Concrete efforts needed to combat climate change
The recommendations of the much-hyped Copenhagen Climate Change conference may all but have been consigned to the bin, but it is time all stakeholders in the realty sector reflect upon the way they construct buildings in future. There is no doubt that only lip service on this front will no longer suffice. They cannot look the other way as the matter of emissions reduction has become a major global concern and a concrete effort is the need of the hour.
Before moving further, let's understand which buildings can be termed as green buildings. A green building is one, which uses less water, optimizes energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional building. Dr Nazma Rizvi of Delhi-based School of Planning and Architecture says that master builders and architects in the subcontinent a few centuries ago knew how to construct a building while keeping its interiors cool even in the tropical heat. According to her, 'Green Architecture' is made up of various factors like reduced heat penetration, low energy consumption, minimum disturbance to the environment, effective use of recycled and recyclable materials use of indigenous materials and systems conservation of natural resources.
While it is a fact that there is a growing awareness about green buildings in India, we have to take really long strides, with matching commitment, in order to make our buildings environment friendly.
Over the past decade or so, the culture of green buildings may be said to have definitely arrived in India. The best part is that now more and more government departments, realty-sector players and corporate houses know the importance of green buildings. India Inc giants like Tata, Wipro, Godrej, ITC, Bharti and many more are reaping the benefits of turning green. Reduction of energy bills at Wipro Gurgaon was 40% and it was 45% at ITC Gurgaon.
ITC has reportedly decided to make all their new buildings green – hopefully other will follow suit. It is in everyone's interest as well. If we talk about our country, close to 400 buildings have taken the green route. In a couple of years, we will have green buildings for hospitals, exhibition centers, educational institutions, airports, government buildings and corporate offices.
The Hyderabad International Airport is soon going to get a green rating. A convention centre coming up in Bangalore, an engineering college in Hyderabad and the Park Hotel in Hyderabad are going for green rating. A spokesman of CIISohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre (CII-Godrej GBC) said that from a single building in 2003, they had covered a long distance in terms of constructing green buildings in India.
In a candid admission, Anil sharma, CMD of Amprapali group said, despite the fact that green buildings offer a wide range of benefits from energy and water savings, better indoor air quality and a green image, still not many realty companies are coming forward to construct environment-friendly buildings.Why?
In a hard-hitting comment, Samir Jasuja founder of PropEquity, said that the realty companies are not raising green buildings for two reasons. One, not many realtors are aware about the green technology available in the market. And, two, neither government nor architect community is doing enough to promote environment friendly buildings. Not many people are ready to work for green building movement.
In a hard-hitting comment, Samir Jasuja founder of PropEquity, said that the realty companies are not raising green buildings for two reasons. One, not many realtors are aware about the green technology available in the market. And, two, neither government nor architect community is doing enough to promote environment friendly buildings. Not many people are ready to work for green building movement.
Noted architect J K Jain says that savings on energy and water in a green building, compared to conventional buildings, are really enormous. Energy saving is different from building to building, and from one site to another site. Energy and water saving vary from 35% to 40%, which is far better than many modern buildings. Green buildings offer a range of economic and environmental benefits like reduction in operational cost, green corporate image, enhances occupants comfort and improve productivity. Many say 'green buildings' do not make economic sense. Perhaps this is so in the short term. But sensible planning takes the long view. Time has come to look at the lifetime economics of buildings, and then do a cost-benefit analysis. Policies and trends over the years have made habits out of unnecessary expenditures.
Meanwhile, there is a myth that existing buildings be made a green buildings. Dr. Rizvi made it clear that it is impossible for the existing buildings to convert to green building. It depends on the construction of building. If we look at the typical criteria for a green building, which are energy, water, soil erosion and enmity, indoor air quality and material, it is really difficult for the existing building to adopt these five criteria to renovate into green building. Thus to convert to building, the cost will be more than the construction of a new green building because it will involve a lot of reconstruction.
Courtesy by: ET Realty Dtd : September 3, 2010
For more information about real estate, property, residential property, realty firm, commercial property, commercial real estate, real estate developers log on to http://www.zameen-zaidad.com
