What is Green Building? Know Everything in Detail!

KMV Projects
Sep 16
4 min read

Have you ever wondered how buildings can help the environment instead of harming it? Well, that’s exactly what green buildings do! In today’s world, where pollution and climate change are big concerns, constructing eco-friendly buildings has become essential. But what exactly is a green building, and why is it important? Let’s dive deep and find out!

What is a Green Building?

Green building , also known as sustainable or eco-friendly construction, is all about designing and constructing structures that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout their entire lifespan. This includes everything from planning and design to construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and even demolition.

To achieve this, architects, engineers, contractors, and clients must work closely together at every stage of the project. Green building goes beyond traditional concerns like cost, durability, and comfort—it emphasizes minimizing resource consumption, including energy, land, water, and materials, while also reducing environmental impact and pollution.

The goal is to create buildings that offer a healthy, comfortable, and efficient space for people while remaining in harmony with nature. Green building technology prioritizes low energy consumption, high efficiency, cost-effectiveness, environmental protection, and smart integration of sustainable solutions. In essence, it’s about constructing buildings that don’t just serve people but also respect and coexist with the environment.

Green buildings often include:

➔ Solar panels for energy generation

➔ Rainwater harvesting systems

➔ Energy-efficient lighting and appliances

➔ Proper ventilation and natural lighting

➔ Eco-friendly materials like bamboo, recycled wood, or fly ash bricks.

What is Indian Green Building Council (IGBC)?

The Indian Green Building Council (GBCI) is an organization that promotes sustainable construction in the country. It provides certifications like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), which helps builders follow eco-friendly guidelines.

Established by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in 2001, the Indian Green Building Council operates from the CII-Sohrabji Green Business Centre in Hyderabad, India's first Platinum-rated green building and a Net Zero Energy Building . The council’s vision is to create a sustainable built environment for all.

Through Green Building Technologies, IGBC is striving to achieve sustainable growth. Recently, IGBC celebrated a milestone of 1,000 registered green building projects in Telangana. Additionally, IGBC has signed an MoU with TSIIC to transform Hyderabad into India’s first Net Zero Carbon City.

As India's foremost authority on green building certification and related services, IGBC has achieved several milestones with strong support from various stakeholders:

■ 8,669 projects registered across India and abroad, covering 9.75 billion square feet (906,000,000 m²)

■ 31 IGBC green building rating systems for different project types, including residential, commercial, industrial, and healthcare

■ 1,700+ member organizations, including developers, corporates, architects, consultants, institutes, and government entities

■ 6,132+ IGBC Accredited Green Building Professionals, with over 30,000 stakeholders trained

IGBC certifies green projects that align with its rating systems during their conceptualization, design, construction, and operation. So far, more than 3,088 projects, covering approximately 1,315 million square feet (122.2×10⁶ m²), have been rated by IGBC. These projects have demonstrated substantial savings compared to conventional buildings, including:

■ 15,000 MWh of energy saved per million sq. ft. annually

■ 45,000 KL of water saved per million sq. ft. annually

■ 100 MW of renewable energy installed in IGBC-certified projects

■ 12,000 tons of CO₂ emissions reduced per million sq. ft. annually

■ 500 tons of construction waste diverted from landfills per million sq. ft.

IGBC awards green project certifications at four levels, in ascending order: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

IGBC supports the development of green buildings by:

➔ Setting environmental standards for construction

➔ Offering certification programs

➔ Encouraging builders to adopt sustainable practices

➔ Educating people about the benefits of green buildings

If you see a building with a LEED certification, you can be sure that it is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly!

How Green Buildings Help the Environment

Green building positively impacts the environment in many ways. Here’s how:

1. Reduced Energy Consumption: They use solar energy and smart designs to reduce electricity use.

2. Less Water Wastage: Rainwater harvesting and water recycling make green buildings more water efficient.

3. Lower Carbon Footprint: These buildings release less CO₂ into the air, helping fight climate change.

4. Better Air Quality: More plants, open spaces, and ventilation improve air quality indoors and outdoors.

Benefits of Green Buildings

Apart from helping the planet, green buildings offer many benefits to people and businesses:

➔ Lower electricity and water bills due to energy-saving techniques

➔ Healthier living spaces with better air circulation and fewer pollutants

➔ Increased property value, as sustainable homes are in high demand

➔ Job creation in the green construction sector

➔ Reduced maintenance costs, as eco-friendly materials last longer

CO₂ Reduction and O₂ Increase by Green Buildings

One of the biggest advantages of green buildings is their role in balancing carbon dioxide (CO₂) and oxygen (O₂) levels.

1. CO₂ Reduction: Traditional buildings release a lot of CO₂ due to excessive energy use and poor ventilation. Green buildings, on the other hand, cut down CO₂ emissions by using solar power, energy-efficient devices, and proper insulation.

2. O₂ Increase: Many green buildings have vertical gardens, rooftop greenery, and tree plantations around them. Plants absorb CO₂ and release oxygen (O₂), making the air fresher and cleaner.

Conclusion:

Green buildings are the future of construction! They help us live in a healthier environment while saving energy, water, and money.

With the efforts of organizations like the Indian Green Building Council, more eco-friendly structures are being built every day. By choosing green buildings, we can create a better, cleaner, and greener planet for future generations.

So, the next time you see a beautifully designed eco-friendly building, you’ll know how much it contributes to a sustainable world!