Green buildings gaining acceptance

Green buildings gaining acceptance
The Hindu Business Line, November 22, 2009, Page 15

CII and the Indian Green Building Council are on an eco-friendly drive in Kerala.

V. Sajeev Kumar

The green building concept, spearheaded by CII and the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), seems to be gaining acceptance in Kerala following the efforts taken up by the Kochi Chapter of IGBC to create awareness among the people on the need for green buildings.

The IGBC, under the guidance of CII, is awarding LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) ratings to newly constructed buildings based on environmental categories such as sustainable sites, water and energy efficiency, materials and resources, innovations and design process.

LEED Rating

According to Mr B. R. Ajith, Chairman, IGBC, Kochi Chapter, the CDAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) building at the Techno Park Campus in Thiruvananthapuram is the first green building in the government sector in the State to get LEED rating. For villas and apartments, a new LEED rating system, Green Homes, has been introduced. For townships and IT parks, a new LEEDNeighbourhood Development will be introduced soon. Mr Ajith pointed out that the upcoming IT parks at Ambalappuzha and Cherthala will be the first to come under the Neighbourhood Development rating.

Kerala architecture

The ancient architecture of Kerala is a prime example of the green building concept, as most old buildings in the State have a nadumuttam (courtyard) in the centre of building surrounded by verandhas on all four sides. This arrangement will give maximum light, ventilation and cooling to the inhabitants.

The basic idea of a green building is to make it as self-sustainable as possible, by reducing its dependence on non-renewable energy.

By this process, there will be sizeable reduction in the carbon emission resulting in slowing down of environmental degradation, which is responsible for phenomena such as global warming and climate change. The main objective of the IGBC is to give inspirations to the people to construct green buildings with eco-friendly and locally available materials with minimum disturbance to the environment.

The IGBC has also instituted Green Awards to individuals who have taken up major initiatives and done work in implementing green building technology.

Another proposal put forward by the IGBC, in association with the Energy Management Centre, Thiruvanathapuram, is for an Energy Credit Card System. Energy credit cards will be issued to all power consumers in the State and evaluation will be made on a half-yearly basis. Talks are progressing with the State’s Power Department to provide tariff discounts to consumers who bring 25 per cent or more reduction in energy consumption.

Mr Ajith says households could reduce energy consumption by 25 per cent with energy-efficient CFL lamps, which consume only a fifth of the power of an ordinary bulb; and LED lights consume even less power.

Kerala’s power requirement is around 3,000 MW. If the State is able to reduce consumption even by 25 per cent it will become power-surplus, Mr Ajith added.