Green buildings to get a rating system

There is an attempt to promote green, energy-efficient buildings in the country. On Thursday...

There is an attempt to promote green, energy-efficient buildings in the country. On Thursday, energy and resources institute TERI signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for the development of a national rating system, GRIHA, for green buildings.

Using various qualitative and quantitative assessment criteria, GRIHA would be able to “rate” a building on the degree of its “greenness”. The rating would be applied to different types of new buildings, whether commercial, institutional or residential.

A National Advisory Council (NAC) and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will be constituted to provide advice, direction, modification and constant upgradation of the GRIHA framework. The rating system confirms the building code and guidelines developed by the bureau of energy efficiency and MNRE. In fact, it is a broader guideline than the one developed by these agencies.

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“The GRIHA system is proof that near self-sufficiency in energy is not a utopian idea but a reality cast in brick and mortar. India needs to devise such technologies customised for the needs of our people,” said Dr RK Pachauri, Director General of TERI, which has developed this rating over the last two years. MNRE proposes to incentivise the rating system so that more architects are inclined to use it.

MNRE Secretary V Subramanian suggested that a syllabus be developed to be made mandatory in all engineering courses and all municipal corporations in the country should give tax break on properties developed on GRIHA.

The rating system, based on accepted energy and environmental principles, will seek to strike a balance between the known established practices and emerging concepts. The guidelines/criteria appraisal may be revised every three years to take into account the latest scientific developments during the period. These buildings will use less artificial resources thereby reducing GHG emissions, improving energy security, and reducing stress on natural resources.