Green building rating systems in India

A green building rating system is a tool that evaluates the performance of a building and its impact on the environment. It comprises a predefined set of criteria relating to the design, construction, and operations of green buildings.

In India, there are predominantly three rating systems – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the rating systems from Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA). In addition, there is also the Energy Consumption Building Code (ECBC) and the National Building Code (NBC), which provide guidelines on energy consumption. All buildings in India need to comply with these prescribed guidelines.

Role of glass in green rating

LEED and glass

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes top-notch building strategies and practices. Glass plays an important role in LEED certification and can significantly impact a building’s rating. LEED certified buildings save money and resources, and have a positive impact on the health of occupants, while promoting renewable energy.

GRIHA and glass

GRIHA, or Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment, is a rating tool that assesses the performance of a building against certain nationally acceptable benchmarks. Developed by TERI and adopted by the Indian Government in 2007, it serves to carry out a qualitative and quantitative assessment and accordingly rate a building on its level of ‘greenness’.

Understanding glass specifications

A good solar control glass for a green building must deliver effectively on energy efficiency. The glass must take care of heat gain from direct sunlight and heat gain due to the difference in heat between the inside and outside of a building.