The construction industry faces a significant environmental challenge in achieving the dual objectives of providing high living standards and maintaining ecological sustainability. Buildings should not only serve as shelters but also offer essential physiological comforts. These include visual comfort, enabling occupants to perform daily tasks efficiently, and thermal comfort, ensuring an appropriate indoor temperature throughout the year. These comforts can be achieved either naturally or artificially. The challenge lies in delivering these comforts without compromising the sustainability of the building process and the structures themselves.
Dhaval Ajmera, director, Ajmera Realty, says, “As developers, we are driven to promote a green and eco-friendly living. To keep our buildings green, we choose the eco-labelled products and components that helps to conserve natural resources. For example, energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting system, recycled materials, solar panels, green roofs and high-performance windows that significantly reduces the burden on electricity. Along with this, we install water-efficient fixtures.” High-performance insulation materials, such as recycled denim, cellulose, or spray foam, help maintain comfortable indoor temperatures while reducing heating and cooling energy consumption. Vegetated roofs and walls provide insulation, reduce stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and create habitat for wildlife, contributing to a healthier urban environment.
As green buildings have gained prominence over the years, both developers and consumers are focusing on sustainable green practices. To further throw light on this, India ranked third in the USGBC annual list of top 10 countries and regions in the world for LEED certification in 2023. PK Mishra, VP, planning and procurement, Sattva Group, says, “We adopt fly ash bricks as an alternative to conventional clay bricks. It contributes to the reduction of environmental pollution and minimises the need for landfill disposal of this industrial waste. We use ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) roofing at podium for exterior cladding, which reduces the temperature by 4o C.”
Rohit Mohan, chief design and sustainability officer, Godrej Properties, says, “The handover of a green building marks the commencement of a shared responsibility between developers and buyers to preserve its environmental integrity. Developers need to communicate and educate buyers on green building maintenance. Buyers play a pivotal role in upholding sustainability by adhering to green maintenance practices. At Godrej Properties, we provide a detailed green building section in the handover manual to educate buyers about features and maintenance. This entails regular maintenance of energy-efficient systems, proper waste management, and embracing an eco-conscious lifestyle. Furthermore, fostering community engagement encourages collective efforts towards sustainability, promoting a harmonious coexistence with the environment.”
What to look for
The present moment represents an unprecedented opportunity for green building initiatives across residential, commercial, industrial, and manufacturing sectors. Both developers and consumers are increasingly committed to creating and embracing sustainable work and living environments. This trend is only expected to grow, promising a future characterised by even greater dedication to sustainability in construction and lifestyle choices. Harleen Oberoi, sr. VP, head, project management, Tata Realty and Infrastructure, says, “Energy-efficient features and renewable energy integration translate to lower energy bills over the building’s lifespan. Additionally, high-performance materials and systems often require less frequent maintenance compared to conventional building components, further reducing long-term operational costs. The value proposition of green buildings extends beyond just cost savings. These buildings are increasingly sought after by tenants and buyers, which can potentially command higher rental rates and property values.”
Green building technology might be applied in the planning, procurement, design, construction and operation stages, which shape the construction industry in many countries. Aayushman Jain, director, Siddha Group, believes, “The optimal design of green buildings needs to be considered in all aspects, otherwise any deviations in design can lead to higher total energy consumption and result in a burden on the environment. The main economic challenges of promoting green buildings include the high initial costs and high capital investments and the high investment required for research and development to benchmark innovative practices.”
In addition, the use of green buildings requires collective efforts from all participants and stakeholders to thoroughly understand the technical guidelines and regulations of green buildings and to promote green building implementation. Furthermore, green building evaluation policies need to be further improved according to regional economic development differences. In the construction of green buildings, the iteration of new and emerging technologies can lead to information bias among all parties involved in the construction process and research on key technologies for energy efficiency needs to be further developed.
Making it easy
LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainable development that encourages the promotion of green buildings. Divyesh Doshi, director, Kinjal Group, says, “Even though this is a great initiative the Gold and Platinum LEED certifications come with some challenges, such as higher initial investment in green building materials, advanced systems, and expert consultants, which can increase upfront costs. Integrating various green features requires careful planning and expertise, which can cause delays where residents must adapt to practices such as using energy-efficient appliances and proper waste management to maintain efficiency.”
Post-handover, buyers play a crucial role in maintaining the green building. “They need to engage in environmental education and awareness, being willing to bear the costs of maintenance, actively participating in community engagement initiatives, and ensuring the upkeep of the indoor environment to sustain the building’s eco-friendly features. While green buildings may have higher initial costs, they prove to be cost-effective in the long run due to benefits such as energy savings, improved health outcomes, and reduced environmental impact. Conducting a comprehensive cost analysis considering these factors reveals the true cost-effectiveness of green buildings over time,” says Ravi Saund, founding director, Emperium.
Yukti Nagpal, director, Gulshan Group, agrees with this and says post-handover, buyers are responsible for maintaining existing green building technologies, replacing fixtures with compliant products, understanding certification requirements and technologies used, and ensuring timely renewal of green building certificates.
Nayan Raheja of Raheja Developers agrees with this when he says, “Buyers must ensure that they implement a proactive maintenance schedule to ensure that green building systems, such as energy-efficient HVAC systems and water-saving fixtures, are functioning optimally. Encourage energy-saving practices among occupants, such as turning off lights when not in use, adjusting thermostats for energy efficiency, and using appliances mindfully. Importantly, they need to choose eco-friendly products and materials for any renovations or upgrades within the building to maintain its green status. Also, provide education and training to occupants on sustainable living practices and the importance of maintaining a green building.”
Sourcing sustainable materials and technologies may be challenging, particularly in regions where they are not readily available or where there is limited market demand. This can lead to delays and increased costs. CJ Singh, COO, Wave City, says, “Many stakeholders, including architects, engineers, contractors, and clients, often lack knowledge about green building practices and the benefits they offer. Educating and raising awareness among the stake holder is essential for successful implementation and adequate time and effort is required for the same.”
Long term plans
Maintaining the performance and longevity of green building systems and materials requires proper maintenance and upkeep. Ensuring that building owners and facility managers are prepared to handle these responsibilities is crucial for long-term success. Each region has unique climatic and geographic conditions that can influence the choice of green technologies and materials. Designing and implementing solutions that are tailored to local conditions can be a challenge.
Rishi Jain, MD, Jain Group, says, “Implementing cutting-edge green technologies or pushing the boundaries of sustainable design may encounter technical challenges or limitations. Innovations in renewable energy, water conservation, and materials science are continually evolving, requiring home buyers and developers to stay informed and adaptable to integrate the latest advancements into their projects.”
Furthermore, the SOPs adopted during construction of a building are stringent and require the construction industry to go an extra mile – wheel washing to eliminate pollution by vehicles leaving a construction site, proper storage and disposal of the hazardous waste of the DGs, site material management – waste material aggregation and disposal, proper storage of aggregates, etc. Ashish Sharma, AVP, operations, Brahma Group, says, “The concept of green buildings is generally for reduction in the UHIE (urban heat island effect) and therefore energy saving; optimisation of energy and water usage; and use of sustainable materials thereby meeting the needs of the present without compromising the availability of future.”
Rahul Thomas, whole-time director, Suraj Estate Developers, says, “During construction, our utmost priority is to reduce wastage, use leftover raw materials and recycle waste for future use. We provide OWC (organic waste convertor) that decomposes organic waste material into compost, which can then be used as fertilizer or soil conditioners, along with STP (sewage treatment plant) that removes pollutants from the sewage, making it safe to reuse for irrigation and other purposes. We have a robust system for segregating dry and wet waste, ensuring safe and sustainable waste disposal.”
Saving grace
Green buildings may require higher upfront costs due to eco-friendly features and certifications, but they offer long-term savings through reduced energy consumption and operational expenses. Features such as energy-efficient designs, sustainable materials, and green technologies contribute to the initial expenses. However, lower utility bills, tax incentives, and increased property value over time offset these costs. Moreover, these buildings provide a conducive indoor environment, leading to improved occupant well-being and productivity. Overall, investing in green buildings proves to be cost-effective in the long run, offering both environmental benefits and financial returns.
Jayesh Rathod, director, The Guardians Real Estate Advisory, says, “Building Gold and Platinum-certified buildings undoubtedly pave the path for sustainable growth, but they are not without obstacles. For starters, there is a major economic barrier. Construction of a green building often requires a larger initial expenditure than conventional constructions. This is mostly due to the specialised materials and technology needed to achieve higher certification levels. Second, technological competence is quite important. Designing and creating green buildings need a certain skill set and knowledge foundation.”
Accessing people skilled in green construction methods can be difficult, especially in areas where such knowledge is limited. Furthermore, regulatory challenges might slow growth. In certain places, green building standards may not be completely recognised or integrated into local building codes. This disparity might result in extra regulatory challenges and project delays. Addressing these difficulties would need collaborative efforts from stakeholders across sectors to foster innovation, education, and policy alignment towards sustainable construction techniques.
Despite these challenges, the demand for green buildings is growing as awareness of their environmental and economic benefits increases. Overcoming these hurdles often requires collaboration among stakeholders, innovative approaches to design and construction, and supportive government policies and incentives.
