Assignment 5
Assignment 5
Assignment – V
Paper Draft
1.INTRODUCTION
A green building is designed to reduce the overall impact of the built-up environment on human health
and the natural environment, through:
Effectively, a green building can incorporate sustainable materials (reused, recycled, recyclable, or from
renewable resources) in its construction, create a healthy interior environment with a minimum of
pollutants and functional landscape planning that requires less water (using indigenous greenery that
thrives without additional watering).
Green ratings assess a building based on its predicted performance over its entire life cycle —
conception through operation. This results in the development of buildings that consume fewer natural
resources without sacrificing the acoustic, thermal, and visual comfort of its occupants.
Green rating systems for buildings measure and quantify the environmental performance of a given
building. India currently has the below green rating systems for buildings.
These green rating systems aim to quantify the environmental, economic and socio-economic benefits
of green building design with an emphasis on sustainable site planning, optimized energy performance,
efficient materials, and construction practices, water, and waste management strategies; and indoor
environmental quality.
Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) is the national rating system of India for any
completed construction, endorsed by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of
India and TERI. It is an assessment tool to measure and rate a building’s environmental performance.
GRIHA provides a rating of up to five stars for green buildings and dispenses points based on criteria’s
met by any builder. It comprises a set of 34 criteria, few of them are:
• Preserving the existing landscape and protecting it from degradation during the process of
construction can fetch 5 points.
• Enhancing energy efficiency of outdoor lighting and promoting usage of renewable forms of
energy to reduce the use of conventional/fossil-fuel-based energy resources can gain 3 points.
• Preventing or minimization of air pollution from construction activities is also a GRIHA point.
• Reducing volume, weight and time of construction by adopting efficient technology (such as pre-
cast systems, ready-mix concrete) can fetch 4 GRIHA points.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating
system in the world. It was the Indian Green Business Center (IGBC), under the Confederation of Indian
Industries (CII) that facilitated the LEED rating of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).
At present, to strengthen the global consistency of the LEED rating system, effective June 5, 2014, GBCI
(Green Business Certification Inc.) began managing the certification process for all LEED rating systems
in India, which was previously managed by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC)
These 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.
There are four levels of LEED certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79
points) and Platinum (80+ points).
To achieve LEED certification, a building must go through a rigorous review process conducted by Green
Business Certification Inc.
Many buildings in India register for a LEED Green Building Rating. Some of the major structures that
register for a LEED rating are IT Parks, Offices, Banks, Airports, Convention Centres, Educational
institutions, Hotels, and Residential complexes. LEED-INDIA is, therefore, one of the chief councils to
give a green rating to a structure, whether an apartment, independent home or office.
IGBC Rating System is a voluntary and consensus-based programme. This rating system would facilitate
the development of energy-efficient, water-efficient, healthy, more productive, environmentally friendly
factories.
Overview: Part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the IGBC aims to encourage sustainable
construction practices through various rating systems.
Framework: IGBC offers specific ratings tailored for different building types, such as:
• IGBC Green Homes: For residential buildings.
• IGBC Green Cities: Focusing on urban planning and development.
• IGBC Green Factory Buildings: For industrial units.
Key Evaluation Areas:
• Site Selection: Sustainable site planning and landscape development.
• Water Efficiency: Rainwater harvesting, water recycling, and conservation techniques.
• Energy Efficiency: Sustainable energy management practices.
• Materials: Sustainable sourcing and efficient material usage.
Significance: IGBC fosters the adoption of green building practices, enhances the marketability of green
projects, and contributes to environmental sustainability.
THEME 1: SUSTAINABILITY
In the built environment, a green building rating system provides the project team a framework and a
tool to help achieving a better sustainable development. The research presents how Green Building
Rating Systems (GBRSs) are environmental-oriented tools and should not be confused with Sustainability
Assessment Systems; the latter is defined by the sustainability three pillars; environmental, social and
economic. Achieving a green building certification does not necessarily mean that the building
succeeded in achieving its environmental targets. The financial-driven and prescriptive implementation
of GBRS are reasons behind a masked sustainability outcome.
This paper presents an objective analysis between two internationally applied GBRSs; LEED and
BREEAM, and two particularly developed for the gulf region; Estidama and GSAS. Those four systems are
analyzed with respects to them addressing and prioritizing the sustainability pillars. The study also
quantitatively discusses the credit weighting given by these systems, focusing on energy and water
criteria.
Green building is one of measures been put forward to mitigate significant impacts of the building stock
on the environment, society and economy. However, there is lack of a systematic review of this large
number of studies that is critical for the future were identified. These common themes are the definition
and scope of green building; quantification of benefits of green buildings compared to conventional
buildings; and various approaches to achieve green buildings. It is found that the existing studies played
predominately focus on the environmental aspect of green building. Other dimensions of sustainability
of green building, especially the social sustainability is largely overlooked. Future research opportunities
were identified such as effects of climatic conditions on the effectiveness of green building assessment
tools, validation of real performance of green buildings, unique demands of specific population, and
future proofing.endeavor. The last decades have witnessed rapid growing number of studies on green
building. This paper reports a critical review of the existing body of knowledge of researches related to
green building. The common research themes and methodology were identified. These common themes
are the definition and scope of green building; quantification of benefits of green buildings compared to
conventional buildings; and various approaches to achieve green buildings. It is found that the existing
studies played predominately focus on the environmental aspect of green building. Other dimensions of
sustainability of green building, especially the social sustainability is largely overlooked. Future research
opportunities were identified such as effects of climatic conditions on the effectiveness of green building
assessment tools, validation of real performance of green buildings, unique demands of specific
population, and future proofing.
To promote sustainable development and expedite the progress on moving to a green building sector,
the government of South Africa has developed an energy performance certificate (EPC) standard for
buildings. A building is required to obtain a certain rating from the EPC in order to comply with the
country's green building policy. Therefore, finding optimal retrofit plans for existing buildings are
essential given the high investments involved in the retrofit of buildings that do not currently comply
with the policy. This paper presents an optimization model to help decision makers to identify the best
combination of retrofit options for buildings to ensure policy compliance in the most cost-effective way.
The model determines optimal retrofit plans for a whole building in a systematic manner, taking into
account both the envelope components and the indoor facilities. A roof top PV system is utilized to
reduce the usage of electricity produced from fossil fuels. The model breaks down the long-term
investment into yearly short-term investments that are more attractive to investors. Tax incentive
program available in the country is taken into account to offset the long payback period of the
investment. Economic analysis is also built into the model to help decision makers to make informed
decisions. The retrofit of an existing office building is taken as a case study. The results show that
761.6 MWh energy savings and an A rating from the EPC can be obtained with a payback period of 70
months, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the model developed.
A literature review is presented in the subject of optimization solution to solve renewable energy (RE) in
the green building rating system (GBRS) to: delineate the variables in optimization; consider its
significant contribution to the green innovation effort; and provides competitive advantage (CA) in
green building development. The paper aims to close the gap in knowledge, by using the right
methodologies in optimization as a mechanism to portray how research themes can be utilized for
desired CA, and to suggest future analysis for research direction. A thematic review of RE optimization
literature is undertaken for disaggregating variables towards potential CA consequences in green
building development. The study has reconstructed variables in RE optimization towards appropriate CA
where optimization is being identified as an antecedent of green innovation while CA as a consequence
of green innovation. In this regard, green innovation would serve as a conceptual bridge between
optimization approach towards gaining CA. These can be achieved since various RE optimization case
studies have been presented and overcome with the improvement impact on the test system, in term of
power loss reduction, increased efficiency and optimal cost outcome which also obtained as key
variables for the end focus. A new framework comprises of RE optimization, green innovation, and CA is
proposed and linked with some of the previous optimization reviews in recent literature.
This paper proposed a renovated passive design assessment system for green building labelling based
on robust energy end-use statistics, different global sensitivity analysis methods, modelling experiments
and a detailed case study. The developed system is only applied to cooling and lighting related criteria,
which are mainly influenced by selected passive design strategies. After a preliminary definition of the
assessment framework and total available credits, the priorities of different sub-criteria are derived
from sensitivity analyses of a generic building model with screening-based, variance-based and
regression methods. Adjustment of assessment criteria is also performed according to significance tests
and post optimization analyses. Furthermore, performance and grading scales are formulated with
baseline requirements, optimization results and local sensitivity analyses. Eventually, the FAST (Fourier
Amplitude Sensitivity Test) method is proved to generate the most appropriate weighting system
considering the consistence of the credit prediction with the traditional whole building simulation
approach. Findings from this research can guide decision-makers in the construction industry to obtain
an optimized preliminary design by properly allocating resources and investments under a prescriptive
evaluation approach starting from the early planning stage. The research design can also be applied to
determine the assessment system for other performance-based criteria in a green building assessment
scheme.
This research investigates sustainable building design from a new perspective – green design in relation
to green building rating systems. We examine the potential influence of Green Star (GS) in Australia on
the design of a project and compare this with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
in America and Assessment Standard for Green Buildings (ASGB) in China. The comparison is conducted
using a typical case study of a GS Six Stars certified example, the Melbourne School of Design building. A
critical review concludes that LEED and ASGB are design-guide schemes while GS is a performance-based
rating system and this affects the project outcome. We note that LEED is oriented to energy efficiency
while GS and ASGB holistically consider energy and indoor environment quality. GS, additionally,
emphasizes project process management. Potential LEED and ASGB certification levels for the case are
calculated; possible changes to the design are indicated to achieve the highest LEED and ASGB levels.
The predicted results demonstrate the influence of different environmental concerns and assessment
approaches of the three on the green design and the performance of buildings themselves. Based on
this finding, the paper argues that a performance-based rating system (e.g. GS) is more beneficial to the
practice of designing green, compared with other measure-based systems.
METHODOLOGY:
This research employs a qualitative case study approach to explore the principles and practices of green
buildings. The following steps outline the methodology used to gather and analyze data:
1.Case Selection: A green rated residential building is selected representative green apartment buildings
in Pune.
4. Document Analysis: Review design plans, sustainability reports, and certification documents.
5. Data Analysis: Perform thematic analysis to identify themes related to environmental benefits,
economic impact.
Typology: Residential
Suhrud is a residential project committed to sustainable living, achieving pre-certification for the IGBC
Green Affordable Housing Platinum Rating. The design focuses on environmental conservation and
occupant comfort.
Green Highlights
• Heat Mitigation: Light-colored finishes and green roofs to reduce heat gain.
• Electric Vehicle Support: Charging facilities for electric cars and scooters.
• Accessibility: Features like ramps and braille for differently-abled and elderly residents.
• Healthy Indoor Environment: Large windows for ventilation, low VOC materials, and exhaust
fans.
INTERVIEW:
11. Interview
An interview with Ar. Sudhir Patil was conducted who has an experience of 15 years in his field
has 3 residential projects under green buildings. Following were the questions asked:
Q. How familiar are you with active (e.g., solar panels, energy-efficient appliances) and passive
(e.g., natural lighting, insulation) energy-saving strategies used in buildings?
As an architect, I am very familiar with both active and passive energy-saving strategies. Active
strategies typically involve using technology like solar panels, energy-efficient HVAC systems, and
appliances to reduce energy consumption. Passive strategies, on the other hand, focus on
optimizing the building’s design—such as maximizing natural light, improving insulation, and
utilizing thermal mass—to minimize the need for active energy systems. These strategies work
best when integrated into the building from the outset, although retrofitting is also possible.
Q. In your opinion, which active and passive strategies are most effective in reducing energy
consumption and promoting sustainability in buildings?
Both active and passive strategies are crucial, but passive strategies tend to have the greatest
long-term impact. Features like proper insulation, orientation of the building to capture or block
sunlight as needed, and natural ventilation reduce the energy load from the start. In terms of
active systems, solar panels and energy-efficient HVAC systems are highly effective in cutting
down on energy use. A combination of the two—such as passive solar heating supported by
energy-efficient appliances—provides the best results.
Q. Do you perceive the initial costs of implementing green building and energy-efficient
measures in buildings compared to long-term savings?
While the initial costs of green building technologies and energy-efficient systems can be higher
compared to traditional methods, the long-term savings generally outweigh these upfront
expenses. For hotels in particular, where operational costs are ongoing, the reduction in energy
consumption, water usage, and maintenance costs can result in significant savings over time.
Additionally, these measures can improve guest comfort and satisfaction, leading to higher
occupancy rates and a stronger brand reputation.
Q. What financial incentives or funding options would encourage your building to invest in
green building technologies or energy-efficient upgrades?
Government incentives like tax credits, rebates, and low-interest loans are among the most
compelling financial motivators for investing in green technologies. Programs that provide
financial assistance for retrofitting or upgrading buildings to be more energy-efficient, as well as
grants for renewable energy installations, would encourage more investment. Additionally,
partnerships with energy providers that offer discounts or incentives for reducing energy
consumption can also play a big role.
Q. How do maintenance costs for green building technologies and energy-efficient systems
compare to conventional systems in residential buildings?
Maintenance costs for green building technologies and energy-efficient systems tend to be lower
over time. Although the upfront investment and initial maintenance may be higher due to the
specialized nature of these systems, they are often designed to be more durable and require less
frequent upkeep compared to conventional systems. For example, LED lighting, high-efficiency
HVAC units, and low-flow water systems often have longer lifespans and are more cost-efficient
to maintain.
Q. What sustainable design features (e.g., efficient HVAC systems, water-saving fixtures) have
been integrated into your building's construction or renovation projects?
In our projects, we frequently integrate efficient HVAC systems that optimize energy use, water-
saving fixtures such as low-flow faucets and dual-flush toilets, and renewable energy sources like
solar panels. Additionally, we focus on the use of sustainable materials, enhanced insulation, and
the strategic placement of windows for natural lighting and ventilation. We also incorporate
green roofs and rainwater harvesting systems in some of our designs to further promote
sustainability.
Q. How important are green building certifications (e.g., LEED, Green Key) in influencing your
building's reputation and client satisfaction?
Green building certifications like LEED and Green Key are increasingly important in shaping both
a building’s reputation and client satisfaction. These certifications serve as a benchmark for
environmental responsibility and energy efficiency, which are becoming key factors for many
clients. A certified building often translates to lower operational costs, better indoor air quality,
and a more sustainable footprint, all of which contribute to higher client satisfaction and
marketability. Furthermore, such certifications can attract environmentally conscious tenants,
investors, and guests, especially in sectors like hospitality and commercial real estate.
ABSTRACT:
As the world grapples with climate change and dwindling resources, green buildings have
emerged as a beacon of hope in sustainable architecture. This research delves into what makes
green buildings beneficial, exploring their design principles, advantages, and the hurdles they
face. By using energy-efficient technologies, eco-friendly materials, and innovative designs,
these structures strive to lessen their environmental impact while enhancing the health and
comfort of their occupants.
Through a blend of case studies, industry professional surveys, and an analysis of existing
regulations, this study uncovers valuable insights. Although the upfront costs of green
construction can be higher, the long-term benefits—such as lower energy bills, better air
quality, and increased occupant satisfaction—often make it worthwhile. The findings also
emphasize the critical role of government incentives and education in encouraging the
widespread adoption of green building practices.
Ultimately, this research aims to inspire more sustainable urban development, showcasing how
green buildings can be a key part of a healthier, more resilient future for our communities.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, the adoption of green building practices is essential for addressing the pressing
environmental challenges faced by urban areas today. Through the integration of sustainable
design, efficient resource management, and innovative technologies, green buildings
significantly reduce energy consumption, lower carbon emissions, and enhance occupant well-
being. As demonstrated by various green rating systems in India, such as GRIHA and IGBC, these
practices not only promote environmental stewardship but also offer economic benefits
through reduced operational costs and increased property value. Furthermore, fostering
awareness and collaboration among stakeholders—from architects and builders to
policymakers and consumers—is crucial for the widespread implementation of green building
initiatives. Ultimately, the shift towards sustainable construction is not just a trend, but a vital
strategy for ensuring a resilient and environmentally responsible future for our communities.