Cultivating Sustainable Futures

“Cultivating Sustainable Futures: Exploring Green Building Concepts with Ms. Niveditha Dileep” 

Ms. Niveditha Dileep, an Associate Counsellor at the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), shared insights into essential green building principles.  

The IGBC, established by the Confederation of Indian Industries, aspires to foster a sustainable built environment in India, positioning the nation as a global sustainability leader. Notably, the Platinum-rated IGBC headquarters in Hyderabad, inaugurated by the late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, exemplifies this commitment, achieving a Net Zero Energy rating with innovative features such as bifacial solar panels. 

The trajectory of the Green Building movement in India has seen significant expansion, embracing various building types including commercial, residential, industrial, metro stations, and railway stations. The overarching goal is to in still environmental consciousness in all spaces where people reside, work, and visit. Central to the concept of green buildings is the commitment to conserving natural resources, optimizing energy and water usage, minimizing waste generation, and fostering a healthy indoor environment. 

Contrary to common misconceptions about elevated costs, green buildings offer long-term benefits that outweigh initial expenses. A comprehensive study indicates a notable reduction in the incremental cost of Platinum-rated Green Buildings over time, making them only marginally more expensive—typically 5-10%—than conventional counterparts. These projects yield substantial environmental benefits, including anticipated energy and water savings, along with significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. 

Transitioning to specific green building concepts, the discussion highlights the importance of preserving natural topography and vegetation to support local biodiversity. Strategies for mitigating the heat island effect in urban areas, such as shading non-roof areas and utilizing high-reflective materials on roofs, are proposed. Water conservation strategies, including rainwater harvesting and efficient wastewater treatment, assume paramount importance. 

Energy efficiency emerges as a focal point, with passive architecture, innovative technologies, and judicious material usage playing pivotal roles. Emphasis is placed on reducing dependence on virgin materials, promoting rapidly renewable resources, and integrating waste management practices. The discourse on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) addresses air quality, materials, and connectivity, advocating for strategies like demand control ventilation and day lighting techniques to enhance IEQ standards.