Onkar G on July 30, 2021 No Comments
With real estate developers and architects witnessing an uptick in enquiries and bookings about green homes post Covid-19, India may finally see the masses embracing the concept of sustainable buildings.
Green buildings use eco-friendly materials and provide stringent ventilation and filtration systems, so they have become attractive following the pandemic. “Sustainable architecture is not only about improving energy efficiency of the building; it is also about natural resource conservation, use of local and reusable material, and using climate-friendly designs,” says Chaitanya Kalia, Partner and National Leader, Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS), EY India.
India is placed third (after China and Canada) in a ranking of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) buildings by the US Green Building Council. Yet, just 5 per cent of India’s buildings are green – according to the Green Buildings Market Intelligence India Profile by IFC – pointing to a sizeable opportunity that is now ripe for harvesting because the COVID pandemic has made both enterprises and individuals more aware of environmental issues that impact their businesses and lives, ..
There are several economic incentives, too. “Supply side benefits include additional FSI/FAR (floor area ratio), developer charge waivers and fast-tracked environmental clearance, while ‘green home’ owners stand to gain from property tax rebates and improved health and well-being outcomes,” says Subramanian of Mahindra Lifespaces. Insulated walls, UPVC windows, provision for daylighting, and solar panels reduce a green building’s energy needs, thus cutting down on power bills.
We apply technology to minimise the carbon footprint of our business operations and products,” says Ambar Mitra, Regional Lead, RE&F, Microsoft India. “Commitment to environmental sustainability underlines every aspect of our company.”
