INDIA
28 March 2014
Green Buildings in India
With the growing population of cities, the need for healthier environment in residences and workplaces will take on greater importance, according to Frost & Sullivan.
With the growing population of cities, the need for healthier environment in residences and workplaces will take on greater importance, according to Frost & Sullivan's Environment & Building Technologies Practice.
A green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) can be defined as one, which is different from a normal building in terms of its environmental impact, or one that represents a process, which restores and improves the building site and surrounding environment. However, an ideal green building project is one that preserves and restores habitat and is a net producer of resources, materials, energy, and water. A more practical approach to the green building concept is a building whose construction and operational lifetime assures the healthiest possible environment with the most efficient use of resources like land, energy, and water.
The sustainable development concept originated with the energy (especially, fossil oil) crisis and environment pollution concern in the US during the 1970s. A green building employs a wide array of techniques, practices, and skills to reduce and eliminate the impact of the building on the environment and human health. This helps to take advantage of renewable resources like using sunlight through active and passive solar equipment, rain gardens, plants, and trees through green roofs.
Technologies and practices employed in a green building are constantly evolving and may differ from one region to the other but the basic principles remain unchanged. These basic principles include Sitting and Structure Design Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Materials Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality Enhancement, Operations and Maintenance Optimization, and Waste and Toxic Reduction.
• Energy efficient lighting (LED technologies, maximum use of daylight, etc.)
• Energy conservation (occupancy monitoring, motion sensors, double/triple glazed glass, recyclable furniture, solar water heater, reflective paint, etc.)
• Water conservation (solar water heater, low-consumption auto-release-toilets, rain water harvesting, etc.)
• High efficiency air conditioners, chillers, etc.
A green building project will provide direct/indirect benefits such as:
• 50-70 percent energy cost reduction
• 40 percent reduction in use of potable water
• 100 percent of wastewater treatment to tertiary standards
• Help local economy (as approximately 25 percent of materials and products would be procured within 800 km of the site)
• 30 percent more ventilation over and above the rates as per American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards.
• 70 percent of the occupants can control the air speed and temperature in their workspaces (reducing energy costs)
• Higher productivity/improved quality of life
• Energy security in mission critical applications
• Significant reduction in emission of greenhouse gases (GHG).
These products are now offered by most leading cement manufacturers and many new firms have started plants that manufacture these greener alternatives. An AAC block is precast lightweight building material that in addition to providing structure also has properties of fire and mold resistance and insulation. This technology is also used in products like wall panels, floor and roof panels, cladding panels, and lintels.
Depending upon local conditions there are many advantages associated with AAC blocks. Some of those advantages are as mentioned below:
• Light weight: AAC blocks are approximately 50 percent lighter than clay bricks of equivalent size. This translates into reduced dead weight of a building making the entire structure lighter, therefore reducing amount of steel and concrete used in structural components like beams, columns, and roof/floor slabs.
• Easy workability: AAC blocks can be accurately cut making them easy to work with, reducing the amount of waste.
• Environmental impact: AAC blocks’ manufacturing process does not have high energy requirement. Since AAC blocks are made from fly ash (an industrial waste product generated by thermal power plants) it offers a sustainable low cost solution for the future.
• Easy transportation: Since AAC blocks have low transit breakage as compared to clay bricks it is easy to transport. Additionally, its lower weight results in lesser energy being used for transportation, which further reduces CO2 emissions from transport vehicles.
• Longevity: Buildings constructed with AAC blocks do not require routine repairs since AAC blocks do not lose strength over time as is the case with clay bricks.
• Thermal insulation: AAC panels and blocks have thermal insulation properties that aid in reducing energy costs required for heating and cooling. This also allows the usage of smaller HVAC than conventionally required, resulting in additional energy savings.
• Shorter project duration: Buildings can be built 50 percent faster with AAC blocks as compared to clay bricks, this translates into shorter project completion times benefiting developers.
• Fire Resistance: AAC blocks offer high fire resistance. As a result, structures made from these blocks have a higher survivability rate in case of fire.
• Sound Insulation: AAC is well-suited for establishments situated in noisy areas since its sound absorption properties help in reducing ambient noises.
• High Survivability: Air pockets in the AAC structure, which accord it high structural integrity, prevent progressive collapse of a structure despite earthquakes, extremely low temperatures, heavy rains, etc.
• Biltech Building Elements Limited
• Renaatus Procon Private Limited
• UltraTech Cement Ltd. (Building Products Division)
• Magicrete Building Solutions
• J K Lakshmi Cement
In 2013 the total market potential for green building material and equipment (including, but not limited to, glass, concrete, steel, solar panels, water harvesting equipment, etc.) stood at about US $500 million. However, if the usage of green building materials in non Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings is included, the market size will rise to approximately US $4 billion.
Till date, majority of the green buildings in India have come up in Mumbai and Chennai. Although Hyderabad is home to India’s first green building, the city did not witness many green developments post it. However, it is being observed that the green building concept is catching up in other cities like Kolkata, NCR, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, along with Mumbai and Chennai expanding the market potential further.
The primary factor that was driving the green building industry was the voluntary desire of businesses/corporates to be environmentally friendly, however, over time there has been a shift in the mind-set of end users. As the population of cities grows, the pressure on infrastructure increases and the need for healthier and more efficient commercial buildings, workplaces, and residences also grows.
Shortage of resources like water and electricity is forcing businesses to consider efficient solutions to these problems. Lower operating costs of green buildings and the positive branding of such buildings in the public eye is further driving adoption of green buildings in India.
A green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) can be defined as one, which is different from a normal building in terms of its environmental impact, or one that represents a process, which restores and improves the building site and surrounding environment. However, an ideal green building project is one that preserves and restores habitat and is a net producer of resources, materials, energy, and water. A more practical approach to the green building concept is a building whose construction and operational lifetime assures the healthiest possible environment with the most efficient use of resources like land, energy, and water.
The sustainable development concept originated with the energy (especially, fossil oil) crisis and environment pollution concern in the US during the 1970s. A green building employs a wide array of techniques, practices, and skills to reduce and eliminate the impact of the building on the environment and human health. This helps to take advantage of renewable resources like using sunlight through active and passive solar equipment, rain gardens, plants, and trees through green roofs.
Technologies and practices employed in a green building are constantly evolving and may differ from one region to the other but the basic principles remain unchanged. These basic principles include Sitting and Structure Design Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Materials Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality Enhancement, Operations and Maintenance Optimization, and Waste and Toxic Reduction.
Objectives and Benefits of a Green Building Project
There are several steps involved in designing sustainable buildings, which include specifying 'green' building materials from local sources, reducing loads, optimizing systems, and on-site generation of renewable energy. Therefore, for a building to qualify as ‘green’, it needs to meet a host of conditions such as:• Energy efficient lighting (LED technologies, maximum use of daylight, etc.)
• Energy conservation (occupancy monitoring, motion sensors, double/triple glazed glass, recyclable furniture, solar water heater, reflective paint, etc.)
• Water conservation (solar water heater, low-consumption auto-release-toilets, rain water harvesting, etc.)
• High efficiency air conditioners, chillers, etc.
A green building project will provide direct/indirect benefits such as:
• 50-70 percent energy cost reduction
• 40 percent reduction in use of potable water
• 100 percent of wastewater treatment to tertiary standards
• Help local economy (as approximately 25 percent of materials and products would be procured within 800 km of the site)
• 30 percent more ventilation over and above the rates as per American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards.
• 70 percent of the occupants can control the air speed and temperature in their workspaces (reducing energy costs)
• Higher productivity/improved quality of life
• Energy security in mission critical applications
• Significant reduction in emission of greenhouse gases (GHG).
Technology Trends in Indian Green Building Sector
Although many materials are used to construct a green structure, bricks are used extensively and are responsible for environmental degradation, since they are made from top soil (leading to loss of fertile soil) and are fired in kilns (that are mostly coal fired and are highly inefficient). A greener alternative to this will reduce multiple harmful effects on the environment. The alternative to normal bricks is autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks, fly-ash bricks, and Cellular Light Weight Concrete (CLC) blocks.These products are now offered by most leading cement manufacturers and many new firms have started plants that manufacture these greener alternatives. An AAC block is precast lightweight building material that in addition to providing structure also has properties of fire and mold resistance and insulation. This technology is also used in products like wall panels, floor and roof panels, cladding panels, and lintels.
Depending upon local conditions there are many advantages associated with AAC blocks. Some of those advantages are as mentioned below:
• Light weight: AAC blocks are approximately 50 percent lighter than clay bricks of equivalent size. This translates into reduced dead weight of a building making the entire structure lighter, therefore reducing amount of steel and concrete used in structural components like beams, columns, and roof/floor slabs.
• Easy workability: AAC blocks can be accurately cut making them easy to work with, reducing the amount of waste.
• Environmental impact: AAC blocks’ manufacturing process does not have high energy requirement. Since AAC blocks are made from fly ash (an industrial waste product generated by thermal power plants) it offers a sustainable low cost solution for the future.
• Easy transportation: Since AAC blocks have low transit breakage as compared to clay bricks it is easy to transport. Additionally, its lower weight results in lesser energy being used for transportation, which further reduces CO2 emissions from transport vehicles.
• Longevity: Buildings constructed with AAC blocks do not require routine repairs since AAC blocks do not lose strength over time as is the case with clay bricks.
• Thermal insulation: AAC panels and blocks have thermal insulation properties that aid in reducing energy costs required for heating and cooling. This also allows the usage of smaller HVAC than conventionally required, resulting in additional energy savings.
• Shorter project duration: Buildings can be built 50 percent faster with AAC blocks as compared to clay bricks, this translates into shorter project completion times benefiting developers.
• Fire Resistance: AAC blocks offer high fire resistance. As a result, structures made from these blocks have a higher survivability rate in case of fire.
• Sound Insulation: AAC is well-suited for establishments situated in noisy areas since its sound absorption properties help in reducing ambient noises.
• High Survivability: Air pockets in the AAC structure, which accord it high structural integrity, prevent progressive collapse of a structure despite earthquakes, extremely low temperatures, heavy rains, etc.
Green Building Market in India
The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) was established in 2000 starting the green initiative in the construction sector. The green building market has evolved over time in the country and has grown at a strong pace highlighted by the fact that in 2001 there was 1 green building with 20,000 sq. ft. and by 2013 this had grown to about 2,236 green buildings with 1.65 billion sq. ft. depicting strong growth. The growth of green construction has come mostly from commercial, corporate (Special Economic Zones), and industrial buildings both from the public and private sectors. Market participants of green building material include most domestic cement manufacturers and also many new participants specializing only in green building products such as AAC blocks/panels, etc. Some industry participants include:• Biltech Building Elements Limited
• Renaatus Procon Private Limited
• UltraTech Cement Ltd. (Building Products Division)
• Magicrete Building Solutions
• J K Lakshmi Cement
In 2013 the total market potential for green building material and equipment (including, but not limited to, glass, concrete, steel, solar panels, water harvesting equipment, etc.) stood at about US $500 million. However, if the usage of green building materials in non Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings is included, the market size will rise to approximately US $4 billion.
Till date, majority of the green buildings in India have come up in Mumbai and Chennai. Although Hyderabad is home to India’s first green building, the city did not witness many green developments post it. However, it is being observed that the green building concept is catching up in other cities like Kolkata, NCR, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, along with Mumbai and Chennai expanding the market potential further.
Market Challenges and Drivers for the Green Building Industry in India
Despite growth, the industry faces several challenges and constraints. The main constraint is the lack of information and incorrect perception that green buildings cost more to build and also have longer gestation periods. However, if the total life cycle cost analysis is performed, this is not true. Although the advantages of green buildings are highlighted by experts, the information relating to affordability of such structures does not reach the end users. Also, turbulence in the real estate market directly impacts a developer’s propensity to invest in additional costs such as a premium on green buildings. The sourcing of green building materials can be difficult; the lack of easy availability of materials discourages developers to pursue development of green buildings. Another important challenge facing the industry is the lack of professional support to facilitate LEED certification and consultancy services for earning carbon credits.The primary factor that was driving the green building industry was the voluntary desire of businesses/corporates to be environmentally friendly, however, over time there has been a shift in the mind-set of end users. As the population of cities grows, the pressure on infrastructure increases and the need for healthier and more efficient commercial buildings, workplaces, and residences also grows.
Shortage of resources like water and electricity is forcing businesses to consider efficient solutions to these problems. Lower operating costs of green buildings and the positive branding of such buildings in the public eye is further driving adoption of green buildings in India.