Green Buildings (8AR03) - Unit 02 Examination Notes

1. Green Building Concepts

Definition of Green Building

• Green buildings are designed to harmonize human habitation with environmental

stewardship.

• Prioritize resource efficiency, ecological balance, and occupant well-being.

• Example: ITC Maurya Hotel, Delhi – Solar-reflective roofing and rainwater harvesting → 33%
energy reduction.

Definition of Sustainability

• Holistic approach balancing:

o Environmental: Ecosystem protection, pollution reduction (e.g., solar panels,

wetland restoration).

o Social: Equity in resources, education, healthcare (e.g., affordable green housing).

o Economic: Long-term growth via resource efficiency (e.g., Infosys saves 48 million
kWh/year).

Typical Features of Green Buildings

Category Key Points Examples

Passive Design (Orientation, Insulation, Shading); Suzlon One Earth,

Energy Efficiency
Active Systems (Solar, Smart HVAC, IoT integration) Bullitt Center

Rainwater Harvesting, Greywater Recycling, Low- ITC Maurya, Godrej

Water Conservation
flow Fixtures, Xeriscaping Garden City

Recycled content, Low-carbon alternatives (Bamboo, Kota stone, Recycled

Sustainable Materials
Hempcrete), Local sourcing, Modular construction steel

Indoor Environmental Natural ventilation, Low-VOC materials, Daylighting,

CEPT University
Quality (IEQ) Acoustic comfort

Construction waste recycling (75%+), Design for

Waste Management IGBC standards
Deconstruction, Composting

Green roofs, Permeable pavements, Biodiversity Suzlon One Earth

Site Sustainability
preservation native landscaping
2. Green vs. Conventional Buildings

Aspect Green Building Conventional Building

Energy 30–50% lower consumption High fossil fuel dependence

Water Use 40–60% less; recycling systems High municipal use

Materials Recycled, low-carbon materials Virgin, high-carbon materials

Construction Waste 70–90% diverted from landfills 80–90% landfilled

Indoor Air Quality Fresh air intake, low-VOC Poor ventilation, synthetic emissions

Lifecycle Cost Higher upfront, 20–30% lower operational Lower initial, high maintenance

Carbon Footprint 35–50% lower High

Example:

• IGBC Platinum office vs. Mumbai glass high-rise: 40% energy savings.

3. Case Studies

• ITC Maurya, Delhi (LEED Platinum)

o Rainwater harvesting (30% peak rainfall), 75% solar-reflective roofing.

o 100% wastewater recycled; focus on native plants.

• Suzlon One Earth, Pune (LEED Platinum)

o 100% onsite renewable energy.

o Zero discharge water system; 40% green cover.

• Indira Paryavaran Bhavan, Delhi (GRIHA 5-Star)

o Net-positive energy building.

o Onsite solar capacity (930 kW).

• The Edge, Amsterdam (BREEAM Outstanding)

o 28,000 IoT sensors for smart efficiency.

o Circular economy furniture leasing.

• Bullitt Center, Seattle (Living Building Challenge)

o Net-zero energy and water.

o Composting toilets; toxic-free materials.

4. Green Building Rating Systems

Purpose and Highlights

• Purpose:

o Benchmarking: Environmental performance (e.g., LEED Energy & Atmosphere =

33%).

o Market Transformation: Branding and investor attraction (e.g., ITC Responsible

Luxury).

o Policy Compliance: Supports India’s Panchamrit Targets.

• Weighted Criteria Highlights:

o LEED: Energy (33%), IEQ (16%).

o BREEAM: Health (15%), Land use (10%).

o IGBC: Water Conservation (15%).

• Innovation Credits:

o LEED: Smart grids, carbon-neutral concrete.

o BREEAM: Biophilic design, social equity.

o IGBC: Vernacular techniques like terracotta cooling.

Key Systems in India – IGBC

• Inception: 2001 under Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

• Scope: 14 rating systems (Homes, Schools, SEZs).

• Achievements: 10.27 billion sq. ft. certified.

Certification Process:

1. Registration

2. Documentation (Energy simulations, Water reuse plans)

3. Audit (Third-party inspection)

4. Certification (Certified → Silver → Gold → Platinum)

5. Green Movement in India

• Urbanization: 35% urban now → 50% by 2050.

• Climate Commitments:

o 500 GW renewables by 2030.

o Paris Agreement goals.

• Policy Milestones:

o 2007: ECBC launched.

o 2016: GRIHA mandatory for public buildings.

o 2020: Eco-Niwas Samhita for residential energy savings.

Key Policies:

• ECBC 2017: HVAC efficiency (COP > 3.5).

• NBC: Waste segregation, fire-resistance.

• IS 16400: Daylighting (300 lux).

• CPWD Guidelines: Water audits.

Example:
Indira Paryavaran Bhavan adheres to ECBC and IS 16400.

6. Comparative Analysis - LEED vs. BREEAM vs. IGBC

Parameter LEED (USA) BREEAM (UK) IGBC (India)

Energy efficiency, Global Holistic health, Lifecycle Water conservation, Climate

Focus
applicability impact resilience

Regional Urban density focus Monsoon, heatwave

Tailored for local climates
Adaptation (Europe) adaptation

Innovation 6% (Tech focus) 10% (Social equity) 5% (Local cooling techniques)

Occupant Acoustic comfort, Well- Natural ventilation, Ayurvedic

Daylight, VOC limits
Health being surveys integration

7. Impact of Green Building Systems

• Resource Conservation: Infosys campuses → 48 million kWh saved annually.

• Health Benefits: 30% higher productivity in IGBC certified offices.

• Compliance: 80% new commercial buildings in metros follow ECBC.

 • Innovation: Biophilic designs (e.g., vertical gardens) improve mental health.

Conclusion

• Green building concepts and rating systems (LEED, IGBC, BREEAM) transform construction
practices.

• In India, IGBC and GRIHA address water scarcity, energy efficiency, and urbanization
challenges.

• Case studies like ITC Maurya and Suzlon One Earth show sustainability and luxury can
coexist.

• Government policies like ECBC 2017 and Eco-Niwas Samhita institutionalize green practices.

• Green buildings are the foundation for a Net Zero future, ensuring livable, equitable cities.

Would you also like me to create a PDF version of this detailed notes too (like I did earlier)?
I can prepare it neatly if you want!