6. Other Green Building Certifications in India

Apart from LEED, the other 2 main green building certification systems in India, are; GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment), India’s own rating system jointly developed by TERI and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, and BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) developed its own rating system for the buildings and the Energy Performance Index (EPI).

In India, while the LEED certification is well-known, there are two other significant green building certifications: GRIHA and BEE. GRIHA, or Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment, is developed in collaboration between TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) and the Government of India. This certification assesses the environmental performance of buildings using a comprehensive set of criteria. Similarly, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has its own rating system known as the Energy Performance Index (EPI), which focuses on energy efficiency in buildings.

Consider the way schools have multiple accreditation bodies. Just like how an educational institution might seek recognition from various educational boards to validate and improve its standards, buildings in India can pursue multiple certifications to showcase their commitment to sustainability and efficient use of resources.

GRIHA introduces a comprehensive approach of assessing 11 Parameters with 30 criteria accumulating to 100+5 maximum points (refer Fig. 6), across three stages: 1. Pre-construction stage: This stage addresses both on-site and off-site factors, such as the proximity to public transportation, soil type, land characteristics, location, existing flora and fauna, and natural landscape features before construction begins. 2. Building planning and construction stages: This stage focuses on resource conservation, reducing resource demand, optimizing resource utilization efficiency, promoting resource recovery and reuse, and ensuring occupant health and well-being. 3. Building operation and maintenance stage: This stage encompasses the operation and maintenance, monitoring and recording energy consumption, ensuring occupant health and well-being, and addressing factors that impact the local and global environment.

The GRIHA certification system evaluates buildings based on 11 parameters with 30 distinct criteria, allowing for a maximum of 105 points. The assessment occurs in three key phases: The pre-construction stage focuses on the environmental context of the building, examining things like accessibility to public transportation and the natural landscape. During the construction phase, emphasis is placed on resource conservation, ensuring that the materials used are efficiently utilized. Finally, the operation and maintenance stage evaluates how the building performs in terms of energy and resource management during its actual use, including occupant health considerations.

Think of GRIHA's three stages similar to a school project. At first, you plan and research (pre-construction), then you gather materials and build (construction), and finally, you present your project and defend your work (operation and maintenance). Each stage is crucial for the overall success of your project.

Ji et al., 2017, conducted a comparative analysis of GRIHA v2015 and LEED v4 for BD + C: New Construction and Major Renovation with respect to the three pillars of Sustainability and reported; GRIHA v2015 has a strong focus on Environmental and Economic aspects, less Social. It has a dedicated section for assessment of socio-economic aspects of the laborers and service professionals, creating awareness on environment and design for diversity in accessibility, missing from LEED.

A study compared GRIHA and LEED in terms of how well they address the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic, and social concerns. GRIHA was found to emphasize environmental and economic sustainability but has additional criteria focusing on social sustainability, particularly regarding labor and accessibility. In contrast, LEED tends to balance its focus more evenly across these pillars, including specific credits for regional priorities and social aspects, like open space access.

Imagine a competitive cooking show where one dish is focused mostly on taste (like GRIHA focusing on environment and economy), while the other not only adds flavor but also presents beautifully (like LEED addressing aesthetic and social needs too). Each dish has strengths, but their differences highlight diverse culinary philosophies.

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