Green Building Audit

What are Green Buildings?


  • The word “GREEN” refers to NATURAL Environment
  • “A green building is one which uses less water, optimises energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional building
  • Green Buildings  depletes the natural environment/resources to the minimum during its construction as well as during its use .
  • Green buildings maximize the use of “renewable sources of energy”
  • Green buildings use minimum energy to power it
  • These have  systems for efficient waste and water management

Why Green Buildings?

  • Human activities are depleting the natural energy resources like coal, petroleum etc for use in activities like transportation, Industrial production, power generation, buildings etc. This is causing emissions of harmful gases and wastes in the atmosphere. These emissions cause severe damage to the environment like Green House Effect, Global warming, Ozone Layer depletion etc. and thus disrupting the global environmental stability.
  • It results in global temperature rise, melting of glaciers, rise in sea levels , floods, extinction of various species of animals etc
  • Buildings consumes about 30-40 % of the total energy and cause emission of green house .
  • Green buildings reduces the consumption of energy and cause minimum damage to the environment.

Benefits of Green Buildings

Environmental benefits 

  • Green buildings enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems ,
  • Reduce waste streams
  • Conserve and restore natural resources
  • Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Improve air and water quality
  • Reduce solid waste
  • Conserve natural resources

Social benefits:

  • Green buildings meet fresh air requirement as per ASHRAE standards and use materials with low VOC for interiors. Thus, it takes care of occupants comfort and health

Economic benefits :

  • Green buildings consume atleast 25-40 % less energy and 20-30 % less water vis-à-vis a conventional building
  • Reduce operating costs
  • Enhance asset value and profits
  • Improve employee productivity and satisfaction
  • Optimize life-cycle economic performance

Health and community benefits:

  • Improve air, thermal, and acoustic environments
  • Enhance occupant comfort and health
  • Minimize strain on local infrastructure
  • Contribute to overall quality of life

Green Buildings Design

The design of green buildings requires close coordination of all the associated stakeholders. These are- The architects, structural consultants, AC consultants, electrical, plumbing consultants  and Energy consultants, landscape designer, BMS consultants, and suppliers and manufacturers of various Green systems, Owners and the builders.

  • The architectural design of green buildings is such that it reduces the heat load on the building due to sun light by suitable orientation of the building and location of windows for light and heat gains with respect to sun movement.
  • The design maximize the use of natural lights in the buildings
    Green building design reduce the overall impact on natural environment
  • A green building structure is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient
  • It takes care of erosion of soil. Rain water harvesting, recycling of waste water and world class energy efficient practices

Features of Green Building Design

Green Building Rating Systems in India

  1. Indian Green Building Council (IGBC): Offers rating systems like IGBC Green Homes, IGBC Green Schools, IGBC Green Factories, etc.
  2. Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA): An indigenous rating system tailored for Indian climates and construction practices.
  3. LEED India (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): The Indian version of the internationally recognized LEED system, adapted for local needs.
  4. Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) Star Rating: Focuses on energy efficiency, providing ratings from 1 to 5 stars.

Green Building Rating Systems in various countries

  1. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) – USA: USGBC is one of the most widely recognized global rating systems, covering various aspects of sustainability.
  2. BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) – UK: One of the oldest rating systems, it evaluates the environmental performance of buildings.
  3. Green Star – Australia: A comprehensive rating system evaluating the design, construction, and operation of sustainable buildings.
  4. CASBEE (Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency) – Japan: Focuses on building environmental efficiency and sustainability.
  5. DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council) – Germany: A performance-oriented system assessing the overall sustainability of buildings.
  6. Green Mark – Singapore: A rating system that focuses on energy efficiency and environmental impact in the tropical climate of Singapore.

These rating systems help measure and guide the sustainability efforts of buildings, providing a benchmark for green building practices worldwide.

Indian Green Building Council (IGBC)

  • IGBC offers rating systems like IGBC Green Homes, IGBC Green Schools, IGBC Green Factories, etc
  • Developed entirely by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), it is a homegrown rating system that offers a variety of certification options tailored to different building types, such as homes, schools, factories, and townships.
  • It provides four certification levels – Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
  • It is tailored to specific building types. It allows easier adaptation to Indian climatic and cultural conditions.
  • It places more emphasis on water conservation, local materials, and addressing issues relevant to the Indian context, such as waste management and biodiversity

Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA)

  • Developed by: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and adopted by the Government of India in 2007 as the national green building rating system.
  • Purpose: Assesses a building’s environmental performance throughout its entire lifecycle, from design to operation, against nationally acceptable benchmarks

Green Building Audits: A Path to Sustainability

Green building audits are essential for assessing energy consumption and efficiency, enabling building owners to implement energy-saving solutions that cut costs, reduce environmental impact, and enhance indoor comfort.

1. Evaluating Energy Usage and Building Systems

  • Initial Assessment: Analyze energy bills, conduct site inspections, and measure energy consumption to understand current usage.
  • System Analysis: Evaluate the efficiency of HVAC, lighting, insulation, and other key systems to identify areas of waste.

2. Identifying Opportunities for Efficiency

  • Technical Improvements: Identify potential upgrades, such as installing energy-efficient lighting or optimizing HVAC systems.
  • Behavioral Adjustments: Highlight opportunities for occupant engagement, promoting energy-saving habits like turning off unused lights.

3. Implementing Sustainable Solutions

  • System Upgrades: Install energy-efficient equipment, improve insulation, and adopt renewable energy sources where feasible.
  • Financial Consideration: Conduct cost-benefit analyses to ensure energy-saving measures are both effective and budget-friendly.

4. Measuring and Monitoring Performance

  • Tracking Energy Savings: Monitor energy consumption regularly to gauge the success of implemented changes.
  • Assessing Health and Comfort: Evaluate the impact on indoor air quality, occupant comfort, and overall building sustainability.

5. Engaging and Educating Stakeholders

  • Occupant Involvement: Engage building occupants through education programs to promote energy-efficient behaviors.
  • Collaboration with Professionals: Work with contractors, engineers, and other stakeholders to implement energy-efficient solutions effectively.

6. Ensuring Ongoing Improvement and Efficiency

  • Regular Review and Adjustments: Continuously monitor energy use and make necessary adjustments to maintain efficiency.
  • Staying Updated with Best Practices: Keep informed about new technologies and sustainable practices to enhance building performance over time.

IGBC Green Building Certification Process

IGBC offers various rating systems like IGBC Green Homes, IGBC Green  New Buildings, IGBC Green  Existing  Buildings IGBC  IGBC Green Schools, IGBC Green Factories, etc. Basic steps of IGBC Certification process are mentioned here. For details, please refer to IGBC website.

1. Registration

    • Initiate Registration: Register the project with IGBC to access necessary documents, templates, and communications.
    • Documentation Preparation: Start preparing the required documents, calculations, and templates for compliance.

2.Precertification (Optional)

      • Design Stage Evaluation: Developers can opt for precertification at the design stage to market the project to potential buyers.
      • Submission: Submit templates, drawings, calculations, and other supporting documents.
      • Review and Award: IGBC reviews within 30 working days, followed by clarifications if needed, and awards precertification.
      • Applicable Rating Systems: IGBC New Buildings, Green Homes, Green Townships, Green SEZs, etc.

3.Certification Process

    • Preliminary Submission: Submit documents covering mandatory requirements and minimum credit points, including templates, drawings, and calculations.
    • Preliminary Review: Reviewed by a third-party assessor, with feedback provided within 30 working days.
    • Final Submission: Address comments and provide final documents, showing actual implementation.
    • Final Review: IGBC reviews within 30 working days, then awards the certification.

4. Appeal Process

    • Appeal Submission: If any mandatory requirement or credit is denied, you can submit an appeal with supporting documentation and pay necessary fees.
    • Reassessment: IGBC reassesses the appealed documentation with a new review team within 30 working days.

5.  Handling Credit Interpretation Requests (CIRs)

  • If the project team encounters challenges in understanding or applying a requirement or credit, they can request a Credit Interpretation Ruling (CIR) from IGBC.

  • This process helps clarify requirements or explore alternative ways to meet the intent of a credit. Each registered project can submit two CIRs without any fee. If additional CIRs are needed, a fee will be charged

6. Final Certification & Validity

  • Final Award: Certification is valid for 3 years after on-site verification of implemented measures.
  • Renewal: Renewal is required every 3 years to maintain certification.
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