Sustainability Indicators Of Griha Certified Green Buildings In India

Significant amount of resources such as materials, energy, water, and land are consumed during the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and end-of-life phases of buildings. There is an increased focus on reducing the environmental footprints associated with buildings. Green building ratings are used as practical tools for implementing sustainability in construction projects. There are several green building rating tools used across the globe. In India, three green building ratings are used, namely the U.S. LEED, IGBC LEED, and Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA). The certification levels vary across green building ratings. For example, the U.S. LEED rating ranks buildings at "Platinum", "Gold", "Silver", and "Certified". Similarly, the GRIHA rating ranks buildings at "5 Star", "4 Star", "3 Star", "2 Star", and "1 Star". This study examines the relationship between certification levels and sustainability indicators of GRIHA certified green buildings in India. Sustainability indicators such as the energy performance index (EPI), energy use reduction, and water use reduction are considered. The analysis is based on the data collected for 45 GRIHA certified green buildings. This study presents some insights on the relation between certification levels and sustainability indicators of green buildings.