Green finds a home
Delhi NCR is witnessing a green revolution, slowly but surely. Delhi and its neighbouring cities – Gurgaon, Noida and Faridabad – are not new to the concept of green buildings, which are usually large office or commercial complexes. The latest trend, however, is the construction of green residential buildings – both independent houses and housing complexes.
A green building is defined as one which uses less water, optimises energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional building.
Though nationally it is Pune, which has stolen a march over all other cities with more than 30 certified or pre-certified green residential buildings, followed by Mumbai with 15 such complexes, Delhi NCR is catching up with 11 buildings, including three independent houses.
The concept of a green building first came to light in India when in 2003, the CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre came up in Hyderabad and received the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum Green Building certificate. At present, the two organisations that give green certification – The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) of The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) - have nearly 3,000 green buildings in India registered with them, including residential buildings.
Green buildings are not only environmental-friendly and help you leave a smaller carbon footprint, these also help in saving money in the shape of energy and water consumption costs. If a building is planned, constructed and maintained following green norms, it can help you save up to 50 per cent just in terms of energy costs.