A green building is one which uses less water, improves energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional building.The demand for green features in residential and commercial buildings is increasing.
Rising pollution in the country is making people choose green homes with features such as water harvesting, solar energy, green surroundings, natural lighting and effective waste management, among others.
There is a misconception that green buildings are expensive. The construction cost is a mere 1% higher for green buildings. One can save almost 30-40% on water and energy consumption in a green building. They do not use drinking water for flushing. Green buildings use recycled water for flushing.
Similarly, today, the average electricity bill a household pays is between Rs 2,000-5,000 per month. Surprisingly, one can save almost 40% on your electricity bill in a green home.
Energy efficient lamps and bulbs can bring down the electricity cost in a society or individual unit. Solar panels can produce electricity which can be used for lighting.
Similarly, eco-friendly building materials, locally manufactured, can be sourced from locations within 400 km of the project site. The low flush water fixtures can save money on water bills.
Almost 14 lakh houses in India have chosen to go for a ‘green building’ tag which amounts to about 6.33 billion sq ft. It however constitutes mere 5% of total residential properties present in the country.
India now has an ambitious target of having 10 billion sq ft green building footprint by 2022. It is expected to increase the green footprint by around 10%.
Reference- ET