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Right path: How buildings have to look and protect the environment in the future

are increasingly in vogue in the country now. Although one talks of the concept as a necessity, architects are divided in their opinion, for it is the economic feasibility that hits you hard.

Studies say that a home fitted with CFL lamps, solar water heaters and recycling facilities will save around Rs. 2.56 lakh over six years, roughly coming to Rs. 3,500 a month, with solar heaters alone contributing to Rs. 71,000 in the saved amount!

But architect Sharukh Mistry, chairman, Indian Green Building Council, Bangalore chapter, has been advocating principles with a shift in the ”concrete jungle and brick and mortar” thinking of architects, corporates and house builders in India. While international companies did start off with glass as used the world over today, multinational companies now value buildings with high green ratings.

“Just where are we heading by copying these unromantic, energy-guzzling glass structures,” questions K. Jaisim, Chairman, Indian Institute of Architects, Karnataka Chapter. “Are we building for just staying under a roof, or are we thinking of a sustainable society? If we lose our priorities to copying glamour, we will soon meet doomsday,” warns the architect who brought in all aspects of an eco-friendly dwelling at his residence 25 years ago in Jayanagar.

Buildings are by far the greatest producers of harmful gases such as CO2 and this ‘eco-footprint’ can only increase with the large population growth. Pollution associated with the construction industry include dust and noise pollution, water pollution and toxicity. Fifty per cent of all global warming gas emissions and CFC use is related to buildings.

According to A.R. Santhakumar, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT, Madras, the approach from the construction industry towards sustainability for development must include a thought on using renewable energy and alternative technology; re-using and recycling materials during design, manufacture, construction and maintenance; producing less waste and recycling more; producing less toxicity, noise and spatial pollution.

Santhakumar says the construction industry contributes 22 per cent of GHG emissions, so long-term sustainability becomes vital.

Taking action on India’s environmental crisis is no longer an option, it is a necessity. The recent research report ‘Sustainable Real Estate Development in India’ by Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj highlights the increasing trend of sustainable development in India. There is greater consciousness towards the environmental crisis in India with terms such as sustainable development and corporate social responsibility becoming more common in the real estate industry.

The report also details the best practices and processes that owners and occupiers can adopt to reduce the environmental impact of their real estate assets and at the same time gain from substantial ROI (Return on Investment) from their ‘green’ initiatives.

The international consultants’ report points out that despite the ever rising construction activity, awareness of sustainability in India has significantly lagged behind countries in the West. Nevertheless, with the growing importance of environmentalism here, the Indian commercial sector has begun to make conscious efforts towards creating sustainable real estate. With support from the Indian Government, almost 40 construction projects that are currently underway are registered with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

LEED is emerging as the preferred rating system as it is flexible enough to be applied to a diverse variety of markets and also because it enjoys the greatest recognition of the various international rating systems. This recognition is especially important when one considers that a prime motivator for developers to create a certified sustainable building is differentiating their project from competition.

The Government has introduced several schemes to encourage sustainability such as the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) schemes for subsidising capital for installation of solar water heaters, encouragement of energy audits and management schemes, mandatory use of fly ash-based construction material, groundwater and rainwater harvesting and, most importantly, increased monitoring of air and water pollution.

Manisha Grover, Head, Strategic Consulting & Research, Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj, and co-author of the paper says, “The overall sustainable building movement has significant business implications and is an opportunity to make a real contribution in the effort to curb India’s environmental crisis.” This can be achieved through synergy between developers and occupiers to establish goals, and audits to ascertain where savings and improvements can be made.

“The business advantages that sustainable buildings create are enormous. They provide occupiers with several operating cost reductions. Electricity is one of the largest operating expenses for commercial buildings, with sustainable elements saving up to 20 per cent in total electricity costs,” adds Grover.

Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj, the Indian operations of Jones Lang LaSalle, has footprint across 10 cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Chandigarh and Coimbatore) providing investors, developers, local corporates and multinational companies a comprehensive suite of services, including research, consultancy, transactions, project and development, integrated facility management, property management, capital markets, residential, hotels and retail advisory.

(Visit www.jllm.co.in for details)

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