All new central government buildings would have to be eco-friendly, Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah said Monday.
In a meeting held last week, the ministry decided that all new government buildings should be GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) compliant with three-star rating.
“It is mandatory for all upcoming central government and PSU (public sector undertakings) buildings to be GRIHA 3 compliant and efforts to be made for higher ratings,” said Abdullah at the GRIHA national conference here.
GRIHA, developed by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), is a tool for measuring and rating a building’s environmental performance in the context of India’s varied climate and building practices. It rates buildings on a scale of five based on degree of greenness.
Abdullah said the ministry would also ask the state governments to follow suit and the central government would assist them.
The GRIHA rating system would be implemented by an NGO ADARSH (Association for Development and Research of Sustainable Habitat).
The ministry has also constituted a group of experts to come up with guidelines for green buildings within six months.
“India missed the boat long ago and now it the time when all builders, architects and people should extend their cooperation in construction of energy efficient structures,” he said.
