Welcome to the first chapter in the course, Introduction to Green

Buildings and Green Building Credentials.

1
2
3
In this chapter, we will discuss the characteristics or expectations of
Green Buildings, significance of Green Buildings, various Green Building
rating systems, Green Building rating systems in India and finally, we will
discuss what you should do to become a Green Building professional.

4
Let us start the course with some basic questions. What is a Green
Building? Or what are the characteristics of Green Buildings? Or what are
the expectations of Green Buildings? Please pause the video and think
about these questions.

5
Green Buildings have better energy performance compared to
conventional buildings that is, they consume less energy compared to
equivalent conventional buildings. Green Buildings have better water
performance compared to conventional buildings that is, they consume
less water compared to equivalent conventional buildings. Green
Buildings offer better indoor environment compared to conventional
buildings. Better indoor environment means healthy and comfortable
environment for the occupants. Green Buildings use ecofriendly or
sustainable materials. Green Buildings have better waste management
system; hence they produce less waste both during construction and
operations. Green Buildings will have lesser transportation requirement.
Because of these characteristics of Green Buildings, the environmental
impact of Green Buildings are much lesser than conventional buildings
throughout the lifecycle of the buildings. The lifecycle of the building
includes construction and operation period of the building.

6
Few definitions on Green Buildings. According to World Green Building
Council, a Green Building is a building that in its design, construction or
operation, reduces or eliminates negative impacts and can create
positive impacts on our climate, and natural environment. Green
Buildings preserve precious natural resources and improve our quality of
life. According to US Environmental Protection Agency Green Building is a
practice of creating structures and using processes that are
environmentally responsible and resource efficient throughout the
building's lifecycle from site selection, design, construction, Operation-
maintenance, renovation, and deconstruction.

7
According to US Green Building Council Green Building is a holistic
concept that starts with the understanding that the built environment
can have profound effects, both positive and negative on the natural
environment, as well as on the people who occupy the buildings every
day. Green Building is an effort to mitigate negative impacts and amplify
the positive impacts throughout the entire lifecycle of the building.

8
What is the significance of Green Buildings? Or why we should go for
Green Buildings?

9
Buildings directly contribute to all major environmental issues we are
facing today like climate change, global warming, depletion of resources,
ozone depletion, loss of biodiversity, land pollution, water pollution, air
pollution, etc. Construction of Green Buildings are the only possible
solution to reduce the environmental impact associated with buildings.

10
Benefits of Green Buildings include tangible or direct benefits and
indirect or intangible benefits. Direct benefits include 20 to 30% of
energy savings, 30 to 50% of water savings etc. Indirect benefits include
enhanced indoor environment, excellent daylighting, excellent air quality,
improved health and well-being of the occupants, better safety for the
occupants and conservation of natural resources.

11
So far, we discussed about what is a Green Building? What are the
characteristics of Green Buildings? And what are the significance of
Green Buildings? Now, how I can get the building certified as Green
Building or in other terms, who will certify the buildings as Green
Buildings? Please pause the video and think about it.

12
Green Buildings are assessed and certified by Green Building rating
systems. There are a number of Green Building rating systems across the
world. Green Building rating systems are tools which assess the building
on various aspects like energy performance, water performance,
materials used in the building, waste management system, etc. They
certify the buildings based on the level of compliance or performance
against accepted benchmarks.

13
There are number of Green Building rating systems across the world. For
example, in Australia the Green Building rating system is called as Green
Star. In Brazil it is AQUA and LEED Brazil. In Canada, LEED Canada and
Green Globes. China has a rating system called as Green Building
Evaluation Standard. In Finland the rating system is PromisE. In Germany
- DGNB, Hong Kong - HKBEAM, Japan – CASBEE. In United Arab Emirates
(UAE) it is Estidama Pearl Rating System. In India, there are three rating
systems used - IGBC, GRIHA, and LEED. In US the rating system is LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). This is the most
popular rating system in the world. In UK, the rating system is BREEAM.
BREEAM is the first ever Green Building rating system that was
established in the world. In Taiwan, it is EEWH and in Qatar, it is GSAS. So,
there are a number of Green Building rating systems across the world.

14
Even though there are hundreds of Green Building rating systems across
the world, the basis of all the Green Building rating systems are the
same. All the Green Building rating systems invariably assess energy
performance, water performance, indoor environmental quality,
materials used in the building etc.

15
16
There are three Green Building rating systems used in India. Number
one, IGBC number two, GRIHA and number three, LEED. IGBC is an
acronym of Indian Green Building Council. IGBC rating system is the most
popular rating system in India and it is widely used in the private
construction industry. If you are in India and want to become a Green
Building professional start with IGBC AP examination. GRIHA is an
acronym of Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment. It is
developed by TERI, the Energy and Resources Institute and MNRE,
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. GRIHA is the national rating
system of India and hence it is widely used in government projects. LEED
is an acronym of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED is
the most internationally recognized rating system developed by US
Green Building Council. In India, it is used for the projects of
multinational companies seeking international recognition.

17
I get a lot of questions asking should I do LEED or IGBC. Here is my
suggestion.

18
If you are in India and have two years of experience, I strongly
recommend you to start with IGBC AP examination. I am telling this for
the following reasons. Number one, in IGBC there is only one
examination that is IGBC AP, whereas in LEED, you have to pass at least
two examinations that is LEED Green Associate and LEED AP to be
recognized as a Green Building professional. Number two, the IGBC AP
examination is very much affordable. It will cost only Rupees 5000.
Whereas in LEED you have to qualify two examinations that is LEED
Green Associate and LEED AP. LEED Green Associate will cost you $250
and LEED AP will cost you $350. Together it will cost $600 which is
equivalent to 75,000 Indian Rupees.

19
If you can afford the examination fee, and if you are seeking international
assignments in short term, you can go for LEED examinations. We have a
separate course on LEED Green Associate made easy, you can start
preparing for Green Associate from there.

20
One of the eligibilities for IGBC AP examination is that you should have at
least two years of experience. If you are a college student, or just
graduated from the college, you may not be eligible to appear for IGBC
AP examination. In this case, you can pursue LEED Green Associate
examination. There is also a discount of $50 for students for LEED Green
Associate examination.

21
Hope you had good clarity on which examination is suitable for you.
Please tell us what examination you plan to take and when you are
planning to take the examination in the comment section. It will be a
motivation for others. If you have any further questions, please do not
hesitate to contact us or ask them in the comment section.

22
To summarize, in this chapter, we have discussed the characteristics and
expectations of Green Buildings, significance of Green Buildings, various
Green Building rating systems across the world, Green Building rating
systems used in India and finally, we have discussed what you should do
to become a Green Building professional.

23
Congrats on completing the first chapter. If you have any questions,
please ask them in the comment section. Thank you.

24