With global warming taking a front seat on the global stage, it’s not just perfume companies and HVAC manufacturers that are adopting measures to limit the unfriendly side effects of their products. In a recent conference, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) worded out a new building guideline to contractors.
Builders, architects, developers and ground-level staff in Bangalore are requested to follow a few instructions in keeping with the nationally accepted Green paradigm. Recent announcements implore builders to understand that switching to environment-friendly materials and plans is the sole way of upgrading the health of a property to accepted standards.
The practices suggested by the Indian government were developed to strike poise between proven practices and emergent ideas. In the conference, there were some mentions of methodologies, by which new homes can be made greener and more eco-friendly. Simple and modular structural designs can be helpful to reduce the use of cement, concrete and steel by a substantial 25%.
Estimates say that India is likely to occupy third place in the world construction market by 2025. Although eco-friendly buildings so far took only 3% of the currently built constructions, it is estimated to influence 100 billion sq. ft. of construction by 2030.
The necessity in Bangalore
Especially for a place like Bangalore, which is abuzz with skyscrapers and high-rises, Villas near Bangalore International Airport, IT parks and condominiums, environmental limitations are important to observe. Without any rules, the construction industry can deplete natural resources, causing massive scarcity locally and regionally. So, if the soil is not tested properly or certain concerns are not taken into account when erecting a building, it may lead to shortage of water in residential areas.
If the sustainability perspective is lost, it can spell disastrous effects on natural reserves in and around Bangalore. To meet the excessive demand of real estate in Bangalore, manufacturers are carrying out extensive quarrying of granite. This is causing fast disappearance of hillocks around the city.
Approaches being considered
The government has broken environment-friendly projects into two main features: first, site-level sustainability and second, building-level sustainability. In the first quarter, experts put together treatment of waste water, reuse of water, rainwater harvesting, pervious pavements, use of native species, local material, solid waste treatment, outdoor lighting, etc. This in itself creates an extensive unit of lookouts to consider when building an establishment, residential or otherwise.
The second quarter or the building-level section has been reserved for solar passive design principles. According to the guidelines, new premises should have natural ventilation. It should have a design that makes room for natural lighting. Fixtures used in toilets and kitchens should be water efficient. A building should have solar-powered heating system, particularly when the city enjoys abundant sunshine. Even LED lighting for indoors is considered imperative and green as a practice.
Buyer’s perspective
The burden is on the shoulder of the buyer. As an environmentally responsible citizen, you should base your decision on the information available today. When inspecting a building, do probe into whether it touches the benchmark of energy consumption, water consumption, building topology and such. For instance, a building that has a northern skylight will allow ample ambient light during the daytime, but it can also cause glare and overheating.
Such small details should be studied with interest to arrive at a conclusion that has an acceptable logic to it. It is the responsibility of every citizen to buy a home that is energy efficient and built on green standards.
