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How green building policies, laws bolster progress?

How India’s green building policies and regulations are significant for progress

Over the last decade, India has been in the spotlight for its infrastructure growth. This indicates a greater need for building construction. An increasing number of green structures are being built, from government offices to residential complexes, such as the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (Hyderabad), Suzlon One Earth Campus (Pune) and Infosys Limited (Mysore).

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a globally accepted benchmark for developers, architects and users. In India, it has laid down guidelines for the design, construction and operation of sustainable buildings.

But are there any specific regulations and rating systems in India? The answer is yes. The government has been adopting consistent steps to ensure the enforcement of green buildings that would minimise environmental damage. These structures require less water, optimise energy efficiency, generate less waste and provide healthy spaces.

Some prominent policies include the National Building Code, which takes into account building design and construction with a special focus on energy conservation. In addition, the Energy Conservation Building Code is voluntary and applicable to buildings with large, air-conditioned floor areas.

 

Energy conservation initiatives 

National Building Code (NBC)

Any green building conversation is incomplete without the mention of the National Building Code (NBC) developed in the 1980s by The Bureau of Indian Standards. This code covers most aspects of building design and construction with energy efficiency as one of its mandates. It was revised in 2005 to incorporate energy efficiency measures such as daylight integration, artificial lighting and HVAC design.

Energy Conservation Act, 2001 

Another pertinent regulation was the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, which led to the establishment of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). The act largely laid down guidelines for energy conservation for large commercial buildings.

Integrated Energy Policy, 2006

After a few years, the Integrated Energy Policy, 2006, came into being. This regulation ensured that key areas, including building design, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting and other such spheres, were identified. It also laid a mandate of energy audits for all buildings with a load above 1 MW.

Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC)

The Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) was initiated to minimise India’s baseline energy consumption. Taking into account climatic zone variation, the code lays down standards to reduce energy consumption through design and construction practices.

National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH)

The National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH) was developed envisioning habitat sustainability by making changes in the energy efficiency of the buildings. The regulation falls under the Ministry of Urban Development.

It is important to note that several states have appointed agencies under the Energy Conservation Act that directly work with the BEE. While their scale may be small, they are taking consistent steps to minimise climate change.

 

Incentives for green buildings 

The Indian government incentivises builders and organisations that ensure the construction of green buildings.

 

The last word 

With climate change knocking at our doors, this is the time to build green structures that are beneficial for the environment and are high-value-low-risk assets. Although the government is taking requisite steps to encourage further construction of buildings with green certifications, more incentives must be introduced to reduce capital expenditure.

With more fiscal incentives, like tax breaks, grants, subsidies and loans, there would be more developers willing to join this sustainable revolution.

(The author is Managing Director – APAC and Middle East, Green Business Certificate Institute (GBCI))

 

Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com
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