Is Your Property IGBC or Griha Certified? Know What It Means

What is the kind of life you envision for yourself and your family? This is one of the central questions every person must answer, more so when they set out to buy a residential property they can turn into a home. To live an environment-friendly, pollution-free life and enjoy  the bounty of nature, you must consider living in one of the green projects under construction in Mumbai and its suburbs.

What are green buildings?

We've heard a lot about green buildings, but only a few truly understand the term. Green buildings are constructions that have been designed and built to leave the least negative impact on the environment while at the same time optimising natural resources to offer all the amenities and facilities that homebuyers want. Using ergonomic materials, optimising the utilisation of solar power, installing green cooling systems and water recycling mechanisms can all be part of a green building. 

Why should I pick a green building to live in?

We understand the environmental benefits, but how will living in a green building affect your quality of life? Environmental impact apart, living in a green building has very real health and economic benefits for the residents. It optimises indoor air quality and reduces toxic materials that could be absorbed by the skin or inhaled. It optimises energy consumption by using natural insulation, which improves residents' comfort. The recycling and waste management systems are environment-friendly and optimise the quality of life.

What should I look out for when buying into a project?

Now that you have decided that a green building is ideal for you and your family, let's understand what to look for in developed or under-construction projects in Mumbai that claim to be green buildings. Before picking your dream home, you need to check the green building certification of the project. Every project is rated in its environment-friendliness and the quality of construction and maintenance. In India, three different rating systems are followed for green certifications.

The IGBC rating system

The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), set up by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), offers green building certifications based on the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED). These certification standards were developed by the US Green Building Council and licensed by the IGBC. This system considers sustainable site development, water conservation, materials selection, energy efficiency, and indoor environmental quality important for certification. You must look for the IGBC Green Homes certification for residential projects to be considered green buildings.

What is GRIHA Certification?

The Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) was developed by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) in collaboration with the Indian Government's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The GRIHA certification is given to completed and under-construction projects in Mumbai and other cities based on an extensive 34-criteria rating system which can be broadly divided into four categories -

• Site selection and planning
• Conservation of resources
• Building operation and maintenance
• Innovation

If the building or project you plan to buy into has a GRIHA or an IGBC certification, you can be assured that the developer's claims of having built a green building are substantiated and recognised.

The BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) certification, an Energy Performance Index (EPI) that rates buildings on their energy efficiency, is given to commercial spaces and projects. As a homeowner, however, you may want to check the BEE star ratings of your home appliances to live a truly green, clean, and healthy lifestyle.