The Hindu Business Line : Stumbling blocks in the green path

Apart from the procedural hassles in getting accreditation for green building, there is no clear-cut idea about the savings or costs involved for consumers residing in such buildings.

R. Savitha

After the US, Australia and Canada, India has emerged as the hottest destination for green buildings. According to estimates from the construction industry, 3,04,800 sq.m was to be under green buildings by end-2008, from 6,000 sq.m in 2003. But lack of awareness, poor marketing strategies and tedious procedures have been major stumbling blocks to achieving this target.

Mr Sanjay Deshpande, Member of PBAP (Promoters and Builders Association of Pune) and head of the Environment and Energy Committee, notes that the procedure for accreditation of green building takes a long time.

Another problem area is that the benefits are not being passed on to the builder and the consumer. Mr Deshpande notes that as per the legislation, about 10 per cent property tax concession is to be given to flat-owners who reside in green buildings, which have rainwater harvesting, vermiculture or solar amenities provided by the builders.

Also, there is no clear-cut idea about the savings that consumers will enjoy in residing in green building or even the costs involved. However, Mr Deshpande expects greater transparency and better documentation once the Griha Rating system is introduced.

Griha rating system

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has introduced the system for businesses to assess green architecture. Buildings that qualify under the new rating system would not only get a certificate but would also receive financial incentives. In addition, local bodies that manage to promote green buildings will also be entitled to incentives.

The rating system focuses on, among other things, site planning, soil conservation, biodiversity preservation, reduced air pollution during construction, reduced water and energy consumption, improvisation of renewable energy sources, and water re-cycling and recharging.

This would ensure standardisation of procedures and the consumer will have a ready referral for the savings he would enjoy when he took possession of a flat in a green building.

Cost factor

Cost is another aspect which is making consumers hesitate in taking possession. Ms Sunaina Gera, a developer from Pune, says that there was no dispute that at the construction stage the costs are 3-5 per cent higher , but in the long run these become miniscule. Builders and developers, she pointed out, are using recycled building material to bring down the costs.

Looking at the the number of green buildings, Mr Deshpande feels that in the commercial segment it will not rise much, but in the residential segment it is bound to go up further. This, he said, is because a vermiculture or waste-treatment facility, which requires considerable investment, makes little sense in a commercial building while for a residential building it matters a lot. There are a lot of measures being undertaken to create awareness about the benefits of staying in green buildings, he added.

Rising emissions

Mr William Harrison, President of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers, is of the view that as the annual carbon-dioxide emission is set to gallop to 420 billion tonnes from 300 billion tonnes at present, there is an urgent need to make all future buildings eco-friendly.

Although six of the ten solutions proposed involve the architects developing the design of a building, it is the responsibility of all concerned to ensure that the structure is zero-energy wasting.

India has close to 300 buildings which come under the green buildings banner. According to the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), the demand for green building materials and equipment is likely to touch $4 billion per annum by 2010. Similarly, the number of green building projects in India is also expected to go up from the current 164 to over 2,000 by 2012. And this is not restricted to any single segment, but is spread across residential complexes, exhibition centres, hospitals, educational institutions, laboratories, IT parks, airports, government building and corporate offices. Of the total energy consumed, 35 per cent is by lighting and 40 per cent by HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioner).

More Stories on : Real Estate & Construction | Environment

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page