What are ‘green buildings’ and why should you care?

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges faced by humanity today. It is, therefore, more important than ever to adopt sustainable and eco-friendly ways to live. One trend that is quickly catching on is ‘green buildings’ – an excellent catalyst that can aid this change.

But what exactly constitutes a ‘green’ building, and how can it help in the long run? Green buildings are designed to help conserve natural resources, optimise energy consumption, eliminate waste, and reduce environmental impact. Let’s look at the steps buildings can take to become ‘green’.

5 features of a ‘green’ building

1. Water conservation: Water is a precious commodity that needs to be used sparingly, especially when so many places across the world are facing droughts and shortages. A green building enables water conservation through various methods, such as installing showerheads that use less water and creating a system of using recycled water for toilets. It also creates a provision for water harvesting-a method of collecting and storing rainwater rather than allowing it to go to waste and redirecting it for potable and non-potable purposes.

2. Use of sustainable building materials: A green building incorporates sustainability measures from the very start. This means using eco-friendly building materials during construction. This includes recycled wood and plastic, locally produced supplies as opposed to those transported from distant places, adding to carbon footprint, aluminium weather-resistant panels that regulate indoor temperature, energy-efficient windows that reduce air con usage, and more.

3. Provision for renewable energy: Moving from traditional energy sources to renewable energy, such as solar power, is an essential element of a green building. Today, solar panels have become increasingly cost-effective, driving mainstream adoption. Energy generated from these solar panels can be used to meet the energy demand. Not only is this a great way to decrease electricity consumption and bills, but it also goes a long way in reducing carbon footprint.

4. Waste reduction measures: Households around the world generate 2 billion tonnes of waste annually! Shocked? There is a critical need to reduce waste and, in turn, the immense burden on our planet. Green buildings put in waste reduction measures to facilitate sustainable living for their residents. They do this through waste management systems, such as source reduction, recycling, composting, waste to energy, and other processes.

5. Green roofs: In recent times, green roofs and vertical gardens have become increasingly popular, especially in urban areas where there is no space for creating conventional gardens. Green buildings may have a green roof, which is essentially a garden on the roof, as well as greenery on the walls in the form of creepers or small planters. Not only does this insulate homes, but it also plays an integral part in reducing the impact of climate change as these plants consume carbon dioxide, which is a significant greenhouse gas, and release oxygen into the atmosphere.

Key takeaways of Green Building advantages

Good for Environment

Improves Residents’ Health

Lowers Expenses

Higher Resale Value

The more people understand about green buildings and their benefits, the more likely it is that there will be a higher demand for such construction. For this reason, IIFL Home Loans is making a conscious effort to increase awareness and enable developers and home buyers to adopt a sustainable approach to long-term living. IIFL’s Green Value Partnership (GVP) provides end-to-end assistance to developers in adopting the best practices for GRIHA and IGBC green building norms. Additionally, the company has also created the ‘Kutumb’ platform, an awareness program with a repository of information that allows the community to design innovative solutions that

can reduce the negative impact on the environment. The time for change is now. Today’s green initiatives can safeguard our homes and planet for generations.

Source: https://datatopics.worldbank.org/what-a-waste/trends_in_solid_waste_management.html