the Leed India ratings. IGBC has higher exposure to the West,
making it more acceptable to multinationals who are prime buyers/investors of properties.
But Griha has its own band of supporters. Ansal Properties has tied up with Griha for their green
project in Gurgaon and the reason put forward were that Griha is more suited to Indian climate.
Also unlike Leeds, it does not promote usage of certain products like glass and air-conditioning
equipment.

The objective of both the organizations is to encourage environment-friendly buildings. But

since the two systems are based on different parameters, there is a possibility of the two systems
rating the same buildings differently.

Both green rating systems aim to quantify the environmental, economic and socio-economic
benefits of green building design with emphasis on sustainable site planning, optimized energy
performance, efficient materials and construction practices, water and waste management
strategies; and indoor environmental quality. The rating systems also emphasize life cycle cost
analysis so that the client has an option of making informed choices when opting for green
technologies which may have an initial incremental cost with acceptable pay back periods.
In order to mainstream compliance with green rating systems, the GRIHA Secretariat has set a
target to achieve five million square metres built up space to be GRIHA compliant by 2012. On
the other hand, the IGBC has set a target of registering ninety three square metres of built up
space with LEED by 2012. Together, there is 1.56 million square metre commercial built up
space30 compliant with both LEED and GRIHA. However, due to split incentives for developers
and a perceived notion of high initial incremental costs, the demand for buildings compliant with
any green rating requires impetus. Financial incentives in the form of property tax concession or
other subsidies from the government would encourage a larger adoption of the rating systems. A
strong policy mandate at the local level to enforce compliance is another way that may be
adopted for upscaling compliance with GRIHA or LEED rating systems.
In case it is not feasible for a given building project to be compliant with the green rating system,
the BEE also provides an option to be compliant with the Energy Conservation Building Code
(ECBC) which contributes to significant energy savings through the operation of an efficient
building, contributing to GHG emission reduction.
INCORPORATING SUSTAINABLE AND GREEN BUILDING
DESIGN PARAMETERS IN THE INDIAN BUILDING SECTOR

Even though sustainable habitat and green building design are inherent to each region of India,
and reflected in the vernacular design strategies; the process of building design, construction and
operation is increasingly influenced by images of buildings designed for the developed world.
With the convergence of urbanization, globalization and a rapidly changing and expanding
economy, India is experiencing a rapid spurt in building construction across a range of city
activities and socio economic spectrum with a direct impact on and increasing consumption of
building materials such as glass, cement, metals and ceramics.
For the process of accelerated urban development to be socially and economically sustainable,
while curtailing the impact of GHG emissions attributable to buildings, it is important to promote
the strategies described in this report. This is preferential to a shift by default to a ready-made
global technology and building type. While there is a huge potential to achieve energy efficiency
by incorporating passive design, efficient envelope and systems, the current trend in mainstream
architecture is not toward such aims.
The materials used in modern day constructions are not only energy intensive in their
manufacture, but combined with the sheer scale of construction activity, contribute to increasing
GHG emissions. Energy audits conducted by TERI in 2005-06 for buildings in Gurgaon indicate
that many existing glass intensive buildings do not respond to the climate and require cooling
even in the winter months. In response, the ECBC attempts to restrict gross wall area to window
area ratio to a maximum of 60% and has set higher stringency levels for glazing specifications in
case if glazing area is increased. Mandatory adoption of ECBC will help circumvent this
problem to a large extent. Policy measures that encourage retrofitting of existing poor
performing buildings also need to be developed.
Knowledge gaps amongst builders, designers, architects, policy makers, investors and
consumers, act as a major impediment to incorporation of sustainable and green building design
and construction practices. The construction industry remains unaware of the environmental
impacts of its operations and the economic, environmental and health benefits of using green and
efficient strategies, products and appliances. Sustainable design and energy efficiency in
buildings is not taught as a part of core curriculum in any Indian school of architecture. All
architectural and engineering schools and colleges should introduce relevant courses in their
curriculum. There is an urgent need for effective and large-scale capacity building and awareness
generation programme at all stakeholder levels.

• First Costs: A major barrier to adoption of sustainable principles in building is the

general apprehension of high initial cost and lack of life cycle cost approach to carry out
cost benefit analysis. With an increasing number of green and efficient buildings in the
country, there is a need to have collective information on incremental costs and benefits.
This would help in overcoming the perception that efficient, green and sustainable
buildings are expensive. All consultants providing services to help design efficient
buildings should follow life cycle analysis approaches to motivate stakeholder buy-in.
• Technology gaps: Technical difficulties arising for solar water heating installations, e.g.
availability of south facing horizontal area, line losses (especially in high rises
structures), water wastage, inadequate roof area for high rise apartments to be able to
cater to hot water requirements for all the flats, scaling due to hardness of water, etc.,
need to be addressed by manufacturers and suppliers. Lack of knowledge on available
incentives such as subsidies and soft loans, should be addressed through awareness
campaigns and programmes.
• Awareness: With reference to energy efficient appliances, most consumers are currently
unaware about the availability of green products and BEE-labeled products. They are also
unaware of the economic, environmental and health benefits of using such green and
efficient products or appliances. Since there is a lack of awareness about the lifecycle
cost benefits of efficient products, the higher up front cost prevents purchase. Awareness
programs should also focus on marketing and increasing highlighting of lifecycle costs
and cost-saving potential in efficient products. The economic benefits of BEE-labeled
products should be marketed further.
REFERENCECS:-

NATIONAL RATING SYSTEM-GRIHA

www.rsrdc.com/uploads/.../111201071822PMGriha%20Manual.pdf

www.grihaindia.org

LEED India Rating System

http://simcosm-india.com/pdf

www.green-rating.com/what-is-green-building-rating

UNEP (2007) Buildings & Climate Change UNEP Sustainable Buildings & Climate Initiative,
Division of Technology, Industry & Economics, Paris.

www.whygreenbuildings.com/