Building sustainable homes might be a new concept for the contemporary world. However, using locally available materials for constructing environment-friendly green homes has been ingrained in various Indian cultures for ages. Due to deep-rooted traditional values and governed by usage and climate patterns, innumerable regional styles of construction have evolved over the years. These range from bamboo homes in Andhra Pradesh to villages made from agri-wastes across various cities.
Now, with India’s population quadrupling to 1.37 billion in 2020 from 350 million during independence, the scenario has changed drastically. In order to provide ample shelters at affordable costs, modern technologies and materials that fasten the construction process and lower the maintenance cost are being used expeditiously.
Although materials like concrete, brick, and glass are highly durable and ease the execution process, the buildings created from them rely heavily on mechanical cooling and artificial lighting. This not only impacts the environment but also adds load on the pocket. So, does there exist a possible solution to counter these issues? The answer lies in the promotion and development of green homes.
What is Green Homes?
Green homes are types of home that are built by keeping sustainability in mind, with energy efficient design and use of environment friendly materials like recycled and reused items, focus is in self sufficiency and energy efficiency. Green homes utilize energy saving technologies such as high performance insulation, use of solar energy and energy monitoring systems.
How Green Homes Contribute Towards a Clean Living?
Designed to offer occupancy comfort while minimizing non-renewable resources, a green home is constructed with efficient building materials and optimum construction practices, right from operation to renovation. A green building is believed to reduce energy consumption by at least 30 to 40 percent as compared to a conventionally constructed building. Let’s see how –
1. Minimal Use of Non-renewable Resources
In comparison to traditionally constructed buildings, the energy demand from green homes is minimum. This can be attributed to the unique features that ensure optimum utilization of natural resources. These include less toxic paints, adequate use of natural light, recycled metals, solar-powered appliances, etc. Although the initial costs of construction are higher, these expenses are offset in the long run by lowered utility bills and maintenance costs.
2. Improves Water and Energy-Efficiency
Green homes are equipped with rainwater harvesting systems, motion-activated sensors, low-flow bathroom appliances and smart features like energy saving LED bulbs. Additionally, these buildings and homes employ approaches such as L-shaped windows for optimum use of daylight. These techniques not only save resources but also trim down on energy bills.
3. Creates a Pleasant Indoor Environment
Green homes come with a type of roofing or wall patterns where the structure is partly or completely covered with vegetation over a waterproofing system. Since the system is installed on top of a flat or slightly-sloped roof, it ends up acting as a drainage system that holds rainwater and prevents floods and leaks. With vast green covers, a pleasant atmosphere inside the building is maintained.
4. Offers Excellent ROIs
Superior material efficiency, energy efficient structure, and increased occupancy rates equates to better health, reduced expenses and property value appreciation. With so many advantages at hand, grand homes offer excellent ROIs for both developers and investors. Moreover, after the unprecedented pandemic induced challenges, inclination towards investing in those economic sectors that can generate employment as well as fuel green growth has risen. To achieve this goal, green homes are going to play a pivotal role.
5. Reduces environmental impact
Remember that constructing a greenhouse is one of the main goals of lowering the ecological footprint. We’re looking at a paradigm that focuses on utilizing recycled or renewable resources here, allowing them to grow back just as fast as they are taken from the face of the earth. Construction waste ought to be minimized, and agriculture should take up less space. As a result of these sustainable methods, the particles of greenhouse gases get cut down. The very point is to produce dwellings that can exist in harmony with nature rather than trying to compromise with it.
6. More sustainable that improves air quality
Typical home furnishings include coatings, adhesives, and carpets that evaporate VOCs (volatile organic compounds). They are these sour things that do the job of polluting the air you’re breathing within the rooms. These clean dwellings eliminate or use the tiniest amount of toxic chemical material. Moreover, they have air conditioning systems specially installed in them, which serve to constantly change the air being exhaled from the closed space into fresh, newly inhaled air. For instance, who would want to feel the stifling confines of closed walls in their home? But having the leafy greens around keeps your mind fresh, and the bountiful sunshine contributes to a healthier living atmosphere.
7. It enhances the ability of the ecosystem to bounce back after severe disasters.
On the other hand, the majority of green home designs try to focus on the inclusion of exclusive features to ensure that their houses are almost disaster-proof. That’s about superstructures for mitigating floods, the use of fire-resistant materials for dealing with wildfires, and the use of landscapes with drought-tolerant plants. Human-built homes take advantage of more extreme environments; at times, we are referring to situations like earthquakes, floods, fires, and so on. Towards the end, it is not about safety but rather the improvement in the safety of the residents.
What Made the Concept of Green Homes Popular in India?
With growing population and rapid urbanization, India is at the threshold of commercial as well as residential real estate boom. However, what is important to note is that buildings are large consumers of energy and natural resources. According to the Global Status Report published by UNEP, buildings are responsible for 57% of the global carbon emissions. When it comes to India, buildings accounted for 26% of India’s total energy consumption.
At the same, a lot of solid waste is generated, both at the building construction and operations stages. Now with an anticipated 800 million urban population by 2050 (Urban Resilience-TERI Report), the challenges associated with greenhouse gas emissions from building construction activity is poised to increase significantly.
Whether it is Chennai, Delhi or Maharashtra, groundwater depletion remains a cause for concern across various Indian cities. The expeditious use of groundwater for constructing buildings coupled with heavy dependence on monsoons for replenishment has also forced developers and urban planners to think of alternate techniques that equate to developing green homes.
While water depletion and construction-generated waste is one aspect, rising air pollution has also pushed the demand for environmentally sustainable green homes amongst homebuyers. Plus, as the year 2020 proved, poor air filtration coupled with little daylight increased prices for the working professionals who were forced to work from home during the lockdown. Hence, in order to address the growing sustainability concerns, the concept of ‘Green Buildings’ today, has emerged as the most suitable approach for contemporary India.
Are there Any Set Standards for Rating Green Homes?
In India, there are a number of certification systems that quantify the social and economic benefits of going green. These systems measure and compare an array of metrics that define the sustainability of the homes. Enlisted are few green homes rating systems that homebuyers as well as developers need to be aware of.
1. Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA)
GRIHA is the national rating system for green buildings in India. It has been developed by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) and is endorsed by the MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy). It functions on certain qualitative and quantitative measures, which evaluate the environmental performance of a building over its entire life cycle –
- Pre-construction
- Construction
- Operations and maintenance
By measuring and analyzing the energy consumption, waste generation, and ecological impact of construction activity with respect to certain national standards, rating a building or homes based on their “greenness” becomes easy.
2. Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green Homes
Developed exclusively for the residential sector, the IGBC (a division of the Confederation of Indian Industry) is the first rating program in India. The rating system, which is voluntary and consensus-based, has been ideated based on green homes-specific materials and technologies that are currently available. The primary objective of this program is to provide comfortable and environmentally friendly homes to all. This is done by facilitating the efficient use of site resources while promoting water conservation, energy efficiency, and optimum material utilization.
3. Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED)
This is the most widely used building rating system in the world. It aims to provide a framework that ensures the construction of healthy, efficient, and cost-friendly buildings. LEED certification provides independent verification of a building or neighborhood’s green features, allowing for the design, construction, operations, and maintenance. The level of LEED ratings consists: certified, silver, gold, and platinum, based on the points earned for sustainable building. A few categories of LEED credits include:
- Location & Transportation
- Sustainable sites
- Water efficiency
- Energy and atmosphere
- Material and resources
- Indoor environment quality
- Innovation
What’s in Store for Homebuyers and Developers With Respect to Green Homes?
| Homebuyers | Developers/Landlords |
| Improved air & water quality | Fewer materials used & less waste generated |
| Extensive energy savings | Innumerable financial & tax benefits |
| Better daylight and views | Higher property sale and resale values |
| More durable than counterparts | Lower operations & maintenance costs |
| Enhances occupant’s health and comfort | By showcasing commitment towardssustainable development, reputation improves |
Challenges that are Hindering the Construction of Green Homes
Even today, a large number of homebuyers are unaware of the benefits that green homes entails. Those who are aware, they don’t prefer investing due to higher initial and later operational costs. Lack of awareness clubbed with lower demand among the end users act as a constraint in developing green buildings.
Whether it is the architects, policymakers or engineers, lack of professionals who possess adequate knowledge and skills pertaining to building green buildings is also a major cause for concern. Plus, the green construction sector in India not only lacks the technical expertise, but the unavailability of cheaper products and viable funding sources also acts as an obstruction in building green homes.
What Steps can be Taken?
Whether it is for incorporating green technology in real estate or for developing eco-friendly materials, government-initiated policies play a key role in promoting sustainable development.
| Government Schemes | |||||
| There are scores of government schemes that have great potential to provide a boost to the green construction sector. For instance, by constructing green homes under the coveted Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) or clubbing Eco-Niwas Samhita with PMAY, there can be excellent outcomes, both economically and environmentally. | |||||
| Eco-Friendly Materials | |||||
| The unavailability of eco-friendly construction materials at lower costs and testing labs still remains a problematic area. Here, the central and state governments can facilitate the establishment of R&D as well as material testing labs from Tier-1 to Tier-3 cities. Additionally, indigenously manufactured cost-effective products and technologies can also be promoted in order to lure more developers. | |||||
| Green Bonds | |||||
| With high initial costs of construction, long-term investments, and higher interest rates, developers often shy away from foraying into the green construction sector. To address this issue, banks can play a pivotal role. India is the 2nd largest issuer of green bonds* in the world. Therefore, Indian financial institutes like SBI and Yes Bank, which are frontrunners in issuing green bonds, can offer this opportunity to developers and facilitate the construction of green homes in India. | |||||
| Integrated Frameworks | |||||
| Integrated policy frameworks where regulatory actions, such as building audits and training programs are coupled with policies like increased floor-to area ratio, are likely to promote the development and uptake of green homes. Additionally, emphasis should be laid on fully adopting policies like Energy Efficiency Label for Residential Buildings, Energy Conservation Building Code, and Eco-Niwas Samhita Building Code in order to fuel further investments. | |||||
| Public Awareness and Education | |||||
| Acknowledging green buildings as an option to be part of the population’s habits and following that up with eco-friendly practices is just as necessary. An effective strategy to do this would be to educate the community through educational sessions, workshops, and seminars that would look into the significance of sustainability in the real estate market. But by alerting the public to the importance of green homes and eco-friendly materials, we will create a culture of sustainable practices that embraces green homes and eco-friendly materials as a way of life. | |||||
| Incentives for Individuals | |||||
| In addition to government programs and campaigns, there is also a good case for fiscal incentives to go for green homes at an individual and community level. For instance, a tax rebate can be given to homeowners who choose to use energy-efficient appliances and systems or to people who install renewable energy devices such as solar panels. | |||||
| Collaboration with the Private Sector | |||||
| The government’s encouragement to the international agencies, the private sector, and the non-profit sector may produce a joint and innovative approach towards problem resolution. Such partnerships as public-private ones could be formed to fund the search for new technologies that will be implemented in green buildings and serve as examples or something to be copied. |
*Quick Note: Green bonds are nothing but debt instruments through which capital is raised to fund sustainable or green projects. These projects can be related to renewable energy, emission reductions, green buildings, so on and so forth. Its advantages are –
1. Provides developers with access to global investors who invest in green projects.
2. In comparison to the loans offered by commercial banks, interest rates on these bonds are lower.
3. Repayment responsibility lies with the issuer and not the borrower.
To Summarize
With only 5% buildings being classified as ‘green,’ the green homes market in India is currently at embryonic stage. While this might come across as a challenge at the outset, it opens a wide field of opportunities. This is because 70 % of the buildings in India, required by 2030, are yet to be constructed. With demand slowly accentuating for green homes, especially post-pandemic, the IGBC estimates that the market potential for the technologies related to green homes and buildings will reach USD 300 billion by 2025.
Environmentally sustainable buildings also offer numerous economic benefits for various stakeholders of the real estate industry. While developers can benefit from lower construction costs and higher property values, homeowners and tenants can save enormously on operation and maintenance bills. In addition to this, India is already attracting investments in commercial and residential asset classes, such as data centers, senior housing, and manufacturing facilities. As these segments tend to use more resources while emitting more carbon, the need to incorporate green building practices has therefore become a necessity.
Although the concept of green and sustainable living is gaining popularity, both amongst developers and homebuyers, the widespread adoption of the same will also require time. It might appear as a comparatively expensive investment in the initial stages. However, since Indian real estate is heading towards shared economic spaces to amplify cost-efficiency, student housing, for instance, the tangible and intangible returns will be comparatively higher than traditional homes.
