Top 3 Energy Rating Systems in India - GRIHA, LEED and IGBC
Energy is consumed by a building in all stages of its life cycle- whether it is during its initial construction phase, or when it is being used by its users and even at the end of its life. With the rapid increase in India's population and consequently, the gross domestic product or GDP, there is a growing need for buildings which do not put pressure on the economy, as well as the availability of resources.
This is the purpose of an energy rating system. The performance of a building throughout its lifetime is compared to nationally or internationally acceptable benchmarks, thereby regulating and assessing their performance and resources consumption.
Green Rating Systems
In India, three main green rating systems for buildings are followed:
This system was developed to evaluate and assess a building's performance throughout its entire life cycle. They evaluate in three main stages:
Pre-construction stage: The initial stages constitute the building before its construction, solving and resolving issues related to the site itself like the landscape, vegetation, soil, distance to public spaces etc.
Building design and construction stage: This stage consists of issues which come up during the design and construction phase. This includes the consumption and management of both human and natural resources like air, water, fuel, vegetation etc.
Building usage and maintenance stage: This stage focuses on monitoring and keeping track of energy expenditure during the building's lifetime after its construction. The goal is to reduce the amount of resources consumed and reduce the building's impact on the environment around.
Eligibility
Projects with built up area more than 2500 square metres, excluding parking and basement area are eligible for the certification.
Certification
The motto of Griha is 'what gets measured, gets managed'. It has several criteria like site planning and construction management, based on which points are allocated, if followed. Star rating for each of the registered projects are assigned based on the number of points:
One star rating: 25-40 points
Two star rating: 41-55 points
Three star rating: 55-70 points
Four star rating: 71-85 points
Five star rating: 86 or more points
Advantages of a GRIHA Certified building:
Water: GRIHA certified buildings save a minimum of 25-50% less water than conventional buildings, during construction and usage phases. Additionally, 25%-75% of wastewater is recycled and reused.
Energy consumption: Compared to regular buildings, the energy consumption rates of a GRIHA certified building are 10% -50% less.
Impact on environment: Since renewable energy and passive techniques are majorly used for projects, the environment around is not affected.
LEED is another major system used in India to certify buildings. This system focuses on the energy consumption and the impact the building has on the environment. The requisites and criteria for LEED certification are management of:
35% of the credits in LEED are related to climate change.
20% of the credits are for how the building impacts human health.
15% of the credits are for its impact on the water resources.
10% of the credits for its effect on the biodiversity around.
10% of the credits relate to the green economy.
5% of the credits are for how it impacts the community.
5% of the credits are for how it impacts the natural resources.
Certification
Projects go through a verification and review process by GBCI (green building certification inc.) and are awarded points that correspond to a level of LEED certification:
Certified: 40-49 points
Silver: 50-59 points
Gold: 60-79 points
Platinum: 80 or more points
Advantages of a LEED certified building:
Carbon emission levels are less.
Energy consumption levels are lesser, reducing bills.
Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) has developed green building rating programmes to cover commercial, factory buildings etc. and not only residential ones. IGBC rating system addresses green features under the following categories:
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