ESG Excellence in Green Building: Pioneering Sustainable Standard

INTRODUCTION:

In the 21st century, marked by increasing awareness towards climate change, there is an urgent need for sustainable solutions to various issues that are adversely impacting the environment. GREEN BUILDING stands as beacons of hope, shaping the future of architecture business. Green buildings are a perfect example for technological advancement that harmonizes with nature. These structures represent the exemplar shift in the way we conceive, design and inhabit the environment, providing a way forward towards a more sustainable and resilient future.  

WHAT IS A GREEN BUILDING?

Green building, also known as, sustainable building is more than just a structure. It represents the commitment of the construction industry to provide better experience to their customers and stakeholders, built with advanced technological architecture interlinked with environmental stewardship. Contrary to conventional buildings, Green Buildings are built with the aim of energy efficiency, resource conservation and well being of the occupants residing or working in these buildings. These buildings are the integration of innovative technology, recyclable or sustainable raw materials and earth friendly designs to minimize the environmental impacts. Green buildings are constructed to maximize the comfort of the occupants and minimize the environmental impacts.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GREEN BUILDING:

Green building designing is guided by a set of key principles. The aim is to create a balance between occupants comfort and health with environment and nature. These principles are:

1. Energy Efficiency: Green Buildings are constructed keeping in mind the total energy consumption. There are various technological advancements in the field of energy that are being incorporated while building these structures. Some of them are:

• IOT based lighting and ventilation system, 
• Advanced air conditioning mechanism, 
• Proper ventilation to minimize usage of electricity during broad daylight hours, 
• Efficient HVLS, HVAC and BLDC equipments in place of conventional equipments, 
• Energy efficient Air Conditioners, 
• Renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind turbines, etc.

2. Sustainable Material: Recyclable, Reclaimed or locally sourced materials are preferred while constructing Green Buildings. This is to minimize resource consumption and the adverse impact on the environment. Use of recycled materials in turn reduces construction waste which is one of the major categories of hazardous waste.

3. Water Conservation: Green Buildings utilizes various water efficiency methods for resource conservation. Some of these are:

• Rainwater Harvesting wells inside premises
• Low flow water saving fixtures
• Drought resistant landscaping
• Efficient irrigation methods.

4. Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ): IEQ is the concept of enhancing indoor air quality, thermal comfort through proper ventilation, natural day lighting, ergonomically developed seating arrangements, etc to improve occupant health, comfort and productivity. These features are enhanced keeping in mind the well being of the occupants as well as the environmental health.

5. Site Selection and management: Site selection for green buildings are done keeping in mind the environmental impacts of construction on the selected site. These buildings are usually constructed without disrupting the natural habitat and biodiversity of the surrounding local community. The other important factor while selecting the site is the landscaping i.e. 

• The method to mitigate stormwater runoff
• Optimizing the site for solar exposure

Overall, Green Buildings are developed in such a way so as to minimize the ecological footprint i.e carbon , water and waste footprint of the construction site.

BENEFITS OF A GREEN BUILDING:

Green Buildings offer a wide range of benefits, ranging from environmental to economic and social advantages. Some of them are:

1. Environmental Sustainability: Green buildings reduce environmental impact through energy and water conservation, waste reduction and lower carbon emission. Environmental impacts are reduced by incorporating renewable energy resources and recyclable or reclaimed materials, thereby reducing the natural resources and fossil fuels.
2. Energy Efficiency: Green Buildings are designed to be highly energy efficient resulting in low utility bills for the occupants. Hence, these buildings are not only environmentally friendly but also pocket friendly. Features like energy efficient equipment and renewable energy systems reduce energy consumption and dependency on fossil fuels.
3. Water Conservation: Green buildings deploy water conservation techniques such as rainwater harvesting, low water flow fixtures, greywater recycling, etc for reducing the burden on municipal water resources.
4. Reduced Operating Cost: While the upfront cost of developing a green building is high, the long term operational cost savings is significant. Reduced utilities bill, less municipal water consumption, Recycled and locally sourced material are some significant features that generate large fortunes for the occupants.
5. Increased Property Value: With the increase in environmental consideration, people are willing to pay more for the environmental friendly locations for the offices or homes. Green buildings provide higher property values and rental rates due to their desirable features, energy efficiency and environmental benefits.
6. Regulatory Compliances and Incentives: Since the green buildings are developed keeping in mind the well being of the environment, these are usually compliant with all the regulatory requirements of the government.
7. Community Benefits: Green Buildings contribute to the overall sustainability of the communities by reducing carbon emission, water and land pollution, waste generation, resource conservation and enhances the quality of the life of the residents as well as the local community.

CERTIFICATIONS FOR GREEN BUILDING:

There are various organizations that certify the building as “GREEN BUILDING”. Some of them are:

1. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): It is a US based certification developed by USGBC (US Green Building Corporation). It is one of the leading globally recognized certifications. The certification  evaluates buildings based on Energy Efficiency, Water Conservation, Material Selection, Indoor Environmental Quality & Innovation.
2. BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method): BREEAM is developed in the UK by BRE (Building Research Establishment). It is a certification scheme that assesses the environmental, social and economic sustainability performance of the building.
3. Green Star: Green star is an Australian certification developed by Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). It certifies the buildings based on energy, water, material, innovation, indoor environmental quality and management practices.
4. WELL Building Standards: It is administered by International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and addresses factors such as air quality, water quality, lighting, comfort, fitness and mental well being.
5. Living Building Challenge: It is a rigorous building standard that differs from other certification standards. It aims to create a regenerative building that focuses on generating more energy that it is consuming, harvesting and treating water onsite so as to reduce effluents, promote social equity, etc.
6. Passive House: Passive house focuses on consumption of low energy and high thermal comfort through passive design, airtightness, insulation, passive solar heating, etc. It was initially started in Germany but is now recognized globally.