Green or sustainable building is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition.
Though buildings, which we inhabit, work in, and use for recreation, protect us from nature’s extremes on one side, on the other they also affect our health and environment in multiple ways. The design, construction, operation, maintenance and removal of buildings involves enormous amounts of energy, water, and materials, and as an offshoot generates large quantities of waste, air and water pollution, as well as creating rainwater runoff and heat islands. Buildings also develop their own indoor environments, which present an array of health challenges. Where and how they are built affects wildlife habitat and corridors and the hydrologic cycle, while influencing the overall quality of human life.

As the environmental impact of buildings becomes more apparent, a new field called green building is gaining momentum. Green or sustainable building is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition. Research and experience increasingly demonstrate that when buildings are designed and operated with their lifecycle impacts in mind, they can provide great environmental, economic, and social benefits.
Though the benefits of the green building world seem obvious, why would anyone choose to build in a way that isn’t comfortable, healthy, and energy efficient? In the process of designing and building green, however, one keeps running into others who are either ignorant or aware but not convinced. For those situations, it’s useful to be able to spell out the benefits. The built environment has a vast impact on the environment, human health, and the economy. By adopting green building strategies, we can maximize both economic and environmental performance.

Though Green building construction methods can be integrated into buildings at any stage, from design and construction, to renovation and deconstruction, it is best achieved by following the CII Guidelines. The CII in its pioneering effort set up the Godrej-CII Green Building in the twin cities, Andhra Pradesh. They GB Committee that includes Mr. ParasuRaman R, Managing Director, Novar (formerly MK that has been taken over by Honeywell) who is also presently Chairman, CII southern region, was instrumental in arranging for certification of Green Buildings in India. The Platinum, Gold and Silver certification is to induce excellence but all others are still entitled to certification of the building, provided they adhere to certain minimum guidelines. For example all materials must be sourced from within 500 kilometres, so that even the air pollution caused by vehicles bringing in material is minimized. The location and direction of the building should be in harmony with the surroundings, allowing uninterrupted flow of ground and surface water. Finally the building should be energy efficient, reusing, recycling and making the best of natural light and air, with minimum dependence on external energy.

According to Mr. ParasuRam, CII chose the persuasive route (as opposed to the legislative route) by encouraging a few industries, commercial offices and factories to build Green so that others could see the positive results and energy savings combined with ambient working atmosphere. The latter will improve the productivity of the employees. Speaking in an exclusive interview to this writer he explains, “If we lobbied with the Government and got a legislation passed, the entire project faced the possibility of failure in implementation due to reluctant compliance. Today the companies that built Green are not only proud to display the gold or silver shield; it enhances their image and brand equity.�? It won’t be long before the Government both Central. State and Municipal pass on some tax sops or benefits to the compliant buildings.? So is it more expensive to build Green? “Absolutely not�? says ParsuRaman, while expanding on the point, “Initially some of the raw material that would go in to a Green Building for it to qualify would be slightly more expensive, due to lower off take. As more and more Green Buildings are built the economies of scale will operate and prices will come down. It is also quite possible that there will be some subsidies offered on products and materials that enhance GB facilities.?

The real saving is in the enormous energy saving a Green Building can contribute. The ultimate spin off is that the reduction of strain on State Electricity Boards, public transportation systems and infrastructure. In Chennai two buildings recently received the Green Building Certification. One was the NEG Micon India building and the other was Grundfoss Building. The former is a wind turbine manufacturer while the latter is a submersible pump manufacturer.

Gold rating is the second highest award in the rating system of USGBC and Grundfos is now the first Gold rated building in India, having achieved 42 points out of 69 possible points. Mr N K Ranganath, CEO of Grundfos Pumps said that they have constructed this facility with very marginal increase in initial cost.

Mr ParasuRaman R, Chairman, Indian Green Building Council & Vice Chairman, World Green Building Council mentioned that out of the 200 projects rated around the world; only around 50 have been awarded the Gold rating. He mentioned that the Grundfos building has put Chennai in the world map of Green Buildings.

This will motivate other corporate to emulate this achievement. He said that Green Buildings can save energy & water resources up to 50% and increase the productivity of occupants to the tune of 10 to15%.

Mr.Ramesh Kymal, Managing Director, NEG Micon, India (the other building, which was certified), a major manufacturer of wind turbines, said, “NEG Micon’s prime business is installing wind power projects to generate green power, which is absolutely non-polluting. It was quite natural that when we wanted to build our own facility in India, we wanted to incorporate the green concepts in the building. We got into the green building concept right from the day when the idea was conceived for the building in the year 2001-02.?

The most significant benefits can be obtained if the architect at design the design stage and construction team during building takes an integrated approach from the earliest stages of a building project. Potential benefits of green building include:

Environmental benefits

• Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems
• Improve air and water quality
• Reduce waste streams
• Conserve and restore natural resources

Economic benefits

• Reduce operating costs
• Create, expand, and shape markets for green product and services
• Improve occupant productivity
• Optimize life-cycle economic performance

Social benefits

• Enhance occupant comfort and health
• Heighten aesthetic qualities
• Minimize strain on local infrastructure
• Improve overall quality of life

NEG Micon is one happy proponent of the Green Building concept slowly and steadily gaining momentum in India. The company vouches for the results derived out of green concepts at their facility at Sholinganallur near Chennai:

Natural lighting, insulated walls, heat reflective tiles and double glazed windows in the building results in substantial savings in energy consumption Green lawns around the building - Improves the quality of air inside the building premises.

Use of Non toxic house keeping materials – Green seal approved products Natural Manure for the plants and use of only Neem based pesticides Recycled water for plants and lawn Wood recycling – Packing wood which comes along with foreign consignments is recycled and made to furniture and donated to schools around our offices and sites.

Used Batteries and broken glass are sent back to the manufactures for recycling Pooled cars for employee transport Encourages use of cycles

The Grundfoss Building also subscribes to the superiority of the working environment. The extent of natural lighting and ambience makes for a wonderful work experience says an employee. “We hardly feel like leaving and are eager to reach office,? says another. In Grundfoss the Green limit has been stretched even further- the car park has a plug point/socket for electric cars to recharge. That is thinking far ahead.

Conclusion
ParasuRaman is enthusiastic about the Green Project and has reportedly made presentations to several heads of department and the recent All India Seminar and Exhibition in Delhi last year had none other than the H E President of India inaugurating the conference. Since Governement is one of the prime real estate user (owning or leasing) the maximum space, implementation of the Green Building system can cut down Government expenditure on estates and establishments by at least 20% by conservative estimates reasons one expert. This could be in millions of rupees by monetary value.

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